Bitcoin Faces Quantum Computing Threat, Co-Founder Warns

Scroll co-founder Sandy Peng has analyzed the threat posed by quantum computing to Bitcoin, emphasizing that the core issue lies in community governance and coordination rather than technical challenges. According to Odaily, the number of quantum bits required to break Bitcoin's encryption has significantly decreased, and leading companies are making clear progress in computing power iteration. The quantum threat could materialize within the next decade, with early P2PK addresses and Bitcoin assets related to Satoshi Nakamoto being particularly at risk. Potential attacks such as stealth theft and transaction tampering are feasible. While there are mature standards for quantum-resistant upgrades, these could severely impact network performance and increase usage costs. Given past disagreements over network upgrades, achieving a unified upgrade across the entire network faces significant resistance. In contrast, Ethereum has introduced a flexible quantum protection solution that allows users to upgrade their signatures independently. Industry experts warn that Bitcoin's survival space is narrowing, with the threat cycle closely overlapping with the community consensus cycle. They advise retail investors to promptly migrate from high-risk addresses and urge institutions to prioritize related risk control planning.