Bitcoin's hidden dangers: from wallet vulnerabilities to квантові комп'ютери threats, how significant are these risks?

Can Software Updates “Eat” Your Coins?

The release of Bitcoin Core versions 30.0 and 30.1 was supposed to be routine maintenance, but it ended up hitting a landmine. The latest discovered wallet migration vulnerability could lead to local wallet files being deleted, making users unable to access their BTC. Sounds exaggerated? But this is indeed the worst-case scenario warned by the official alerts.

Where is the problem? This update changed the process of upgrading wallets from the old format to the new standard. A hidden bug lurks quietly within, and once triggered, it will delete local files. If you haven’t backed up, you could permanently lose your Bitcoin.

But don’t panic just yet

According to Ambire Wallet CEO Ivo Georgiev, most ordinary Bitcoin holders don’t actually use Bitcoin Core. They usually opt for hardware wallets or other software solutions, and have long backed up their seed phrases. Miners, although at higher risk, generally also know how to do proper backups.

Georgiev also added a technical detail: “File deletion doesn’t necessarily mean permanent loss. Many deleted files can be recovered before being overwritten.”

What do the official and community say?

The Bitcoin official statement on January 5th acknowledged this risk, but so far, there haven’t been reports of actual user losses. Forum discussions focus on the threat to older wallet versions, but industry consensus is: Bitcoin Core’s main users are experienced developers and miners who generally have backups in place.

The common flaw in technical upgrades

SQD Network Vice President of Engineering Evgeny Formanenko raised a deeper issue: “Software updates should be seamless. But when you mix state, changes, and upgrades—you lay the groundwork for risks. A forced backup mechanism is essential; infrastructure risks shouldn’t be accidental.”

The real long-term threat: квантові комп’ютери

Compared to this “small” vulnerability, the more concerning threat is quantum computing. Capriole Investments founder Charles Edwards warned that if Bitcoin cannot address the quantum threat before 2028, its price could drop to $50,000.

His logic is straightforward: quantum computers will eventually be able to crack Bitcoin’s encryption algorithms, allowing hackers to obtain private keys. This is not some distant fantasy—it’s a real technological risk. Edwards stated on X: “If solutions are not implemented before 2028, I expect Bitcoin to fall below $50,000 and continue declining. If not resolved by 2026, we might see the biggest bear market in Bitcoin history, making all past scandals pale in comparison.”

What’s the current situation?

Currently, the Bitcoin ecosystem remains stable, with no impact on network consensus or security. Bitcoin’s price hovers around $90,866 (down 3.02% in 24 hours), and the community is discussing whether to push toward $100,000.

The development team has temporarily withdrawn the problematic versions and is preparing to release a fix. This incident reveals a reality: whether it’s rare code bugs, protocol vulnerabilities, or emerging quantum threats—technological risks always accompany the operation of Bitcoin as a super-asset.

For ordinary holders? The most practical advice is to back up properly, stay updated with official news, and avoid blindly upgrading—this might be the best approach.