{"id":95974,"date":"2026-04-07T10:48:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T07:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/?p=95974"},"modified":"2026-04-07T10:50:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T07:50:15","slug":"grayscale-bitcoins-quantum-challenge-is-more-social-than-technical","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/grayscale-bitcoins-quantum-challenge-is-more-social-than-technical\/","title":{"rendered":"Grayscale: Bitcoin&#8217;s Quantum Challenge is More Social than Technical"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The quantum threat to the leading cryptocurrency may be more of a social issue than a technical one, according to Zach Pandl, head of research at Grayscale.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Grayscale Research&#8217;s analysis of the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Google?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Google<\/a> Quantum AI paper suggests breakthroughs may come in sudden leaps, not gradual steps. That means preparation can\u2019t be delayed.<\/p>\n<p>The good news:<br \/>\u2022 Post-quantum cryptography already exists<br \/>\u2022 Some chains like <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%24SOL&#038;src=ctag&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">$SOL<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%24XRP&#038;src=ctag&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">$XRP<\/a> Ledger are\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/r5vtnnWCJj\">pic.twitter.com\/r5vtnnWCJj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Grayscale (@Grayscale) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Grayscale\/status\/2041204933501108698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The community has reignited discussions on this topic following <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/google-reduces-quantum-computing-power-estimate-for-bitcoin-breach\">Google&#8217;s research<\/a>, released in late March. The company concluded that a quantum computer could crack Bitcoin&#8217;s cryptography using significantly fewer resources than previously thought.<\/p>\n<p>However, Pandl suggested that the real danger to digital gold lies not in the technical solution. According to him, the network is less vulnerable due to the <span data-descr=\"unspent transaction output \u2014 \u043d\u0435\u0438\u0437\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0445\u043e\u0434\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0432\u044b\u0445\u043e\u0434 \u0442\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0446\u0438\u0438\" class=\"old_tooltip\">UTXO<\/span> model, <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-is-the-proof-of-work-pow-algorithm\">PoW<\/a> consensus, absence of native smart contracts, and quantum-resistant address types. The challenge is different \u2014 the community must decide on the way forward.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Three Options for the Bitcoin Community<\/h2>\n<p>Supporters of the first cryptocurrency have debated the fate of old coins for years \u2014 particularly concerned about approximately 1.7 million BTC still held in early <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/the-main-types-of-bitcoin-address\">P2PK addresses<\/a>. Of these, about 1 million BTC belong to <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/who-is-satoshi-nakamoto\">Satoshi Nakamoto<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/img-59f9f0ab6eb2788e-1149325849682509.webp\" alt=\"image\" class=\"wp-image-278097\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bitcoin supply distribution by address type. Source: Grayscale.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pandl believes the community has three options:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>burn the coins;<\/li>\n<li>intentionally slow their release by limiting the spending rate from vulnerable addresses;<\/li>\n<li>do nothing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>&#8220;All options are conceptually feasible, but the problem lies in reaching consensus. The Bitcoin community has a rich history of disputes over protocol changes \u2014 recall last year&#8217;s debates on storing images in blocks,&#8221; the expert noted.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>He referred to the <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/bitcoin-core-developer-luke-dashjr-the-younger-criticised-ordinals-for-network-spam\">conflict<\/a> that erupted in 2023 over the use of block space for <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/what-are-ordinals-and-brc-20-tokens\">Ordinals<\/a> \u2014 a technology allowing data like texts and images to be inscribed in satoshis.<\/p>\n<p>Two years later, the disputes have subsided, but the parties still hold opposing views.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Time for Preparation<\/h2>\n<p>Pandl urged developers to take action. He agreed with Google&#8217;s researchers that blockchains should transition to post-quantum cryptography now.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>&#8220;Investors need not worry yet. We believe there is no current threat to the security of public blockchains from quantum computers. But it&#8217;s time to accelerate efforts to prepare for a post-quantum future,&#8221; added Grayscale&#8217;s head of research.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Developers have already begun transitioning to post-quantum standards:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Solana <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/solana-tests-quantum-resistant-transactions\">is testing<\/a> quantum-resistant transactions;<\/li>\n<li>the Ethereum Foundation research team <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/ethereum-foundation-to-implement-quantum-security-by-2029\">proposed<\/a> four key network updates;<\/li>\n<li>BTQ Technologies <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/btq-technologies-launches-quantum-protected-bitcoin-testnet\">launched<\/a> a quantum-protected Bitcoin testnet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In March, Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital, <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/galaxy-digital-downplays-bitcoins-quantum-computing-threat\">called<\/a> the threat of Bitcoin being hacked by quantum computers exaggerated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The quantum threat to the leading cryptocurrency may be more of a social issue than a technical one, according to Zach Pandl, head of research at Grayscale.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":95975,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"select":"1","news_style_id":"1","cryptorium_level":"","_short_excerpt_text":"Quantum threat to Bitcoin is more social than technical, says Grayscale's Zach Pandl.","creation_source":"","_metatest_mainpost_news_update":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[18,943,1138,575,1360],"class_list":["post-95974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-analysis","tag-bitcoin","tag-grayscale-investments","tag-opinions","tag-quantum-computers","tag-quantum-computing"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"views":"20","promo_type":"1","layout_type":"1","short_excerpt":"Quantum threat to Bitcoin is more social than technical, says Grayscale's Zach Pandl.","is_update":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=95974"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95974\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":95976,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95974\/revisions\/95976"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/95975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}