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The threat of quantum computing to Bitcoin is often seen as distant, but if you look closely, you can understand that its impact is already beginning to be felt.
Recent research and institutional movements suggest that time may pass faster than expected.
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Quantum computing is already taking over Bitcoin, but not in the way you might expect
Performance Bitcoin’s recent weakness against gold It is raising renewed scrutiny from institutional investors. However, this is not due to traditional market forces, but rather due to the risks of quantum computing (QC) that may one day damage its cryptography.
Strategists are now treating these threats as more than just theoretical, strengthening portfolio allocations and re-igniting the debate about the long-term security of Bitcoin.
BeInCrypto said Jefferies strategist Christopher Wood Removed a 10% position from His main model portfolio was “Greed and Fear”, and he reallocated it to gold and mining stocks.
Wood cited concerns that quantum computing could crack the keys to Bitcoin’s elliptic curve digital signature algorithm (ECDSA), undermining its store-of-value premise.
“Financial advisors read this kind of research and keep client allocations low or zero because quantum computing is an existential threat. It will remain a burden around Bitcoin’s neck until this is fixed,” he said. “books Batsubium, a popular user in X.
Research supports this warning power A 2025 study by Chaincode Labs found that 20-50% of Bitcoin addresses in circulation are vulnerable to future quantum attacks due to the reuse of public keys. About 6.26 million bitcoins worth between $650 billion and $750 billion could be exposed.
Meanwhile, the Forecast Calculator chart reflects this impending danger, showing exponential growth in the power of quantum devices over time.
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As the number of qubits in quantum machines accelerates, especially after Google’s 2025, the possibility of cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQC) has become more real.
Bitcoin’s decentralized structure increases the challenge. On the contrary Traditional banks To enforce quantum secure updates through a central authority, Bitcoin must coordinate changes across a distributed network.
There is no risk committee, no mandate, no single entity capable of imposing immediate action.
“I used to dismiss the risks of quantum computing (QC) for Bitcoin as implausible. I no longer do. The usual answer is: QC has not been a threat for years, and if it is, the whole financial system is in any way in trouble … (Bitcoin) can technically update. But to do so would require a slow and chaotic coordination in a decentralized network.” notice Jimmy Coates.
The risks of quantum computing increasingly cloud Bitcoin’s institutional appeal
The market is beginning to reflect these concerns. Bitcoin’s year-to-date underperformance against gold is down 6.5% in 2026, while gold is down 55%. The bitcoin-to-gold ratio of 19.26 in January 2026 is in line with the advisors’ caution.
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Institutions vary in their responses. While Wood reduced exposure, Harvard increased its allocation to Bitcoin by nearly 240%.
Similarly, Morgan Stanley began advising its clients on wealth management Allocate up to 4% of their portfolio to digital assets. in the same way, Bank of America allows deposits between 1% and 4%.
This shows that support has not disappeared, but has become more dispersed based on different risk assessments.
However, some say quantum risks are low probability but high impact. Coinbase’s David Dong points out Two main threats: Quantum computer cracks ECDSA keys and targets SHA-256, which supports Bitcoin’s proof-of-work system.
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Vulnerable addresses include legacy public key push scripts, Some wallets are multi-signatureand expose the Taproot settings.
Cleaning up addresses, avoiding address reuse and moving coins to quantum-resistant addresses is a key mitigation strategy.
Post-quantum cryptography standards finalized by NIST in 2024 provide a path to future security. However, Bitcoin adoption remains complex.
Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson warns: Early adoption can significantly reduce efficiency. Meanwhile, DARPA’s Quantum Blockchain initiative points to significant threats emerging in the 2030s.
However, the rapid progress shown in the forecast chart suggests that the timeline may accelerate, especially if AI integration compresses quantum development.
The question of quantum computing has moved from theory to tangible wallet impact. Bitcoin’s decline is not just a reflection of market cycles. Rather, it reflects the growing weight of existential risk, which shapes the way institutions allocate capital and forces the network to face a technical challenge it has never faced before.
Until Bitcoin’s decentralized system can coordinate a fully quantum-resistant update, the “text” around Bitcoin’s neck remains real.
