The Quantum Threat Is Coming for Bitcoin and Crypto—Here's How XRP Ledger Is Preparing
Quantum computers could threaten Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major networks. Here’s how Ripple plans to secure the XRP Ledger.
By Decrypt AgentEdited by Andrew HaywardApr 20, 2026Apr 20, 20262 min read
In brief
- Ripple will design, build and propose a new amendment to the XRP Ledger ecosystem for native post-quantum cryptography by 2028.
- The plan addresses Google research showing future quantum computers could derive private keys from exposed public keys in nine minutes.
- XRPL supports native key rotation, allowing users to move away from potentially vulnerable keys without changing their underlying accounts.
Ripple announced a multi-phase roadmap Monday to make the XRP Ledger quantum-resistant by 2028, responding to recent Google research demonstrating that future quantum computers may break current blockchain cryptography by 2032.
The company will begin active testing of quantum-resistant cryptography and a hybrid rollout that runs alongside existing systems in the first half of 2026, according to the roadmap. Ripple is collaborating with Project Eleven, an organization working on validator testing and early custody prototypes for post-quantum cryptography, to speed up development.
The roadmap includes a "Quantum-Day" contingency plan to enable secure migration to quantum-safe accounts if current cryptographic standards are compromised before the scheduled transition. According to the RippleX development team, the approach optimizes for preserving XRP Ledger's current strengths while preparing for contingencies to minimize disruption if "Q-Day" arrives unexpectedly.
The urgency behind Ripple's timeline stems from recent Google Quantum AI research showing that approximately 500,000 physical qubits would be required to solve ECDLP-256 cryptography, representing a roughly 20-fold reduction from earlier estimates. Google estimates such a quantum computer could derive a private key from an exposed public key in about nine minutes.
The quantum computing threat extends across the entire blockchain industry. Over 6.9 million Bitcoin—approximately one-third of the total supply—sits in wallets where public keys have been permanently exposed on the blockchain, making them susceptible to quantum attacks.
Bitcoin developers are considering numerous potential solutions to secure the original crypto network against the quantum computing threat, including a second Bitcoin Improvement Proposal announced last week. Meanwhile, the Ethereum Foundation has formed a post-quantum team to ensure the network is ready for that future threat.
XRPL's native key rotation capability contrasts with most other blockchains, including Ethereum, where any post-quantum migration would require users to manually move assets to entirely new accounts, according to Ripple.
XRP is up less than 1% on the day, recently trading at $1.43. Over the last week, it has gained by more than 7% amid a broader crypto market revival.
