Best Podcasts on Quantum Threats to Bitcoin
Updated: Apr 07, 2026 – 13 episodes
Experts are raising concerns that advancements in quantum computing may pose a significant threat to the security of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. As quantum technology progresses, it could potentially break the cryptographic algorithms that protect digital currencies, prompting the need for new security measures. This development is crucial for the tech industry as it could impact the future of blockchain technology and digital finance.
Quantum computing's impact on Bitcoin security is a hot topic right now. TBPN is sounding the alarm, urging immediate action to adopt post-quantum cryptography. Start with their episode where they discuss Google's warning about quantum threats. Bankless offers a more nuanced view, balancing the threat with potential opportunities for Ethereum. Their take on the security budget and Bitcoin's vulnerability is a must-listen. The Milk Road Show provides a calming perspective, suggesting that practical quantum attacks are still decades away. Their episode on proposed solutions and the timeline for quantum-proofing is insightful.
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Podcast Episodes Covering This Story
“Google researchers have warned that future quantum computers may be able to break some of the cryptography protecting Bitcoin and other digital assets with fewer resources than previously thought, adding urgency to the debate over how the industry should prepare. The clearest defense is a shift towards post-quantum cryptography, or PQC, a newer form of security designed to withstand attacks from powerful machines.”
Ridealong summary
Quantum computing poses a real threat to Bitcoin's security, and the crypto industry must urgently adopt post-quantum cryptography to mitigate risks.
“I remain optimistic on quantum. I still think that ultimately it's rooted in a technical challenge that can be overcome. The bigger issue I see is the security budget, because here we're getting at the core essence, the DNA of what it means to be Bitcoin, which is to have this $21 million cap and to be secured by proof of work. And I just don't see how you can combine proof of work and $21 million cap.”
Ridealong summary
Quantum computing poses a technical challenge that can be overcome, but Bitcoin's security budget is a more pressing issue that could lead to its downfall.
“Max the VC says, Google is basically saying we've cut the quantum resources needed to break Bitcoin's encryption by 20x. We can now break it. We can prove it. We're just not going to tell you how. We've slowed down research to give crypto a chance. You have until 2029 to figure out a solution. Good luck.”
Ridealong summary
Quantum computing advancements could break Bitcoin's encryption by 2029, but there's time to adapt if developers act now.
“You've got 6.9 million bitcoin, a third of all supply, that is vulnerable to quantum attack. Now, some of that can be migrated except for the 2.3 million or so, which is 10 to 15 percent of all Bitcoin supply. That is Satoshi's keys and lost keys and keys that haven't been touched. These are assumed tokens that will never move because the owner is gone or dead or the private keys are lost.”
Ridealong summary
Quantum computing poses a direct threat to Bitcoin's security, potentially allowing access to millions of dormant coins, including those of Satoshi Nakamoto.
“The Oratomic Caltech paper is the more concerning of the two. Because neutral atom systems, the biggest neutral atom array that exists already is 6,000 physical qubits. Does that collapse down with kind of air correction, like 50 or something logical? Yeah, so 6,000 physical, unclear what the exchange rate is logical. That's like the source of uncertainty. This oratomic paper doesn't actually talk about logical at all. It just says ECC could be cracked with between 10K and 26K physical qubits.”
Ridealong summary
Quantum computing advancements pose an imminent threat to bitcoin security, with new methods drastically reducing the qubits needed to crack cryptographic protections.
“"It's easy-ish to be quantum proof and there's thousands of people working at it around the world, including dozens of people in the Bitcoin space. They've already proposed, you know, pretty easy fixes. And, you know, a lot of this just comes down to, you know, you're basically safe if you have your Bitcoin at an address that's where the public key is not online anywhere."”
Ridealong summary
Quantum computing is not an immediate threat to Bitcoin security, as practical quantum attacks are decades away and solutions are already being developed.
“"Ethereum has actually put out like a post-quantum roadmap of quantum proofing their network by 2029... the timeline and like sense of urgency like yes it has increased but not by much because a lot of these were looking to quantum proof by 2030 regardless... the main concern is for Bitcoin."”
Ridealong summary
Quantum computing poses a significant threat to Bitcoin's security, but other blockchain networks are already planning quantum-proof upgrades by 2030.
“The most likely outcome is that at some point, SecP 256K1 or elliptic cryptography in general will fail. Like that's the most likely outcome. I don't think personally that it's quantum that's going to break it, but you know, crypto systems have failed over the years. We've seen it and it seems likely that at some point it will. So what do we do about that? As I try to stay up on what the other kind of new cryptographic research is.”
Ridealong summary
Quantum computing might not be the immediate threat to Bitcoin's cryptography, but the community should proactively explore new cryptographic solutions.
“So quantum computer computing breaks into that. So that is a market for a quantum computer business idea. Well, so we're aware of that. OK, and that's fine. Now, what my CEO is doing, which I think is very responsible, is talking to the U.S. Treasury about this, because the U.S. Treasury is going to be concerned that if other companies or criminal organizations get a hold of that money, it's a lot of money, that that's a real issue.”
Ridealong summary
Quantum computing could threaten Bitcoin security, but newer encryption methods and proactive measures by companies like Google offer some protection.
“There's a 50% chance that by 2033, you will have a cryptographically relevant quantum computer that can break Bitcoin. Whatever entity has the quantum computer owns all the Bitcoin on the network. This quantum computer can compute Shor's algorithm fast enough, then it's like every Bitcoin is basically at risk. And that also effectively closes off any kind of on-chain migration option. Ownership fundamentally breaks.”
Ridealong summary
Quantum computing poses an existential threat to Bitcoin's security, potentially allowing a single entity to control the entire network.
“I think the right model for quantum is it's kind of crypto's Y2K and I think it's actually a really clean analogy because Y2K was a real problem right it was a huge coordination issue across the entire tech industry... And then once you do that, the problem goes away. There's no more Y2K issue. And so it is kind of this one-time thing. It needs to get solved once.”
Ridealong summary
Quantum computing poses a real threat to Bitcoin, akin to Y2K, requiring urgent industry-wide coordination to address it before it becomes catastrophic.
“The reality is, is like the hard number. I didn't know it was in 2012, but like... I mean, that's what AI told me. I think that's right. Yeah. But the point is, the outputs of it are low. So if you're telling me you're some sort of genius CEO and I should partner with you, and then I talk to you and you don't know the first thing about how to strategize about a business, then I'm not going to take that seriously.”
Ridealong summary
Quantum computing is not yet a credible threat to Bitcoin security, and premature adjustments to quantum security could be more harmful than beneficial.
“"Google released a quantum paper this week... they said we urge all vulnerable cryptocurrency communities to join the migration to PQ, to post-quantum without delay. They also ran a scenario where there is a certain percentage of supply of Bitcoin that could be quantum attackable... Even if Bitcoin does implement post-quantum algorithms, there's something to be done with that 2.3 million in supply."”
Ridealong summary
Quantum computing poses both a threat and an opportunity for Bitcoin, as advancements could undermine current security but also drive innovation and adaptation in digital finance.