A recent security check found that XRP has significantly fewer accounts at risk from potential future quantum computing attacks compared to Bitcoin. Here’s a breakdown of the findings and why this difference is important.
A fresh audit of the XRP Ledger has put quantum security back in the spotlight.
Vet, a validator for the XRP Ledger, thoroughly examined all XRPL accounts to assess their potential vulnerability to quantum computing attacks. The results were quite significant.
Approximately 300,000 XRP accounts, containing a total of 2.4 billion XRP, have never been used to make transactions. Because of this inactivity, the identifying information for these accounts – their public keys – remains private and secure against potential future threats like quantum computing. Out of all dormant accounts, only two large holders, possessing a combined 21 million XRP, had publicly visible identifying information.
Read also:
XRP Breaks Multi Year Triangle and May Be Setting Up For a Massive Run
XRP Ledger Shows Minimal Quantum Exposure
That figure, 21 million XRP with exposed keys, represents just 0.03% of the total XRP supply.
In my research, I’ve found that a key reason for this result lies in the way the XRP Ledger is built. The account system lets users change their keys without needing to move their funds. It’s a subtle but powerful design choice that actually safeguards users, even if they aren’t consciously focusing on security.
Quick XRP acc quantum vulnerability check.
Around 300,000 XRP accounts hold a total of 2.4 billion XRP that have never been moved. Because these accounts haven’t transacted, their public keys are unavailable, making the XRP potentially secure against future quantum computing threats.
Only two XRP accounts holding a significant amount (21 million XRP) are inactive for over five years and have publicly visible key information.
Dormant…
— Vet (@Vet_X0)
Vet pointed out that dormant whale accounts on XRPL are almost nonexistent.
Bitcoin faces a different challenge. Large amounts of older Bitcoin, where the public keys are known, are more vulnerable – this is especially true for Bitcoin held by Satoshi Nakamoto. This is a major difference compared to other cryptocurrency networks.
Vet has confirmed that today’s quantum computers don’t pose a threat to public blockchains. Their recent report was a forward-looking check of security, not an alert about an existing problem.
Still, the data helps map out where each network stands if quantum threats advance.
Related reading:
New Google Research Shrinks Bitcoin Quantum Hack Timeline
Bitcoin Faces a Steeper Quantum Security Challenge
Estimates suggest around 6.9 million BTC may be vulnerable to future quantum attacks.
As I’ve been analyzing the data, it’s become clear that a significant amount of the total cryptocurrency supply consists of coins that have never been spent and whose ownership is publicly known. This is a growing concern, and I’m hearing increasingly urgent calls from developers for important updates to the underlying technology within the next three to five years to address this issue.
Bitcoin’s quantum challenge is not just technical. It also carries a social dimension.
There’s a lot of discussion within the community about what to do with old, potentially insecure wallets, particularly those belonging to early users. We haven’t yet agreed on a plan for those funds if a security issue arises.
The permanent proposed fix, known as BIP-360, remains years away from activation.
While a long-term fix is being developed, Bitcoin developers have been creating temporary solutions. Market analyst Bull Theory recently noted that two of these tools appeared within just two days of each other in early April.
BITCOIN JUST GOT TWO NEW DEFENSES AGAINST QUANTUM ATTACKS IN LAST 48 HOURS.
On April 8th, Olaoluwa Osuntokun, the CTO of Lightning Labs, released a prototype that addresses a major challenge.
If Bitcoin ever activates an emergency shutdown of its current security system to block a…
— Bull Theory (@BullTheoryio)
Bitcoin Developers Roll Out Two Emergency Quantum Tools
On April 8th, Olaoluwa Osuntokun, CTO of Lightning Labs, released a first version of a solution to a significant problem.
As a researcher in this field, I’m concerned about a potential future scenario: if Bitcoin were to switch off its current security measures to defend against a quantum computer attack, a lot of people wouldn’t be able to prove they actually own their Bitcoin. Essentially, they’d lose access to their funds because they wouldn’t have a way to demonstrate ownership.
This tool offers users a way to verify ownership that isn’t susceptible to potential weaknesses quantum computers could uncover.
The next day, on April 9th, StarkWare’s Chief Product Officer, Avihu Levy, shared a different approach. This method aims to protect Bitcoin transactions from quantum computing threats without requiring any changes to Bitcoin’s underlying code.
This technique replaces the parts of the system vulnerable to attacks from quantum computers with new, quantum-resistant math. To the Bitcoin network, everything appears as usual during this change.
The catch is cost.
Using Levy’s method for each transaction costs between $75 and $150 in computing resources. Plus, these transactions don’t go through the regular network; they have to be sent directly to miners.
Developers see this as a tool for large Bitcoin holders to use only in emergencies, not for regular transactions. Both this and similar tools are temporary fixes until the Bitcoin system can be improved long-term.
Read More
- Brent Oil Forecast
- Silver Rate Forecast
- Gold Rate Forecast
- ETH PREDICTION. ETH cryptocurrency
- TRX PREDICTION. TRX cryptocurrency
- Is Trust Wallet’s Tokenized RWA Feature the Future of Finance or Just Hype?
- Tokenization: A Long Journey to Global Domination, But Here’s How to Get On Board
- Is Bitcoin About To Throw A September Tantrum Before The Q4 Party? 🎢💸
- NEAR PREDICTION. NEAR cryptocurrency
- Altcoin ETFs: The Next Big Thing in Crypto?
2026-04-10 20:00