Bitcoin quantum mining attack needs star-level energy

New academic research suggests that a quantum attack capable of overtaking Bitcoin mining would require hardware and energy on a scale comparable to a star, placing it far beyond physical feasibility.

The findings distinguish between theoretical quantum advantages and real-world constraints, arguing that while algorithms like Grover’s could accelerate mining, the required infrastructure renders such attacks impractical.

At current network difficulty levels, researchers estimate a quantum mining system would need around 10²³ qubits and 10²⁵ watts of power, vastly exceeding the Bitcoin network’s existing energy consumption.

A separate study also challenges widely publicised quantum breakthroughs in cryptography, demonstrating that many experiments rely on simplified inputs or classical preprocessing that undermine claims of genuine progress.

The paper replicated major quantum factoring results using basic tools including a 1981 home computer, highlighting how engineered examples can exaggerate advances in breaking encryption.

Despite this, researchers maintain that quantum computing still poses a long-term risk to Bitcoin, particularly through Shor’s algorithm, which could eventually expose private keys linked to older or reused wallet addresses.

Developers are already exploring mitigation strategies such as quantum-resistant signatures and reduced key exposure, reflecting a consensus that while the threat is real, it remains constrained by the limits of physics.

At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $71,610.85.