Bitcoin Forum

According to external sources, Google has already designed a Quantum Computer that's much more powerful than its competitors (like IBM and other mainstream companies working on this). If Google starts designing these computers in mass, then it could result in a risky journey for Bitcoin within days ahead. It's no secret that Quantum Computers are able to break our existing encryption methods, rendering cryptocurrencies completely vulnerable against them. Of course, it's widely possible to prevent this by making use of Lamport Signatures within the Bitcoin blockchain. But I believe that it'll be hard to implement into the pioneer cryptocurrency, since it'll require a hard fork of the blockchain.

Nonetheless, do you think that Google's Quantum Computer will be able to destroy Bitcoin in the future? Or will the pioneer cryptocurrency adapt itself against this new trend? ???

This is already asked here many times why don't you try to search it first to find out?

Anyway, here's what I found https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4666014.0

So, I think you can get the best answers under the archive link provided from the thread above.

Of course not

All this marketing about quantum computer destroying bitcoin is ridiculous. I don't get who makes money out of this bullshit.

Maybe they are just spammy article writers who wants clicks?

It's the same journalism bullshit most publishers pull to try and get the most traffic and clicks in their articles.

They pick a topic, then they find something controversial or turn something into a controversy, only showing the bad side or the side they want to show the audience.

Eg. 'Bitcoin only used for money laundering', 'Quantum Computers will destroy Bitcoin' are some some clickbait titles they use.

As for the thread, no, they are too far away from being developed and won't have the CPU power to break a private key.

There is this pervading fear among many Bitcoin enthusiasts/hodlers/lovers about the threat of supercomputers (quantum) that can possibly decipher the blockchain and destroy Bitcoin at a glance. However, up to now, no one can give us a proof that what Google developed so far can really do this. Maybe this is just akin to spreading FUD and partly marketing the technology that Google has at hand. I am sure that Google stands to make billions with this development and they are in fact withholding information so people will talk about this themselves...getting free promotions along the way. Genius! I am sharing this good article on Google's quantum technology  (https://www.ccn.com/google-quantum-bitcoin/)that can possibly clarify this thing and erase our fears.

This has been discussed in the forum for awhile. While on theory it could calculate and break current encryption methods, the quantum computer invented by Google does not have enough qubits to perform such calculations. And another point, if it would be made available to the public or some institutions, I'm quite sure that cryptography researchers would also strengthen current encryption, making algorithms quantum-proof. They could also use it to their advantage to discover new algorithms that is for now on paper only.

I guess there is nothing to worry about at least not at the moment because I believe Google won't allocate its resources just to destroy a cryptocurrency and for what?

Also, if ever time will come it would be possible to crack Bitcoin with quantum computers, I guess developers, together with the community would by far already have applied technologies to Bitcoin to make is quantum resistant and since there has been crytpo projects that supposedly claimed to be quantum resistant, maybe the developers could use it or improve upon those technologies to make it applicable to Bitcoin.

I believe that it's best for Google to work alongside prominent Blockchain companies and startups in order to make crypto a better place. Instead of using its quantum computers for evil, it could help improve the security of prominent cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum by a long shot. This immense processing power could greatly improve the performance of the whole Bitcoin blockchain as we know it. In the event that Bitcoin becomes threatened by Google's superior Quantum Computer, developers and community members could reach a decision to help protect the Blockchain at all costs. I'm sure that miners will agree to this, since their money's at stake. With Google taking an advantage in the Quantum Computing space, it could leave its competitors in the dust.

As of now, only a few cryptocurrencies like Nexus and Quantum Resistant Ledger have implemented mechanisms against Quantum Computing attacks. It's always important to have an advantage over new technologies, in order to stay ahead of the game for a long time. If Bitcoin does the right thing to counterattack quantum computing attacks, then it'll be here to stay for many generations. Otherwise, you could expect a massive crisis within crypto land in the future. I'm hope that I'm wrong and that Google's Quantum Computer would turn out to be benevolent than anything else. Just my thoughts ;D

They pretty much can bruteforce any announts private keys using that quantum computer for sure and if they tweak it more and use it to specifically hack the whole bitcoin system I think it will still need a lot of time effort and manpower and more quantum computers to be able to do it fast.

I think that quantum computing will not be able to destroy the Bitcoin network. Perhaps in a few years we will switch to a higher degree of protection where even quantum computing will not help fraudsters take possession of our Bitcoins.

Imagine the scale of the catastrophe if Google cracks Bitcoin using a quantum computer. I think many influential people will want to destroy Google instantly after this incident. Too much money at stake

If Bitcoin or something else is broken by Google by their quantum computer, then I think the company will be banned and all the leaders will go to jail

This is wrong. It's wrong on many, many levels, but at the simplest level IBM has explained that Google have not reached so-called Quantum Supremacy.

From a blog post (https://www.ibm.com/blogs/research/2019/10/on-quantum-supremacy) by IBM:


In other words, this new system is not the great leap forward that some lazy hack journalists would have you believe.

Further...

Anyone who tells you that this or any other quantum computer can brute force private keys doesn't know what they're talking about. There are more BTC private key combinations than there are atoms in the entire universe.

Quantum computers are definitely not developed with the aim of destroying Bitcoin. The real aim of quantum computer is that executing the computing processes much faster than a classical computer.

Yes, quantum generations are just developed because we are developing everyday by technology but not to compete and to destroy Bitcoin. Bitcoin still have a long way to go, so we should not worry about its existence everyday, remember that digital currency is the future of money, so holding it now will be worth it.

That too. Of course, everything will depend on the miners themselves. I'm sure that something as critical as "Quantum Computing" attacks, will become much of a concern to every single miner within the Bitcoin blockchain. After all, they wouldn't want their profits to come to an end. A hard fork which implments "Lamport Signatures" might do the trick. Right now, Google's Quantum Computer is far more superior than Quantum Computers like IBM and D-Wave Systems. But as with everything in life, we adapt and improve towards the latest trends in technology every step of the way. Eventually, cryptocurrencies will have to adapt themselves against the latest threats within the mainstream world or be left behind in the dust.

Despite this, I believe that the trend of Quantum Computing could result more beneficial towards the improvement of Blockchain technology than anything else. We'll just have to wait and see what happens over time as the space matures within the mainstream world. After all, Quantum Computing is just starting to blossom. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum could gain a step ahead by adopting Quantum-resistant mechanisms before it's too late. Until Quantum Computing becomes a serious threat to the existence of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, everything should be fine. :)

Well, if quantum computing advances fast, this can mean the end for Bitcoin, right? However, for now, the field has been taking baby steps, and whatever Google has these days, it cannot be a problem for Bitcoin. It's also unclear whether it's a matter of time till we have an awesome quantum computer or whether it's impossible in principle. It's like the strong AI question in this sense. But anyway, it seems that even if quantum computers destroy Bitcoin one day, they won't destroy cryptocurrency, because even these days there are already projects working on quantum-resistant cryptos (although I don't understand how it works).

Not external sources, Google has just informed that they've just reached quantum supremacy.

As you can see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMhPkMXx7gw

But no. There is nothing to be afraid. It is still to hard to hack a Bitcoin wallet. And I think, there are a lot of thing to do this computer now.

Everybody started to be afraid of the possibility that super computers can destroy Bitcoin. I don't think that super computers are being developed for the aim of finishing Bitcoin. They are developed to be way better in performance than normal computers.

As per the experts, it will be too early for now to be afraid, it will take few years before it happen. So, we should not be afraid now, we can still enjoy the benefit of blockchain.

Panicking with this will just lead to us to lose our focus with what we are doing. Lets not worry and go with the flow for now.

There is nothing yet for Google to produce - currently it's a prototype, insanely expensive and complicated.

Will be a few years yet before these are available for private use.  But yes, quantum computers are a danger not only to crypto but all banking and anything else that uses encryption.

I see it was just a click bait after all. easy for them to say about the vulnerability of Bitcoin's High standard encrypton. I mean, how can they tell us about something that didn't exist at all. No computer can destroy bitcoin. if there was, the price of the bitcoin will dramatically decrease today.

Deserves a merit because pretty much on point. They are years away from public use and even if there is a hint of trouble due to private use in Google labs then it's not only bitcoin which would need to increase their security it's also most websites and especially banks.

Right now I wouldn't worry and this was discussed last week when we got the crash all the way down to $7200. People were saying that Bitcoin is crashing because of Googles quantum computer and its not longer secure and hence the sell-off. It was nothing but a coincidence and we rallied about $2000 since then so obviously nobody who is buying Bitcoin thinks it's an issue.

As per Andreas M. Antonopoulos   google quantum computer will nt effort bitcoin on any form bitcoin is much more superior

Hacking Bitcoin with a Google quantum computer for me is equivalent to a US attack on China. I mean that it will be an incredible scandal and a global conflict. I don’t think that Google wants this at all.

I've answered this same type of question within another thread, this isn't science fiction, today's quantum computers are quite harmless, they still haven't worked out all of the kinks yet. Quantum physics is a trick subject that can never be written in stone or explained with simple logic. Quantum mechanics defies the laws of modern physics as we know it. It means that past the molecular level, existence remains in a state superposition( think Schrodinger's cat). 
 The D-Wave quantum super computer is the closest thing to a commercial product right now, and it handles a limited amount of things that are criteria specific.  This means it can only do certain types of calculation at the moment. It could easily end up being a few years until they become mainstream and consumer friendly.
 
Here is a buyers guide if your interested in it for reference purposes

https://www.newscientist.com/round-up/quantum-buyers-guide/

The prototype google made will not affect bitcoin nor any other industry, it will take a long time to come up with a perfect solution and i think it is really impossible as the production cost is really high to come up with something like that and to continue to spend money to achieve something impossible seem to be dumb, these events happen because they want to create history as there is a big competition going on between major tech giants to come up with a super quantum computer.

Destroy? it maybe difficult to make it happen. quantum computer was built as a expensive one as of now. everyone can not easily purchase it until next 5 years, so blockchain buy's time to improve more. but with this matter is there any hope that bitcoin will spread if the quantum computer is the dominant one? and at that rate fiat will always alive and not replaceable?  I bet that hard fan of btc will always choose it for any online purchase. it's reliable and convenient. (its seems I answer a different one from a similar thread)

Thanks for the merit.  :)

I believe the price did fall after Google's announcement but then rallied again due to IBM's.

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/614604/quantum-supremacy-from-google-not-so-fast-says-ibm/

Every qubit they add doubles the amount of paths they can analyze at once.   :o

I don't think Google's quantum computer will be able to destroy bitcoin. because I'm sure bitcoin developers and pioneers will improve the security of bitcoin so it's not easy to hack. and I've read that Google's quantum computer uses the sycamore quantum processor. and this sycamore is only 53 qubits, and it's not enough to break the bitcoin blockchain.

Yes. Even with Google's recent claim of "Quantum Supremacy", the field is just starting to blossom. It may take a couple of years from now, before Quantum Computing becomes a threat against the existence of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. By then, it's hoped that cryptocurrencies would've taken a step ahead by implementing defense mechanisms against Quantum computing attacks. I'm sure that Bitcoin miners would quickly reach consensus in order to adopt Quantum-resistant signature schemes for the underlying Blockchain network.

In the future, Quantum Computing could improve Blockchain's performance by a long shot. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can make use of Quantum Processing in order to reach a higher degree of scalability like never before. Cryptographic encryption methods will also improve, because of this revolutionary technology. But for now, we shouldn't worry much about Google's Quantum Computer destroying Bitcoin since it's just a prototype after all. Just my opinion :)

A quantum computing future is unlikely – here’s why
https://techcentral.co.za/a-quantum-computing-future-is-unlikely-heres-why/94562/
by Subhash Kak, Regents professor of electrical & computer engineering, Oklahoma State University
'While quantum cryptography holds some promise if the problems of quantum transmission can be solved, I doubt the same holds true for generalised quantum computing. Error-correction, which is fundamental to a multipurpose computer, is such a significant challenge in quantum computers that I don’t believe they’ll ever be built at a commercial scale.'

It's too soon to think about it. That's when quantum computers will become more or less popular, then it is worth thinking about it.

And now this:

Intel’s scalable quantum control chip
https://www.gigabitmagazine.com/big-data/hold-your-horse-ridge-intels-scalable-quantum-control-chip
Jim Clarke, Intel’s director of Quantum Hardware, said in a press release: “...... in order to develop a large-scale commercial quantum system.”

Who will win?

About objectivity, the introduction of Quantum Computer is a new step in technology. It is inevitable. And it's really powerful, a Quantum Computer can perform billions of calculations per second, it has been proven. It's more powerful than supercomputers in the world right now. If cryptocurrency wants to exist and grow, it must be adapted. But I don't know how blockchain can be adapted, and even impossible. Hard forks are not enough, at least for now.

Indeed. A quantum computer can defeat Bitcoin in its current state. With Google's claim of achieving "Quantum Supremacy", the company can take down the entire Bitcoin network in a blink of an eye. But we all know this will never become a reality, as miners will quickly reach consensus in order to protect Bitcoin against Quantum computing attacks. By the time Quantum Computing becomes a real threat to Bitcoin, the pioneer cryptocurrency would've adopted Quantum-resistant mechanisms (Lamport signatures maybe?) to stay relevant within the mainstream world. As of now, the field of Quantum computing is still in its infancy. Slowly but surely the Bitcoin community will explore ways to increase security against Quantum computing attacks, to keep the cryptocurrency going for the foreseeable future.

Considering how active Bitcoin's development team has been over time, I wouldn't worry about Quantum Computers posing a risk to its existence anytime soon. A simple tweak here and there, should make Bitcoin Quantum-ready without hassles. With time, we'll be able to determine if Quantum Computers will be able to live up to the task or not. Hopefully, the field of Quantum Computing would prove to be more beneficial for the growth of the entire Blockchain industry than all the other way around. Just my thoughts ;D

In the first place how could they crack an encryption mainly built from hashing algorithms? Because if we are to think about this, if you are to change even one transaction in bitcoin, then every preceding transactions will be different, in fact, hashes couldn't not be decrypt so the encryption is strong enough even with the quantum computers. And what if in the future, these quantum computers could be use to make an even stronger encryption than SHA256 that we already have in bitcoin.
Here's the thing, instead of being afraid to the technology, we should always see the benefits that they could provide.

I think its not yet implemented by google. If its part of there plan, I guess it should not destroy bitcoin. They should create something that can help or advantageous to everyone. They need clients or users and they can't just make a move that hinders or deprive users in using bitcoin. I believe they are also interested with bitcoin so probably they must design a system or computer system that benefits everyone.

Yes, I agree with you, I think it's just a hoax because until now there has been no official announcement from Google about quantum computers. and I think if a quantum computer does exist then I'm sure bitcoin developers will improve security systems and strengthen block security. I'm sure bitcoin developers will try hard to strengthen the bitcoin system and network.

Well quantum computers are getting real, in the last 10 years or so they have made a massive gain on this technology. However, I don't think that quantum computers aim is to break bitcoin, it could have lots of used in other fields, not just in cryptography. Plus, I don't think that they can simply have this to individuals who have bad intention, i.e break or stole someone's private key. I'm sure it will be the authorities or higher academe that will get the first hand if such quantum computers have been developed. And not some hackers or criminals out there.

This advancement called Sycamore quantum of Google performs calculations that even the most high tech supercomputers couldn't perform. A test showed that this quantum computer solved even the most complex calculation in just 200 seconds that a supercomputer would compute for 10,000 years. Now, this technology is feared among the Bitcoin community because an article showed that it will destroy it. However, this won't be possible yet. It isn't Google or quantum computer which will destroy or track Bitcoin. It is the hackers and criminals who could use this technology for tracking blockchain-based cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Full article here https://www.inc.com/eric-mack/no-google-its-quantum-computer-arent-killing-bitcoin-anytime-soon.html

We hope that people who use crypto will know that the news is not right, so they don't panic to see if the quantum computer will destroy bitcoin. They should learn from the other news about a quantum computer so they can understand what the right thing from that news is. That doesn't make sense because I am sure bitcoin will adapt to the current situations, and as you said, the developer will always upgrade the system following the growth of the technology.

Fake news or not I believe it's just a matter of time until we reach an unimaginable computer capability to calculate enormous number and that's technology development that can't be stopped. However, if there's any computer like that out there. i'm pretty sure that it'll not be in the hand of someone unresponsible. But, there's always a chance that it could go against any cryptocurrency so we should actually put our concern here rather than denying the reality.

From the point of view of people from the past, we currently have unimaginable computing power, when you can crack old crypto systems on your home computer in seconds, but it really doesn't mean much, because crypto systems evolve to match new challenges. Quantum computers are still extremely theoretical/experimental, but we already have algorithms that can resist them. And algorithms will keep improving in the future, so I'm sure the will have an upper hand over quantum computers.

That's not an issue. Bitcoin developers have already post quantum solutions.
But there are lots of 'shalecoins', https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5134441.0 coins with no owner. With quantum computers, these coins will become active and change the Bitcoin ecosystem.

His coins would be quantum secured, if he sent them to P2PKH addresses. But he did not and isn't doing.

We will get the answer with quantum computers. As soon as possible.

I will read the archive later after I am done with my home works, but for now I am wondering if the recent price is connected to googles being able to make a chip that can be a super computer and break through Bitcoin. What if it is not true and just making things just to bring down the price of bitcoin and other crypto currencies?

Google has nowhere mentioned that their Quantum Computing capabilities will be put into use towards the cryptocurrency sector and it is very likely to remain the same. There are much better places for it to be utilized which extends mainly to scientific simulations especially in Physics. With that said, there could be a small possibility of Google going full monetary-headed and put it to use in the economic industry to directly to push their stock values up.

Exactly. Algorithms and technology will continue to improve over time. We may have seen the advent of Quantum Computing, but existent technologies could adapt to this trend in no time. Bitcoin could easily implement a quick fix to become resistant against Quantum Computing attacks. I'm sure many miners will agree to this change, as their money is at stake. In the case of Google, I believe that the company has been full of hype than anything else. Their claims of "Quantum Supremacy" must be questioned, in order to determine with precision the impact it'll have over traditional (classic) computers of today. Slowly but surely, Quantum Computing will improve to a point where they'll be able to replace existing computers. Google might as well use its own Quantum Computer for good instead of evil. The field of Quantum Computing can be extremely beneficial for the improvement of Blockchain technology's performance within the mainstream world.

Considering that Quantum Computers are still in their infancy, they don't pose a threat to existing cryptocurrencies yet. Developer teams of prospective cryptocurrencies (like Bitcoin and Ethereum) should take a step further by implementing Quantum-resistance before Quantum Computers become a real threat to the Blockchain industry. We still have plenty of time, so I wouldn't worry much about Google's Quantum Computer destroying Bitcoin today. Just my opinion :)

Honestly I am also scared of the so-called quantum computing and it capability in quashing blockchain I read an article where it was stated that Google had used it to solve a mathematical problem that had remained unsolved for many years, I believed the evolvement of this computing system would surely threaten blockchain technology in the nearest future.

I think that at a time when quantum computers can directly affect cryptocurrencies, the developer community will always have changes to advance so that they cannot be affected by anything. Everything will always change to survive

This quantum computer by Google, could threaten Blockchain technology in the future. But I don't think Google will be able to achieve this, as crypto will adapt to the latest trends in cyber space. The quantum computer could be used for good instead of evil. If put up to good use, Blockchain technology's performance and security will rise like never before. Before quantum computing becomes a threat to Bitcoin, I believe that developers will integrate quantum-resistant signatures into the Blockchain. I'm sure that most (if not all) miners will agree to this change since their money is at stake. A simple hard fork will make Bitcoin immune against quantum computing attacks.

Other blockchain networks have taken a step ahead by adopting quantum-resistant signatures. Nexus (NXS) is already quantum-resistant, as well as, the Quantum Resistant Ledger (QRL). These cryptocurrencies could serve as an "escape route" in case the Bitcoin blockchain becomes compromised by Google's quantum computer. But I doubt that there will be the need to migrate to these other chains in the future. In the end, it'll be impossible to destroy Bitcoin no matter how hard mainstream companies (and governments) try. The pioneer cryptocurrency will be here to stay thanks to its massive community support and high hashrate for security against 51% attacks. Just my opinion :)

Nope, don't get paranoid

People have been getting paranoid about quantum cumputing for many years now. I think the main problem is how news outlets present their "research", which is by turning every article into a clickbait moneygrab.

The more of a problem you make out of quantum computing as news outlet, the more likely it is that people click on it because they fear their investment in Bitcoin might become worth zero.

The whole crypto space would be a better place without greedy news outlets.

First of all, there were no official announcements on this topic from Google. I'm sure they would've scream about it if some real breakthrough had happened. Moreover, even if they succeed, there's at least a decade to unfold this tech before it starts working