Quantum Fears Could Cap Bitcoin’s Growth, Says Stacks Founder

Bitcoin’s growth is already being constrained by concerns that quantum computers could compromise the network, according to Stacks founder Muneeb Ali. Speaking on Cointelegraph’s Chain Reaction podcast, Ali said uncertainty over Bitcoin’s quantum resistance may cause risk-averse institutional investors to delay large purchases until developers provide a credible security-upgrade roadmap.

Ali warned that Bitcoin could face greater risks if developers fail to make meaningful progress toward quantum-resistant security by 2028. Implementing new cryptographic systems can take years, while users will need additional time to migrate funds to secure addresses. He cited 2030 as a potential transition target based on guidance from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, but said advances in artificial intelligence could accelerate quantum-computer development and bring the deadline forward to 2029.

Stacks is a Bitcoin layer-2 network that uses Bitcoin as its settlement layer and enables smart contracts and decentralized applications. Ali acknowledged that some Bitcoin advocates consider the quantum threat distant or overstated, but argued that disagreement over its urgency could further weaken investor confidence. He also believes a sufficiently powerful quantum computer would be more likely to emerge from a major laboratory such as Google or Microsoft than from an unknown attacker, given the legal consequences of stealing Bitcoin.

The potential impact would extend beyond Bitcoin itself. “If Bitcoin gets hit, everyone gets hit downstream as well,” Ali said, warning that other cryptocurrencies could also suffer from reduced investor confidence. Developers are already exploring ways to defend Bitcoin against quantum attacks, but Ali’s comments underscore the need for a coordinated, credible migration plan before institutional demand begins to recover.