Coinbase says quantum computing is not an immediate threat to blockchains — but preparation should start now.
A new report from Coinbase’s quantum advisory board highlighted Algorand and Aptos as two projects already taking early steps to prepare for a post-quantum future.
The concern is long term.
If quantum computers become powerful enough one day, they could potentially break much of the cryptography that secures wallets, signatures, and blockchain transactions today.
That kind of machine does not exist yet.
But Coinbase’s message is basically: don’t wait until it does.
The report says preparation now is smarter than emergency fixes later.
Algorand was highlighted for having a staged roadmap toward quantum resistance. Coinbase noted it has already tested a quantum-resistant transaction on mainnet, which is a notable milestone.
Aptos was also singled out because of how its account system is designed. According to the report, users may be able to upgrade to post-quantum security without moving funds to entirely new wallets — which could make migration much easier.
That’s a big deal, because migration could be one of the hardest parts of preparing blockchains for quantum threats.
The report also pointed out that some proof-of-stake networks may have more work to do.
It specifically mentioned networks like Ethereum and Solana, where validator signatures could become a bigger target in a future quantum scenario.
That doesn’t mean they’re vulnerable today.
It means their security models may require bigger upgrades over time.
Coinbase noted both are already working on that. Solana has introduced updated signature approaches, and Ethereum has a roadmap for quantum-resistant upgrades.
So this wasn’t really a warning that crypto is in danger now.
It was more like an early planning memo.
In simple terms:
- Quantum computers are not breaking blockchains today
- Coinbase believes they could become a real issue eventually
- Some networks are already preparing
- Others may need deeper upgrades
The message is less “panic about quantum” and more “start future-proofing now.”
