Quantum computers face slowdown risk and Bitcoin security threat

Researchers at Germany's Helmholtz Centre Dresden‑Rossendorf (HZDR) have shown that adiabatic quantum computers may self‑slow as they scale up. Their theoretical analysis, published in New Journal of Physics, indicates that increasing the number of qubits shrinks the energy gaps between computational states, making the system extremely sensitive to environmental disturbances. This heightened sensitivity can trigger the quantum‑Zeno effect, effectively halting the computation.

Separately, security experts warn that continued advances in quantum computing could eventually break the cryptographic algorithms protecting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. While the timing of a potential "Q‑Day" remains uncertain, a successful quantum attack would undermine Bitcoin’s security and could require costly defensive measures.