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- Google’s new quantum research slashes the resources needed to break RSA encryption.
- Quantum threats to Bitcoin and banking security may arrive sooner than expected.
- Crypto developers may need to adopt quantum-resistant solutions faster than planned.
Google’s quantum research team has changed the game. A new study shows that cracking RSA encryption, used in banking and Bitcoin wallets, needs far fewer quantum resources than once believed. Previously, experts thought it would take around 20 million noisy qubits to break a 2048-bit RSA key.
Now the estimate falls below 1 million qubits. That’s a reduction of quantum hardware by a factor of 20. With this update, there could be a sufficiently powerful quantum computer breaking RSA within a span of a week.
That has concerned cybersecurity experts. Although actual quantum computers of that strength do not yet exist, the divide is closing quicker than anticipated. IBM’s latest top computer has just over 1,000 qubits. Close, but not yet there.
Bitcoin Uses Elliptic Curve Cryptography
Bitcoin does not employ RSA. It employs elliptic curve cryptography, which is regarded as stronger. Yet ECC has similar mathematical underpinnings to RSA. As quantum computers develop enough to break RSA quicker, ECC’s protection window also gets shorter.
That’s why the finding is concerning to owners of Bitcoin. The 256-bit cryptography implemented by Bitcoin is stronger than RSA-2048, but quantum scaling increases rapidly. A quantum leap today means a security hazard tomorrow. The cryptocurrency world is already on notice.
Researchers have begun to test quantum attacks against simplified versions of Bitcoin’s cryptography. A group even issued a reward to anyone who could break test keys with quantum technology. This is how seriously the problem is viewed, even if the targets are small at the moment.
Google and Blockchain Adapt to Quantum Challenges
The threat is not limited to digital money. RSA protects online banking, email, and international communications. It could expose everything from personal information to military systems if broken. That is why Google and others are getting a head start.
Governments and technology companies are also developing a safer cryptographic future. The U.S. has even issued post-quantum cryptography guidelines. There are also developers in the blockchain environment making changes. Solana has already launched a quantum-safe vault, and the team of Ethereum has talked about potential hard forks to counter the danger.
Yet the biggest hurdle still lies ahead: the creation of a quantum computer that remains fault-free after millions of operations. The machines today are nowhere near that. But examples like Google’s demonstrate that the advancement is greater than it was expected to be five years ago.
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