Expert: Quantum computers will disrupt Bitcoin's policies

qukcamille
24.11.2025
News BTS

The main threat quantum computing poses to the world's first cryptocurrency is a problem of consensus, not technology, according to James Check, founder of the analytics service Checkonchain.

You allow the old coins to come back to market.

Since there is no chance we come to consensus to freeze them, focus on the tech side of quantum safe wallets, and let the market sort out the rest. https://t.co/7xOZRVYl5r

— _Checkmate 🟠🔑⚡☢️🛢️ (@_Checkmatey_) November 23, 2025

According to the expert, network participants will never reach a consensus on locking coins in old addresses vulnerable to quantum computers. Political disagreements will prevent the community from responding promptly to the threat.

As a result, hackers will be able to break into long-inactive wallets, and a huge amount of Bitcoins thought to be lost will enter the market.

This is how Chek commented on the opinion of Delphi Digital's head of research, Ceteris Paribus. Paribus noted that while it's technically feasible to implement quantum resistance, it won't solve the fate of legacy coins. The main problem lies in the secondary nature of technology compared to the network's social layer.

According to BitBo, 32.4% of the entire Bitcoin supply has remained idle for more than five years. 16.8% of coins have not moved for over 10 years. It is unknown how much of this supply is lost forever and how much is in long-term storage.

Source: BitBo.

In April, Blockstream CEO Adam Back told Cointelegraph that the community would have to choose between disabling old vulnerable addresses or allowing attackers to steal funds. Back believes the right approach is to allow these coins “back into circulation.”

Institutions are monitoring the situation.

VanEck investment firm CEO Jan van Eck told CNBC that despite the encryption and privacy risks of quantum computing, Bitcoin remains a good investment for now.

He said it's important for people outside the industry to know that there's already an active debate within the community about whether current network security is sufficiently robust in the face of upcoming technologies.

Van Eck emphasized his firm's pragmatic approach: the company believes in digital gold, but is prepared to “exit” the asset if it deems its fundamental thesis violated.

As a reminder, in November, analyst Willy Woo proposed a way to protect Bitcoin from the quantum threat.

Back later stated that systems capable of cracking the cryptography of the first cryptocurrency would not appear for at least 20-40 years.