Google Researchers Find That Quantum Computers Might Break Bitcoin's Encryption Up to 20 Times Faster

Google researchers have found that quantum computers might break the encryption protecting Bitcoin and other secure systems

Google researchers have discovered that quantum computers could break the encryption protecting Bitcoin and other secure systems up to 20 times faster than previously estimated.

This finding, published in a new Google AI blog post on Monday, implicates a smaller quantum resource requirement to break important codes, such as RSA encryption used to secure many digital wallets.

Previously, Google’s quantum expert Craig Gidney estimated that a quantum computer with about 20 million noisy qubits would be needed to break 2048-bit RSA encryption in eight hours. But now, the team has determined that the same task could be done in less than a week using less than one million noisy qubits. This represents a 20-fold reduction in the required quantum resources.

For context, IBM’s most powerful machine to date boasts just over 1,100 qubits, and Google’s own quantum computer runs at 53 qubits. Both companies are still a long way off from reaching even one million qubits, which means Bitcoin and other crypto assets remain safe for the time being.

The researchers explained that the improved error correction and new algorithms contribute to faster quantum calculations and enable packing more useful quantum operations into the same space. They also use a technique called “magic state cultivation” to help make quantum operations more efficient.

Bitcoin’s encryption relies on a similar but stronger system called elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). If quantum computers can break RSA faster than expected, it could mean that Bitcoin’s security timeline is shorter than previously thought. Experts are already testing quantum attacks on simpler versions of Bitcoin’s encryption.

This research underscores the pressing need for quantum-resistant cryptography. Organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology recommend migrating away from vulnerable systems by 2030, but Google’s findings suggest that this timeline may need to be adjusted.

In other news, companies like IBM and Quantinuum are planning to build much larger and more reliable quantum computers over the next 10 years. The crypto community is also preparing for this shift, with developers working on quantum-resistant blockchain upgrades to protect assets in the future.

While the threat of quantum computers is not immediate, it is certainly approaching quickly. The race is on to develop security solutions that can withstand powerful quantum computers before they become a reality.