The latest research from Google's Quantum AI team took the entire crypto world by surprise.

Cracking the Bitcoin private key takes only 9 minutes, faster than Bitcoin's 10-minute block time. The number of quantum bits required for cracking has been reduced by 20 times compared to previous estimates. The threat has shifted from a 'distant theory' to a 'foreseeable timeline.'

At the same time, Google has set the deadline for migrating internally to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to 2029. This means that the people in Silicon Valley who understand quantum best consider it a problem that needs to be solved within four to five years.

Will Bitcoin be compromised?

One, how close is the quantum threat?

Let's be clear: quantum computers currently cannot crack Bitcoin.

Existing quantum computers, whether Google's 'Sycamore' or the Chinese Academy of Sciences' 'Nine Chapters,' are far from reaching the millions of qubits needed to break elliptic curve encryption (ECC). However, Google's latest research suggests that the quantum resources required for decryption have been significantly compressed, greatly accelerating the timeline of the threat.

The risk lies in the strategy of 'collecting first, decrypting later.' Attackers can already hoard public keys exposed on-chain (such as early P2PK addresses) and crack them in bulk when quantum computers mature. Just early Bitcoin addresses of this kind involve about 6% of the total supply, worth billions of dollars.

This is a threat of 'sowing now, reaping in the future.' You cannot protect assets that have already been exposed when the threat arrives.

Two, Bitcoin's defense line: upgrade, not abandon.

In the face of quantum threats, the Bitcoin community is not helpless.

Binance founder Zhao Changpeng responded on social media: 'No need to panic, as the network can upgrade.' This statement highlights Bitcoin's core advantage: it is a living protocol, not an inscription carved in stone.

Bitcoin developers have long been researching post-quantum cryptography (PQC) migration plans. If the community reaches consensus, Bitcoin can replace the signature algorithm from ECDSA to a quantum-resistant signature algorithm through a soft fork or hard fork. Mainstream public chains like Ethereum and Solana are also studying similar upgrade paths in parallel.

The key lies in time. The maturity speed of quantum computers and the speed at which the community reaches consensus and completes migration is a race. 2029 is an important node—it's the internal migration deadline set by Google and is widely regarded as the 'preparation window.'

Three, the real weakness: those assets that 'do not upgrade.'

The biggest risk of the quantum threat is not the Bitcoin protocol itself, but those assets that do not follow upgrades.

• Long-term inactive 'sleeping addresses' may be cracked in bulk in the future if not migrated.

• Transactions using reused addresses expose public keys and become targets for quantum attacks.

• Assets hosted on outdated systems will expose user assets to risks if the hosting party does not upgrade.

This means that security is not about 'waiting for others to fix it before using it,' but about 'choosing the right foundation now.'

Four, ZeroSpace's quantum defense line.

ZeroSpace has always ingrained security into its DNA. Regardless of how quantum technology evolves, the original intention of safeguarding assets remains unchanged.

In the face of quantum threats, we have done three things:

First, upgrade the underlying cryptographic architecture. ZeroSpace's hosting system adopts a modular design that allows for seamless replacement of signature algorithms. When post-quantum cryptography standards mature, we can complete the upgrade immediately without requiring users to migrate assets.

Second, promote address reuse governance. We encourage users to use new addresses for every transaction to reduce public key exposure. At the same time, we provide proactive migration services for long-dormant assets to avoid becoming a target for 'collecting first and decrypting later.'

Third, evolve in sync with the industry. ZeroSpace keeps pace with the mainstream public chain developer community and closely monitors the latest developments in PQC migration plans. Our security team continuously tracks breakthroughs in quantum computing to ensure that the defense line is in place before the threat becomes real.

Five, security is always the bottom line in the crypto world.

Every technological revolution brings new fears. When the internet was born, people worried about privacy breaches; before mobile payments became widespread, people worried about the security of funds. But these fears were ultimately dispelled by better technology and more complete infrastructure.

Quantum computing is no different. It will bring challenges but will also drive the evolution of cryptographic technology. Bitcoin will survive, Ethereum will survive, and those infrastructures that truly regard security as a bottom line will also survive.

ZeroSpace believes: the best security is one that you don't even notice.

You won't worry every day about whether Bitcoin will be cracked by quantum computers, just as you don't worry every day about whether your house will collapse in an earthquake. Because you know, the foundation is solid.

The quantum era will come. But those who are prepared in advance will not be afraid.

👉 zerospace.ai

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