Quantum Memory: The Device That Breaks Bitcoin and Replaces It

Oxford University quantum computing lecturer Stefano Gogioso argues that the development of portable, long-term quantum memory represents a critical technological threshold that will determine whether Bitcoin is compromised or superseded by quantum money. Quantum memory devices capable of sustaining fragile quantum states for extended periods are an essential component of fault-tolerant quantum computing, creating an inescapable link between the hardware needed to break existing asymmetric encryption and the infrastructure required to build unforgeable digital cash. Current experimental systems can preserve quantum states for only seconds, far short of the months needed for practical commerce. However, research conducted by Google Quantum AI, Stanford University, and the Ethereum Foundation indicates that breaking Bitcoin's elliptic-curve signatures would require fewer than 500,000 physical qubits operating on fault-tolerant architecture. While institutions such as NIST, IBM, and global banking regulators target the 2028–2035 window for post-quantum cryptographic transitions, quantum money remains in early conceptual phases without defined product roadmaps. The analysis highlights unresolved structural challenges, including central issuance requirements and irrecoverable asset loss.