Skip to main content
Back to news
Safety

Citi Says Bitcoin Is More Vulnerable to Quantum Computing Than Ethereum — Here's What That Actually Means

(136 days ago) · 1 source · Summarized by CryptoBipto

A report from Citi has warned that Bitcoin faces a greater risk from quantum computing advancements than Ethereum. The bank highlighted differences in the two blockchains' cryptographic architectures that could make Bitcoin more susceptible to future quantum attacks. The warning adds to growing discussions about how the crypto industry should prepare for the quantum era.

WHY IT MATTERS

Quantum computing is a next-generation technology that could one day solve math problems so fast it could crack the encryption that keeps cryptocurrencies secure — kind of like someone building a master key that opens every lock. Citi is saying Bitcoin's 'locks' might be easier to pick than Ethereum's because of how each blockchain was designed. Think of it like two houses: both have locks, but one has a newer, more adaptable security system that's easier to upgrade. This doesn't mean Bitcoin is in danger right now — quantum computers powerful enough to do this don't exist yet — but it's a reminder that crypto projects need to plan ahead for future threats, just like how software companies release security updates before hackers find vulnerabilities.

Citi's warning centers on a fundamental architectural difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum. Bitcoin relies heavily on elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) for securing transactions, and certain legacy address formats expose public keys on-chain, making them theoretically vulnerable to a sufficiently powerful quantum computer.

Read the full analysis with a CryptoBipto membership

Members can read the full analysis of every story, not just the headline.

Get started

SOURCES

  • Source

RELATED

BTCETHQuantum ComputingBitcoin SecurityEthereumCryptographyInstitutional Analysis