Research: Quantum computers would require stellar-level energy to launch a 51% attack on Bitcoin

CoinNetwork · 2026-04-08T07:52:27+00:00

Recent studies indicate that the threat of quantum computing to Bitcoin mining is difficult to realize at the physical level. A 51% attack requires enormous computational power and energy, exceeding the current Bitcoin network capacity. The long-term risk mainly lies in cracking the public keys of Bitcoin wallets. Developers are working on new technologies to address this, and the likelihood of changing the mining algorithm by 2027 is very low.

CoinNetwork

2026-04-08 07:52:27

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CoinJie.com (C. ai Jie) news: The latest academic research indicates that the theoretical threat posed by quantum computers to Bitcoin mining is extremely difficult to realize at the physical layer. Research by the BTQ Technologies team shows that if a 51% attack is launched using the Grover algorithm, based on the mining difficulty as of January 2025, it would require deploying 10 to the 23rd power of quantum bits and consuming 10 to the 25th power of watts of electrical power. This energy consumption is about 3% of the Sun’s output power—far higher than the current Bitcoin network’s power consumption level of about 15 gigawatts. Another report from institutions such as the University of Auckland also confirms that some past quantum decomposition breakthroughs have lacked effectiveness in practical applications.

The research emphasizes that the real long-term risk from quantum computing lies in using the Shor algorithm to crack early Bitcoin wallets with exposed public keys, rather than undermining the mining consensus mechanism. At present, developers are actively working on protections such as new signature schemes to address this vulnerability. Market forecasts show that the probability of Bitcoin changing its mining algorithm before 2027 is extremely low, but the probability of deploying upgrades intended to enhance wallet resistance to quantum attacks—such as BIP-360—is about 40%.

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