An independent researcher, Giancarlo Lelli, has successfully broken a 15-bit elliptic curve cryptography key using publicly available quantum computing hardware. This is being called the largest public demonstration of a quantum attack so far.
For this achievement, he won Project Eleven’s “Q-Day Prize,” which is a reward of 1 Bitcoin, worth around $78,000. The company behind the prize said this experiment shows the most advanced real-world quantum attack done in public testing so far.
Although this does not threaten Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies yet, it shows that quantum computing is improving quickly. Experts say future quantum computers may one day challenge current encryption methods used to secure digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Step Forward in Quantum Cryptography Research
Elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) is a security system used in blockchain networks like Bitcoin. It helps users prove they own digital assets without revealing their private key. A public key can be seen on the blockchain, but finding the private key from it is extremely difficult with normal computers.
Quantum computing may change this in the future. Using a method called Shor’s algorithm, a powerful quantum computer could, in theory, break ECC security much faster than classical systems.
In a recent experiment, researcher Giancarlo Lelli used a quantum computer to break a very small 15-bit key. This does not threaten Bitcoin, which uses a much stronger 256-bit system. The small key had only 32,767 possible combinations, making it easy compared to real crypto security.
Still, this experiment is important because it shows that quantum computing attacks are improving step by step.
Rapid Progress in Quantum Attack Capability
This breakthrough happened soon after a smaller 6-bit quantum test done in September 2025. In just a few months, researchers have shown much stronger results, proving that quantum computing power is improving quickly.
In this latest experiment, the scale of quantum attacks increased by around 512 times compared to earlier public demonstrations. This shows how fast the technology is developing in a short time.
Recent studies also suggest that the resources needed to break strong 256-bit encryption might not be as high as once thought. If this trend continues, it could become easier in the future to attack systems that are currently considered very secure.
Because of this, experts are starting to question the long-term safety of blockchain systems and other technologies that rely on traditional encryption methods.
Growing Concerns for Crypto Security
Project Eleven says that about 6.9 million Bitcoin are stored in wallets where the public keys are already visible on the blockchain. These wallets could become risky in the future if powerful quantum computers are ever developed.
The concern is that quantum computers might be able to break the encryption used to protect these wallets. This includes early-mined Bitcoin, such as the estimated 1 million BTC linked to Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, which has never been moved.
there is no real threat because quantum computers are not strong enough. But researchers believe that if technology keeps improving, it may one day become possible to access these funds. This is why experts are already talking about upgrading Bitcoin security and moving to quantum-resistant systems in the future.
Industry Response and Post-Quantum Plans
As quantum computing improves, many experts are starting to worry about the future security of cryptocurrencies. In response, Bitcoin developers are working on new solutions to make the network safer.
One of the main ideas is called BIP-360, which suggests creating new types of Bitcoin addresses that are resistant to quantum attacks.
Other major blockchain projects are also preparing for this future risk. Platforms like Ethereum, Tron, StarkWare, and Ripple are researching and developing post-quantum security methods to protect users’ funds. These methods aim to ensure that even powerful quantum computers cannot easily break cryptographic keys.
Although quantum threats are not an immediate danger, these early steps show that the crypto industry is preparing in advance to protect digital assets and maintain trust in blockchain technology for the long term.
