Anatoliy Yakovenko: quantum computers can hack Bitcoin in 5 years

Anatoliy Yakovenko, co-founder of Solana SOL $242.12 Binance-Peg SOL -1.55% Market capitalization $0.27 billion VOL. 24 hours $0.93 billion , has called on the bitcoin community to speed up preparations for the threat of quantum attacks. Speaking at the All-In Summit 2025 conference, he said that a breakthrough in quantum computing could happen much faster than expected. «I believe there is a 50/50 chance of a quantum breakthrough within the next five years. We have to move Bitcoin to quantum-resistant signatures,» he emphasized.

According to Yakovenko, the accelerated development of various technologies, including artificial intelligence, demonstrates how quickly scientific ideas are being translated into practical implementation. This, in his opinion, increases the likelihood of an early breakthrough in quantum computing, which could jeopardize the security of modern cryptocurrencies.

Currently, bitcoin wallets are protected by the ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm) algorithm, which is based on the complexity of calculating the discrete logarithm of an elliptic curve. For classical computers, this task is practically unsolvable, but for quantum systems, it may become possible in the future. Some experts, such as David Carvalho of Naoris Protocol, warn that in a few years, such machines could potentially «crack» bitcoin cryptography.

At the same time, updating the blockchain to post-quantum security will require a hard fork, which not all community members will agree to. Blockstream CEO Adam Beck believes that current quantum computers do not yet pose a threat to bitcoin, and the real danger may arise only in 20 years.

Jan3 founder Samson Mou also does not share pessimistic forecasts. He recognizes the risk, but is convinced that «the threat period is at least a decade,» and by then «other systems will most likely have failed before Bitcoin BTC $116,797.00 Mezo Wrapped BTC -0.70% Market capitalization $43.44 million VOL. 24 hours $1.14 billion «.