Bitcoin’s Real Crisis May Be Silent: Quantum and AI Threat Looms
Quantum and AI Convergence Could Erode Bitcoin’s Foundation Without Warning
A quiet revolution is brewing at the edges of cryptography, and Bitcoin may not be ready. As artificial intelligence and quantum computing advance in parallel, cybersecurity experts warn of a perfect storm that could compromise the foundational technologies behind cryptocurrencies — silently and irreversibly.
One of the most outspoken voices in this space is David Carvalho, CEO of Naoris Protocol, a cybersecurity firm building post-quantum infrastructure. A hacker since the age of 13, Carvalho now works to safeguard blockchain systems from threats most in the crypto world have yet to take seriously.
“Quantum is coming for it all, like meteors came for the dinosaurs.” — David Carvalho, Naoris Protocol CEO
The Countdown Has Already Begun
Quantum computing has long been viewed as a distant threat to Bitcoin. But Carvalho and others argue that this mindset is dangerously outdated. Governments and corporations are already collecting encrypted blockchain data today, hoping to decrypt it in the future — a tactic known as “harvest now, decrypt later.“
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the NSA have both urged a shift toward quantum-resistant algorithms. A White House directive mandates that government contractors migrate to post-quantum cryptography by 2035, acknowledging how real this threat has become.
Recent tech breakthroughs show quantum computing is still far from risking Bitcoin’s security. Source: Kevin Rose
Today’s quantum machines cannot yet crack Bitcoin’s SHA-256 or ECDSA, but the progress is accelerating — especially when combined with artificial intelligence.
Bitcoin’s Real Apocalypse Could Be a Silent One
What makes this threat particularly insidious, according to Carvalho, is that there may be no warning. No alarms. No public breaches. Just silent compromises.
“You won’t get a warning that a 10-year-old Bitcoin wallet has been cracked. You’ll just see funds moved, and no one will be able to prove how or by whom,” he warned.
This isn’t just theoretical. About 25% of Bitcoin remains stored in older, more vulnerable address formats. Carvalho believes attackers are already building datasets — quietly archiving encrypted blockchain data now, waiting for the moment they can break it all open in minutes.
Blockstream CEO Adam Back says quantum threats to Bitcoin are unlikely within the next decade. Source: Adam Back
AI + Quantum: A Threat That’s Far Beyond Brute Force
Unlike brute-force attacks, the fusion of AI and quantum enables stealth. AI can scan open-source code, simulate validator behavior, detect bugs, and adapt in real-time. A quantum-powered AI attacker wouldn’t need to overwhelm the system — just enough precision to erode trust invisibly.
“This isn’t just about stealing coins. It’s about dismantling governance and making it impossible to trust what’s real,” Carvalho said.
These hybrid attacks could quietly impersonate validators, spoof governance votes, or redirect transactions — all without leaving clear forensic trails.
Approximately 25% of Bitcoin is stored in older address formats, making it vulnerable to quantum attacks.
Bitcoin’s Weakest Link May Be Its Infrastructure
Despite the ethos of decentralization, Bitcoin relies on centralized infrastructure in the real world. Mining pools, cloud platforms, API backbones — if any one of these gets compromised by a quantum-capable actor, the fallout could cascade across the network.
“If everyone’s routing through the same few backbones, the game’s already lost.”
Carvalho argues that Bitcoin isn’t just vulnerable at the protocol level, but across the wider ecosystem of cloud services, data routing, and key storage — weak points that could all be exploited long before a quantum computer cracks a private key.
The Industry Is Waking Up — But Is It Fast Enough?
Some efforts are already in motion:
Naoris Protocol is building decentralized, post-quantum systems based on national security-grade architecture.
Developers are proposing Bitcoin Improvement Proposals (BIPs) like BIP-360 to integrate quantum-resistant address formats.
Projects like StarkWare are exploring inherently secure technologies such as STARKs that resist both classical and quantum threats.
But the race is tight, and many in the crypto world still believe quantum risks are decades away. Carvalho disagrees.
“The adversaries are building tools today for attacks they’ll launch tomorrow. The question isn’t if, but when.”
Rhapsody of Realities is a life guide that brings you a fresh perspective from God’s Word every day. It features the day’s topic, a theme scripture, the day’s message, the daily confession and the Bible reading plan segment. It is God's Love Letter to You!
