Quantum Computing and Miner Fees: Two Ticking Time Bombs for Bitcoin

A former Meta engineer has sounded the alarm on two structural risks that could impact Bitcoin's long-term resilience.

The first risk is the threat of quantum computing, which could potentially crack classical encryption schemes and drain Bitcoin wallets that have ever spent coins.

Estimates vary on when a cryptographically relevant quantum computer will be built, but most timelines place it at least a decade away. However, if engineering breakthroughs accelerate, this timeline could shorten.

The second risk is economic, as the block subsidy drops with each halving, pushing miners to rely more heavily on transaction fees for revenue. If Bitcoin fails to grow its fee market enough to offset the subsidy decline, the security budget will shrink, making a 51% attack cheaper over time.