Strategy CEO Michael Saylor believes concerns that quantum computing could break Bitcoin’s cryptography are overstated. According to him, if a genuine threat were to emerge, the entire global financial and technological system would coordinate upgrades — and such a shift would not happen overnight.
Speaking on Natalie Brunell’s Coin Stories podcast, Saylor said the broader cybersecurity community generally agrees that any credible quantum risk is likely more than a decade away.
“We’ll See It Coming”
Saylor argued that if a true breakthrough in quantum computing occurs, global banking systems, internet infrastructure, consumer devices, AI networks, and crypto protocols like Bitcoin would implement coordinated software upgrades to adopt post-quantum cryptography.
“You’ll see it coming. We’ll all see it coming,” he said.
He emphasized that Bitcoin’s software is designed to evolve over time. Nodes, hardware devices, and wallets can all be upgraded to respond to emerging threats.
In his view, global consensus on how to respond would only materialize if a credible threat actually develops, since governments, tech companies, and financial institutions would all face the same risks to their digital infrastructure.
Saylor also described the crypto sector as “the most sophisticated cybersecurity community,” citing widespread use of multi-factor authentication and hardware key protections. He added that the procedures required to move Bitcoin are significantly more rigorous than those used for traditional bank transfers or stock trading systems.
“I think the crypto community will be the first to perceive the threat, and to react to the threat — and they’ll be leading the way.”
Strategy Continues Accumulating Bitcoin
Strategy, led by Saylor, remains the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder.
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The company purchased an additional 592 BTC last week for approximately $39.8 million
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This marked its 100th acquisition since adopting a Bitcoin treasury strategy in August 2020
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Total holdings now stand at 717,722 BTC
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The company has spent about $54.56 billion, with an average purchase price of $67,286 per BTC
Ongoing Debate Within the Crypto Industry
While Saylor remains confident, not everyone in the crypto space shares his optimism.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin previously cited forecasting platform Metaculus, which estimates roughly a 20% probability that quantum computers capable of breaking current cryptography could emerge before 2030, with a median estimate around 2040.
Speaking at Devconnect in Buenos Aires, Buterin warned that elliptic curve cryptography — the foundation of both Ethereum and Bitcoin security — could fail before the 2028 U.S. presidential election. He urged a transition to quantum-resistant systems within the next four years.
The Ethereum Foundation has incorporated post-quantum preparedness into its 2026 security roadmap and has formed a dedicated Post-Quantum team to address the issue.
Is Quantum Fear Behind Bitcoin’s Price Decline?
Some analysts have speculated that quantum-related concerns may be contributing to Bitcoin’s recent price weakness.
Bitcoin previously surged above $126,000 in October before falling back to around $64,000.
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Investor Nic Carter suggested Bitcoin’s “mysterious underperformance” could be linked to quantum risk concerns.
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However, Glassnode analyst James Check pushed back, arguing that while preparation is necessary, quantum computing is not the primary driver of the recent price decline.
The debate over quantum computing’s potential impact on Bitcoin continues, with one side viewing the threat as distant and manageable, while the other calls for proactive preparation before it becomes urgent.
