Quantus founder Christopher Smith said that the first indication that quantum computers have compromised modern cryptography could appear as a series of unexplained crypto wallet breaches. Quantum computers capable of deriving private keys from public keys would allow attackers to move funds without accessing wallets, devices, or exchange systems. Recent advances in quantum algorithms and AI have lowered the estimated hardware requirements for breaking elliptic‑curve cryptography used by major blockchains. Smith said the most valuable keys may include administrative tokens such as Tether’s minting key, which could enable creation of new stablecoins without the issuer’s response. He added that military systems and state secrets could be early targets, while crypto attackers might pursue other high‑value administrative keys. The timing of a quantum computer able to break public‑key cryptography remains uncertain. Smith estimated a 50‑50 probability by 2028, while security researcher Sean Cheetham said an early 2030s arrival is almost certain, and Solana chief information security officer Michael Coates declined to give an estimate, noting that industry expectations have long held a five‑year horizon that has persisted for more than a decade. Google accelerated its post‑quantum migration timeline to 2029 after an AI‑assisted breakthrough demonstrated that elliptic‑curve cryptography could be cracked with fewer physical qubits than previously forecasted. NGRAVE CEO Roy Blackstone said that blockchains are already migrating to post‑quantum signatures to prevent serious damage. Industry participants continue to adopt post‑quantum standards despite ongoing uncertainty about when quantum capabilities will become practical.