such research isn't illegal by nature?

💠Google: Quantum Threat to $BTC May Be 20x Closer Than Expected

Google’s Quantum AI researchers have issued a red alert: breaking RSA encryption—long considered safe for at least another decade—might now require 20x fewer quantum resources than previous estimates. The breakthrough came via optimization of Shor’s algorithm using a technique called lattice surgery, significantly reducing the number of logical qubits and operations needed to crack encryption keys.

Why this matters: RSA and elliptic curve cryptography (ECC)—used in Bitcoin—share the same vulnerability class. Once a Bitcoin public key is exposed on-chain (as happens every time coins are spent from legacy wallets), it becomes a viable target for quantum decryption. Researchers warn that stable 10,000-qubit machines could extract private keys and reassign funds in seconds.

Previously, this risk was projected to emerge post-2040. Google’s new model brings that window forward—possibly before 2030. Over 2.5 million BTC currently sit on addresses with exposed public keys, representing a potential multi-billion dollar attack surface for future quantum adversaries.

Unlike other chains, Bitcoin has not yet deployed formal post-quantum defenses. While discussions around lattice-based or hash-based signatures are ongoing, transitioning the protocol would require years of consensus-building, coordination, and backward compatibility across all nodes and wallets.

This isn’t speculative fiction—it’s an engineering countdown. The longer the delay in adopting quantum-resistant infrastructure, the narrower the window for preemptive defense becomes. Institutions, custodians, and cold storage providers may already need to start migrating funds to shielded wallets using forward-secure cryptography.

Quantum doesn’t need to break crypto overnight—just once, on one key, to spark systemic panic.

#AMAGE community, is the Bitcoin ecosystem preparing for the quantum shift—or gambling on an outdated threat horizon?