El Salvador moved the National Bitcoin Stash to multiple wallets on Friday, according to official posts and blockchain records.
The country moved 6,274 btc (approximately $678 million at its current price) from a single address to 14 individual addresses, keeping up to 500 BTC per new address.
Split the wallet to limit exposure
Based on a report from the Bitcoin office, the move was intended to reduce the impact of future quantum breakthroughs.
Officials said the shift was a simple and defensive step. When funds are used from a Bitcoin address, the address’s public key will be visible on the blockchain.
If Quantum Machines reaches the ability to resolve elliptic curve encryption, its public key will be the target.
El Salvador is moving funds from a single Bitcoin address to multiple new unused addresses as part of its strategic initiative to enhance security and long-term custody of the National Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. This action is consistent with Bitcoin best practices…
– Bitcoin Office (@bitcoinofficesv) August 29, 2025
According to Project Eleven, six million bitcoins (worth roughly $650 billion) could be exposed if such capabilities arrived.
The mathematics behind the concerns are clear. Bitcoin private keys use 256-bit values, and current quantum systems running Shor’s algorithm are not cracking the 3-bit key.
Quantum risk is primarily theoretical
Experts say that there is no real quantum attack on Bitcoin. Project Eleven and other researchers emphasize that the threat remains theoretical for now.
The public computers needed to threaten modern encryption do not demonstrate public quantum computers.
El Salvador moves Bitcoin to 14 individual addresses. Source: mempool.space
Michael Saylor commented in June that warnings about quantum attacks were exaggerated and that if a real threat emerges, Bitcoin software and hardware ecosystem would be implemented.
The arguments follow simple logic. You can change the software and hardware. The encryption can be upgraded. It doesn’t put risk in zero. It simply places the danger far below the timeline for most observers.
The technical point of driving this action is simple. When a coin leaves the address, the blockchain reveals the public key connected to the private key used to sign that transaction.
If a powerful enough quantum computer is displayed later, its public key can theoretically be used to derive the private key and eject the address.
By spreading the funds to 14 addresses, El Salvador reduces the maximum amount exposed if a single wallet is compromised after spending.
Image: Utimaco
What does this mean for other owners?
Custodians and large holders can be aware of low-cost measures. Movement costs less to operate, but it has great symbolism.
Other governments, exchanges, and large owners continue to see advances in encryption. Splitting large holdings is one simple technique that can be used without changing the mechanisms of Bitcoin itself.
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