Adam Back says bitcoin should prepare now for quantum risk despite long timeline - CoinDesk

Tech Share Bitcoin’s quantum threat is distant, but migration clock is ticking, says Adam Back Researchers are advancing post-quantum protections even as current hardware remains far from breaking crypto systems By Olivier Acuna|Edited by Jamie Crawley Updated Apr 8, 2026, 9:23 a.m. Published Apr 8, 2026, 9:08 a.m. Make preferred on Adam Back, center, says it is not about agreeing on a quantum risk timeline, but instead on giving bitcoin holders time to migrate to quantum-resistant wallets. (CoinDesk/Personae Digital) What to know: Blockstream chief executive Adam Back said quantum computers do not yet pose a practical threat to Bitcoin, but argued the industry should begin preparing now. Back urged developers to give users roughly a decade to migrate their Bitcoin keys to quantum-resistant formats, framing quantum risk as a long-term challenge rather than an immediate crisis. He pointed to ongoing post-quantum cryptography research, including work by a 20-person team and experiments on Blockstream’s Liquid network, as evidence that a gradual, coordinated transition is already underway. Bitcoin News More For You The Protocol: Kelp DAO exploited for $292 million By Margaux Nijkerk|Edited by Nikhilesh De 11 hours ago Also: DPRK hacking crypto, Aave contagion and Coinbase on quantum computing. What to know: Welcome to The Protocol, CoinDesk's weekly wrap of the most important stories in cryptocurrency tech development. I’m Margaux Nijkerk, a reporter at CoinDesk. In this issue: 2026's biggest crypto exploit: $292 million gets drained from Kelp DAO with wrapped ether stranded across 20 chains North Korea’s crypto heist playbook is... Read Full Story Latest Crypto News World Liberty accuses Justin Sun of 'misconduct' in response to Tron founder's defamation claims 17 minutes ago Kalshi flags more insider trading cases, including politician who appeared on FBoy Island 6 hours ago Elon Musk's Tesla reports unchanged bitcoin holdings, books $173 million digital asset loss 7 hours ago The question isn't whether privacy. It's what sort of privacy 9 hours ago Banks seek to slow down implementation of crypto's GENIUS Act on stablecoin oversight 11 hours ago The Protocol: Kelp DAO exploited for $292 million 11 hours ago Top Stories The $292 million Kelp DAO exploit shows why crypto bridges are still one of the industry's weakest links 12 hours ago Crypto giant GSR launches its first ETF to give investors an easy way to bet on the big 3 tokens 13 hours ago Bitcoin breaks Strategy's STRC ex-dividend date slump for the first time in six months 12 hours ago Tron's Justin Sun sues Trump-linked World Liberty Financial over frozen assets 22 hours ago Another DeFi protocol loses millions in hack days after KelpDAO breach 20 hours ago A make or break moment: why $79,200 could act as a launchpad or a ceiling for bitcoin 19 hours ago