Google has set a 2029 migration deadline for post-quantum cryptography (PQC), warning that the “quantum frontiers” may be closer than it seems.
Google on Wednesday he said rapid advances in quantum computing and quantum error correction hardware, along with current estimates of how quickly a quantum machine can break today’s encryption standards, have increased the urgency to act sooner rather than later.
“Quantum computers will pose a significant threat to current cryptographic standards, particularly encryption and digital signatures,” Google said, while noting that PQC migration is necessary for users to exploit authentication services securely.
For the first time, Google has set a timeline for implementing post-quantum features in its products. The 2029 timeline is earlier than for some industries estimates on Q-Day – the moment when quantum computers become powerful enough to break current public key encryption.
“It is our responsibility to lead by example and set an ambitious agenda. By doing so, we hope to provide the clarity and urgency needed to accelerate digital transformation not only at Google, but across the industry.”
Google is calling for urgent action as it continues to develop its Willow quantum chip, which has 105 qubits of computing power, making it one of the most powerful in the industry.
There are also growing concerns that quantum computers could seriously disrupt the crypto industry by breaking cryptographic algorithms used to secure digital assets. However, there is still debate on whether only crypto wallets with exposed public keys are vulnerable or whether are all coins at risk.
Crypto networks are also eyeing post-quantum improvements
The Ethereum Foundation launched its “Post-Quantum Ethereum” resource center on Tuesday, focused on protecting the blockchain from future quantum computing threats and securing billions of dollars in value on the network.
The post-quantum team plans to implement quantum-resistant solutions in Ethereum at the protocol level by 2029, with solutions targeting the execution layer to come in the future.
In January 2025, Solana developers created a quantum-resistant vault on the Solana blockchain to protect user funds from quantum threats by implementing a complicated hash-based signature system that generates modern keys with every transaction.
Related: Google discovers iOS exploit kit used in crypto phishing attacks
However, to access this feature, Solana users must store their funds in Winternitz vaults rather than regular Solana wallets, as this is not a network-wide security update.
Meanwhile, divisions are growing within the Bitcoin ecosystem over what actions, if any, developers should take.
One of the strongest voices in the Bitcoin ecosystem, Blockstream CEO Adam Back, says the quantum risks have been greatly exaggerated and that no action will be needed for decades.
On the other hand, security researcher Ethan Heilman and others have proposed a modern type of results for Bitcoin, called Pay-to-Merkle-Root, via Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 360 (BIP-360), which aims to protect Bitcoin addresses against potential compact exposure quantum attacks.
However, that implementation could take seven years, Heilman told Cointelegraph in February.
Warehouse: No one knows if quantum-secure cryptography will even work
