Ethereum Foundation and Other Research Teams Use AI to Optimize Algorithm, Cutting Quantum Attack Resource Threshold for BTC and ETH by 50%

Odaily News: Researchers from the Ethereum Foundation, Theta Labs, StarkWare, and other institutions jointly published a paper in which they used AI coding agents to deeply optimize the core operations of Shor's algorithm, reducing the computing resources required for a potential quantum attack on Bitcoin and Ethereum (the secp256k1 cryptographic system) by more than 50% compared with Google's benchmark in March this year. The number of logical qubits required for the circuit has been compressed to 1,151, and later versions have reduced it to as few as 813. Although current quantum hardware still cannot directly break public blockchains, the research shows that pure algorithmic optimization is significantly narrowing the time window for the quantum threat. The researchers emphasized that quantum-resistant upgrades take a long time and cannot be applied retroactively, so the industry needs to prepare defenses in advance. (Coindesk)