Bitcoin Faces Greater Quantum Computing Risk Than Ethereum, Citi Warns; 6.7M BTC at Risk

According to Citi research published this week, Bitcoin faces significantly greater quantum computing risk than Ethereum, with an estimated 6.7 to 7 million BTC in dormant wallets already exposed to potential attacks.

The Citi analysts warned that recent quantum breakthroughs have shortened the timeline for practical attacks to 2030-2032. Bitcoin’s vulnerability stems primarily from governance challenges: transitioning to quantum-resistant cryptography would require broad consensus and a difficult hard fork, whereas Ethereum’s more flexible upgrade process positions it better for adaptation. Among the exposed Bitcoin, roughly 1 million coins believed to have been mined by Satoshi Nakamoto remain in early address formats, worth approximately $82 billion at current prices.