TLDR
- Vitalik Buterin says AI-accelerated math could weaken cryptography faster than expected, including methods once thought quantum-resistant.
- He warns against rushing to move funds to new wallets, saying botched migrations have cost him more than hacks.
- Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake called for the industry to prepare for “bunker mode” planning.
- Buterin says lattice-based schemes like ML-DSA and fully homomorphic encryption could face risks within two years.
- Ethereum’s long-term roadmap favors hash-based signatures like WOTS and SPHINCS over lattice methods.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin spoke out this week about risks facing crypto cryptography. He said artificial intelligence could speed up mathematical breakthroughs that weaken systems many consider safe.
Buterin shared his thoughts in a post on X on Wednesday. His comments followed a message from Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake.
I don't recommend anyone scramble to move their funds to new wallets today. But we should take the risks to cryptography from AI-accelerated math seriously, and minimize our exposure to not just quantum-vulnerable cryptography, but also potentially AI-vulnerable cryptography.…
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) October 7, 2026
Drake had called on the industry to start planning for what he called “bunker mode.” He said the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm, known as ECDSA, could be broken before quantum computers reach the power needed to crack public-key cryptography.
AI Math Could Break More Than Expected
Drake said a breakthrough could happen within months in a worst-case scenario. He suggested moving funds to fresh addresses that keep public keys hidden.
⚡️UPDATE: Vitalik Buterin tells holders NOT to scramble into new wallets over Justin Drake's AI warning.
"I don't recommend anyone scramble to move their funds to new wallets today."
"I personally have lost more money in botched migrations than I have lost in all hacks… https://t.co/3IP3w9AAcg pic.twitter.com/n0vxMJKUZf
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) October 8, 2026
Buterin agreed the threat is real. But he pushed back on the idea that people should rush.
He said he does not recommend scrambling to move funds to new wallets. Keeping money in addresses that have never signed a transaction is a smart move if it is easy to do.
However, he warned that mistakes during a migration can cause more harm than a hack. He said this from personal experience.
Buterin explained that most planning so far has assumed elliptic curves are at risk, while hashes and lattices stay safe. He said that assumption may not hold up.
He believes lattice-based systems, including ML-DSA and fully homomorphic encryption, could take damage from AI math progress over the next two years. These systems are often viewed as resistant to quantum attacks.
Buterin raised a question about hidden weaknesses. He asked what happens if flaws exist in both elliptic curves and lattices that humans have not found yet, but AI tools soon will.
Ethereum’s Shift Toward Hash-Based Signatures
Ethereum’s long-term plan already leans toward hash-based signatures rather than lattice methods. Examples include WOTS and SPHINCS.
Buterin said hash-based methods lack the kind of mathematical structure that could be exploited by AI tools. He called them more resistant by design.
He noted that public key encryption is harder to build this way. Long-standing math results show it cannot rely on hashes alone.
The warnings follow news that OpenAI published hundreds of math manuscripts created by an internal model. Drake pointed to this as a sign that AI-driven math progress is moving fast.
Buterin suggested the industry adopt more conservative settings for lattice-based systems. He also recommended hash-based tools where possible.
For privacy tools, he said developers should avoid storing encrypted notes directly on the blockchain. Sending that data off-chain through a third party is safer, he said.
For multisig setups, Buterin said each signer should change their key after every operation. He said gathering signatures off-chain limits the time a key is exposed after use.
The Ethereum Foundation has set a goal of making its base layer fully resistant to quantum computing by 2029. Europol has also urged the crypto industry to prepare early for quantum risks.
The EU’s NIS Cooperation Group has asked companies to adopt a post-quantum strategy by the end of 2026. Buterin’s message closed with a reminder that patience matters more than speed right now.
