The quantum threat to Bitcoin may be far less concentrated than widely assumed 
— and that structural detail is quietly reshaping how developers and investors 
think about the risk. Related Reading: XRP Bulls Eye Breakout As Ripple 
Unveils 13,000 Bank Connections Worldwide A Distributed Problem, Not A Single 
Target Coins attributed to Bitcoin&#8217;s pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto are 
spread across roughly 22,000 separate addresses, each holding 50 BTC. That 
means a quantum computer capable of cracking Bitcoin&#8217;s encryption would need 
to break thousands of individual wallets — not one massive target. According 
to Alex Thorn, a researcher who attended a recent industry gathering in Las 
Vegas, that reality is changing how experts frame the threat. The real high- 
value targets, Thorn noted, are large exchanges and active institutions — 
entities that can migrate to post-quantum addresses on their own if needed. 
The distinction between long-range and short-range quantum attacks matters 
here, too. Neutral atom quantum systems — a competing approach to the more 
widely known superconducting method — are only capable of long-range attacks. 
i had many discussions about quantum &amp; bitcoin in las vegas this week, both on 
and off stage, with skeptics, advocates, and many overall smart bitcoiners 
some consensus i feel is emerging: 1) satoshi’s coins (P2PK) should not be 
touched. violating his property rights could be… — Alex Thorn 
(@intangiblecoins) May 2, 2026 Google recently opened a neutral atom lab 
shortly before publishing a major quantum computing paper. Some observers read 
that move as a quiet acknowledgment that superconducting technology may have 
limits, though the company has not said so directly. Property Rights And The 
Satoshi Question The question of whether Bitcoin&#8217;s protocol should ever be 
changed to address Satoshi&#8217;s coins drew strong opinions. Based on Thorn&#8217;s 
account of discussions at the event, a rough consensus formed: those coins 
should not be touched. if you haven’t yet, watch the great discussion between 
@reardencode @jamesob @cryptoquick @apruden08 at @TheBitcoinConf last week 
https://t.co/2F52Jwkgzo — Alex Thorn (@intangiblecoins) May 2, 2026 Altering 
the protocol to move or freeze them would undermine a foundational principle — 
that property rights on the Bitcoin network are inviolable. Violating that 
principle, even with good intentions, could do lasting damage to the network&#8217;s 
credibility. Still, experts acknowledged the risk from Satoshi&#8217;s coins is 
manageable. Proposals like the &#8220;hourglass&#8221; mechanism could be activated if a 
long-range quantum attack appeared imminent. On-chain data cited by Thorn also 
shows Bitcoin markets have regularly absorbed over 1 million BTC in a short 
window — meaning even a worst-case scenario involving a 50% price drop might 
be survivable if property rights were preserved in the process. The Case For 
Quiet Research On the question of developing post-quantum cryptography for 
Bitcoin, the Las Vegas conversations pointed toward a clear middle ground. 
Background research — building, testing, and compressing new cryptographic 
signatures — was broadly seen as worthwhile, even if implementation remains 
years away. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Path To $100K May Happen Before Anyone 
Understands Why: Analyst The concern is not the research itself but how it 
gets introduced. Adding something untested to the protocol, or triggering 
governance gridlock while other upgrades wait, are the real dangers to avoid. 
Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView

Satoshi’s 22,000 Wallets Could Make Quantum Attacks On Bitcoin Far More Difficult: Expert

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Satoshi’s 22,000 Wallets Could Make Quantum Attacks On Bitcoin Far More Difficult: Expert

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