TechFlow News, February 19: According to a Decrypt report, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong stated in a CNBC interview that quantum computing will not “break blockchain” but is instead a “very solvable issue,” noting that the industry has ample time to upgrade cryptographic standards.
Armstrong revealed that Coinbase has formed a Quantum Computing Advisory Committee—including quantum expert Scott Aaronson, cryptographer Dan Boneh, and Ethereum researcher Justin Drake—that regularly engages with major blockchains to develop post-quantum cryptographic migration pathways. The committee will publish risk assessment reports and migration strategies.
The article notes that while quantum computers could theoretically break current public-key cryptography (e.g., SHA-256 used for Bitcoin private keys), today’s quantum machines are far from posing any real threat, and upgrading cryptography is relatively straightforward. Vitalik Buterin has urged developers not to delay adopting quantum-resistant cryptography; Solana has already tested quantum-resistant signatures on its testnet; Bitcoin developers are advancing proposals such as BIP 360 to reduce quantum exposure pathways; and the Ethereum Foundation has also prioritized post-quantum security as a strategic objective.
