Quantum Security Fears Are Already Slowing Bitcoin Adoption, Stacks Founder Muneeb Ali Warns

Institutional investors may be holding back from Bitcoin due to unresolved quantum computing threats, according to Muneeb Ali, co-founder of Stacks, a Bitcoin layer-2 network. Speaking on Cointelegraph’s Chain Reaction podcast, Ali cautioned that the lack of a clear quantum-resistant upgrade path could deter large-scale capital inflows. While quantum computers capable of breaking Bitcoin’s elliptic curve cryptography are not yet practical, the uncertainty alone is becoming a barrier for risk-averse institutions. Ali noted that Bitcoin’s slow, consensus-driven upgrade process makes it difficult to implement post-quantum cryptographic standards quickly. This could leave the network exposed as quantum technology advances faster than expected. For investors with long-term horizons, the absence of a definitive quantum security roadmap is a growing concern. The warning highlights a strategic challenge for Bitcoin: balancing its core value of immutability with the need for proactive security upgrades. As quantum research accelerates, Bitcoin’s ability to adapt may determine its future as a store of value. The question is no longer if quantum threats will arrive, but whether Bitcoin can prepare in time.