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- A Jefferies strategist removed Bitcoin due to concerns over future quantum computing security risks.
- The firm shifted funds to gold, favoring traditional assets over long-term crypto uncertainty.
Christopher Wood, who leads equity strategy at Jefferies, has taken out the 10% Bitcoin slice from the firm’s “Greed & Fear” model portfolio. Bloomberg reports that he made the move after raising concerns about how quantum computing could eventually undermine Bitcoin’s cryptographic defenses.
Wood believes that advances in quantum computing technology could open up loopholes in the encryption mechanisms that have been the backbone of the Bitcoin network’s security. If quantum computers were one day able to break the link between public and private keys, the current digital signature system could become vulnerable. In his view, such risks are enough to make Bitcoin lose its appeal as a long-term store of value for institutional investors.
As a result, the 10% allocation previously placed in BTC was shifted to assets considered more stable. Approximately half went into physical gold, while the remainder was placed in gold mining stocks. This move demonstrates Wood’s preference for traditional assets, which, he believes, do not rely on the resilience of digital cryptography.
Bitcoin Faces a Long-Term Quantum Question
Even so, Wood’s stance doesn’t match the outlook held by much of the crypto and tech community. Many developers and researchers argue that quantum computers powerful enough to crack today’s cryptography are still a long way off and not something that poses an immediate risk.
Some experts argue that breakthroughs tend to arrive sooner than predicted. Because quantum computing can handle highly complex math at remarkable speeds, it may end up posing a serious challenge to Bitcoin and other digital assets if steps aren’t taken early on.
The Bitcoin network, for its part, can also adapt when needed. Like many other open systems, its protocol can be updated if new threats emerge. However, the process of change on a large network like Bitcoin is not a quick one, especially when it involves global consensus and the security of trillions of dollars in assets.
On the other hand, at the end of last December, we reported that Aptos submitted proposal AIP-137, which introduces the network’s first post-quantum signature scheme.
This scheme is designed to address potential future quantum computing threats without replacing existing signature systems. This means that users are not required to migrate from Ed25519, but additional protection options are available if needed.
At the end of last November, we also highlighted a statement from VanEck, which considered the possibility of withdrawing from Bitcoin if quantum computing were truly capable of breaking its encryption. Experts speculate that the speed of quantum computing in solving complex equations could pose a direct threat to Bitcoin and other digital assets in the not-too-distant future.
Furthermore, on November 19, we reviewed Vitalik Buterin’s view that Bitcoin and Ethereum’s security could be at risk of collapse as early as 2028 due to quantum threats. He argued that reasonable solutions include early preparation, the development of lattice-based cryptography, and closer coordination among blockchain developers.
