Bitcoin uses ECDSA cryptography that is mathematically vulnerable to Shor's algorithm running on quantum computers. An estimated 4 million BTC in addresses with exposed public keys are at immediate risk when cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQC) emerge. SynX solves this with NIST-approved Kyber-768 and SPHINCS+ post-quantum cryptography.
⚠️ Quantum Threat to Bitcoin
According to Deloitte research, approximately 4 million BTC (worth hundreds of billions of dollars) sit in addresses where the public key has been exposed. When quantum computers become powerful enough, these funds become immediately vulnerable to theft.
How Quantum Computers Break Bitcoin
Bitcoin's security relies on the difficulty of the Elliptic Curve Discrete Logarithm Problem (ECDLP). Classical computers cannot solve this efficiently, but quantum computers running Shor's algorithm can.
The Attack Vector
- Public Key Exposure – When you spend Bitcoin, your public key is revealed on the blockchain
- Quantum Derivation – A quantum computer can derive your private key from the public key
- Complete Theft – Attacker can sign transactions spending all your remaining Bitcoin
Bitcoin vs SynX: Security Comparison
| Security Feature | Bitcoin (BTC) | SynX |
|---|---|---|
| Signature Algorithm | ECDSA (secp256k1) | SPHINCS+ (hash-based) |
| Key Exchange | None (direct signing) | Kyber-768 (ML-KEM) |
| Quantum Resistant | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| NIST Approved | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Privacy | Transparent ledger | Zero-knowledge proofs |
| Exposed Funds at Risk | ~4 million BTC | 0 (quantum-safe) |
Quantum Computing Timeline
Harvest-Now-Decrypt-Later Threat
Nation-state attackers are already capturing encrypted communications and blockchain data today. When quantum computers arrive, they can decrypt this historical data. This means your Bitcoin transactions recorded today could be compromised in the future.
SynX uses quantum-resistant cryptography from day one, meaning even captured data remains secure against future quantum attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can quantum computers break Bitcoin?
Yes. Bitcoin uses ECDSA signatures that are mathematically vulnerable to Shor's algorithm. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could derive private keys from public keys, allowing theft of any Bitcoin in addresses with exposed public keys.
How many Bitcoin are at risk from quantum attacks?
According to research, approximately 4 million BTC (worth hundreds of billions) are in addresses with exposed public keys, making them immediately vulnerable when quantum computers become capable.
Is SynX quantum resistant?
Yes. SynX uses NIST-approved Kyber-768 for key exchange and SPHINCS+ for digital signatures. These algorithms are designed to resist both classical and quantum computer attacks.
When will quantum computers break Bitcoin?
Experts estimate cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQC) could emerge between 2030-2040. However, harvest-now-decrypt-later attacks mean encrypted data captured today could be decrypted when quantum computers arrive.
Protect Your Crypto from Quantum Threats
Don't wait for quantum computers to arrive. Switch to quantum-resistant SynX today.
Download SynX Wallet