Bitcoin's Quantum Threat: Researchers Warn of Vulnerability to $450B in Digital Currency

A study published by Google, Caltech, and Oratomic has raised concerns about the vulnerability of Bitcoin to quantum attacks. The research suggests that over $450 billion in Bitcoin is stored in wallets with exposed public keys, which could become easier to target if quantum computers ever break through Bitcoin's cryptography.

The risk centers on older addresses, particularly those from Satoshi-era or decade-old wallets. These wallets have remained untouched for years and may be at higher risk due to their age. The study estimates that 6.7 million BTC worth over $450 billion is stored in vulnerable wallets.