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Google Plans 2029 Post-Quantum Migration Amid Rising Threats

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Crypto Breaking News

Google has set a 2029 deadline for migrating its services to post-quantum cryptography (PQC), signaling a shift from warnings to concrete action as quantum threats edge closer to reality. The tech giant argued that rapid progress in quantum hardware and quantum error correction, along with revised estimates of when quantum machines could break today’s encryption, heightens the urgency to act sooner rather than later.

In a statement, Google underscored that PQC migration is essential for secure user authentication across its products. “Quantum computers will pose a significant threat to current cryptographic standards, and specifically to encryption and digital signatures,” the company said. This marks the first explicit timeline from Google to deploy PQC across its product stack, a move that could set a new industry tempo for post-quantum readiness.

“It’s our responsibility to lead by example and share an ambitious timeline. By doing this, we hope to provide the clarity and urgency needed to accelerate digital transitions not only for Google, but also across the industry.”

Google’s declared timeline comes as the company advances Willow, its quantum processor, which has a reported capacity of 105 qubits, placing it among the more capable publicly discussed quantum chips today.

Key takeaways

  • Google sets a 2029 target to migrate its services to PQC, signaling a rare explicit industry timeline for post-quantum readiness.
  • The move stresses the urgency of PQC ahead of theoretical “Q-Day” milestones, supported by newer estimates and faster hardware progress.
  • Willow’s 105-qubit profile reinforces Google’s positioning in the quantum race and underscores the feasibility of scaling PQC deployment alongside hardware advances.
  • Broader crypto networks are advancing their own post-quantum preparations, including Ethereum’s protocol-level PQC work and Solana’s quantum-resistant vault experiments.

Industry momentum: PQC upgrades beyond Google

The effort to harden crypto networks against quantum threats is gathering pace across layers and protocols. The Ethereum Foundation launched a dedicated Post-Quantum Ethereum resource hub this week, focusing on protecting the blockchain from future quantum-enabled attacks and safeguarding the billions of dollars stored on the network. The plan envisions implementing quantum-resistant solutions at the protocol layer by 2029, with execution-layer adjustments to follow as needed.

In parallel, Solana developers rolled out a quantum-resistant vault in January 2025 aimed at shielding user funds from quantum threats. The approach relies on a hash-based signature scheme that generates new keys with each transaction, adding a layer of forward security for vault-held assets. It’s important to note that this feature is not a network-wide security upgrade; users must opt into the Winternitz vault system to access the enhanced protection.

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These efforts reflect a broader trend toward embedding quantum resilience into core cryptographic routines, even as practical deployment remains uneven across ecosystems. Some projects, particularly in the Bitcoin camp, emphasize a more cautious stance about the immediacy of quantum risk.

Bitcoin’s divided perspectives on post-quantum risk

Within the Bitcoin ecosystem, opinion remains split on how urgently to pursue post-quantum safeguards. Blockstream CEO Adam Back has argued that quantum risks are widely overstated and that no immediate action is required for decades. By contrast, researchers and developers have proposed concrete steps to mitigate potential vulnerabilities. For example, Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 360 (BIP-360) advocates a new Pay-to-Merkle-Root output type designed to shield addresses from short-exposure quantum attacks. However, implementing such changes could take years; one prominent advocate suggested a seven-year horizon for broad adoption.

Beyond Bitcoin-specific proposals, the industry continues to weigh the practicality and timeline of universal PQC adoption. Some critics argue that even robust post-quantum schemes must contend with issues such as interoperability, standardization, and the long-term security of existing keys before a wholesale migration can be deemed safe. For now, multi-year upgrades and phased rollouts appear to be the path of least resistance as developers test and validate new cryptographic primitives.

For readers seeking deeper context, several related analyses look at the state of quantum-resistant cryptography, including examinations of the viability of quantum-secure signatures and the practical challenges of deploying them at scale. Notably, a number of articles raise questions about whether quantum-secure cryptography will perform as hoped in real-world conditions and what the timing of widespread deployment will truly look like.

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Looking ahead, the pace of PQC adoption will likely hinge on a confluence of hardware progress, standardization milestones, and the willingness of large platforms to commit to comprehensive migrations. Google’s new timeline creates a powerful signal to the ecosystem: with major players articulating concrete deadlines, the pressure to move from theory to action could accelerate efforts across wallets, exchanges, and networks alike.

Related discussions emphasize the need for transparent roadmaps and verification as quantum-ready primitives are tested in practice. The crypto community will be watching closely how large platforms translate ambitious timelines into tangible, verifiable security upgrades that survive real-world operational pressures.

In sum, the industry appears to be moving from speculative risk assessments toward programmatic PQC work streams. The next 12–24 months may reveal how quickly cross-project alignment can emerge around standards, interoperability, and the practical deployment of quantum-resistant cryptography across web, cloud, and blockchain systems.

Readers should stay tuned to how major players translate these timelines into interoperable security upgrades, and whether regulatory and standard-setting bodies accelerate guidance that helps unify the path to post-quantum readiness.

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Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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One of the biggest bitcoin (BTC) sellers this year is a tiny Asian country

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(Arkham/CoinDesk)

Bhutan has sold a part of its BTC stash again, and the pace is accelerating.

The Royal Government of Bhutan moved 519.707 BTC worth $36.75 million on Wednesday to an external address, according to Arkham Intelligence data. The transfer continues a drawdown that has intensified sharply over the past two weeks, with approximately $152 million in total outflows in 2026 alone.

The week before Wednesday’s move was the most active period in the kingdom’s bitcoin history. Arkham’s outflow data shows a cluster of transfers totaling roughly $72 million in a single week, headlined by a 595.848 BTC transfer worth $44.44 million, the largest single move of the year.

That was followed by 205.53 BTC ($15.14 million) and 150.047 BTC ($11.14 million) sent to external addresses, plus 20.506 BTC ($1.52 million) to QCP Capital’s merchant deposit address.

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(Arkham/CoinDesk)

In January, Bhutan moved 184 BTC ($14.09 million) to an external wallet, sent 100.818 BTC ($8.31 million) to QCP Capital, and transferred $1.5 million in USDT to a Binance hot wallet. In February, another 100 BTC ($6.77 million) went to QCP. Two weeks ago, 175 BTC ($11.85 million) went out. Then last week’s $72 million burst. Then Wednesday’s $36.75 million.

The pattern shifted from $5-15 million clips in January and February to $35-45 million transfers in March.

QCP Capital has been the most consistent counterparty, receiving three separate transfers totaling roughly $16.6 million this year. The Singapore-based trading firm’s repeated appearance as a destination suggests an OTC relationship for structured selling rather than ad hoc liquidations.

Bhutan’s stack peaked at roughly 13,000 BTC in late 2024, built over several years through state-backed hydroelectric mining where the cost basis is effectively zero.

(CoinDesk)

Every coin sold is profit for the country, whose economy depends heavily on hydroelectric exports to India.

The drawdown began after October 2024 and has been steep. Current holdings sit at 4,453 BTC worth $315 million, a 66% reduction in coins from peak. The Arkham balance chart shows the portfolio value peaked near $1.88 billion and now sits at $315 million, hit on both sides by the selling and bitcoin’s decline from $119,000 to $70,000.

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In December, Bhutan unveiled a Bitcoin Development Pledge committing up to 10,000 BTC to fund Gelephu Mindfulness City. At the time that was worth roughly $860 million. The government now holds fewer than 4,500 coins. The pledge in its original form is mathematically impossible to fulfill without reversing the drawdown entirely.

CoinDesk has reached out to Druk Holding & Investments, the government’s commercial arm, for comment on the recent transfers and whether the Gelephu commitment remains active.

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XRP volatility hits cycle lows as $1.40 support comes into focus

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XRP volatility hits cycle lows as $1.40 support comes into focus

The XRP token is trading in one of its tightest ranges in months, and these quiet phases often don’t last. With price sitting just above $1.40 after a failed bounce, traders are watching closely for the next big move.

News Background

  • XRP volatility has dropped to its lowest level since January, a setup that historically precedes sharp moves.
  • A recent attempt to push above $1.43 failed, with sellers stepping in aggressively on higher volume.
  • Regulatory clarity and rising institutional interest continue to build in the background, even as price action stays muted.

Price Action Summary

  • XRP slipped slightly to around $1.40 after trading in a narrow ~$0.03 range
  • Rejection near $1.43 capped upside
  • Support around $1.40-$1.405 is now being tested repeatedly
  • Late-session selling pushed price below short-term support before stabilizing

Technical Analysis

  • XRP is in a classic “compression” phase — price is tightening, volatility is low, and a breakout is likely coming.
  • The short-term structure is weakening, with failed attempts to reclaim $1.41 and sellers controlling rallies.
  • However, buyers are still defending the $1.40 area, keeping the range intact for now.
  • This creates a pressure build-up where the next move could be sharp once support or resistance breaks.

What traders should watch

  • If $1.40 holds, XRP could bounce back toward $1.43 and potentially $1.45
  • A clean break below $1.40 opens downside toward $1.35
  • The key signal will be volume — whichever side breaks with strong participation likely sets the next trend

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RBA Projects $16.7B Annual Gain from RWA Tokenization

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RBA Projects $16.7B Annual Gain from RWA Tokenization

The Reserve Bank of Australia is putting its support behind the real-world asset tokenization sector, citing recent analysis that it could contribute 24 billion Australian dollars ($16.7 billion) to the economy per year.  

Australia’s central bank assistant governor Brad Jones shared findings from Project Acacia on Wednesday, commenting that tokenized finance and related infrastructure upgrades will be “revolutionary,” according to advocates. 

He said that potential gains for the Australian economy from RWA tokenization were on the order of $16.7 billion per year, “and larger still if new markets emerged.” 

“First, we no longer see the main question as whether tokenization has a future in Australia’s financial system, but rather, how.”

Global consulting firm McKinsey & Company has forecasted that the value of tokenized assets could hit nearly $2 trillion by 2030. The head of Australia’s securities regulator, Joe Longo, in November urged the country to “seize the opportunity” or be left behind. 

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Project Acacia is the RBA’s collaborative research project run with the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre and industry groups.

It was built on a previous central bank digital currency pilot and explored whether tokenized assets could improve the functioning of Australia’s wholesale financial markets.

New digital finance sandbox to be explored 

Jones said the RBA will partner with agencies and industry groups to explore a “new digital financial market infrastructure (DFMI) sandbox.”

He added that this could allow industry and policymakers to build on the learnings from Project Acacia.

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Related: Major Australian pension fund mulls crypto offerings amid growing demand

It could also “smooth the path to practical implementation by providing a safe space for the testing and scaling of tokenized money, assets, and new infrastructure in a longer-term, stage-gated environment,” he said, adding that it could be tied in with a CBDC. 

“The interaction of wholesale CBDC with bank deposit tokens and stablecoins, and the synchronisation of tokenized asset ledgers with RITS [Reserve Bank Information and Transfer System], will be particular areas of interest.” 

RWA onchain value surges 234% in a year

Jones concluded that ensuring Australia’s payments, monetary and financial infrastructure arrangements are “fit for purpose” in the digital age is a “strategic priority for the RBA.”

The total RWA market onchain value hit a record high of $27.5 billion last week, excluding stablecoins, according to RWA.xyz. The sector has seen huge growth, surging by 234% over the past 12 months despite the broader crypto asset bear market. 

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The RWA sector has seen explosive growth over the past year. Source: RWA.xyz 

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