Galaxy Digital analyst Will Owens states the quantum computing threat to Bitcoin is real but manageable. While a quantum computer could theoretically derive private keys from exposed public keys to steal funds, most wallets are not currently vulnerable. Owens reports that Bitcoin developers are actively working on solutions, and the ecosystem has a concrete set of proposals under development and review.
The quantum risk to Bitcoin is real, but not all wallets are vulnerable according to Galaxy Digital research analyst Will Owens. He stated that a quantum computer could theoretically derive private keys from public keys to steal coins.
Owens argued funds are only at risk when public keys are exposed on-chain. This creates two main exposure methods for wallets currently holding Bitcoin.
The threat has long been debated as an upcoming inflection point for cryptocurrency. Advanced computers capable of breaking encryption have been theorized to expose sensitive data.
Critics argue the threat is overblown because the technology is decades away from viability. They note traditional targets like banking giants will be cracked long before Bitcoin.
Owens said some online discourse claims Bitcoin Core developers are ignoring quantum-related proposals. He claims to have found otherwise, noting the pace of proposals has accelerated meaningfully since late 2025.
“Contrary to some public criticism, our review found substantial developer work addressing the question of quantum vulnerabilities and mitigations,” he said. “The ecosystem now has a concrete and maturing set of proposals spanning the full problem surface.”
Other participants like Bitcoin analyst Willy Woo have also proposed solutions. Woo stated last November that holding Bitcoin in a SegWit wallet for several years could mitigate risks.
When a post-quantum solution is ready, governance will likely present a challenge according to Owens. He noted Bitcoin has no central authority that can mandate a software update.
“But the nature of this particular threat — external, technical, and universal in its impact — aligns incentives in a way that past disputes over Bitcoin’s economic direction did not,” Owens said. “Every honest participant in the network, from miners to holders to exchanges, has a direct financial interest in the network’s continued security.”
For investors, Owens provided a key takeaway on the recognized risk. “The risk is real but recognized, and the people best positioned to address it are working on it.”
