The recent advancements in quantum computing have sparked concerns about the potential risks to legacy blockchains. Experts suggest that XRP's architecture may be better equipped to handle these threats than Bitcoin's. XRP operates on the XRP Ledger, a decentralized, open-source blockchain, and is used by fintech firm Ripple for cross-border transactions. A key difference lies in the exposure of public keys, which can be used by a sufficiently powerful quantum computer to reverse-engineer private keys and drain funds.
On the XRP Ledger, around 300,000 accounts holding 2.4 billion XRP have never sent funds and are therefore quantum-safe by default. In contrast, Bitcoin's blockchain has a larger portion of vulnerable accounts, with around 6.9 million BTC at risk, equivalent to nearly 35% of its circulating supply. The XRP Ledger's key rotation feature allows users to swap their signing key without moving funds, reducing the risk of quantum attacks.
Additionally, the escrow feature with a time lock provides an extra layer of protection. While Bitcoin developers are working on proposals to develop quantum resistance, XRP's current design appears to offer greater protection against these threats.