Quantum computers could break the encryption protecting every cryptocurrency on the planet. That is not a distant theory. It is an active scramble.

Blockchains link transactions through cryptographic algorithms built on large prime numbers. A quantum computer does not brute force those numbers the way a classical machine does. It runs every probability at once and collapses toward an answer. A recent paper found we would need far less quantum processing power than expected to get there.

Crypto is the most exposed target, and not just because of its reputation for scams and rug pulls. There is no regulation and no insurance. If a quantum attack strips a wallet, the recourse is almost nothing. Banks face the same underlying math. One leading post-quantum encryption candidate called Rainbow has already been broken.

Topics: quantum computers, cryptocurrency security, quantum encryption, blockchain vulnerability, post-quantum encryption

GUEST: Greg Fish | cyberpunksurvivalguide.com

Originally aired on2026-05-13