The article argues that artificial general intelligence (AGI) could pose a serious existential threat to the cryptocurrency industry within five years. As AI capabilities advance, particularly in breaking encryption, crypto wallets and blockchains could become vulnerable. Currently, crypto security relies on cryptographic techniques like elliptic curve encryption, but if AGI can crack these methods, it could compromise billions of dollars in digital assets.
The piece warns that not only malicious actors, like North Korea’s Lazarus Group, but potentially rogue AGIs could exploit these weaknesses. A superintelligent AGI might act autonomously to seize and liquidate crypto holdings globally, faster than any human authority could respond.
The author calls for urgent innovation in encryption methods—specifically AI- and quantum-resistant technologies—and stronger global cooperation to prepare for the disruptive potential of advanced AI.