Breakthrough in Quantum Attack: Researcher Claims 1 Bitcoin Bounty

The threat of quantum attacks on cryptocurrency has become more tangible with the latest achievement by Giancarlo Lelli, who has been awarded a 1 bitcoin bounty for breaking a 15-bit elliptic curve key on publicly accessible quantum hardware. This breakthrough has significant implications for the security of major blockchains, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, which rely on elliptic curve cryptography to secure transactions. The demonstration, which is 512 times larger than the previous public display in September 2025, has sparked concerns about the potential vulnerability of these systems to quantum attacks. However, it is essential to note that the 15-bit key used in this experiment is significantly smaller than the 256-bit keys used in current cryptographic systems, and the threat to Bitcoin's security is still considered low. The achievement highlights the rapid progress being made in quantum computing and the need for the development of quantum-resistant cryptographic protocols to ensure the long-term security of digital assets.