Quantum computers are coming for crypto. The industry is racing to prepare Blockchain networks built on decades-old cryptography face a potential existential threat as developers begin planning a costly and complex security overhaul. The cryptocurrency industry is beginning to prepare for a new and potentially existential challenge: the possibility that quantum computers could eventually break the cryptographic systems that protect digital assets, transactions and wallets. Quantum computers are designed to solve certain complex mathematical problems far faster than today’s most advanced conventional computers. If the technology reaches the required level of capability, it could undermine traditional encryption methods that secure digital information, posing a major risk to the roughly $2 trillion global cryptocurrency market, which relies on blockchain networks protected by decades-old cryptography. While practical quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption remain experimental, concerns have intensified following recent advances in the field. Research from Google, one of several technology companies developing quantum systems, suggested that the timeline for such attacks could be shorter than previously believed. Google has said that quantum computers capable of breaking encryption could arrive by 2029, whereas previously many experts expected such capabilities to remain at least a decade away. Research from Citigroup and other institutions has also suggested that advances in quantum computing, alongside breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, are accelerating the timeline in which cryptocurrencies could become vulnerable to attacks. Recognizing the broader national security implications of quantum technology, U.S. President Donald Trump recently issued executive orders aimed at strengthening American quantum capabilities. Some cryptocurrency companies and blockchain developers are already preparing plans to upgrade their networks with quantum-resistant cryptography, a potentially years-long process that could require significant changes to the infrastructure underlying digital assets. “It’s the most direct and existential threat towards cryptocurrencies and crypto networks,” said Chris Tam, head of quantum innovation