Written by Nate Kostarstaff writerEdited by Sam Bourgistaff editor

Written by Nate Kostarstaff writer

Edited by Sam Bourgistaff editor

Quantum fears already limiting Bitcoin’s growth, Stacks founder says

Latest NewsPublishedOct 27, 2026

Speaking on Cointelegraph’s Chain Reaction podcast, Muneeb Ali warned that uncertainty over Bitcoin’s quantum security could deter institutional investors.

Concerns about quantum computing are slowing institutional investment in Bitcoin, as reported by Stacks founder Muneeb Ali, who warned that the network needs a credible roadmap for security upgrades to restore investor confidence.

“There is already a ceiling on the growth of Bitcoin because of quantum fears,” Ali stated during an interview on Cointelegraph’s Chain Reaction podcast. He argued that uncertainty could lead risk-averse institutional investors to delay large Bitcoin purchases until developers establish a credible path toward quantum-resistant security.

Stacks is a Bitcoin layer-2 network designed to bring smart contracts and decentralized applications to Bitcoin. Ali co-founded the project, which uses Bitcoin as its underlying settlement layer.

Chain Reaction Podcast. Source: Cointelegraph

Ali warned that Bitcoin could enter a riskier period if developers fail to make meaningful progress toward quantum-resistant security by 2028. He stated upgrades typically take years to implement, with additional time needed for users to move their holdings to new addresses.

Ali pointed to 2030 as a target for transitioning to quantum-resistant security, citing guidance from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He suggested advances in artificial intelligence could accelerate the development of quantum computers, potentially bringing that timeline forward to 2029.

Ali acknowledged that some Bitcoin proponents believe the quantum computing threat remains distant and concerns are overblown. He argued, nevertheless, that disagreements over the urgency of the threat could themselves undermine investor confidence, particularly without a credible upgrade roadmap.

Related: Justin Sun says Tron’s post-quantum cryptography has gone live on testnet

Bitcoin’s quantum security debate

Despite his concerns, Ali stated a sufficiently powerful quantum computer would more likely emerge from a major research laboratory than an unknown attacker. He suggested companies such as Google or Microsoft would have little incentive to use the technology to steal Bitcoin, given the potential legal consequences.

Ali also stated a quantum security threat to Bitcoin would affect the broader cryptocurrency industry, even projects developing their own protections. “If Bitcoin gets hit, everyone gets hit downstream as well,” he stated.

Meanwhile, developers are exploring ways to protect Bitcoin against quantum attacks. In September, StarkWare reported that researchers had reduced the estimated computing cost of preparing an experimental quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction by 79%, following a weeklong optimization challenge.

The approach requires no changes to Bitcoin’s consensus rules, but the latest cost reductions have been demonstrated only in benchmark tests. StarkWare has described the technology as a last-resort measure and continues to advocate for a protocol-level upgrade as a longer-term solution.

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Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

• Quantum Computing
• AI
• Bitcoin Adoption
• Bitcoin

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This article references reporting from cointelegraph.com.