If an AI system were to successfully attack or destroy the cryptography of a well-regarded blockchain, even in the field of white-hat research, all the panic selling of cryptocurrencies that had occurred up to that moment would be dwarfed. If quantum computers destroy blockchain, we might all just close up shop. The whole point of blockchain would be forever undermined.
The good news is that there is a clearly defined technology roadmap to avoid this. Some protocols already implement it, although not enough. But why are so many people lacking?
This is a real and immediate threat, and the crypto industry is ignoring it at its own peril. To secure the future of decentralized technology, cryptocurrencies must urgently upgrade their infrastructure to address and proactively partner with the industries that pose the greatest risks: AI and quantum computing.
Blame it on pride, protectionism, and competition, but these cross-industry partnerships and technological future-proofing efforts just aren’t moving at any meaningful pace. As a result, technologies designed to improve humanity are increasingly vulnerable to the infrastructure that defines them.
Blockchain technology can finally provide a secure, transparent, and self-sovereign system on a global scale. But today, the threat of AI, and later quantum computing, shows that cryptocurrencies are not enough to protect everything we build.
Recent research from Cornell University investigated how AI agents connected to blockchain protocols can be manipulated by adversaries that tamper with their memory and context. Malicious attackers can inject fake history or prompts to cause unauthorized transfers or protocol violations, effectively turning an AI-driven crypto agent into a hijacked ally.
Meanwhile, AI in the hands of attackers is already accelerating cybercrime. AI-powered phishing, malware, and zero-day exploits are on the rise, and traditional defenses are struggling to keep up.
But what also needs to be addressed is the blindness with which much of our industry has turned to quantum computing. Breaking blockchain may still take a decade, but the risks could be worse than a 51/49 attack from generative AI. Experts have warned that within a decade, powerful quantum machines could crack the encryption protecting all Bitcoin, especially up to 25% of BTC stored in legacy wallets with public keys.
Researchers have already discovered that the traditional public-key cryptography that forms the core of blockchain is vulnerable to quantum algorithms that already exist today. Although post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards are currently being developed by government cybersecurity organizations such as NIST and ENISA, the crypto industry has not taken the guidance seriously enough.
The bottom line is that many operators are prioritizing hyper-growth over responsible expansion and are not acting with enough urgency or partnering with AI and quantum experts to build future-proof systems.
Only a few blockchains are actively developing and testing post-quantum algorithms, including Sui, Ethereum, and Algorand, and Sui is even working on resolving backward compatibility issues to protect older non-quantum accounts. Even though the NIST standard is solidifying, some of the world’s most valuable networks still use ECDSA without quantum resiliency upgrades. Research confirms widespread lack of readiness across major platforms.
The consequences of inaction are real. When AI infiltrates blockchain systems, hacking can be invisible, stealth, and systematic. Agents with false memories can fraudulently transfer funds, compromise contract security, and corrupt DeFi protocols. And if quantum computing arrives before we adopt quantum-secure algorithms across the board, attackers could reverse engineer private keys, rewrite history, compromise users’ wallets, and destroy hard-won trust across industries.
There is time to mitigate these systemic risks, but the transition to future-proof technologies and partnerships must start now. All cryptographic protocols should evaluate their cryptographic inventories and begin planning for a phased deployment of post-quantum cryptography well in advance of deadlines recommended by security agencies.
Waiting is not a strategy. That’s because quantum computing and AI could easily result in breakthrough innovations that are accelerated by the AI itself, potentially speeding up threat timelines by years.
Aside from inaction on future-proofing blockchain at the protocol level, meaningful partnerships between cryptocurrencies, AI, and quantum companies remain tenuous, with not enough AI companies co-designing secure agent-in-crypto frameworks with crypto companies, and not enough collaboration between the blockchain industry and quantum academia.
Both crypto operators and AI and quantum researchers need to work together to develop a framework for coexistence. This includes creating mechanisms for blockchain to protect AI outputs, such as immutable logs, transparent decision histories, and trusted governance.
Engagement with regulators also needs to be significantly improved. This means working with organizations like NIST and ENISA to help test and refine emerging post-quantum cryptographic standards. Those who participate in defining what a quantum-proof protocol is will be more likely to implement it accurately and securely.
Better collaboration leads to safeguards that protect governments, businesses, individuals, and the technologies that move humanity forward. More importantly, if cryptocurrencies, AI, and quantum computing work together in unison, there are many ways in which they can help each other and improve society. Greater integration between industries is not only good for our security, it’s also good for the global economy.
In quantum and cryptography collaboration, imagine a network that uses quantum-secure signatures and encryption from day one. Now comes the fun part. These networks could potentially store the next generation of scientific data, such as medical breakthroughs, genomic research, and climate models, while ensuring that even the most advanced quantum attackers cannot tamper with historical truth. Quantum progress will be an ally, not a threat.
Only by actively collaborating with the AI and quantum communities can the cryptocurrency industry deliver on its promise. Cryptography allows us to build systems that are not only safe from tomorrow’s threats, but also amplify humanity’s potential. But if the industry cannot collaborate more effectively with other industries and take steps on its own to reduce risk, much of what the world is excited about today could come to nothing.
