IBM’s quantum entanglement breakthrough involves entangling 120 qubits, the largest ever achieved, raising concerns for Bitcoin’s encryption security as quantum tech advances toward breaking elliptic-curve cryptography used in cryptocurrencies.
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IBM entangled 120 qubits into a stable state, verified with 0.56 fidelity, surpassing key thresholds for quantum coherence.
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This milestone uses GHZ states to reduce noise in superconducting circuits, paving the way for scalable quantum computing.
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Recent estimates suggest breaking RSA encryption could require under one million qubits, shortening timelines for threats to crypto wallets and blockchains with 20 million fewer qubits than prior projections.
IBM’s quantum entanglement breakthrough entangles 120 qubits, threatening Bitcoin security. Explore post-quantum encryption efforts by Ethereum and Algorand. Stay ahead of quantum risks in crypto today.
What is IBM’s quantum entanglement breakthrough?
IBM’s quantum entanglement breakthrough refers to the successful entanglement of 120 qubits into a single coherent quantum state, as detailed in the study “Big Cats: Entanglement in 120 Qubits and Beyond” by IBM researchers. This achievement marks the largest and most stable multipartite quantum state recorded to date, using superconducting circuits and advanced noise-suppression techniques. It advances the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of executing complex algorithms that could challenge current encryption standards, including those protecting Bitcoin and other digital assets.
How does this impact cryptocurrency security?
IBM’s breakthrough heightens risks to cryptocurrency security by accelerating progress toward quantum computers that might crack elliptic-curve cryptography (ECC), the foundation of Bitcoin’s transactions. According to research by Google quantum AI expert Craig Gidney, decrypting a 2048-bit RSA key—similar in vulnerability to ECC—could now occur in under a week with fewer than one million noisy qubits, a dramatic reduction from the 20 million estimated in 2019. This shift underscores the urgency for blockchain protocols to adopt post-quantum alternatives. David Carvalho, CEO of Naoris Protocol, warns that state actors and cybercriminals are employing a “store now, decrypt later” strategy, archiving encrypted data to exploit future quantum capabilities. While current quantum systems like IBM’s 1,100-qubit Condor chip fall short of the million-qubit threshold needed for practical attacks, the fidelity score of 0.56 in this 120-qubit experiment exceeds the 0.5 benchmark, confirming full-system entanglement via Direct Fidelity Estimation. This method efficiently verifies coherence without exhaustive simulations, which would otherwise be computationally infeasible for such scales.
We just entangled 120 qubits — the largest entangled state ever achieved on a quantum computer.
Read the full letter here: pic.twitter.com/SGyCrqJClq
— Jay Gambetta (@jaygambetta) October 29, 2025
Entanglement in this context leverages Greenberg Horne Zeilinger (GHZ) states, often called “cat states” due to their superposition sensitivity inspired by Schrödinger’s paradox. Every qubit oscillates between 0 and 1 simultaneously, making the system fragile to environmental noise but ideal for advanced computations. IBM’s team employed graph theory, stabilizer groups, and circuit optimization to map operations onto the chip’s quieter regions. An adaptive compiler dynamically adjusts for noise, while a temporary disentanglement process isolates completed qubits, stabilizing the rest before reintegration. This noise-mitigation approach enabled scaling to 120 qubits without collapse, a critical step toward error-corrected quantum machines.
The implications extend beyond Bitcoin to broader digital security. ECC, which secures blockchain transactions, relies on the discrete logarithm problem, solvable exponentially faster by quantum algorithms like Shor’s. Although no entity has reached the error-corrected million-qubit mark, IBM’s progress—building on their Condor processor—signals a narrowing gap. Governments and developers are responding proactively. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has standardized post-quantum cryptography through initiatives like the Bitcoin Quantum Core 0.2 framework, focusing on lattice-based and hash-based schemes resistant to quantum threats.
In the blockchain space, Ethereum and Algorand are leading the charge toward hybrid models. Ethereum explorers are integrating lattice-based signatures to bolster smart contract security, while Algorand’s pure proof-of-stake consensus incorporates post-quantum elements in its protocol updates. These efforts aim to future-proof networks against “quantum day zero” attacks, where historical data becomes retroactively vulnerable. Experts emphasize that while quantum supremacy remains theoretical for cryptography today, the trajectory demands immediate R&D investment. Carvalho highlights that without swift migration to quantum-resistant standards, assets worth trillions could be at risk from silent data harvesting by adversarial entities.
IBM’s research draws on foundational quantum principles, employing superconducting transmon qubits cooled to near-absolute zero to minimize decoherence. The study’s fidelity measurement, achieved through partial sampling of the system’s properties, provides statistical confidence in the entanglement’s integrity. This is essential, as full simulation of 120 qubits would exceed the universe’s lifespan in classical computing terms. By surpassing the 0.5 fidelity threshold, the experiment demonstrates practical utility for resource states in quantum error correction, a prerequisite for running Shor’s algorithm at scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does IBM’s 120-qubit entanglement mean for Bitcoin’s future?
IBM’s 120-qubit entanglement advances quantum computing toward breaking Bitcoin’s ECC encryption, but the network remains secure against current hardware. It shortens estimated timelines for viable attacks from decades to years, prompting the crypto community to prioritize post-quantum upgrades like lattice-based cryptography to protect wallets and transactions.
Are Ethereum and other blockchains preparing for quantum threats?
Yes, Ethereum and Algorand are actively developing post-quantum encryption solutions, including hybrid models with lattice-based algorithms. These initiatives, aligned with NIST standards, aim to replace vulnerable ECC methods, ensuring blockchain resilience as quantum technology evolves and preventing future decryption of stored transaction data.
Key Takeaways
- Largest Entanglement Milestone: IBM’s 120-qubit GHZ state achieves 0.56 fidelity, enabling stable quantum operations critical for scaling to cryptographic-breaking levels.
- Reduced Attack Thresholds: Google research indicates under one million qubits could crack RSA in days, implying similar risks for Bitcoin’s ECC with fewer resources than previously thought.
- Proactive Defenses Needed: Blockchains like Ethereum and Algorand must adopt NIST-approved post-quantum standards to counter “store now, decrypt later” threats from quantum advancements.
Conclusion
IBM’s quantum entanglement breakthrough with 120 qubits underscores the evolving cryptocurrency security landscape, where quantum computing poses tangible risks to ECC-based systems like Bitcoin. As research from experts like Craig Gidney and David Carvalho illustrates, the window for preparation is closing rapidly. Blockchain innovators, including Ethereum and Algorand, along with NIST guidelines, are forging ahead with robust post-quantum solutions. Staying informed and supporting these transitions will safeguard digital assets in an era of unprecedented computational power—act now to secure tomorrow’s economy.
