Quantum Computer and Bitcoin – Why ‘Q-Day’ Could Be the Apocalypse of Cryptocurrency

Quantum Computer is developing exponentially. This technology can solve problems that even the most powerful classical computers cannot manage. As these advances accelerate, the risks to the security of Bitcoin also increase minute by minute.

The CEO of Naoris Protocol, David Carvalho, explained that one day, quantum computers will be able to break current encryption algorithms, making even the most secure wallets vulnerable. According to him, this reality is imminent, and the cryptocurrency industry should have started worrying about it a long time ago.

Unlock Unprecedented Computing Power

Quantum Computer represents a groundbreaking technology field that harnesses the unique principles of quantum mechanics to tackle computational challenges far beyond the reach of traditional computers.

Although still in the development stage, this field promises to unlock solutions for extremely complex problems, performing calculations at speeds that current machines cannot match.

This new frontier in the field of Quantum Computer is poised to transform sectors from medicine to cryptography. Consequently, this is also very bad news for Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency industry in general.

How Quantum Computers Threaten Current Cryptography?

Quantum Computer poses a significant threat to current cryptographic methods by efficiently solving complex mathematical problems that underlie their security.

Modern public key cryptography, including RSA encryption and Elliptic Curve Cryptography, which is used by Bitcoin, relies on the extreme difficulty of classical computers to solve these problems.

Shor's algorithm, developed by American computer scientist Peter Shor, poses a significant threat as it can efficiently solve complex mathematical problems that underlie these modern encryption methods.

This means that a powerful Quantum Computer running Shor's algorithm can quickly find the hidden numbers that protect RSA or decrypt complex calculations used in ECC.

"Not just Bitcoin. Ethereum and most blockchains today rely on Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) and quantum will break that. It's simply mathematics. Anything based on cryptography is at risk – organizations, military, banks, etc. In a world where 'whoever breaks the mathematics will own the future', cryptography is the new geopolitical weapon," Carvalho said.

Although quantum computers today are still unable to break current encryption, this threat could become a reality in the next decade.

The Race Against Time: Protecting the Future of Bitcoin

According to experts like Carvalho, developing quantum-resistant cryptography is crucial for the survival of Bitcoin in a post-quantum world. This goal should be a top priority for the industry, as time is a critical factor.

"Experts predict that 'Q-Day' – the day quantum computers can break current encryption algorithms – will arrive within the next five to seven years, but possibly sooner. Some even think it may already be here and we just don't know about it. But it's important to understand that we are not talking about a distant threat – quantum is coming for Bitcoin just as asteroids came for the dinosaurs," he said.

Hackers may have collected existing data, planning to use it to attack when Quantum Computers become available.

"The worst thing about quantum attacks is that they are retroactive. Therefore, every transaction that has ever been recorded on the Bitcoin blockchain is at risk of being compromised, regardless of when that transaction occurred, and bad actors can exploit this data right now. And you can bet that this is exactly what they are doing to prepare for the moment when quantum technology is advanced enough to break Bitcoin," Carvalho added.

When that time comes, whether users' Bitcoin is stored cold or not will no longer matter. For Carvalho, securing every node, transaction, and device is the only solution to protect them from these losses.

"The only way to protect against this is to move to post-quantum cryptography, which means upgrading all signature algorithms at the protocol level, making it unbreakable by quantum attacks. That is possible, but it really needs to happen right now, not in the distant future," he said.

This reality will also extend to other areas of society. Industries such as global banking, secure communications, and other critical infrastructure will also be affected.

Beyond Bitcoin: A Global Security Threat?

While the threat to Bitcoin is a prominent concern, the impact of quantum computing goes even further, posing fundamental risks to nearly every aspect of digital security.

"Quantum computing has the ability to break every encryption everywhere at once. This includes banks, secure communications, everything. This is a national security issue, a financial stability issue, and above all, a trust issue. Organizations that record encrypted data today already possess the means to decrypt that data tomorrow – they are just waiting for quantum capabilities to mature," Carvalho emphasized.

In global banking operations, quantum computers could compromise financial transactions, leading to fraud, theft, and loss of trust, especially when the financial data collected could be decrypted later.

For secure communication methods such as HTTPS, VPN, and email, quantum attacks could allow for the interception of private messages, identity spoofing, and the weakening of privacy. Similarly, critical infrastructure such as power grids and transportation systems face the risk of catastrophic cyber attacks if their encryption is compromised.

Minimized Window

Carvalho emphasized that, although there is still time to act, that window is closing. But once D-Day arrives, there will be no turning back. There will be no way to retroactively protect digital systems.

"The quantum threat to cryptography is currently very urgent, and we truly have no time to waste. We cannot wait for regulations or rely on reactive responses. It will not be effective," he said.

This is especially true for industries such as cryptocurrency, which rely entirely on these digital systems.

"The Web3 ecosystem, in particular, must be noted because it is entirely digital. It is also progressive and therefore will lead in cybersecurity innovation and resilience against quantum attacks, which is a truly important area of cybersecurity right now," Carvalho concluded.

How this industry prepares for the impending moment will be crucial for its survival.

Mr. Giáo