According to Coinbase’s Independent Advisory Board, Bitcoin mining hash functions remain secure, while wallet and Proof-of-Stake validator signatures may face greater future quantum-related exposure.
Coinbase’s Independent Advisory Board on Quantum Computing and Blockchain published its first paper, reported with dates of March 21 and April 22, assessing quantum-computing risks for blockchain networks. The board concluded that Bitcoin’s core infrastructure is currently safe from material quantum threats, including its mining process, hash functions, and blockchain history. It said the main concerns are not Bitcoin’s base protocol but exposed cryptographic signatures and public keys, including wallet-layer risks and validator signatures on Proof-of-Stake networks. The paper noted that Ethereum has a defined roadmap to address wallet-related quantum risks, while networks such as Ethereum and Solana may face higher long-term exposure because validator signatures, including BLS signatures and Ed25519, are visible on-chain. The earlier report also noted that about 6.9 million Bitcoin have public keys visible on-chain and emphasized that current crypto systems remain safe because quantum computers capable of such attacks do not yet exist.