The threat to Bitcoin from quantum computers is often considered distant, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the impacts may already be slowly beginning.
New research findings and developments at major institutions suggest that time is running faster than expected.
Quantum computing is already influencing Bitcoin – but in a completely different way than expected.
Bitcoin's weak performance compared to gold is drawing attention from many large investors again. The cause of this is not only classic market forces but also, above all, risks from quantum computers that could one day attack Bitcoin's encryption.
Strategists are now taking these threats more seriously, adjusting their portfolios, and discussing the long-term security of Bitcoin more frequently.
BeInCrypto reported that Jefferies strategist Christopher Wood removed a ten percent Bitcoin position from his well-known 'Greed & Fear' model portfolio and instead invested more in physical gold and mining stocks.
Wood expressed concern that quantum computers could one day crack Bitcoin's ECDSA encryption, thereby jeopardizing the value storage concept.
"Financial advisors read such studies and set the Bitcoin allocation for clients low or even to zero, as quantum computers are a real threat. This remains a problem for BTC until there is a solution," said batsoupyum, a well-known user on X.
Studies also warn: According to a study by Chaincode Labs from 2025, twenty to fifty percent of existing Bitcoin addresses could be susceptible to future quantum attacks due to reused public keys. Approximately 6,26 million BTC worth between 650 and 750 billion USD could be at risk.
The Projection Calculator also shows this danger as the development of quantum hardware is increasing exponentially over time.
The number of qubits in quantum computers is increasing rapidly. Especially since Google's milestones in 2025, the development of quantum computers capable of breaking important encryption has become more likely.
Since Bitcoin is decentralized, the challenge is particularly great. Unlike traditional banks, which can implement updates centrally, changes in Bitcoin must be coordinated across the entire distributed network.
There is no committee and no central authority that can enforce an immediate update.
"In the past, I dismissed the risks posed by quantum computers for Bitcoin as unrealistic. I no longer do that. Many still say: There has been no threat from quantum computers for years, and if there were, the entire financial system would be at risk... [Bitcoin] can theoretically be updated. But that is slow and difficult in a decentralized network. No one can just say: 'From now on, we switch,'" noted Jamie Coutts on X.
Risk of quantum computing: Does it threaten the institutional attractiveness of Bitcoin?
The market also reflects uncertainty. The Bitcoin price was 6.5 percent behind gold for the year 2026, while gold rose by 55 percent. The BTC to gold ratio was at 19.26 in January 2026, aligning with the cautious stance of many advisors.
Institutions are reacting very differently: While Wood reduced his Bitcoin holdings, Harvard is reportedly increasing its Bitcoin engagement by almost 240 percent.
Morgan Stanley is also advising its clients to invest up to 4 percent of their portfolio in digital assets. Similarly, Bank of America allows holdings between 1 and 4 percent.
This shows: Support does not disappear, but rather spreads more through different risk assessments.
Nevertheless, some experts describe the quantum risk as unlikely but highly consequential. David Duong from Coinbase identifies two major dangers: Quantum computers could crack ECDSA keys and attack the SHA-256 encryption that secures mining in Bitcoin.
Old pay-to-public-key scripts, certain multisignature wallets, and some Taproot addresses are particularly affected.
By maintaining good address hygiene, that is, avoiding reused addresses and moving coins to quantum-safe addresses, one can reduce risk.
The post-quantum cryptography standards completed by NIST in 2024 provide a roadmap for future protection. Nevertheless, implementation remains difficult for Bitcoin.
Charles Hoskinson of Cardano warns that an early introduction could significantly reduce efficiency. At the same time, DARPA's Quantum Blockchain Initiative shows that significant risks could arise in the 2030s.
The rapid development seen in the forecast graph suggests that the timeline could accelerate. Especially if AI helps speed up the development of quantum technology.
The question of how quantum computers could influence crypto is no longer just a theory. It is already having a noticeable impact on every portfolio. The weakness of the Bitcoin price is not only due to normal market phases. It is also due to the ongoing risks that many large investors are concerned about. They are investing more cautiously, and the network must tackle a new technical challenge that it has not faced before.
As long as Bitcoin's decentralized system does not receive a fully functional quantum-safe upgrade, the 'yoke' around BTC's neck will remain.
