Vaulted CEO Predicts Quantum Computing Will End Bitcoin in Four Years

Vaulted CEO David McAlvany stated that Bitcoin could disappear within the next four years due to quantum computing. He pointed out that once quantum computers can quickly solve the mathematical problems protecting Bitcoin private keys, Bitcoin will face extinction. McAlvany admitted that it is impossible to determine the exact timing of such breakthroughs, which could occur in four years, five years, or even sooner. Currently, no quantum computer exists that can crack Bitcoin's encryption algorithms. Galaxy Digital estimates that approximately 7 million BTC addresses have exposed public keys on-chain, worth about $470 billion; Glassnode estimates this number to be 6.04 million, accounting for 30.2% of the Bitcoin supply. The exposure of public keys does not equate to asset theft; only when a quantum computer can reverse-engineer the private keys will the addresses face theft risks. McAlvany questioned whether Bitcoin could continue to exist for 5,000 years, suggesting that gold is more likely to endure. Bitcoin developers are divided on solutions, with BIP-360 proposing the addition of quantum-resistant address types, while BIP-361 plans to phase out support for old-style signatures, potentially leaving untransferred assets permanently frozen. Companies like BOLTS Technologies and American Fortress are developing cross-chain quantum-resistant solutions, with the latter having completed an $8 million seed round financing, claiming that its technology can protect assets without requiring users to migrate addresses, although related technical papers have not yet been published and the design has not undergone public auditing.