Coinbase's Quantum Advisory Council Urges Preparation for Post-Quantum Blockchain Future

Coinbase's quantum advisory council is urging blockchain developers to begin preparing for a post-quantum future now, arguing that the technical work of upgrading Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other networks shouldn't wait for consensus on what to do with vulnerable or abandoned coins. [...] The report comes as researchers warn that a 'cryptographically relevant quantum computer'—one powerful enough to crack the elliptic curve digital signatures protecting Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major blockchains—is more likely than not to exist as early as 2030. [...] Approximately 7 million Bitcoin total are currently considered quantum-vulnerable. [...] The debate comes as major blockchain networks begin preparing for a post-quantum future. [...] Bitcoin developers, meanwhile, continue to debate how vulnerable coins should be migrated—and what should happen to those that never move.