Bitcoin’s quantum countdown has already begun, Naoris CEO says

The Existential Threat of Quantum Computing

A hacker-turned-defender warns that most of the industry is asleep on crypto’s existential threat: quantum computing. David Carvalho, CEO of post-quantum infrastructure firm Naoris Protocol, began hacking at the age of 13, experimenting with spam emails to attract job offers and gain attention from employers. Eventually, that curiosity shifted into formal cybersecurity work, where he used the same skills to defend systems instead of probing them. Today, he builds quantum-resilient systems for decentralized networks and claims that the cryptographic foundations of blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum are dangerously outdated.

The Urgency of Adapting to Quantum Threats

Though Bitcoin and other blockchain developers often claim there’s still plenty of time to adapt, the window may be closing fast. Efforts to implement quantum-resistant signatures are underway, but Carvalho said they’re far from widespread or treated with the urgency the threat demands. For years, the idea that quantum computers could threaten Bitcoin felt like science fiction. But real-world developments suggest the threat is shifting from theory to early practice. Governments and tech giants are already preparing for what’s known as the “harvest now, decrypt later” model.

The Convergence of Quantum and AI

While most conversations about quantum threats focus on brute-force attacks on cryptographic keys, Carvalho believes the true danger lies in the convergence of quantum computing and artificial intelligence. Together, they could enable stealthy, asymmetric attacks that don’t overwhelm crypto systems with power but dismantle them with precision. AI-driven tests have found vulnerabilities in cryptographic libraries that traditional tools overlook. Combine that with adversaries stockpiling encrypted data under the “harvest now, decrypt later” model, and the groundwork for a systemic breach may already be in place.

Preparing for a Post-Quantum World

Some projects are already being prepared for the quantum threat. Carvalho’s Naoris draws on national security frameworks to build decentralized systems designed for a post-quantum world. Others are developing quantum-resistant rollups, new key formats, and protocol upgrades through Bitcoin Improvement Proposals (BIPs) or leveraging inherently secure technologies like StarkWare’s STARKs. The threat is approaching, but the response is also growing. What remains is whether the crypto ecosystem will act before it’s too late.