Google's new warning about quantum hackers and the threat to crypto

Google just issued a warning about how quantum computers could start breaking through the complex

encryption protecting cryptocurrencies much easier and sooner than previously expected. In other words, quantum hacker safecrackers might be coming for that crypto stash

Quantum computers are a technology that promises to perform certain types of calculations much

faster than classical computers by harnessing some of the strange properties that arise at

the atomic and subatomic scale. The most widely used encryption techniques right now are designed

to stop classical computers, not quantum computers. Countries and private companies have been preparing

for a quantum computer future for a while now, and according to Google, that future may be closer

than it appeared. The threat model put together by Google engineers estimates the amount of quantum

computing power needed to crack the encryption used for most cryptocurrencies is 20 times less

than originally thought, and hackers may already be gathering information on targets they want to

crack in anticipation of that day. This has been dubbed a store-now-decrypt-later attack

Google announces plans to move to post-quantum cryptography by 2029, but there's already

options available for anyone looking to protect their private messages and their cryptocurrency

from these quantum savecrackers. In 2023, Signal was the first mainstream messenger app to adopt

post-quantum cryptography to protect user data, and it's developed even more quantum protections

since then Apple also brought post cryptography to iMessage in 2024 And crypto holders have several quantum crypto wallets to choose from But what does post cryptography actually mean and how does it work Quantum computers are good at a specific type of math

And cryptography is generally when you choose a cryptographic protocol with the person who you're trying to exchange secrets and messages with

And so all we do when we use quantum-resistant cryptography is just to choose the type of math that quantum computers are bad at

That's Colton Dillon, CEO of PostQuant Labs, a company that makes quantum-resistant crypto wallets and is working on networking quantum computers together to make them even more powerful

We want to get every quantum processor worldwide connected together, all trying to solve the same problem

And so when we say worldwide quantum computer, we mean that literally. The quantum mechanics phenomenon that makes this possible is something called entanglement

When we talk about entanglement, all we're saying is that one quantum computer is dependent on the result of another quantum computer

Entanglement is already happening inside quantum computers between individual qubits. Post-Quant Labs wants to entangle entire quantum computers with one another to increase their power

The feasibility of this was proven in 2025 by researchers at Oxford who did this with two quantum computers in the same room

Are you doing anything to protect your private data from a quantum computer future? Let us know down in the comments

I'm on a mission to learn everything I can about quantum computing. Recently I got to check out four different types of quantum computers and learn how they work

You can see that video right here, and subscribe down below for more stories that make you say, what's the future