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Slow Blockchain Governance Leaves Crypto Exposed to Quantum Threats

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Quantum computing poses a real threat to crypto, and slow-moving governance processes risk leaving blockchains vulnerable, according to Colton Dillion, a co-founder of Quip Network, which provides quantum-proof vaults for storing digital assets.

While the technology, which uses the quantum states of subatomic particles to perform calculations instead of transistors and binary code, is still in its infancy, companies including Google and Microsoft are pressing forward with research and development. The goal is a massive step-up in speed that makes tough calculations like cracking encryption, such as that used to protect blockchains, faster and simpler.

And when quantum computing becomes available, any attacker is unlikely to announce their presence immediately.

“The threat won’t start with Satoshi’s keys getting stolen,» Dillion said in an interview. “The real quantum attack will look subtle, quiet, and gradual, like whales casually moving funds. By the time everyone realizes what’s happening, it’ll be too late.»

Dillion’s doomsday scenario involves a quantum-computing-powered double-spend attack. In theory, quantum computing could reduce the mining power required for a traditional 51% attack down to about 26%, Dillion said.

«So now you’ve compromised the 10,000 largest wallets. You rewind the chain, liquidate those 10,000 largest wallets, then double spend all the transactions, and now you’ve really got a nuclear bomb,” is how he imagines it.

The industry, of course, is working to find a solution.

Bitcoin developer Agustin Cruz, for instance, proposed QRAMP, a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) that mandates a hard-fork migration to quantum-secure addresses. Quantum startup BTQ has proposed replacing the proof-of-work consensus system that underpins the original blockchain entirely with quantum-native consensus.

The problem is that the proposals must gain community approval. Blockchain governance, such as Bitcoin Improvement Proposals (BIPs) and their Ethereum equivalents, Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs), tends to be rife with politics, making it a long, inherently cautious process.

For example, the Bitcoin community’s recent resolution on the OP_RETURN function was years in the making, with months of developer debates about what’s considered the «proper» use of the blockchain. Ethereum’s upgrades, like the Merge, also faced lengthy debates and delays.

Dillion argues that the governance process leaves crypto dangerously exposed because quantum computing threats will evolve much faster than the protocols can respond.

“Everyone’s trying to do this from the top down by starting with a BIP or an EIP and getting everyone’s buy-in together. But we think that this is a very difficult, heavy lift,” he said.

Quip Network’s quantum-proof vaults aim to circumvent the political inertia by allowing immediate user-level adoption without requiring protocol upgrades. The vaults leverage hybrid cryptography, blending classical cryptographic standards with quantum-resistant techniques to provide blockchain-agnostic security.

Effectively, they allow the whales, holders of large amounts of a cryptocurrency, to secure their stashes while waiting for the machinations of blockchain governance to get it together. Crypto communities can’t afford leisurely debates, he argues.

“The BIP and EIP processes are great for governance, but terrible for rapid threat response,” said Dillion. «When quantum hits, attackers won’t wait for community consensus.”

Colton Dillon is speaking at the IEEE Canada Blockchain Forum, part of Consensus 2025 in Toronto. The IEEE is a Knowledge Partner of Consensus.

Read more: Quantum Computing Group Offers 1 BTC to Whoever Breaks Bitcoin’s Cryptographic Key

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EToro Goes Public At $52 A Share, Far Exceeding Marketed Range

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Shares of stock and crypto trading platform eToro (ETOR) have debuted at $52 a share after the company hit the Nasdaq exchange on Tuesday evening.

The company raised about $310 million from investors as it sold 6 million shares at a price of $52 a piece. The listing values the company at $4.2 billion.

The price is significantly higher than the marketed range, as the company received a much higher demand than previously anticipated.

EToro becomes the first company to go public after a rough couple of months in markets across the U.S., as President Donald Trump is in discussions to make several tariff deals with leaders around the world.

Because of that, many companies, including eToro, had delayed going public, but Bloomberg reported last week that the trading platform was resuming plans.

The company will trade under the ticker “ETOR”.

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Cantor Equity Partners Discloses $458M Bitcoin Acquisition

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Cantor Equity Partners (CEP) disclosed a $458.7 million bitcoin BTC acquisition as part of a pending merger with Twenty One Capital, the BTC-focused investment vehicle backed by Tether, Bitfinex, and SoftBank, according to a regulatory filing on Tuesday.

The transaction is structured through a complex business combination involving Tether Investments, the El Salvador affiliate of stablecoin issuer Tether, and iFinex, the parent company of Bitfinex, the filing shows. As part of the deal, Tether purchased some 4,812 BTC at an average price of $95,319, with the tokens held in escrow and later to be sold to the merged company.

Blockchain data shows that the escrow wallet, disclosed in the filing, received the tokens from a Bitfinex hot wallet on May 9. The wallet’s bitcoin holdings are worth $500 million at current prices, according to Arkham data.

(Arkham)

Twenty One Capital is being launched by Brandon Lutnick—the son of U.S. Commerce Secretary and Cantor Fitzgerald chairman Howard Lutnick—via a SPAC structure using Cantor Equity Partners. The company will be led by Strike CEO Jack Mallers and majority-owned by Tether and Bitfinex’s parent company, iFinex. SoftBank will take a significant minority stake, the companies said

The company said it plans to have more than 42,000 BTC at launch.

CEP shares are higher by 3.7% in after hours trading.

Read more: Strike CEO Mallers to Lead Bitcoin Investment Company Backed by Tether, Softbank, Brandon Lutnick

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Bitcoin Eyes $105K as Coinbase Surges 24%; Rally Has More Room, Says Analyst

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Bitcoin BTC climbed back above $104,000 on Tuesday with welcome fresh inflation data, President Trump’s bullish outlook on financial markets, and Coinbase’s inclusion into the S&P 500 among catalysts for the advance.

April’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in cooler than anticipated, which may allay pressure on the Federal Reserve anxious about inflation due to tariffs. Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s scheduled speech on Thursday could provide further policy guidance.

The upbeat mood was further lifted by Donald Trump, who told attendees at the Saudi–U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh that markets «could go a lot higher,.».

Bitcoin (BTC) nearly touched $105,000 before pulling back, at press time trading 2.4% higher over the past 24 hours at around $104,400. Most altcoins in the CoinDesk 20 Index outperformed. Ethereum’s ether ETH continued its resurgence advancing over 9% to $2,700. Restaking protocol Eigenlayer’s governance token EIGEN and decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol EtherFi’s native token ETHFI booked more than 20-30% daily gains.

CoinDesk 20 Index (CoinDesk Indices)

Stocks added to their recent gains, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 up 1.6% and 0.75%, respectively, at the session close. Nasdaq-listed crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) surged 24% during the day as the stock is set to benefit from being included in the S&P 500 index. The change could unleash $16 billion in buying pressure for shares, Jefferies forecasted.

Joel Kruger, market strategist at LMAX Group, said that the crypto market is still digesting last week’s gains, but the rally has further momentum. “Currently, the market appears to be pausing for breath, yet the prevailing sentiment in recent headlines suggests this rally still has room to grow,” Kruger said.

He pointed to a rebound in global risk appetite and a growing number of institutional tailwinds. “One notable factor is the increasing mainstream adoption of cryptocurrency, as evidenced by developments in U.S. financial markets. Coinbase’s inclusion in the S&P 500 marks a historic milestone, establishing it as the first crypto-native company to join this prestigious index,” Kruger said.

He also cited improving sentiment around regulation. SEC Chair Paul Atkins has pledged to make the U.S. a hub for cryptocurrency innovation, which Kruger believes could unlock a new wave of institutional interest if followed by meaningful policy clarity.

Paul Howard, senior director at trading firm Wincent, echoed that view, saying that while altcoins are tracking the broader rally, institutional capital is likely to become more selective. “This evolving landscape appears to be laying the groundwork for increased institutional participation,” he said in a Telegram message. “The more resilient altcoin projects could benefit, while weaker ones may gradually phase out.”

New BTC record next month?

While bitcoin is less than 5% from its January record prices, Bitfinex analysts noted that neutral funding rates and stable trading volumes show no signs of market froth.However, BTC is facing resistance at around the $104,000-$106,000 zone, making a short-term consolidation likely with key support level at around $98,000, they added.»BTC has moved up sharply in the past few weeks and we expect a period of consolidation, meaning a new all-time high could be delayed to June as supply/demand stabilises above $100,000,» Bitfinex analysts wrote.

Zooming out for the next months, Bitfinex analysts said medium and long-term setups remain decisively bullish, setting a $150,000-$180,000 price target for 2025-2026.

«Bitcoin’s long-term outlook is the strongest it has ever been,» they wrote. «With sovereign and institutional adoption advancing, ETF rails expanding globally, and the US framing crypto policy more positively, BTC is evolving into a global macro reserve asset.»

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