Breakthrough in Quantum Attack: Researcher Claims 1 Bitcoin Bounty

A major breakthrough has been achieved in the field of quantum security, as an independent researcher, Giancarlo Lelli, has successfully broken a 15-bit elliptic curve key on publicly accessible quantum hardware. This achievement has earned Lelli a 1 bitcoin bounty, worth approximately $78,000, as part of the Q-Day Prize awarded by quantum security startup Project Eleven. The breakthrough is significant, as it demonstrates the potential vulnerability of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to quantum attacks. Elliptic curve cryptography is a crucial component of cryptocurrency security, allowing wallets to prove ownership of funds without revealing private keys. However, quantum computers running Shor's algorithm can potentially compromise this security. Lelli's achievement does not mean that bitcoin is currently at risk, as it uses 256-bit elliptic curve security, but it does highlight the need for ongoing research and development in the field of quantum security. The previous public demonstration of a quantum attack on elliptic curve cryptography was a 6-bit break, achieved by Steve Tippeconnic in September 2025. Lelli's 15-bit result represents a significant increase in the scale of the attack, and demonstrates the rapid progress being made in the field. Theoretical estimates suggest that the resources required to launch a full 256-bit attack are decreasing rapidly, with some estimates putting the cost below 500,000 physical qubits. This has significant implications for the security of cryptocurrencies, particularly for wallets with publicly visible addresses. Project Eleven estimates that approximately 6.9 million bitcoin are stored in such wallets, including those belonging to Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of bitcoin. To address this risk, bitcoin developers have proposed migration paths, including the introduction of quantum-safe address types. Other cryptocurrencies, such as Ethereum, Tron, StarkWare, and Ripple, have also published post-quantum transition plans. While the 15-bit break is not yet a significant threat to bitcoin's security, it represents an important milestone in the development of quantum security and highlights the need for ongoing research and innovation in this field.