The creator of Ethereum beats the alarm – the cryptocurrency era faces the greatest threat in history. Do we only have three years to save?
Vitalik Buterin, co-writer of Ethereum and one of the most influential figures in the cryptocurrency world, just issued a warning that shook the entire industry. During the conference, Devconnect in Buenos Aires stated that advanced quantum computers could break basic cryptography of Bitcoin and Ethereum before the US presidential election in 2028.
It's not science-fiction – it's a real risk that can make it possible to steal billions of dollars in cryptocurrency in seconds.
What exactly did Vitalik say?
Regular computers would need billions of years to do that. But quantum computers, thanks to Shora's algorithm, can do it in hours or even minutes.
Buterin stressed that the pace of quantum technology development is overwhelming. Companies like Google, Microsoft and IBM build machines with thousands of cubs, and breakthroughs occur every few months. Only recently, experts talked about the threat after 2035 – now Vitalik says: can happen before 2028.
Is it really that close?
- In 2025 Google and Microsoft announced further records in stable cubs.
- Metaculus experts estimate Okay. 20% chancethat the breakthrough will take place before 2030 – but Buterin believes the risk is higher and closer.
- If quantum computer reaches the "fault-tolerant" level (resistible to errors), ECC will fall like a house of cards.
What does that mean for your cryptocurrency?
If the attack succeeds:
- Hackers can calculate private key from public address.
- Old wallets (those where the public address was revealed) will become an easy target.
- Possible mass thefts, falsifications of transactions, and total stock market chaos.
Bitcoin may have a bigger problem – the network is slower in changes. Ethereum, thanks to the active community, is already working on solutions.
There's hope: Postquant cryptography
Good news? The solutions already exist!
- Quantum attack resistant algorithms (lattice-based, hash-based) are standardized by NIST (American agency).
- Ethereum plans hard fork with new signatures (e.g. STARKs or latice).
- Vitalik urges: "We must switch to quantum-resistant crypto in the next 4 years – the faster the better".
Projects like Kaspa or Cellframe are already advertised as "quantum-resistant", but leaders like Ethereum and Bitcoin have to operate globally.
Summary: Do not panic, but act
Vitalika warning is not clickbait – it Wake-up call for the entire industry. The post on X from @cryptorover, which collected almost one million views, shows how hard the subject resonates (although many people accuse him of exaggeration – Vitalika's original words are more balanced but equally urgent).
Do you sell everything? Absolutely not. This is a chance to evolve cryptocurrency into something even stronger.
But if you keep BTC or ETH in your old wallet – consider migration to new addresses and follow progress in quantum-resistant upgrades.
2028 is closer than you think. It's time to start preparing. Today.
