Bitcoin's Quantum Threat: 6.26M to 7M BTC at Risk from Exposed Public Keys
Research highlights the quantum vulnerability of Bitcoin holdings with exposed public keys, affecting millions of BTC.
Research highlights the quantum vulnerability of Bitcoin holdings with exposed public keys, affecting millions of BTC. Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at $82,998.00. This is an original TLT brief synthesising 2 outlets (Crypto.news, ZyCrypto), plus live market data, as of Sun, 11 Oct 2026 14:15:01 UTC.
The quantum threat poses a long-term security challenge to Bitcoin, potentially compromising a significant portion of its supply and undermining trust in the network's future-proofing capabilities.
- 6.26M to 7M BTC are estimated to be in addresses with exposed public keys.
- Quantum computers could theoretically break the encryption of these keys.
- The threat underscores the need for Bitcoin's future security upgrades.
Both Crypto.news and ZyCrypto report that a substantial portion of Bitcoin is at risk due to exposed public keys, with estimates ranging from 6.26 million BTC (Glassnode co-founder via ZyCrypto) to 6.7-7 million BTC (Fireblocks via Crypto.news). The outlets agree on the core issue of quantum vulnerability but differ slightly in the specific BTC amount cited, reflecting varying estimates from different researchers.
- Europol Warns of Quantum Computing Threat to Crypto Security
- Bitcoin's Quantum Threat: 6.26M to 7M BTC at Risk from Exposed Public Keys — this brief
Research from Fireblocks and Glassnode has highlighted a potential long-term security threat to 
Bitcoin, with millions of BTC currently stored in addresses that have exposed public keys. This exposure could make these holdings vulnerable to future quantum computing attacks.
Fireblocks Vice President of Research Michael Shaulov identified exposed public keys as the main factor in Bitcoin's quantum risk. According to his estimates, approximately 6.7 million to 7 million BTC are currently at risk. This figure aligns with Glassnode co-founder's estimate of 6.26 million BTC in addresses with exposed public keys, as reported by ZyCrypto.
While the exact number of affected BTC varies slightly between sources, both outlets agree that a significant portion of Bitcoin's supply could be compromised if quantum computing advances to the point of breaking current cryptographic standards. This threat has implications for the long-term security and viability of the Bitcoin network.
The quantum threat to Bitcoin is not immediate but rather a long-term concern that requires proactive measures. As quantum computing technology progresses, the Bitcoin community will need to consider security upgrades to ensure the network remains secure. This could involve implementing quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms.
In the current market context, with Bitcoin trading at $38,038 and showing a modest 24-hour gain of 0.34%, the quantum threat remains a theoretical but important consideration for long-term investors and developers. The overall crypto market cap stands at $2.88 trillion, indicating a relatively stable market environment. The Fear & Greed Index at 61 suggests a sentiment of 'Greed' among investors.
Since this brief published about 43 hours ago, Bitcoin (BTC) has moved from $83,038.00 to $82,998.00 — -0.05%.
The chart plots BTC's price: grey is the move before this brief published, the vertical dashed line marks the moment it published, the horizontal dashed line is the price then, and the coloured area is the move since — from TLT's market data (daily resolution). It shows what happened after the news, not that the news caused it; many factors move prices. Not financial advice.
Over the past 12 months, Bitcoin (BTC) closed within 2.5% of today's $82,998.00 on 26 separate days. Here is what the price did afterwards on those days — a historical base rate, not a forecast:
Computed by TLT from 12 months of daily closing prices. A base rate describes the past distribution of outcomes from similar price levels — it does not predict the future and ignores the specific news in this story. Crypto is volatile and past performance is not indicative of future results. Not financial advice.
At today's peer-to-peer rate, 1 BTC ≈ ₦113.29M (about $82,998.00), up 0.3% over 24 hours. The naira itself trades about 2.6% above the official rate on the P2P market, so a Nigerian buyer's effective cost differs from the headline dollar price.
Live market data
Current prices for the asset in this story — live, source-stamped, updated every 15 minutes.
Bitcoin's Quantum Threat: 6.26M to 7M BTC at Risk from E — questions & answers
What is the quantum threat to Bitcoin?
Quantum computers could potentially break the encryption of Bitcoin addresses with exposed public keys, compromising the security of those holdings.
How many BTC are at risk from quantum attacks?
Estimates range from 6.26 million to 7 million BTC, according to research from Glassnode and Fireblocks.
What can be done to address the quantum threat?
The Bitcoin community may need to implement quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms as quantum computing technology advances.
How much is 1 Bitcoin worth in naira today?
About ₦113.29M at the live peer-to-peer (P2P) USDT rate, which is what Nigerians typically trade at — equivalent to roughly $82,998.00. The naira price moves with both BTC's US-dollar price and the USDT/NGN rate; use our Bitcoin in naira page for any amount.
Which outlets reported this story?
This is an original TLT brief that synthesises reporting from Crypto.news, ZyCrypto, with the key figures cross-checked for agreement across them. It is not a copy of any one article — follow the source links above for the original reporting.
Original summary — not financial advice. This is an original TLT brief that summarises a development reported elsewhere and adds live market data for context; it is not the original article and reproduces no part of it. Follow the source link above for full details. Crypto is volatile and high-risk — always do your own research.