Google: Quantum Computers May Break Bitcoin Sooner Than Thought

• Google Quantum AI researchers warn that breaking Bitcoin’s encryption could require fewer than 500,000 physical qubits, significantly lower than previous estimates of several millions.
• OpenAI has secured a record-breaking $122 billion in funding at a post-money valuation of $852 billion, making it the most valuable startup in history.
• Coinbase’s Layer-2 network Base has released a 2026 roadmap focused on building a global onchain economy through stablecoin payments and in-house infrastructure.

Quantum Threats to Blockchain Security

Recent research from Google's Quantum AI team suggests that the timeline for quantum computers to threaten major blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum may be shorter than anticipated. In a newly published whitepaper, researchers revealed that cracking the cryptographic foundations of these networks might require fewer than 500,000 physical qubits. This discovery challenges previous assumptions that millions of qubits would be necessary to compromise decentralized ledgers.

Google has identified 2029 as a critical milestone for the development of useful quantum systems, urging a migration to post-quantum cryptography before that date. Interestingly, the researchers noted that Bitcoin’s Taproot upgrade, while improving privacy and efficiency, might actually contribute to making the network more susceptible to these advanced computing threats. The team designed two specific attack methods requiring only 1,200 to 1,450 high-quality qubits, a fraction of earlier industry estimates.

Real-Time Vulnerabilities and Industry Response

The threat posed by quantum computing is not limited to cracking old, dormant wallets. Researchers outlined a scenario where an attacker could target active transactions. When a user broadcasts a transaction, their public key is briefly exposed; a sufficiently fast quantum computer could intercept this data, calculate the private key, and redirect the funds before the transaction is finalized.

While IBM notes that current supercomputers would take thousands of years to solve the problems a quantum machine could handle in seconds, the crypto industry remains divided on how to prepare. While some developers advocate for immediate technical iterations, others rely on social consensus. Google is already taking proactive steps by setting a 2029 deadline to transition its own authentication services to quantum-resistant standards.

OpenAI Secures Historic Funding

In the world of artificial intelligence, OpenAI has set a new precedent for private market capital. The company closed a $122 billion funding round, anchored by tech giants Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank, with continued backing from Microsoft. This round values the company at $852 billion. Other major participants included BlackRock, Sequoia, and Fidelity, while a retail tranche raised over $3 billion from individual investors.

OpenAI's financial growth remains aggressive, with the company reporting $2 billion in monthly revenue, a 100% increase from the quarterly revenue figures reported at the end of 2024. Currently, ChatGPT boasts over 900 million weekly active users and 50 million subscribers, maintaining a dominant lead over all other AI applications in both sessions and time spent.

Base Outlines 2026 Strategy

Base, the Ethereum Layer-2 network developed by Coinbase, has unveiled its strategic vision for 2026. The roadmap focuses on three core pillars: expanding onchain markets, scaling stablecoin-based payments, and nurturing its developer ecosystem. Although Base was originally built using the Optimism OP Stack, the team signaled a shift toward utilizing more in-house code to differentiate its infrastructure as it scales.

This development comes at a time when the broader Ethereum community is debating the role of Layer-2 networks versus scaling the base layer itself. Despite shifting priorities among Ethereum leadership, Base aims to cement its position by capturing institutional adoption and fostering a self-sustaining onchain economy.