Quantum computers threaten exposed private keys rather than blockchains, Europol warns
EU law enforcement agencies urged developers, exchanges, and users to initiate phased post-quantum migrations immediately to prevent future unauthorized fund transfers.
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Summary
- Europol said cryptocurrency wallets, not blockchains themselves, are the primary point of exposure to future quantum-computing attacks, though computers capable of such attacks do not yet exist.
- About 6.9 million bitcoin are held at addresses with exposed public keys, including early and long-dormant wallets whose private keys could eventually be derived by a sufficiently powerful quantum computer.
- Europol urged the industry to begin a phased shift to quantum-resistant security, warning that the main challenge is coordinating a global networkwide migration before vulnerable wallets become targets.
