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SEC task force to protect Bitcoin from quantum threat

The U.S. securities regulator SEC is working on a plan to shield Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies from the rise of quantum computers.

By Luc Vesters
• 2 min read
SEC task force to protect Bitcoin from quantum threat

The U.S. securities regulator SEC is working on a plan to shield Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies from the rise of quantum computers. While the regulator under Gary Gensler was still skeptical of crypto, the new crypto task force led by Hester Peirce is taking on a protective role.

An submitted proposal, the Post-Quantum Financial Infrastructure Framework (PQFIF), warns that so-called cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQC’s) could break the security of digital assets. This would put trillions in value and market confidence at risk.

Experts talk about a possible “Q-Day” around 2028, the moment when Bitcoin addresses could theoretically be cracked. The proposal calls for a phased transition: first a ban on payments to vulnerable addresses, later even freezing old wallets.

The SEC would need to maintain strict oversight to prevent delays. According to experts, urgent action is needed: “We need to start now,” says quantum physicist Markus Pflitsch.

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