Quantum-Resistant Wallets Could Help Institutions Adopt Blockchain

At a glance

Institutions keep assets on blockchains for decades, but the cryptography protecting them was not built with quantum computers in mind. The author argues that wallets resistant to quantum attacks could ease this worry and speed up institutional adoption.

Key points

1. 1

   A powerful enough quantum computer could break the elliptic-curve signatures used by many blockchain wallets.

2. 2

   Most current quantum fixes require rotating keys, moving to new addresses, or forking the chain, which is hard for assets held untouched for years.

3. 3

   The US standards body NIST published post-quantum cryptography standards in 2024, giving institutions a starting point for planning.

4. 4

   The author's company is researching wallet designs that use zero-knowledge techniques to adapt more easily.

Why it matters

Custodians and pension funds holding blockchain assets for decades need security that can be upgraded as future threats emerge.