March 31, 2026Ryan Babbush, Director of Research, Quantum Algorithms, and Hartmut Neven, VP of Engineering, Google Quantum AI, Google Research

We’re exploring a new model for how to elucidate the code breaking capabilities of future quantum computers and outlining steps that should be taken to mitigate their consequences.

Google has led the responsible transition to post-quantum cryptography since 2016. In a new whitepaper, we show that future quantum computers may break the elliptic curve cryptography that protects cryptocurrency and other systems with fewer qubits and gates than previously realized. We want to raise awareness on this issue and are providing the cryptocurrency community with recommendations to improve security and stability before this is possible, including transitioning blockchains to post-quantum cryptography (PQC), which is resistant to quantum attacks.To share this research responsibly, we engaged with the U.S. government and developed a new method to describe these vulnerabilities via a zero-knowledge proof, so they can be verified without providing a roadmap for bad actors. We urge other research teams to do the same to keep people safe. We look forward to continuing our work across the industry following our 2029 timeline alongside others working on responsible approaches, like Coinbase, the Stanford Institute for Blockchain Research, and the Ethereum Foundation.

Quantum resource estimates

Quantum computers promise to solve otherwise impossible problems, including examples in chemistry, drug discovery, and energy. However, large-scale cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs) will also be able to break current, widely used public-key cryptography that protects things like people’s confidential information. Governments and others, including Google, have been preparing for this security challenge for many years. With continued scientific and technological progr