Image: The Quantum Insider

Google Warns Quantum Computers Could Break Bitcoin Sooner

31 March, 2026.Crypto.16 sources

Key Takeaways

Google: under 500,000 physical qubits could break Bitcoin.
Public-key attacks could occur in under nine minutes.
Findings heighten urgency for post-quantum security upgrades across cryptocurrencies.

Quantum Threat Accelerates

Google published a white paper revealing quantum computers may break Bitcoin with far fewer qubits than thought.

“The Protocol: Quantum computing could break Bitcoin sooner, says Google Also: OpenAI raises $122 billion, crypto ecosystems diverging post-quantum strategies, and Base’s 2026 roadmap”

@coindesk

They estimated cracking blockchains could require fewer than 500,000 physical qubits, well below the millions usually cited.

@coindesk

Bitcoin's Taproot upgrade paradoxically makes some transactions easier to crack.

Google set a 2029 target for migrating cryptography but warned timelines might tighten.

Google Releases Zero-Knowledge Proof

Google released a zero-knowledge proof for independent verification without enabling reproductions of the attack.

No quantum computer today approaches this capability, but the timeline for vulnerability is significantly shortened.

Benzinga

Industry leaders including Coinbase and Ethereum Foundation are collaborating on responses.

Industry Divided on Imminence

Chamath Palihapitiya called the paper quite reasonable and urged organizing a quantum-resistant roadmap.

“Latest Google research on quantum computing claims to dramatically reduce the resources needed to break Bitcoin-type cryptography, clearly placing the 2029 migration deadline in sight”