Anatoly Yakovenko, one of the co-founders of Solana, has issued a warning regarding the need for Bitcoin developers to proactively prepare for potential advancements in quantum computing that could undermine the existing security framework of the network.
During his address at the All-In Summit 2025, Yakovenko expressed that there is an equal chance—“50/50”—that within five years, quantum computers may possess sufficient power to breach the cryptographic safeguards currently protecting Bitcoin wallets.
He emphasized, “It is imperative that we transition Bitcoin to a signature scheme resistant to quantum attacks.”
The alarm arises from concerns about quantum systems executing algorithms such as Shor’s algorithm. This could potentially dismantle the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) which secures private keys associated with Bitcoin. Such a breakthrough would enable malicious actors to forge transactions and compromise wallets—a critical threat to the integrity of the network.
Community Resistance
The inherent design of Bitcoin complicates any transition towards post-quantum cryptography. Implementing such changes would necessitate a hard fork—a process fraught with technical challenges and likely opposition—which requires broad consensus across users and lacks backward compatibility.
While Yakovenko underscored this urgency, some members within the cryptocurrency community remain skeptical about how imminent this threat truly is. Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream, suggested that while progress in technology continues apace, achieving readiness for quantum threats isn’t as daunting as it might seem; he described it as “relatively straightforward.”
Peter Todd, a contributor to Bitcoin Core, remarked on social media earlier that true quantum computers are not yet operational; he dismissed current demonstrations involving trivial problems as insufficient evidence. Similarly, Luke Dashjr—another contributor—argued that spam attacks and developer corruption pose more immediate risks than potential threats from quantum computing at present.
Yakovenko countered these views by highlighting rapid advancements in artificial intelligence which illustrate how swiftly laboratory innovations can be integrated into real-world applications. He stated emphatically that once major tech companies like Apple or Google introduce robust cryptographic solutions capable of resisting quantum attacks—it will be time for migration.