In a recent podcast, Michael Saylor, the founder of MicroStrategy, downplayed the growing worries surrounding quantum computing, labeling them as just another wave of “alarmist stories.” He emphasized that there is no unified agreement on how threatening this technology truly is.
Saylor suggested that the so-called “quantum threat” is essentially a recycled psychological tactic. He likened it to earlier fears such as disputes over block sizes or China’s ban on cryptocurrency mining.
“These concerns will keep coming,” Saylor remarked. “First, there was debate about whether China would dominate all mining operations… then concerns shifted to Chinese control over mining hardware. Next came suspicions about backdoors in that equipment. Finally, the narrative became about China banning Bitcoin mining altogether.”
He pointed out that each of these alarmist stories eventually fell apart, only for critics to jump onto the next scare.
“I believe we’re discussing quantum now simply because previous risks failed to materialize,” he explained. “This whole quantum panic feels like just another round of hype since there’s nothing else grabbing attention.”
The Industry Behind Fear
Saylor argued these fear-driven narratives are often crafted by what he calls “ambitious opportunists” or “idealistic intellectuals”, who exploit anxiety to gain engagement, funding, or influence.
He cautioned that 99% of these doomsday scenarios serve as business models for those promoting them. “if I wasn’t spreading this message,” he questioned rhetorically, “how else would I profit?”
A Decade-Long Patience
Saylor recommends exercising patience and waiting approximately ten years before expecting any network-wide consensus on potential technological upgrades related to quantum threats.
“Nodes will be updated along with hardware and wallets—exchanges too will adapt,” “says Saylor. ” “But how exactly? Wait ten years: by then a global consensus should emerge regarding optimal solutions.”