Quantum Computing: A Threat to Bitcoin and Beyond?

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#1Apr 14, 2017, 06:40 AM
I'm diving into Bitcoin lately and all I see are worries about quantum computers. I mean, if they’re strong enough to break cryptography, isn’t everything at risk? Not just Bitcoin but banks, hospitals, governments… the whole digital world relies on cryptography. Seems like Bitcoin wouldn’t be the only one in trouble.
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degen420Member
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#2Apr 14, 2017, 08:44 AM
Absolutely. It’s all about FUD. People panic thinking everything will collapse instantly. If we look at history, cryptography evolves. Like SHA-1, it’s considered broken but it's still in use everywhere. We adapt and upgrade, just like we did with SHA-1. It won’t just be a switch flipped.
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diamond_minerFull Member
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#3Apr 14, 2017, 01:45 PM
Right, centralized systems can handle it better. They can patch things up quickly and recover. But Bitcoin is decentralized. If quantum tech threatens it, it could be a disaster. Yet, the talk is overblown. Quantum computing is still years away.
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0xApeNewbie
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#4Apr 14, 2017, 06:12 PM
If quantum tech can break Bitcoin, then nothing is safe. We’d lose privacy and security. Let’s not scare people into thinking Bitcoin is doomed. We need to focus on adoption, not fear.
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0xNodeMember
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#5Apr 14, 2017, 09:10 PM
1. Media FUD is real. 2. Different systems have different risks. Centralized ones can collapse and recover. Bitcoin is designed to prevent any rollbacks. Some folks can't think beyond black and white. They just see 'secure' or 'insecure', nothing in between.
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0xOrbitMember
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#6Apr 14, 2017, 10:04 PM
I've read a lot here, but honestly, the focus is so much on Bitcoin because it grabs headlines. "Bitcoin at risk" is more clickable than "the internet needs an upgrade." Quantum computing isn’t just a Bitcoin issue; it’s a global cybersecurity threat.
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#7Apr 15, 2017, 01:42 AM
Exactly, they want to push Bitcoin down. If quantum computers become a real threat, banks will be hit first, not Bitcoin. It's funny how people forget that Bitcoin has better security than banks.
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GigaOmegaMember
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#8Apr 15, 2017, 06:43 AM
Totally agree, quantum tech will break everything eventually. AI is already causing issues, and some of the strongest AIs are banned now. If AI can be a threat, why not quantum computers?
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SilentBearFull Member
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#9Apr 15, 2017, 09:51 AM
I don’t really understand how cryptography works or how quantum computers could impact everything, but I’ve thought about this a lot. I asked similar questions back in 2022 on this forum, but got no clear answers. Seems like people just freak out about Bitcoin.
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HumbleWalletFull Member
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#10Apr 15, 2017, 05:52 PM
If quantum tech were real, we wouldn’t even have functioning banks anymore. Everything would go down, phones, laptops, you name it.
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ben_alphaMember
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#11Apr 15, 2017, 07:23 PM
If they ever get powerful enough to threaten Bitcoin, that could be the end of it. But I’m hoping that’s far off. And honestly, keeping all your savings in one asset isn’t smart. Diversification is key.
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#12Apr 16, 2017, 01:05 AM
But if quantum computing breaks every encryption, diversifying becomes tough. Everything online is at risk, so what do you do? Maybe invest in physical assets? But if everyone panics, banks might limit withdrawals.
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0xNodeMember
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#13Apr 16, 2017, 04:30 AM
Not all risks are equal. Study risk assessment. Bitcoin is more vulnerable than you think. People say banks will get hacked first, but that’s nonsense. Those who believe that don’t really understand quantum computers.
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#14Apr 16, 2017, 10:07 AM
Why all the fear about quantum tech? Do people think anyone can just buy one? They’ll be tightly controlled by certain countries or individuals. I think we’ll see restrictions on who can own them.
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#15Apr 17, 2017, 12:59 AM
People act like quantum computers are designed specifically to break Bitcoin, but that’s not the case. Sure, they could, but it’s just FUD to scare investors. There are good sides to this tech, but no one talks about them.
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dave.forkMember
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#16Apr 17, 2017, 05:38 AM
Banks can rotate keys and patch things quickly. Bitcoin can’t force anyone to move their coins. If someone has already exposed their public key, it’s open season for anyone with quantum hardware.
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#17Apr 17, 2017, 06:30 AM
This really clears things up for me. I used to think if something’s broken, it’s done. But it’s more about the damage caused and how to recover. We should focus on Bitcoin’s evolution instead of worrying.
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#18Apr 17, 2017, 08:11 AM
This comment changed my perspective too. I used to think breaking meant it was over, but it’s way more complex.
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0xRocketMember
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#19Apr 17, 2017, 08:38 AM
Researchers see cracking Bitcoin with quantum computers as a major milestone, while journalists just run with the narrative. If they reported on the risks to banking encryption, the panic would be massive.
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topbl4stFull Member
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#20Apr 18, 2017, 08:51 AM
This whole quantum thing feels like FUD. Imagine if we were in the 90s, and someone brought back a super-fast CPU from the future. It’d spark panic. Quantum tech is just like that. It’ll change things fast, but we aren’t ready.
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