Quantum Computing Won't Threaten Bitcoin for Over a Decade, Michael Saylor Claims
During his appearance on the Coin Stories podcast with Natalie Brunell, the Strategy executive dismissed quantum computing concerns, arguing that legitimate threats would trigger synchronized updates throughout worldwide digital infrastructure.
During a recent discussion on Natalie Brunell's Coin Stories podcast, Michael Saylor, the chief executive of Strategy, rejected worries surrounding quantum computing technology, stating that widespread consensus within the cybersecurity sector points to any legitimate quantum threat being at minimum ten years in the future.
Though uncertainty persists regarding whether or when a quantum computing danger could become reality, Saylor explained to Brunell that any genuine technological advancement in this area would trigger synchronized software updates throughout worldwide financial institutions, digital infrastructure, personal computing devices, machine learning systems and cryptocurrency networks, with Bitcoin (BTC) included among them.
According to Saylor, the technological frameworks supporting contemporary digital systems would ultimately implement quantum-resistant encryption methods should the need arise, emphasizing that such a transformation would not occur unexpectedly.
"You'll see it coming. We'll all see it coming," he remarked, further noting that Bitcoin's programming framework is built to evolve through time, with network nodes, computing equipment, and digital wallets possessing the capacity to upgrade when confronted with new security challenges.
From his perspective, worldwide agreement regarding appropriate responses would materialize exclusively when a genuine threat emerges, emphasizing that governmental bodies, tech corporations and banking institutions would simultaneously confront identical risks to their technological infrastructure.
He additionally characterized the cryptocurrency industry as representing the "most sophisticated cybersecurity community," referencing the multi-layered authentication protocols and physical security key safeguards that are routinely deployed to protect virtual currencies.
From his standpoint, the protocols necessary for transferring Bitcoin are considerably more stringent than the protective measures employed for conventional banking transfers or equity trading platforms. Saylor stated:
"I think the crypto community will be the first to perceive the threat, and to react to the threat, and they'll be leading the way."
Quantum computing represents a developing computational discipline that leverages quantum mechanical principles to analyze data substantially faster than traditional computing systems, raising anxieties that sophisticated machinery might ultimately compromise the encryption protecting Bitcoin alongside other virtual currencies.
Saylor's company Strategy stands as the world's premier Bitcoin treasury corporation. This past Monday, the organization based in Tysons Corner, Virginia revealed its acquisition of 592 Bitcoin for approximately $39.8 million during the previous week, marking its 100th purchase since implementing a Bitcoin treasury approach in August 2020.
The company presently maintains holdings of 717,722 BTC, obtained for approximately $54.56 billion with an average acquisition cost of $67,286 for each coin.
The ongoing quantum debate in crypto
Though Michael Saylor, recognized as among Bitcoin's leading proponents, has minimized the dangers presented by quantum computing technology, other participants within the cryptocurrency space demonstrate heightened concern regarding this potential threat.
Among those expressing concern is Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum (ETH), who during late 2025 referenced Metaculus, a prediction platform, which indicated approximately a 20% probability that quantum computing systems capable of compromising existing cryptographic methods could materialize prior to 2030, with projections centering around 2040 as the median timeframe.
During a subsequent appearance at Devconnect in Buenos Aires several months afterward, he cautioned that elliptic curve cryptographic systems, which form the foundation of both Ethereum and Bitcoin networks, might become vulnerable before the 2028 United States presidential election and advocated for migrating toward quantum-resistant frameworks during the upcoming four-year period.
The Ethereum Foundation has integrated post-quantum readiness within its 2026 security development plan, with researcher Justin Drake revealing on Jan. 24 that a specialized Post-Quantum working group had been established, characterizing this initiative as a pivotal moment in the organization's extended-term quantum preparedness strategy.
The quantum computing threat has additionally prompted speculation that it represents the underlying cause for Bitcoin's recent valuation downturn, which has declined from peak levels exceeding $126,000 in October to its present trading price hovering around $64,000.
During January, Nic Carter, a partner at Castle Island Ventures, suggested that Bitcoin's "mysterious" underperformance might be linked to anxieties surrounding quantum risks, asserting that financial markets were displaying reactions despite the absence of comparable responses from software developers.
This perspective encountered opposition, with Glassnode analyst James Check stating that while quantum computing contingency plans warrant implementation, the threat does not constitute the "primary reason" underlying the cryptocurrency's price depreciation.
