Quantum Computing Threat to Crack Bitcoin: Will Bithumb’s Preemptive PQC Adoption Be the Answer?

▲ The Threat of Quantum Computers Breaking Bitcoin... Will Bithumb’s Preemptive Adoption of PQC Be the Answer? / ChatGPT-generated image

Amid growing concerns that the formidable computing power of quantum computers could undermine the core security systems of virtual assets, Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has moved preemptively to adopt next-generation cryptographic technology.

According to industry sources on the 20th, as quantum technology development accelerates under the leadership of tech giants such as Google and IBM, fears are rising that Bitcoin’s core encryption algorithm, the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA), could be decrypted within minutes. With long-dormant assets, including 1.1 million coins held in the wallet of Bitcoin’s creator Satoshi Nakamoto, being cited as primary targets, Bithumb announced that it will introduce Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) security systems—the first among domestic exchanges—to respond to such threats.

On the 11th, Bithumb signed a technology partnership with fintech security firm Aton and agreed to apply PQC solutions across its platform. The solution introduced by Aton is based on ML-DSA and ML-KEM, standard algorithms selected by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Combined with proprietary white-box cryptography technology, it is designed to provide dual-layer protection against both future quantum computer hacking attempts and existing bypass attacks.

Through this initiative, Bithumb plans to thoroughly prepare for so-called “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” threats, where data is stolen across the entire service lifecycle—input, authentication, transmission, and storage—and decrypted at a later time. Lee Gi-taek, head of Bithumb’s security division, emphasized that the company will progressively advance its asset protection framework in line with long-term changes in the security environment.

However, for the broader virtual asset ecosystem to fully transition to quantum-resistant technology, technical challenges must still be addressed, including network disruptions due to increased data capacity, reduced processing speeds, and scalability limitations. Nevertheless, as institutional investors begin to consider whether custodians have secured quantum-resistant technologies as a key investment criterion, Bithumb’s adoption of this solution is being viewed as a meaningful step toward establishing new security standards in the virtual asset market.

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