Unchained Q-Day Is Imminent. Can Bitcoin Survive the Quantum Threat?
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Jan 18, 2026 In this insightful discussion, Alex Pruden, CEO and co-founder of Project Eleven, sheds light on the looming quantum threat to Bitcoin and other blockchains. He explains Shor's algorithm and its potential impact, pinpointing around 35-40% of Bitcoin addresses at risk. Alex discusses the massive effort needed for protocol migration and highlights Project Eleven's innovative tools for post-quantum security. He warns that if precautions aren't taken, a Bitcoin chain split could be inevitable, prompting an urgent call for industry-wide preparedness.
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Quantum Threat Is Real And Accelerating
- Quantum computers exploit superposition and entanglement to run algorithms like Shor's that can break current asymmetric cryptography.
- Alex Pruden warns this threat may arrive sooner than expected and could be relevant within five years.
Exposed Public Keys Are Bitcoin's Biggest Risk
- Bitcoin's main vulnerability is exposed public keys because signatures reveal raw public keys on spend.
- Roughly 30–40% of Bitcoin supply has exposed public keys and is at risk of key-recovery attacks.
Migration Is A Massive, Cross‑Chain Effort
- Different chains face distinct technical and cultural migration challenges; Ethereum and Solana expose more public keys than Bitcoin.
- Protocols and every asset, wallet, and smart contract must migrate, making this the largest upgrade blockchains will undergo.