# Cryptographic risks from AI and quantum computing

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cryptographic-risks-from-ai-and-quantum-computing
> Updated: 2026-10-09T20:33:31.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2.

Experts are evaluating the security implications of emerging technologies, specifically artificial intelligence and quantum computing, on existing cryptographic standards.

In the blockchain sector, researchers have expressed concern that AI-driven mathematical progress could accelerate the ability to break the elliptic curve digital signature algorithm (ECDSA). Ethereum researcher Justin Drake has warned that such advances could potentially reduce the timeframe for a breach to months rather than years. In response, developers are debating mitigation strategies. While some suggest moving funds to new addresses, Dragonfly managing partner Haseeb Qureshi has criticized this narrow approach, proposing a ‘Cryptographic Recovery Mode’ to allow validators to recover funds via hash-based backup signatures. Discussions regarding protocol changes, such as BIP 360, BIP 361, and P2TR v2, continue as the community seeks to prevent the theft or freezing of assets.

Broadly, the development of quantum computing presents a strategic risk to internet encryption systems. Europol has urged the cryptocurrency industry and policymakers to proactively adopt post-quantum cryptography. In the United States, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued 89 recommendations to over 20 federal agencies, emphasizing the need for immediate cryptographic inventories to counter ‘harvest now, decrypt later’ threats. Various governments, including the US, EU, Australia, UK, and Canada, have set quantum readiness targets between 2030 and 2035. While companies like IBM claim milestones in quantum advantage, technical hurdles like qubit error rates remain. Consequently, blockchain projects like Algorand and platforms like Coinbase are already developing post-quantum resilience roadmaps.

## Claims

- Europol has published reports urging organizations and the cryptocurrency industry to prepare for quantum security challenges. (single source)
- The US GAO issued 89 recommendations to over 20 federal agencies regarding quantum computing risks to encryption. (single source)
- Researcher Alfredo Goldman stated that while quantum computing is risky, failing to invest represents a strategic disadvantage. (single source)
- IBM claims to have entered the era of quantum advantage following a 70-logical-qubit calculation. (single source)
- Governments in the US, EU, Australia, UK, and Canada have set quantum adaptation targets between 2030 and 2035. (single source)
- Quantum computers could potentially derive private keys from public keys, threatening cryptocurrency wallets. (single source)
- The GAO warned that actors are currently harvesting encrypted data to decrypt later once quantum technology matures. (single source)
- Algorand plans to implement native post-quantum accounts by 2026 and broader resilience by 2027. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-09: Quantum computing advancements prompt global warnings over encryption security

Institutions like Europol and the US GAO are warning of quantum computing threats to global encryption, urging immediate transitions to post-quantum cryptography to protect digital assets and government data.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/quantum-computing-poses-strategic-risks-and-encryption-threats

### 2026-10-09: Blockchain security experts debate AI and quantum risks to cryptography

Researchers and developers are debating security measures for blockchain networks as AI and quantum computing pose potential threats to the cryptographic algorithms used to secure digital assets.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/blockchain-security-experts-debate-ai-and-quantum-risks-to-cryptography

---
Cite as: Cryptographic risks from AI and quantum computing. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cryptographic-risks-from-ai-and-quantum-computing