#shoralgorithm

[metaverseplanet]

The Quantum Bomb Dropped on Web3: Is Bitcoin Actually Safe? | Metaverse Planet

I used to sleep pretty well knowing my crypto was safely locked away on the blockchain. I mean, decentralization was supposed to be our ultimate, unbreakable shield, right?

But I’ve been spending the last few days digging deep into Google’s recent quantum computing reports, and honestly... I had to stop, grab a coffee, and completely rethink everything I knew about our digital security. This isn't just another tech trend; it feels like an atomic bomb was just dropped right at the foundational layer of Web3.

Here is the reality check that genuinely gave me chills: Right now, 35% of all Bitcoin in circulation is completely vulnerable.

Let me break down why I'm taking this so seriously, without the dense academic jargon:

The Math is Breaking: The vast majority of Web3 relies on Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). It’s the invisible lock on your digital vault. But quantum computers, specifically using something called Shor's algorithm, are designed to crack this exact type of math. What takes a regular supercomputer millions of years, a mature quantum machine could do in hours.

The 35% Crosshairs: Why only 35%? It comes down to exposed public keys. In the early days of Bitcoin, transactions used a format that left public keys fully visible on the chain. Plus, if you reuse the same wallet address to send funds, your public key is out there. If a quantum entity grabs that key, they can reverse-engineer your private key before you even realize you've been hacked.

The Ethereum Resistance: While Bitcoin is famously slow to upgrade its core code, I was incredibly relieved to see how Ethereum is fighting back. They are already testing Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and utilizing Account Abstraction, which essentially lets you swap out your wallet's signature scheme if the old math gets compromised.

I’m not sharing this to spread panic, but because the survival of our ecosystem depends on how fast we can adapt. We are officially transitioning from the era of "unbreakable math" to the era of "quantum-resistant agility."

If you want to get into the granular details of exactly how this vulnerability works, which specific wallets are at risk, and the full defense strategies being built right now, I published a massive deep dive on the site. You can read my full breakdown here: Read the full deep dive: Is Bitcoin Safe?

Decentralization is a beautiful concept, but it can't just ignore the laws of physics. I firmly believe the blockchains that adapt quickly will thrive, while the stubborn ones are going to face a catastrophic wake-up call.

I'm really curious where your head is at with this. Do you think we are underestimating how fast quantum tech is advancing, or is the Web3 space agile enough to outpace the threat before it's too late? Let me know what you think!

[govindhtech]

Coinbase Quantum Advisory Board to solve Quantum risk

Coinbase Creates Elite Advisory Board to Address Quantum Risk to Blockchain Security

Coinbase Quantum

Coinbase created a specialized independent advisory group to protect the blockchain's cryptographic underpinnings from quantum computing. The campaign was launched on Wednesday as institutional investors and international financial authorities begin to regard “quantum risk” as a systemic operational issue rather than science fiction.

Leaders from Industry and academia

The recently formed Coinbase Independent Advisory Board on Quantum Computing and Blockchain is an example of academia-business collaboration. The board includes EigenLayer, Ethereum Foundation, and Stanford, Harvard, and UC security experts and technologists.

This group provides “deep analysis, guidance, and long-term strategic thinking” on quantum advancements' potential disruptions to the global bitcoin ecosystem. Coinbase's cryptography leader, Yehuda Lindell, wants the sector to be “prepared, not just reactive,” seeing quantum computing as a security danger and a technological opportunity.

The “Horsepower” Problem: Quantum Importance

A fundamental change in how machines handle data is the worry with quantum computing. Traditional blockchain security relies on cryptographic techniques like ECDSA. Modern supercomputers would take thousands of years to answer “hard math problems” they're built on.

However, qubits, superposition, and entanglement enable quantum computers to process more data than classical computers. According to Coinbase Chief Information Security Officer Jeff Lunglhofer, machines will be able to solve these “unbreakable” mathematical riddles when they have “a million times the horsepower” of current technology.

Shor's quantum algorithm, which can extract private keys from public keys, something considered impossible, is extremely worrisome. When “cryptographically relevant quantum computing” (CRQC) becomes possible, digital wallet mathematical obstacles may fall.

6.5 Million Bitcoin Vulnerability

The threat may seem far off, but data shows that a large portion of the market is vulnerable. Coinbase estimates that 32.7% of Bitcoin, or 6.5 million, is in danger. A powerful quantum machine might reverse-engineer many previous Bitcoin addresses due to their chain-accessible public keys.

Some estimates show that 20% to 50% of Bitcoin addresses may be vulnerable due to public key reuse, increasing the risk profile. The “harvest now, decrypt later” condition may allow adversaries to capture encrypted data now to decrypt it when quantum hardware is produced.

Institutional Concern and Gold Rush

The Coinbase board was formed as traditional finance's view on crypto-assets changed. In its iShares Bitcoin Trust regulatory filings, BlackRock lists quantum computing as a major risk factor. More importantly, Christopher Wood, Jefferies' global head of equities strategy, replaced Bitcoin with gold in his long-term model portfolio. Wood cited quantum computing's “existential threat” as the main reason for the decline in digital encryption and stated that gold still has an advantage.

The Citi Institute estimates that a quantum attack on a major financial institution may cost the global economy $3 trillion. The World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) recently elevated quantum risk to a high-impact operational issue.

Post-Quantum Cryptography Competition

The board's early actions will focus on consensus mechanism and transaction validation research and position statements. The ultimate goal is to build Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), new standards that can withstand quantum attacks.

Switching to PQC is difficult. Unlike centralized systems, decentralized networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum require community agreement for upgrades, making security standard implementation challenging and time-consuming. NIST is developing PQC standards to guide institutional migrations.

Important Decade Ahead

Although experts like Lunglhofer believe quantum machines will take ten or more years to interpret current systems, the industry cannot wait. Since quantum decryption may occur 60–82% by 2044, the Coinbase board is proactive to future-proof the sector.

When the first commercial quantum computers are released, the blockchain community's adaptability will determine whether digital assets remain a safe store of value or a remnant from the pre-quantum world. This expert group ends the usage of “science fiction” to define quantum dangers for now.

[govindhtech]

Quantum computing developments with 1 Qubit & 3 Oscillators

Quantum computing researchers calculate large integers with one qubit and three oscillators.

Quantum computing developments

The Technical University of Munich and the University of Calgary have developed a quantum factoring method that does not require hundreds of thousands of qubits, a major change in quantum hardware development. The paper "Factoring an integer with three oscillators and a qubit" proposes a polynomial-time prime factorization method that uses a physical system with one qubit and three oscillators, regardless of the number to be factored.

Change in Quantum Philosophy

Creating a universal quantum computer with scalable qubits has been the “holy grail” of quantum computing for years. Scholars like Peter Shor devised a device-independent abstraction to manipulate finite collections of symbols, or bits, to simulate classical computing. Although theoretically sound, factoring the massive integers that underpin modern digital security requires massive practical resources.

Robert Koenig, Xavier Coiteux-Roy, Libor Caha, and Lukas Brenner propose a new approach. They prefer a method that emphasizes the physical setup and its native operations over the abstract “qubit” concept. The researchers showed that hybrid qubit-oscillator systems' unique characteristics can considerably reduce computing complexity.

Technology: Oscillators and Continuous Variables The innovation lies in using CV systems instead of discrete ones. Traditional quantum factoring (Shor's approach) uses a discrete Fourier transform and requires more qubits as N grows.

However, the new method uses a Continuous-Variable Fourier Transform, which is native to hybrid systems as homodyne momentum measurements. This lets researchers do arithmetic calculations using linear optics improved by qubit-controlled Gaussian unitaries.

The study describes a startling small physical system.

One Qubit regulates. Three oscillators Control continuous-variable operations.

This “hardware-efficient” solution avoids scaling concerns that have impeded large-scale qubit processors by not expanding the physical system as N increases.

Tech Background and Basis

Decades of information theory and quantum optics research underpin the findings. Linear optical quantum computing and the DiVincenzo criteria for quantum computer implementations were early impacts. Encoding qubits into oscillators using Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) states is also used for error correction in continuous-variable systems.

Note: The precise mathematical connection between GKP states and this 1-qubit/3-oscillator system's stability is under discussion in quantum physics and may require independent validation beyond the abstracts.

The paper also acknowledges squeezing as an irreducible resource and Gaussian quantum information's role in these calculations. The group has focused on hybrid processor "instruction set architectures" and "abstract machine models" to promote quantum-enhanced arithmetic.

Institutional Aid and Future Effects Major Canadian and European scientific groups supported the project. The European Research Council (EQUIPTNT project), Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), and Munich Quantum Valley (Bavarian state government's Hightech Agenda Bayern Plus) also provided financing. The BMW endowment contributed.

In conclusion

By “sidestepping the standard approach of reasoning about computation in terms of individual qubits,” the TUM and Calgary team developed quantum algorithms. Their research suggests that “smarter” systems that use oscillators' inherent physics may be more effective than “more” qubits for quantum applications.

Compare classical quantum computing to constructing a big choir where each singer must learn a difficult note (the qubit technique). The oscillator technique uses a small, adaptable pipe organ to produce a powerful symphony with fewer "performers" by naturally producing a wide range of complicated frequencies.

[govindhtech]

Can Shor’s Algorithm Quantum Break RSA-2048? Reality Check

Shor’s Algorithm Quantum

In the global race to build a quantum internet, photons are the main “currency” for information transit. However, creating these photons in a high-purity condition is crucial for future quantum technology, which will enable incredibly secure communication and vastly faster computers.

Pavia University and CSEM researchers produced “frequency-degenerate” photon pairs with unprecedented clarity. This breakthrough reduces noise by 10,000, overcoming a critical bottleneck that has long limited integrated quantum photonics' scalability.

The “Identical Twin” Photon Challenge

Two photons must be indistinguishable for quantum logic gates and QKD to work. To disrupt a quantum process, these particles must be “frequency-degenerate,” or nearly similar in colour and timing.

Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion (SPDC) splits a high-energy “pump” photon pair into two lower-energy “daughter” photons, the signal and the idler. The pump photon must be double the intended output frequency to ensure frequency-degenerate offspring.

This typical technique faces technological challenges from “parasitic” nonlinear effects caused by the high-energy pump light needed for operation. In a sea of classical light, these unwanted outcomes produce noise photons that are indistinguishable from the quantum signal, “drowning out” quantum information.

Quantum Noise “Cascaded” Solution

Olivia Hefti, Marco Clementi, and Enrico Melani's dual-pump technique overcomes single-pump problems. Instead of a high-energy source, the team cascaded inside a waveguide structure.

Sum-Frequency Generation (SFG) initially creates a higher-energy internal state by merging two lower-energy pump photons. SPDC instantly decays this internal state into the desired entangled photon pair. The initial pumps and final photons have different frequencies, so this two-step process is necessary. Consequently, the quantum signal is physically insulated from pump-generated “noise” or unwanted signals.

This invention claims to reduce noise by 40 dB compared to existing methods. The 10,000-times clearer signal produces pure photon pairs.

Why Thin-Film Lithium Niobate?

Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) makes this gadget successful. Lithium niobite has long been used in telecommunications because to its remarkable nonlinear properties, which allow light to interact with itself. When researchers utilise thin-film waveguides to restrict light in extremely small spaces, these interactions are far more efficient.

The TFLN approach reduces noise and improves brightness, while other researchers have used spontaneous four-wave mixing on silicon nitride circuits to synthesise photon pairs at 1200 per milliwatt. The TFLN device achieved a brightness of 1.0×10 5 Hz per nanometre per square milliwatt. Scalability requires great efficiency since it generates enormous volumes of entanglement with low power consumption, which is needed to assembly hundreds of these sources on a CPU.

Integration with telecom infrastructure

Interoperability with fiber-optic infrastructure is a major benefit of this innovation. Designed to work in the "telecom band" at 1550 nanometres, the same frequency as worldwide internet data transport.

Producing frequency-degenerate photon pairs directly in this region eliminates complex and “lossy” frequency conversion processes. The system is “plug-and-play” for future quantum networks that must send quantum data via thousands of miles of subsurface cables.

The group has also simplified quantum source design by encapsulating the generation process from pumping to collecting in a waveguide structure, using mass-producible integrated photonic circuits instead of massive labs.

Towards Scalable Quantum Systems

The experts say additional optimisation is feasible despite these historical findings. Current performance is limited by the waveguide's nonlinear conversion efficiency. Further study will focus on strengthening lithium niobate's "poling" process, which flips ferroelectric domains to better light interaction. Enhancing this process may boost brightness and reduce noise.