China activates its quantum weapon: Is this the first step to undermining Bitcoin's security and erasing it from the map?

By Martín Nicolás ParolariPublished on May 19, 2025 | Comments (21) |

© D-Wave Quantum Inc.

A group of Chinese researchers has managed to breach a cryptographic key with a commercially available quantum computer. Although Bitcoin remains safe for now, the study reveals that the cryptocurrency ecosystem is closer than ever to a real threat driven by quantum advancements.

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The security of cryptocurrencies has always relied on complex encryption algorithms that, in theory, would take millions of years to be decrypted. However, a recent experiment conducted in China could change this reality. The use of quantum computing to breach protective keys reveals a concerning scenario: how long until even Bitcoin is reached?

A quantum computer breaks an RSA key

© D-Wave Quantum Inc.

The finding was led by Wang Chao, a professor at Shanghai University, and published in the Chinese Journal of Computers. His team managed to decipher a 90-bit RSA key, technology still present in several digital security systems. The surprising aspect was not only the result but also the method: they used an accessible quantum computer called D-Wave Advantage, equipped with 5,760 qubits.

This computer achieved what a conventional one could never do in a reasonable time: factor large numbers, the basis of RSA encryption, with the help of a procedure called quantum annealing. This method leverages phenomena such as entanglement and quantum superposition to optimize calculations and solve mathematically complex problems.