The crypto industry is currently grappling with a critical concern: the potential threat posed by quantum computing to established blockchain technologies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Researchers and developers assert that this debate has intensified with the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), which could significantly accelerate the arrival of quantum computing capabilities and necessitate a comprehensive reevaluation of digital security practices.
Experts in post-quantum cryptography and blockchain security highlight a swiftly evolving landscape where AI is simultaneously being wielded as a tool for attackers and a defensive asset for developers. According to industry leaders, we are on the verge of a transformative shift in security protocols across various sectors. “The security landscape of the future is going to be different,” stated Alex Pruden, CEO of Project Eleven, which specializes in creating quantum-resistant infrastructure for cryptocurrencies. He emphasized that both AI and quantum computing could lead to a paradigm where conventional security measures are rendered ineffective.
The urgency is underscored by recent warnings from technology companies and researchers predicting that quantum computers capable of compromising modern encryption may arrive sooner than anticipated. While there is still some disagreement on when these quantum machines will be operational, many experts concede that AI could significantly expedite their development. For instance, machine learning systems are currently being deployed to enhance quantum error correction, a major hurdle in the advancement of quantum technology.
Illia Polosukhin, co-founder of NEAR Protocol and a former Google AI researcher, reflected on the accelerating pace of scientific discovery driven by AI. He noted, “The rate of research is going to accelerate from here, and we have already seen progress that people didn’t expect would come this early.” He shared insights from his experience at Google, where AI was already being utilized to identify new materials, suggesting that future quantum computers might be developed using AI, thereby creating a feedback loop between the two technologies.
The threat has evolved from theoretical discussions to real-world implications. There is growing concern that governments and advanced actors may already be capturing encrypted data with an eye toward future decryption once quantum computers become viable, a strategy known as “harvest now, decrypt later.” Polosukhin articulated the dangers this poses, stating, “If you’re identifiable as a person of interest, you can assume your data will be decrypted in two years…and it’s most likely happening already.”
The stakes are particularly high for the cryptocurrency sector, given that most blockchain platforms rely on elliptic curve cryptography—the same foundational technology used across the internet. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could hypothetically derive private keys from public ones, imperiling the security of wallets and other critical systems.
However, the narrative has shifted to emphasize that the combination of AI and quantum computing creates a perpetual state of security race. AI’s growing capability to identify software vulnerabilities means that hacking attempts could become more frequent and sophisticated. Pruden predicts, “I would expect the advent of AI to accelerate even more hacks.”
In reaction to these evolving threats, developers are employing AI defensively for applications such as code auditing and formal verification, which mathematically ensure that software functions as intended. Pruden noted, “AI can help with formal verification of post-quantum systems, theoretically making them more secure.”
Consequently, experts indicate that the future of security will likely demand a dynamic approach rather than the static, periodic updates seen in the past. Pruden remarked, “Either a quantum computer comes online to break some fundamental assumption, or AI gets smart enough to break that assumption too.”
This evolving understanding has prompted several blockchain networks—including Ethereum, Zcash, Solana, Ripple, and NEAR—to actively research and implement strategies for post-quantum migration. NEAR has made strides to embed post-quantum cryptography within its account system, allowing users to rotate cryptographic schemes without needing to migrate their assets to new wallets.
Nevertheless, transitioning to post-quantum cryptographic systems presents significant technical hurdles since these new systems are often larger and slower than current standards. Polosukhin pointed out that the established post-quantum cryptography is “very big and slow,” complicating the integration process.
The broader takeaway from these developments is that both AI and quantum computing could challenge a key assumption of our digital age: the reliability of encryption over extended periods. Instead, experts argue that the future will require an adaptable, continuously evolving approach to security, where systems must routinely upgrade to maintain their integrity and effectiveness.
