The rise of quantum computing has sparked concerns about its potential impact on legacy blockchains. Experts suggest that XRP's architecture provides better protection against quantum threats than Bitcoin's.
XRP operates on the XRP Ledger, an open-source, decentralized blockchain, and is used by Ripple for cross-border transactions. A key difference lies in the exposure of public keys, which can be reverse-engineered by a powerful quantum computer using Shor's algorithm, potentially draining funds.
However, XRP's design and features, such as key rotation and escrow, may reduce this vulnerability. A recent audit found that around 300,000 XRP accounts, holding 2.4 billion XRP, have never sent funds and are therefore quantum-safe. In contrast, Bitcoin's blockchain lacks a key rotation feature, leaving holders more vulnerable to quantum attacks.
Approximately 6.9 million BTC, or 35% of Bitcoin's circulating supply, are estimated to be vulnerable, compared to XRP's 0.03%.