Public-key exposure in taproot addresses may enable quantum computing to derive private keys.
Users are advised to store coins in SegWit BC1Q addresses and avoid spending until the upgrade.
Concerns are growing over the impact of quantum computing on Bitcoin’s long-term security. Analysts are warning that these machines, expected to reach advanced capability within the next decade, could potentially undermine the cryptographic foundations that secure trillions in BTC holdings.
On-chain analyst Willy Woo cautioned that the next stage of computing power may expose Bitcoin users to risks previously unconsidered. He said the era of “big scary quantum computers ” could render traditional key protection methods ineffective, as they may be able to derive private keys directly from public keys.
Woo explained,
In the past it was about protecting your PRIVATE KEY (your seed phrase). In the age of big scary quantum computers (BSQC) that are coming, you need to protect your PUBLIC KEY
