- Google Quantum AI says 256-bit elliptic curve cryptography could be broken with fewer than 500,000 physical qubits in a matter of minutes.
- The new estimate cuts prior resource assumptions by roughly 20 times and sharpens pressure on the crypto sector to move toward post-quantum cryptography.
Google Quantum AI has put the crypto industry on notice again, this time with a more pointed number attached to the warning.
In a new whitepaper and accompanying research note published Tuesday, Google said cracking the 256-bit elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem, the math behind widely used wallet security, may require far fewer quantum resources than previously assumed.
The company estimates that such an attack could be executed in a few minutes using fewer than 500,000 physical qubits, assuming hardware consistent with some of its own superconducting quantum systems.
A smaller qubit threshold and less room for delay
That matters because elliptic curve cryptography is deeply embedded in crypto infrastructure. Wallet signatures, key management and a broad chunk of blockchain security still rely on it.
Google said its updated circuits for Shor’s algorithm would need fewer than 1,200 logical qubits and 90 million Toffoli gates in one version, or fewer than 1,450 logical qubits and 70 million Toffoli gates in another.
The headline change is the reduction. Google said the new estimate represents an approximately 20-fold drop in the number of physical qubits needed to break ECDLP-256. That is not the same as saying a practical attack is around the corner, but it does bring the timetable into sharper focus.
Crypto’s post-quantum clock is ticking louder
Google is urging the industry to accelerate its migration to post-quantum cryptography, pointing to its own 2029 migration timeline and arguing that viable defenses exist, even if implementation will take time. The company also said it used zero-knowledge proofs to let third parties verify the research without exposing the underlying quantum circuits in full, a move meant to balance disclosure with caution.
For crypto, the implication is fairly plain. The debate is shifting away from whether post-quantum upgrades will be needed and toward how quickly chains, wallets and custodians can make them without breaking everything around them.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Pay attention to the signed content! Vercel is hit with ransomware demanding $2 million, and crypto protocol frontend security raises a red flag
The cloud development platform Vercel was breached by hackers on April 19. The attackers gained access through a third-party AI tool used by employees and threatened to extort $2 million. Although sensitive data was not accessed, other data may have been used. The incident has raised security concerns in the crypto community, and Vercel is currently investigating while advising users to rotate their keys.
ChainNewsAbmedia40m ago
LayerZero responds to Kelp DAO’s 292 million incident: it indicates that Kelp set up a custom 1-of-1 DVN configuration, and the attacker was North Korea’s Lazarus.
LayerZero issued a statement regarding the $292 million hack suffered by Kelp DAO, accusing Kelp’s self-selected 1-of-1 DVN configuration of making the incident possible. The attacker was the North Korean Lazarus Group. LayerZero emphasized that this incident stems from configuration choices and that it will no longer support this kind of vulnerable setup. In addition, responsibility is still disputed, and no compensation plan has been provided.
ChainNewsAbmedia1h ago
Fellowship PAC Secures $10M from Cantor Fitzgerald, Tether Executive Appointed Chairman
Crypto Political Action Committee Fellowship PAC releases its first FEC donation disclosure, showing that Cantor Fitzgerald donated $10 million and has a business connection with Tether. Fellowship PAC supports six Republican candidates and paid $4.5 million to NXUM Group for advertising promotion.
MarketWhisper5h ago
U.S. military seizes an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, and Bitcoin plunges to $74k
A U.S. Navy destroyer destroyed and seized an Iranian cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, driving up market risk-hedging sentiment, with Bitcoin down 2.5% and Brent crude soaring to $97. Iran vowed retaliation, and diplomatic negotiations face a highly uncertain situation. On Wednesday, the ceasefire deadline has become the focus of market attention.
MarketWhisper6h ago
Latam Insights: Brazil Seeks Online Gambling Ban, Venezuela's National Stablecoin Proposal
Welcome to Latam Insights, a compilation of the most relevant crypto news from Latin America over the past week. In this edition, a draft to repeal all online gambling has been introduced in Brazil, a proposal to include stablecoins to help curb currency restrictions rises in Venezuela, and Latam
Coinpedia7h ago
Bitcoin falls below 74K; U.S. former defense secretary: A U.S.-Iran agreement may be difficult to reach before the deadline
With tensions rising in the Middle East geopolitical landscape, the Strait of Hormuz has become the focal point of military conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Attacks and seizures of cargo ships have been occurring frequently, and crude oil prices have risen. The U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement is set to expire soon; peace talks have fallen into a stalemate due to irreconcilable positions, making it difficult to reach an agreement. As a result, the price of Bitcoin has dropped below 74K.
ChainNewsAbmedia8h ago
