Bitcoin and quantum computing (nehanarula.org)

The article argues that a cryptographically-relevant quantum computer would eventually break Bitcoin’s signature scheme, making it an existential risk unless Bitcoin is upgraded to post-quantum cryptography well before such systems arrive. It discusses uncertainty about both the likelihood/timeline of a quantum capability and Bitcoin’s ability to coordinate a consensus-and-wallet upgrade, noting that past protocol upgrades took years. The author concludes that, regardless of price speculation, the complexity and costs of switching should be started now because the upgrade may be difficult to complete in time.