Breakthrough in Quantum Attack: Researcher Claims 1 Bitcoin Bounty

The threat of quantum attacks on cryptocurrency has become more tangible, as a researcher has successfully broken a 15-bit elliptic curve key, a crucial component of cryptographic security. This achievement has earned Giancarlo Lelli a 1 bitcoin bounty, worth approximately $78,000, from quantum security startup Project Eleven. Although this breakthrough does not immediately compromise the security of bitcoin, which uses 256-bit elliptic curve security, it highlights the rapid progress being made in quantum computing and the potential risks it poses to the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The previous record, set in September 2025, was a 6-bit demonstration, and Lelli's achievement marks a significant 512-fold increase in just seven months. The implications of this breakthrough are far-reaching, with estimates suggesting that approximately 6.9 million bitcoin, or one-third of the total supply, are vulnerable to quantum attacks due to their public keys being visible on-chain. In response, developers are exploring migration paths, including the proposed BIP-360, which would introduce quantum-safe address types, and other cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum and Ripple, are also developing post-quantum transition plans.