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Researchers reduce estimates for quantum attacks on Bitcoin and Ethereum

The optimized approach targets a Shor algorithm step, cutting the estimated work for a key quantum attack component by more than half versus a prior Google benchmark.

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CoinDesk reports that researchers have lowered estimates for the resources needed for a future quantum attack on Bitcoin and Ethereum by more than half compared with a Google benchmark published in March. The work focuses on a core calculation used in Shor’s algorithm, which could let a sufficiently powerful quantum computer derive private keys from exposed public keys and forge transactions.

The paper shared with CoinDesk describes a quantum circuit using 1,151 logical qubits and about 1.3 million Toffoli gates. In performance scoring, the updated circuit’s result is about 1.5 billion, which is more than 50% below the roughly 3 billion score reported by Google Quantum AI.

CoinDesk adds that the researchers also produced a second version adapted more closely to how Shor’s algorithm would use the calculation, scoring about 1.96 billion, still below Google’s reported figures. The authors cautioned that the comparison is not perfectly like-for-like because the designs rely on different interfaces and accounting rules.

According to CoinDesk, no existing quantum computer can use the findings to break either network, but the researchers say upgrades could take years, underscoring the need to adopt quantum-resistant protections. The targeted cryptography is secp256k1, and the team included more than 100 participants working alongside AI coding agents over roughly eight weeks to optimize point addition via ECDSA.Fail submissions.

Latest closeBitcoin $77,087.06 ▼1.5%|Ethereum $2,461.76 ▼0.2%

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