Key Takeaways
- Google sets 2029 quantum security target.
- The tech giant has pushed industry-wide urgency.
- Threat seen as long-term by researchers.
Google has brought forward its timeline for preparing against quantum computing threats.
The tech giant warns that the shift to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) must accelerate across the tech industry.
The warning has reignited debate over whether Bitcoin could face security risks sooner than expected.
Google Accelerates Post-Quantum Timeline
In a recent blog post, Google said it is targeting 2029 as a key milestone to secure its systems against future quantum attacks, citing rapid advances in quantum hardware, error correction and cryptographic research.
“Quantum computers will pose a significant threat to current cryptographic standards, and specifically to encryption and digital signatures,” the post read.
Google warned that some risks are already emerging, notably “store now, decrypt later” attacks, in which attackers harvest encrypted data today expecting to decrypt it in the future.
To counter this, the company said it is prioritizing migration to PQC — especially for authentication systems. Google has urged other engineering teams to follow suit.
The company said it set a clear deadline to “provide the clarity and urgency needed to accelerate digital transitions” industry-wide.
Why This Raises Concerns for Bitcoin
The renewed urgency around quantum computing has revived long-standing concerns about its potential impact on Bitcoin, which relies on elliptic curve cryptography to secure wallets and transactions.
In theory, a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could derive private keys from public keys, allowing attackers to steal funds.
However, the risk is not uniform across all Bitcoin holdings.
Research indicates that only certain categories of coins would be vulnerable in a future quantum scenario — particularly those where public keys are already exposed on-chain.
These include:
- Older “legacy” wallets
- Addresses that have been reused
Together, these could account for millions of Bitcoin under broad estimates.
Galaxy and ARK: Quantum Threat Seen as Long-Term
Despite heightened attention, major research firms argue that Bitcoin’s quantum risk remains a long-term issue rather than an immediate threat.
Galaxy Research described the risk as “real but unevenly distributed,” noting that most funds are not currently exposed.
The firm emphasised that development work on quantum-resistant solutions is already underway and gaining momentum.
“Bitcoin’s design provides a degree of protection against quantum attacks because public keys are not exposed until coins are spent,” Galaxy said, adding that proposals such as BIP 360 show active progress toward post-quantum upgrades.
ARK Invest reached similar conclusions in a recent report, arguing that today’s quantum systems remain far from capable of breaking Bitcoin’s cryptography.
ARK estimates that up to 35% of Bitcoin’s supply could be exposed under a future quantum scenario.
However, it expects the transition to unfold over years or decades, giving the ecosystem time to respond.
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
