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One-Third of Bitcoin at Risk From Quantum Threat

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Crypto Breaking News

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) faces a long-running security debate as researchers map the timeline over which quantum computing could undermine current cryptography. A white paper from Ark Invest, prepared with Unchained Capital’s insights, argues that a substantial portion of the BTC supply is not immediately exposed to such a threat, while a meaningful minority could require attention in the years ahead. The study estimates that roughly 65.4% of the circulating BTC is not vulnerable to a quantum-based breakthrough today, leaving about 34.6% at risk under certain assumptions about address behavior and key exposure. In concrete terms, the assessment breaks down the vulnerable pool into roughly 5 million BTC that could migrate due to address reuse, about 1.7 million BTC (around 8.6% of supply) possibly lost in legacy P2PK (Pay To Public Key) addresses, and roughly 200,000 BTC (about 1%) that could migrate because of newer P2TR (Pay To Taproot) formats. The authors contend that breaking Bitcoin’s elliptic-curve cryptography would require a quantum computer with thousands of qubits and a vast number of quantum gates, meaning a direct attack remains distant, even as prep work accelerates. Even so, their practical feasibility would require quantum systems to reach performance levels that our research suggests will take much time to achieve.

“Even so, their practical feasibility would require quantum systems to reach performance levels that our research suggests will take much time to achieve.”

The Ark Invest analysis sits alongside broader discussions about the pace of quantum development. It contrasts with a February CoinShares assessment, which estimated that only about 10,200 BTC—roughly 0.05% of the supply—present true market-relevant quantum risk, even though older P2PK addresses still carry theoretical exposure. Separately, progress in quantum hardware continues apace: a landmark facility capable of housing one million physical qubits, a scale that dwarfs typical data-crunching rigs, is slated for completion in 2027. Chicago-based PsiQuantum leads the project, backed in part by BlackRock-linked funds, underscoring institutional interest in quantum infrastructure as much as cryptographic risk.

Quantum breakthrough remains “long-term risk” for Bitcoin

The white paper frames quantum risk as a gradual, multi-stage development rather than an instantaneous vulnerability. It outlines five stages of quantum computing progress, with the most consequential impact—breaking ECC at a pace faster than Bitcoin’s block interval—occurring only in the final stage. In practical terms, Bitcoin’s exposure from migrating or reusing addresses would remain limited until stage 3, when a quantum computer could break the 256-bit ECC key. The authors point to a mid-2030s window for the first public-key break, a benchmark derived from assessments by major tech firms such as Google, IBM and Microsoft. The conclusion is not alarmist, but it signals that the network has time to study protections and plan upgrades without rushing a hard fork or governance overreach.

“Those who hold and transact Bitcoin should regard quantum risk as a long-run risk rather than an imminent threat,” the paper notes, framing it as a call to prepare rather than panic. The authors emphasize that awareness and foresight will be essential as the risk migrates through the network over time, potentially shaping how wallets, exchanges and custodians think about security architecture in the coming decade. The discussion also touches on governance frictions: unlike a single-fork upgrade, implementing post-quantum safeguards across Bitcoin’s decentralized consensus model will require broad alignment across nodes, miners and developers.

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The Ark Invest report includes a figure on the multi-stage trajectory of quantum advancement but also flags a practical nuance: even at higher stages, the speed of a security breach would depend on the specific cryptographic primitives in use and how quickly the ecosystem migrates to post-quantum alternatives. In the meantime, researchers and builders are exploring how to harden the network with post-quantum cryptography (PQC) while preserving compatibility and performance. The authors also discuss candidate post-quantum schemes, such as ML-DSA (lattice-based) and SLH-DSA (hash-based), which are among the approaches considered for future resilience.

On the governance frontier, the paper notes that a wholesale, rapid shift to PQC would be challenging under Bitcoin’s consensus rules. A proposed path discussed in the literature is BIP-360, which contemplates a Pay-to-Merkle-Root type output designed to mitigate long-exposure quantum risk without immediately reworking the entire signature ecosystem. Yet, the authors caution that BIP-360 is not a cure-all; it does not itself embed post-quantum signatures, which the team regards as essential for durable protection against quantum attacks. Experts such as Chris Tam of BTQ Technologies have underscored this gap, arguing that effective post-quantum defense requires signatures, not just new address formats.

The broader takeaway is that quantum risk, while real, is a long-term concern that invites proactive planning rather than haste. The Ark Invest paper emphasizes that the transition to quantum-safe mechanisms will likely unfold in stages, with ongoing research, testing and governance conversations shaping the path forward. As the spotlight intensifies on quantum hardware, Bitcoin’s security posture will increasingly hinge on how the community negotiates practical upgrades within a decentralized framework that favors gradual, consensus-driven change.

In closing, Ark Invest’s analysis corroborates a cautious but constructive view: the threat remains distant enough to permit careful preparation, yet imminent enough in its trajectory to justify continued investment in quantum-ready cryptography and related upgrades. The dialogue around post-quantum protections—beyond mere address formats—reflects a mature understanding that long-horizon risk requires long-horizon solutions, coordinated across ecosystems from core developers to wallet providers and exchanges.

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Why it matters

For individual holders, the report underscores that the security of today’s holdings relies on a combination of on-chain design and user behavior. A sizable portion of BTC may still be at risk only if quantum attackers gain the means to break elliptic-curve cryptography in a time window long enough for the network to implement upgrades. This matters not as a near-term crisis, but as a strategic reason to stay informed about post-quantum advances and to monitor consensus-driven proposals that could alter how keys and addresses are managed in the future.

For builders and wallet providers, the analysis highlights the importance of future-proofing infrastructure. The emergence of PQC standards and the potential need for quantum-safe address formats could influence wallet compatibility, key management, and transaction verification. The discussion around BIP-360 — and the broader push toward signatures resilient to quantum attacks — points to a practical roadmap where security upgrades are evaluated in stages rather than through abrupt protocol changes.

For the market at large, the study underscores that quantum readiness is increasingly a governance and investment narrative as much as a technical one. The prospect of a major quantum milestone, like a million-qubit facility, signals a broader shift toward quantum readiness across technology and finance, which could impact risk appetite, capital allocation and the pace at which institutions engage with crypto security initiatives.

What to watch next

  • Progress on BIP-360 and any proposals to introduce post-quantum signatures or other PQC-based protections.
  • Updates to Ark Invest’s research or new white papers that refine the share of vulnerable BTC as quantum hardware advances.
  • Milestones in quantum hardware deployments, including PsiQuantum’s 1-million-qubit roadmap and related funding developments.
  • Adoption timelines for post-quantum cryptography standards and their integration into Bitcoin’s consensus framework.

Sources & verification

  • Ark Invest and Unchained’s white paper on Bitcoin and quantum computing, including address migration and exposure breakdown. https://www.ark-invest.com/Thank-You/bitcoin-and-quantum-computing?submissionGuid=0568c5c5-6004-4bb3-9c71-ad9f904c3cf6
  • CoinShares analysis referenced in February detailing market-relevant quantum risk estimates. https://cointelegraph.com/news/only-10k-bitcoin-quantum-risk-coinshares
  • Announcement of PsiQuantum’s one-million-qubit facility with BlackRock-linked funding. https://cointelegraph.com/news/construction-quantum-facility-1m-qubits-begins
  • BIP-360 post-quantum discussion and related commentary, including the critique that it lacks post-quantum signatures. https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-quantum-resistant-bip-360-post-quantum-signatures-taproot
  • Perspective on the potential timeline for post-quantum upgrades, including expert commentary from BTQ Technologies. https://cointelegraph.com/news/whale-9b-bitcoin-sale-not-quantum-concerns-galaxy-digital

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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Bitcoin rangebound as altcoins rally while derivatives signal downside risk: Crypto Markets Today

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Bitcoin rangebound as altcoins rally while derivatives signal downside risk: Crypto Markets Today

The crypto market continued to exhibit signs of choppiness on Friday, with bitcoin trading at $67,000 in the middle of a trading range that spans back to early February.

A selection of altcoins picked up during the lower liquidity Asia hours, prompting the likes of ALGO and RENDER to post double-digit gains over the past 24 hours.

But the wider picture remains the same; the crypto market is trading in a macro downtrend dating back to October, characterized by a series of lower highs nad lower lows.

U.S. equities trade flat on Friday as volatility continues to cool since Donald Trump’s comments about a potential end to the war in Iran on Monday.

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Brent crude oil is trading at $109 a barrel, indicating that an end to the war is perhaps not as close as some analysts are predicting.

Derivatives Positioning

  • Futures markets for Bitcoin and Ethereum remained subdued, with the extended holiday weekend keeping trading volumes thin. Open interest in both assets was largely unchanged over the past 24 hours.
  • Open interest in Solana futures has climbed to over 65 million SOL, its highest level since Feb. 7. The increase, combined with negative funding rates and an OI-adjusted cumulative volume delta, suggests traders are increasingly positioning for downside, with short sellers showing greater conviction.
  • Similar bearish market dynamics are present TRX and BCH.
  • OI in Privacy-focused Zcash (ZEC) futures have steadied near 1.70 million ZEC for the third straight day. ZEC’s CVD is also the highest among majors. This combination suggests sustained positioning with strong directional conviction, likely driven by aggressive buying pressure.
  • Bitcoin’s 30-day implied volatility index has declined to 51.28%, the lowest since Feb. The market shows no signs of panic whatsoever despite geopolitical concerns and energy market volatility.
  • Ether’s volatility index has slipped to 72.55%, the lowest since Feb. 26.
  • On Deribit, bitcoin and ether puts continue to trade pricier than calls, indicating a bias for downside protection.
  • Glassnode said that the dealer gamma exposure below $68,000, all the way down to $50,000 is negative. This means that dealers could sell in a falling market to hedge their exposure, adding to downside volatility.

Token talk

  • The altcoin market has been relatively resilient to crypto’s choppy behavior this week, certain portions of the market have outperformed bitcoin and crypto majors, particularly DeFi and AI tokens.
  • The DeFi Select Index (DFX) is up by 1.3% since midnight UTC, while the CoinDesk Computing Select Index (CPUS) rose by 1.5%, beating the bitcoin-heavy benchmarks likes the CoinDesk 20 (CD20), which is up by just 0.16% on Friday.
  • The outperformance of certain altcoins is symptomatic of a consolidating market. When bitcoin and the majors trade flat, traders often speculate on lower liquidity altcoins. That speculation typically grinds to a halt when bitcoin is back deciding the next major market move.

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Pyth soars 9% following Polymarket integration. Will it rally higher?

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Pyth soars 9% following Polymarket integration. Will it rally higher?

Key takeaways

  • PYTH is up 9% in the last 24 hours, outperforming other major cryptocurrencies.
  • The rally comes following Pyth Network’s integration with Polymarket.

PYTH, the native coin of the Pyth Network, is one of the best performers in the crypto market over the past 24 hours. It could rally higher in the near term as the broader market recovers from Thursday’s slump.

PYTH rallies on Polymarket integration

On Thursday, Pyth Network revealed in a blog post that Polymarket, the world’s largest prediction market platform, has integrated Pyth Pro as its data source for a new suite of traditional asset contracts.

The initial offerings include gold, silver, and major equity index ETFs. Polymarket now relies on Pyth Pro’s data to power its daily up/down and daily close markets, with live price charts updated every second to ensure full transparency.

The integration has seen PYTH rally by 9% in the last 24 hours and now trades at $0.0420 per coin. 

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Pyth Pro provides real-time price data through WebSocket, which Polymarket samples every second to display as a live “price to beat” chart. This allows traders to monitor the market’s status relative to their position in real-time.

The selected assets span a wide range of traditional finance, including major equity indices, commodities like gold, silver, WTI crude, and natural gas, along with over a dozen high-profile U.S. equities such as TSLA, COIN, and PLTR.

Polymarket has integrated this real-time data as a key component of its perpetual futures trading platform. Pyth Pro delivers institutional-grade market data directly from top firms, ensuring it is accurate, transparent, and affordable across all asset classes and regions.

To enhance this, Pyth has partnered with industry leaders and government agencies like Cboe, Jane Street, Revolut, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. This collaboration has helped establish a new model to make market data more accessible, accurate, and transparent.

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PYTH eyes $0.050 as bulls step in

The PYTH/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient despite the coin adding 9% to its value in the last 24 hours.

The technical indicators have flipped bullish, indicating that the bulls are now in control of the market. The RSI of 63 is well above the neutral 50 and would enter the overbought territory if the rally persists.

PYTH/USDT 4H Chart

The MACD lines are also within the positive region, indicating a strong bullish bias. If the rally continues, PYTH could retest the $0.050 psychological level for the first time since March 17.

However, if the bears regain control, PYTH could retest the Thursday low of $0.038 over the next few hours or days.

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Drift Seeks Contact With The Hacker After $280M Exploit

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Drift Seeks Contact With The Hacker After $280M Exploit

Drift Protocol, a Solana-based decentralized exchange (DEX), said Friday it had opened onchain contact with wallets tied to funds stolen in the exploit that outside firms have estimated at roughly $280 million to $286 million.

Drift said on X that it had initiated onchain contact with wallets holding the stolen Ether (ETH), seeking to open a line of communication.

The team sent onchain messages from its Ethereum address (0x0934faC) to four wallets linked to the exploiter at the time of publication, urging the attacker to reach out via Blockscan chat. “We are ready to speak,” Drift said.

Onchain messaging has become a common tactic in exploit response, allowing protocols to communicate directly with attackers while preserving anonymity. In past cases, such as the Euler Finance hack, similar outreach led to the partial recovery of funds.

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Drift’s onchain message to the Drift Exploiter on Friday. Source: Etherscan

Anonymous sender tries to pressure the attacker

Drift’s communication came hours after an unknown sender using the ENS name readnow.eth also reached out to wallets linked to the attacker on Thursday via onchain messages.

The sender claimed to know the identities behind the attack and demanded a payment of 1,000 ETH in exchange for withholding information.

Source: Etherscan

The claims could not be independently verified and may represent an attempt to mislead or pressure the wallet holder. The incident highlights how, alongside official communications, unverified messages can circulate onchain after crypto exploits.

Solana fallout keeps spreading

According to SolanaFloor, Drift’s exploit has so far affected at least 20 Solana protocols, including the decentralized finance (DeFi) platform Gauntlet, which was estimated to be impacted to the scale of $6.4 million.

Blockchain security platform Cyvers said the impact was still expanding as of Friday morning, with no funds being recovered 48 hours past the attack.

Cyvers said that the attack was likely a “weeks-long, staged operation,” noting that the attacker set up durable nonces, a Solana feature allowing users to pre-sign transactions for future execution, days before the exploit.

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Related: Crypto hackers steal $169M from 34 DeFi protocols in Q1: DefiLlama

“This closely mirrors the Bybit hack, different technique, same root issue: signers unknowingly approving malicious transactions,” Cyvers added.

Some industry observers, including Ledger chief technology officer Charles Guillemet, suggested the exploit may involve North Korea-linked actors, though details remain unconfirmed.

Magazine: Nobody knows if quantum secure cryptography will even work

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