Quantum computers could bring lost Bitcoin back to life: Here’s how

Key Points

1. Quantum computing could undermine Bitcoin's security by breaking the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA), which protects private keys.

2. Between 2.3 million and 3.7 million Bitcoin are estimated to be permanently lost, and quantum computers might recover these by cracking old or vulnerable wallets.

3. Quantum computers capable of breaking Bitcoin's security would need between 13 million to 300 million qubits, a milestone not yet achieved.

4. BlackRock has warned about quantum computing's potential to disrupt cryptographic defenses, highlighting growing industry concerns.

5. Experts recommend using quantum-resistant wallets, avoiding address reuse, and adopting protocols like QRAMP to mitigate quantum threats.