Understanding the Quantum Threat: A Warning to Digital Industries
The recent appearance of Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, on The Joe Rogan Experience, has sent a stark warning to industries that rely on digital security: the advent of quantum computing poses a significant threat to current encryption standards. Huang emphasized that quantum computers will soon be able to break through existing cryptographic protections, making it imperative for the industry to transition to post-quantum encryption technologies.
This warning is not just a theoretical concern; the threat is already active. Attackers can collect encrypted data now and crack it later, making it essential for industries to adopt quantum-resistant encryption before quantum hardware matures. The entire industry is working on post-quantum encryption technologies, and it is crucial that we take this threat seriously.
The Challenges of Post-Quantum Migration
The migration to post-quantum cryptography is not a straightforward process. It requires cross-organizational coordination, iterative updates, and continuous threat modeling. The historically slow and contentious governance processes of major blockchains make it challenging to implement post-quantum cryptography at scale. The argument that Bitcoin or other blockchains can simply be “upgraded later” ignores the real challenges of implementing post-quantum cryptography.
Furthermore, the pace of quantum innovation is accelerating faster than expected. IBM’s recent advances in faster error-correction architectures and next-generation superconducting chips suggest that the industry could achieve early forms of quantum advantage by 2026 and fault-tolerant systems by 2029. Big governments are also taking the threat seriously, with the European Commission and all EU member states publishing a coordinated roadmap that prescribes the transition to post-quantum cryptography from 2026.
Why Crypto Markets Can’t Ignore Quantum Exposure
The crypto market is particularly vulnerable to quantum attacks. Deloitte recently estimated that 4 million Bitcoin, about 25% of the usable supply, exists in addresses with exposed public keys, making them vulnerable to quantum attacks. If an attacker were able to derive private keys from these old wallets, they could immediately withdraw funds that have been lying idle for years. The sudden liquidation of millions of coins would flood exchanges, causing price levels to collapse and destabilizing the market.
Ethereum (ETH) is facing similar vulnerabilities, and Vitalik Buterin has already outlined emergency measures for accounts that could be at risk from quantum breakthroughs. The crypto ecosystem has spent 15 years defending the principles of decentralization, trustlessness, and user sovereignty. Now it faces an unprecedented test: whether it can act proactively to secure its foundations against quantum and AI-driven threats.
AI-Powered Threats Make Quantum Even More Dangerous
Huang also emphasized that AI-powered threats are becoming more sophisticated in parallel with quantum developments. As attack capabilities increase, defense systems must also incorporate AI and form collaborative, adaptive security networks rather than relying on centralized, static defenses. This perspective is closely aligned with new decentralized security models that aim to protect distributed systems without single points of failure.
Crucially, Huang rejected sensationalist narratives of an immediate “AI apocalypse.” Instead, he described a gradual, repetitive destabilization that is dangerous precisely because it is subtle. This reflects how quantum risk will unfold: not in a single catastrophic moment, but in a series of escalating vulnerabilities and market disruptions for those who fail to prepare.
Youssef El Maddarsi is Chief Business Officer of Naoris Protocol and CEO of Naoris Consulting. He is recognized by EMEA Entrepreneur as the most influential entrepreneur from Morocco in 2025 with over 10 years of experience in strategic development. Youssef graduated from Regent’s University, Wharton, INSEAD & Duke. He is certified by Yale and École Polytechnique.
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