Galaxy: Quantum computers pose a real threat — but only some wallets are exposed
Quantum computing is emerging as a real but highly selective risk for Bitcoin, with exposure depending less on the asset itself than on how specific wallets were used. Galaxy Digital’s research argues that the immediate threat is concentrated in wallets whose public keys are already visible on-chain, rather than in the broader Bitcoin supply.
Bitcoin developers merged BIP-360 to limit quantum exposure by removing Taproot key-path spends
Bitcoin’s BIP-360 proposal has been merged into the official BIPs repository, introducing Pay-to-Merkle-Root, or P2MR, as a new output type intended to reduce Bitcoin’s long-term exposure to quantum threats. The proposal matters because it changes spending structure in a way that directly affects migration planning for custodians, exchanges, and treasury managers.
Developer Rejects Quantum-computing Theory for Bitcoin Selloff
Bitcoin developer Matt Corallo pushed back on the idea that quantum-computing fear is the core driver of Bitcoin’s latest drawdown, arguing on Laura Shin’s Unchained (Feb. 19, 2026) that the storyline “doesn’t add up.” He framed the selloff as more consistent with market mechanics than with a sudden cryptographic crisis.
Coinbase Analyst Warned Quantum Threat To Bitcoin Goes Beyond Wallet Hacks
David Duong, Coinbase’s Global Head of Investment Research, argued that quantum computing is a bigger risk to Bitcoin than “someone stealing a wallet.” He estimated that roughly 32.7% to 33.7% of supply—about 6.51 million BTC—sits in address types that are more exposed to quantum-style attacks, creating a network-wide integrity problem, not just isolated theft.