The Blockspace Pod: Unraveling Bitcoin's Quantum Problem

Charlie Spears explores the existential threat of quantum computing to Bitcoin. Shor’s algorithm and the heated debate surrounding Satoshi’s 1 million BTC stash.

Jan 9, 2026

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We break down the difference between bits and qubits, explain why Shor's algorithm threatens elliptic curve cryptography, and debate the fate of Satoshi's vulnerable coins. It’s a deep dive into encryption, timeline predictions, and the massive coordination challenge facing the Bitcoin network to upgrade before it's too late.

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Notes:

* Satoshi has ~1M quantum vulnerable BTC.

* 2-4 million total BTC are currently exposed.

* 10-20% of supply is vulnerable to Shor's algo.

* Breaking BTC needs ~4,000 logical qubits.

* Google’s Willow chip has 105 physical qubits.

* NIST finalized quantum standards in 2024.

Timestamps:

00:00 Start

01:02 Overview

05:08 The Algorithm

10:59 Satoshi's Coins

13:09 How Long Do We Have?

15:18 Where Do We Stand?

17:22 Post Quantum Migration

👋The Blockspace Pod is produced Blockspace Media, Bitcoin’s first B2B publication in Bitcoin. Follow us on Twitter and check out our newsletter for the best information in Bitcoin mining, Ordinals and tech!

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