Zcash Developers Propose Upgrade to Protect ZEC Privacy From Quantum Computers

WHY IT MATTERS

Think of encryption like a lock on a safe. Current locks are strong enough that no existing computer can pick them in a reasonable amount of time. But quantum computers, which are a new type of computer still being developed, could theoretically pick these locks much faster. Zcash is a cryptocurrency that puts extra emphasis on keeping transactions private, so its developers are working to upgrade to a new kind of lock — called post-quantum cryptography — that even quantum computers would struggle to break. This matters because if privacy-focused cryptocurrencies do not adapt their security before quantum computers become powerful enough, previously private transaction data could potentially be exposed.