Not all Bitcoin faces the same level of risk from quantum computing. Dormant wallets with exposed public keys could be the first targets.
The common narrative surrounding the impact of quantum computing on Bitcoin focuses on a doomsday scenario in which the entire network collapses at once. However, this perspective overlooks a critical distinction in how the risk is actually distributed.
Bitcoin’s quantum vulnerability is not a blanket threat. It is concentrated in dormant addresses with exposed public keys. This includes many of the oldest coins from the “Satoshi era” and lost wallets.
While modern Bitcoin (BTC) addresses use stronger security layers, these legacy holdings could become the primary targets of the first generation of powerful quantum machines. These wallets offer attackers time, scale and minimal resistance. That combination makes them the most likely starting point for any future quantum-driven disruption.
