Add as a preferred source on GoogleAlice & Bob Estimates Bitcoin Key Attack Needs 29,588 Qubits and 62 Minutes
The estimate uses a cat-qubit architecture and requires about 17 times fewer qubits than a March estimate of fewer than 500,000. Alice & Bob called for Bitcoin to begin a post-quantum migration as soon as possible.
Alice & Bob estimates its cat-qubit system could solve Bitcoin’s (BTC) 256-bit elliptic-curve problem with 29,588 physical qubits in about 62 minutes, putting addresses with exposed public keys at risk.
The theoretical estimate requires about 17 times fewer qubits than Google’s March estimate of fewer than 500,000. Its modeled runtime is longer than Bitcoin’s roughly 10-minute average block interval, which could make stealing funds before transaction confirmation difficult under this scenario.
Alice & Bob estimates that more than 6 million BTC held at addresses with exposed public keys face greater risk. Alice & Bob projects quantum hardware gains and lower resource needs may meet in the early 2030s and urged Bitcoin to begin migrating to post-quantum security as soon as possible. TokenPost previously covered estimates of Bitcoin’s long-term cryptographic-break risk.
Simon Yoon
ReporterSimon Yoon reports on blockchain technology for TokenPost. Send corrections or tips to info@tokenpost.com.