Peter Van Valkenburgh
Director of Research, Coin Center
Peter Van Valkenburgh is a leading voice in cryptocurrency policy, focusing on how emerging technologies impact government regulation and market operations.
Bitcoin / Crypto
Is Quantum Computing the Biggest Threat to Cryptocurrency Ever Built — or Just Another Tech Scare That Arrives a Decade Late?Quantum computing has long been described as the technology that could one day break the cryptographic foundations of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. As major technology companies announce steady progress in quantum research, concerns are growing that today's encryption standards may eventually become vulnerable. Some experts warn that the cryptocurrency industry must begin preparing immediately by adopting quantum-resistant cryptography, while others argue that practical quantum computers capable of threatening blockchain security remain many years away. The debate is no longer about whether quantum computing matters—it almost certainly does—but whether the industry is facing an imminent crisis or simply preparing for a challenge that remains safely over the horizon.