Binance Chief Security Officer Jimmy Su has stated that current quantum computers are incapable of breaking the cryptography safeguarding major digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, though he cautioned that the industry must prepare well before that reality changes.

Su addressed the topic in an August 11 Binance publication that answered five common questions about quantum computing and its implications for cryptocurrency security.

"Current quantum computers are nowhere near the scale and reliability needed to break the cryptography protecting digital assets," Su said, characterizing quantum computing as a long-term security concern rather than an immediate danger to users.

Is quantum computing a real threat to your crypto today? Binance's CSO answers five key questions on the real timeline, the real risks, and how Binance is preparing. At Binance, protecting users means thinking ahead, including for the quantum era. — Binance (@binance) August 11, 2026

Google Research Lowered the Estimated Quantum Resources Needed

The core concern revolves around Shor's algorithm, which a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could theoretically use to solve the mathematical problems underlying elliptic curve cryptography. Most major blockchains, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, rely on elliptic curve digital signature algorithms to authorize transactions, making this class of cryptography foundational to the industry's current security model. In principle, an attacker could derive a private key from an exposed public key and forge transactions. No quantum computer capable of executing such an attack currently exists.

Google Quantum AI intensified the discussion in March when its research estimated that breaking a 256-bit elliptic curve could eventually require fewer than 500,000 physical qubits and be completed in minutes under specific hardware assumptions. That figure represents roughly 20 times fewer physical qubits than a prior estimate, a reduction attributable to algorithmic improvements rather than any comparable advance in existing quantum hardware. For scale, the most advanced quantum processors publicly detailed to date operate with approximately 1,000 physical qubits, leaving a substantial gap between present-day capabilities and the resources a cryptographically relevant attack would require.

Su emphasized the importance of early preparation: "We're talking about quantum now not because there's an emergency today, but because waiting until there is an emergency could be much too late."

Binance Says Ordinary Security Threats Remain More Urgent

Binance is not advising users to alter their custody practices due to quantum computing concerns. Su identified phishing, malware, social engineering, compromised credentials, and weak wallet security as far more immediate threats. He recommended that users safeguard their recovery phrases, use trusted software, keep applications updated, and avoid unnecessary address reuse.

Su also warned against adopting untested products marketed as quantum-proof, noting: "You could actually introduce more security risk today trying to protect yourself against a future threat."

Binance stated that it is actively monitoring quantum computing developments, evaluating post-quantum security standards, and preparing its infrastructure for eventual blockchain migrations.

Post-Quantum Work Is Already Moving Beyond Research

The cryptographic tools required for such a transition already exist. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology finalized ML-KEM, ML-DSA, and SLH-DSA in 2024 and has advised organizations to begin migrating toward quantum-resistant cryptography immediately. These are the first finalized U.S. federal standards for post-quantum cryptography, covering lattice-based key encapsulation and digital signature schemes as well as a hash-based signature alternative. Its current standards roadmap targets the eventual removal of vulnerable algorithms from NIST standards by 2035.

Crypto industry participants are also funding Bitcoin security research. Strategy, BlackRock, Coinbase, and six other firms pledged $15 million over three years to Bitcoin security research, with post-quantum cryptography among the consortium's priorities. Galaxy separately committed up to $5 million for Bitcoin quantum readiness research and developer grants.

Ethereum is pursuing a similar path. Its updated technical roadmap has elevated quantum security among development priorities, and researchers are testing account-level post-quantum protections.

Sui has advanced further by announcing specific deployment targets. Its August 6 roadmap outlines plans for quantum-safe vaults on mainnet in 2026, ML-DSA-65 accounts on testnet by year-end, and native post-quantum account authentication on mainnet in the first quarter of 2027. These dates remain subject to audits and testing.

What Happens Next for Crypto Quantum Security

The greater challenge may prove to be migration rather than algorithm design. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other decentralized networks would require coordination among developers, wallets, exchanges, custodians, and users to implement changes without stranding funds protected by older cryptography. The scale of such a transition would exceed previous blockchain protocol upgrades, which have typically involved narrower sets of stakeholders and shorter transition windows. Unresolved questions also remain about how networks should handle dormant or lost coins that cannot migrate voluntarily.

For now, Binance maintains that no emergency action is required from ordinary holders. The industry's expanding research funding and network roadmaps point toward a gradual transition designed to conclude before cryptographically relevant quantum computers become practical.