The G7 has officially sounded the alarm on global cybersecurity, putting unprecedented pressure on digital infrastructure, including decentralized networks. In a report published under the aegis of ANSSI, global powers are calling on both public and private stakeholders to anticipate the quantum threat by 2026. The core issue lies in the so-called "harvest now, decrypt later" strategy: a tactic that allows attackers to store encrypted data today in order to compromise it once quantum computing power becomes operational. For institutions, the deadline for critical systems is set for 2030, with a phased-out ban on current cryptographic methods by 2035.
For the cryptocurrency sector, this shift represents a colossal technical challenge, as it calls into question the very foundations of wallet and transaction security. On the Bitcoin network, the vulnerability particularly affects legacy addresses, where public keys are permanently exposed on the blockchain. Technical proposals, such as the BIP-360 standard, are currently under review to bolster fund protection. However, this transition requires significant modifications, including a potential increase in signature size, which could reignite complex debates regarding scalability and block management within the community.
Faced with these risks, major projects like Ethereum and Solana have already taken the lead. Ethereum has integrated post-quantum security into the heart of its roadmap, aiming for a full transition of its signatures and zero-knowledge proofs by 2029. Meanwhile, the Solana ecosystem is also experimenting with robust patches to protect its custody infrastructure. These initiatives reflect a growing awareness that cryptography inherited from the classical era is becoming a weak link in the global digital financial architecture.
While there is no cause for immediate panic, as the computing power required to break current keys remains speculative, the timeline imposed by governments is a game-changer. This is no longer just a theoretical exercise for engineers, but a regulatory imperative embedded in the long term. By integrating these requirements, blockchains are striving to ensure their longevity in the face of a threat that targets not only digital assets, but the entire trust infrastructure of our connected economy.