TLDR
- Galaxy Digital has launched a $5 million Bitcoin Quantum Readiness Initiative to fund post-quantum cryptographic defenses
- Grants will cover quantum-resistant signature schemes, wallet migration tools, and security audits
- Around 6.9 million bitcoin worth roughly $461 billion could be at risk if quantum computers crack Bitcoin’s encryption
- Bitcoin’s decentralized governance means security upgrades can take years to deploy
- Coinbase and Michael Saylor’s Strategy have launched similar quantum preparedness efforts
Galaxy Digital has committed up to $5 million to help prepare Bitcoin for a future where quantum computers could break its encryption. The crypto financial services firm launched the Bitcoin Quantum Readiness Initiative and is accepting grant applications immediately.
⚡️NEW: Galaxy has launched the Bitcoin Quantum Readiness Initiative, offering up to $5 million in grants to developers building post-quantum cryptographic tools for Bitcoin.
The initiative also includes research into quantum threats and an advisory council of quantum computing… pic.twitter.com/EUZGFGsaPm
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) July 21, 2026
Bitcoin currently uses elliptic curve cryptography to secure wallets and transactions. No computer today can break it in any practical timeframe. But advances in quantum computing are moving faster, and researchers say preparations need to start now.
If a powerful enough quantum computer were built, it could put roughly 6.9 million bitcoin at risk, according to CryptoQuant research. At current prices, that is around $461 billion.
Galaxy’s head of firmwide research Alex Thorn said there is a gap between how fast quantum computing is advancing and how slowly the Bitcoin development community has engaged with the problem. The initiative is designed to help close that gap.
What the Grants Will Fund
The fund will support developers and researchers working on quantum-resistant transaction proposals, post-quantum signature schemes, and wallet migration tools. It will also cover security audits of proposed implementations.
Funding will be awarded based on milestones. Galaxy said it welcomes other institutions to co-fund grants or contribute research.
A Quantum Advisory Council has been formed to review grant proposals and guide Galaxy’s research. Inaugural members include Barry Sanders from the University of Calgary, Damien Bérubé, an MIT Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, and Eran Tromer from Boston University.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology finalized its first post-quantum cryptography standards in 2024. A U.S. executive order has set a 2031 deadline for federal agencies to prepare for quantum attacks on existing systems.
President Trump recently signed two executive orders directing the U.S. to build a large-scale quantum computer and to defend federal systems against one. The Commerce Department signed letters of intent to award more than $2 billion to nine quantum computing companies.
Industry-Wide Effort Takes Shape
Galaxy is not alone in this push. Coinbase formed an independent advisory council on quantum computing in January and published a 51-page position paper in April. The paper said quantum computers are not an immediate threat but that preparations should begin now.
Michael Saylor’s Strategy announced a Bitcoin Security Program during its fourth-quarter earnings call in February.
Work is also underway at the protocol level through the BIP-360 and BIP-361 proposals. Ethereum and the XRP Ledger are also working on similar quantum preparations.
Bitcoin’s decentralized governance means that even once solutions are agreed upon, deploying them across developers, wallets, exchanges, and users could take years.
Galaxy said its research team will publish ongoing analysis of quantum computing risks for institutional investors, policymakers, and developers.
