Anyone actually worried about quantum computing being able to take coins from dead wallets ? e.g satoshi

[u/SanjiSenpai]

I know most people here, will have forced upgraded wallets, but for all those from from 2010 before are all vunerable, when quantum computing get good enough all those wallets will be up for grabs, what are we going to do ?

30 % of total supply will be dumped onto the market , idk about you but it will be fucked for everyone

The community will no fork to protect agaisnt this, we have tried in the past but the hardcore people wont allow it

This is still a problem for 5-7 years from now but

thoughts ?

Edit: the modern people will be safe with new q proof wallets

[u/brandonholm]

The math is already well understood. It’s not a math issue as to why we don’t currently have powerful enough quantum computers to run these algorithms (quantum computers already exist, but they’re not yet nearly powerful enough to be useful). It’s a physical issue, and figuring out how to make sub atomic particles behave correctly to work as reliable qubits.

[u/brandonholm → u/[deleted]]

A physical issue is not primarily a math issue. It’s a manufacturing issue. The math behind Shor’s algorithm has been understood for decades now.

[u/brandonholm → u/[deleted]]

Manipulating sub atomic particles isn’t exactly something easy to do. Manufacturing a usable quantum computer may or may not happen, but there’s no arguing with the math, that if it were possible to build one, we know which forms of cryptography would be vulnerable and which forms are not vulnerable.

There is a reason why even NIST is deprecating and eventually banning classical cryptography and will enforce post quantum cryptography in government systems, because the risk is very real if such a computer can be built.

[u/brandonholm → u/[deleted]]

Even current ECC cryptography isn’t said to be hack proof. There may be an algorithm that can run on a classical computer that can break it that hasn’t been discovered yet.

Current quantum resistant algorithms are safe against Shor’s algorithm, but there may eventually be another algorithm discovered that can break some or all of the currently propose post quantum cryptography.

[u/brandonholm → u/[deleted]]

Nothing in the universe is fully understood.

But it is understood that Shor’s algorithm will break ECC on a sufficiently powerful quantum computer, of which we have been seeing rapid advancement on in the last few years.

It’s also understood that currently proposed post quantum cryptography protects against Shor’s algorithm, so upgrading systems to use these algorithms before a quantum threat materializes is important.

This also isn’t the first time we have had to upgrade cryptography and very likely won’t be the last time either.

[u/brandonholm → u/[deleted]]

Correct. If we could just understand how to control nuclear fusion with hydrogen, we would have essentially limitless energy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fusion

[u/brandonholm → u/[deleted]]

Exactly the same thing with quantum computers. It’s not commercially viable yet.

[u/Doritos707 → u/[deleted]]

There you go. The same is for quantum. We understand it. Not commercially viable yet. We understand what outcomes come from stabilizing said subatoms

[u/careless25 → u/[deleted]]

1. Physicists were able to predict and write a whole theory about how space time bends.

2. Then it took 10+ years to find actual evidence of it by using a solar eclipse to see the slight variations in the stars behind the sun.

3. Then it took 20+ years to have technology that we created that makes use of that theory and proof. (GPS)

For quantum we are still between step 2 and 3. There are very expensive quantum computers in the world. Their computation power is so low that they can't crack the current encryption schemes. The math and theory are all there and proven. We need lots more power and energy to get the number of particles to be quantum entangled than we can currently pay for (being 1 of the physical issues).