
Bitcoin is facing a rare structural debate that goes beyond price cycles and macro liquidity. According to David Duong, Global Head of Investment Research at Coinbase, quantum computing presents two specific pathways that could eventually compromise Bitcoin’s cryptographic security. While the risk is not immediate, Duong warns that investor timelines for quantum readiness are shortening, forcing markets to consider long-dated downside scenarios that were previously ignored.
The discussion has already reached institutional levels, with BlackRock flagging quantum risk in a May 2025 amendment to its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) prospectus.
Duong’s analysis, published by Coinbase, centers on a hypothetical “Q-day” when cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs) could run Shor’s and Grover’s algorithms efficiently enough to weaken existing encryption standards.
Bitcoin relies on two core systems:
ECDSA for transaction signatures SHA-256 for proof-of-work miningAccording to Coinbase, signature compromise is the primary concern, not quantum mining. While quantum-accelerated mining faces scaling limits, breaking ECDSA could allow attackers to derive private keys from exposed public keys, enabling unauthorized transfers.
Coinbase estimates that 6.51 million BTC, or 32.7% of total supply, is currently vulnerable to long-range quantum attacks due to address reuse and legacy script types.
These include:
Pay-to-Public-Key (P2PK) Bare multisig (P2MS) Certain Taproot (P2TR) outputsSatoshi-era coins represent a known subset of this exposure. In addition, every Bitcoin transaction faces short-range risk at the moment of spending, when public keys briefly appear in the mempool. While exploitation probability remains low today, Coinbase argues this risk profile makes post-quantum migration unavoidable.
US and EU agencies have already instructed critical infrastructure providers to transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) by 2035, according to public policy guidance. Bitcoin developers and research groups such as Chaincode Labs are evaluating similar timelines.
Chaincode outlines two possible scenarios:
A rapid quantum breakthrough, forcing migration within two years A gradual transition, allowing upgrades over five to seven yearsPotential solutions include quantum-resistant signature schemes such as CRYSTALS-Dilithium and SPHINCS+, likely introduced via soft forks to preserve network continuity.
On the daily chart, Bitcoin price prediction has turned bearish as BTC is consolidating below $94,100, where a triple top pattern has formed. This level aligns with the 50% Fibonacci retracement of the decline from $107,700, reinforcing supply pressure.
Price remains supported by a rising trendline from November, with the 38.2% retracement near $90,900 acting as a key pivot.
Bitcoin Price Chart – Source: TradingviewCandlestick structure shows small bodies and frequent wicks, signaling indecision rather than distribution. RSI has cooled toward neutral, suggesting momentum reset rather than trend failure.
As long as Bitcoin holds higher lows above $86,900, the broader structure remains constructive.
A sustained break above $92,000–$94,100 would reopen upside toward $100,000, with the prior high near $107,000 back in focus.
For markets, the message is clear: quantum risk is not a zero-day threat, but it is now a priced-in, long-dated variable shaping Bitcoin’s evolution, custody models, and valuation frameworks as the asset matures.
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Click Here to Participate in the PresaleThe post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Coinbase Analyst Outlines 2 Unusual Ways Quantum Computing Can Break Bitcoin – Can BTC Go to Zero? appeared first on Cryptonews.