The risk that quantum computing poses to Bitcoin’s security has long been considered a distant, almost theoretical problem. However, recent developments suggest this threat is becoming far more immediate, according to Bitwise advisor Jeff Park.

In a recent social media post, Park compared the situation to climate change, noting it’s a complex issue that many deny but which scientists understand requires compelling solutions. He stated that the danger has now become “a little more real.”

Washington Takes a Stake in Quantum Tech

Adding weight to these concerns, the U.S. government is reportedly set to take equity stakes in private quantum computing companies. According to The Wall Street Journal, firms like Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and IonQ could see the government become a direct shareholder.

This marks a significant escalation in U.S. policy. While the government previously supported the industry with grants, direct investment signals a much more serious commitment to advancing the technology, especially as China already invests an estimated $15 billion annually in the sector.

A Quantum-Resistant Hard Fork Proposed

Within the Bitcoin community, developers are already working on potential defenses. Earlier this year, developer Agustin Cruz introduced a draft Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) designed to safeguard the network from future quantum attacks.

The proposal outlines a hard fork that would transition Bitcoin away from its current cryptographic standard, the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA). While secure today, ECDSA could be vulnerable to a sufficiently powerful quantum computer. The fork would replace it with a post-quantum signature scheme, such as Dilithium, to ensure the blockchain’s long-term security.