Google has set a 2029 deadline for its migration to post-quantum cryptography (PQC), warning that the “quantum frontiers” may be closer than they appear.
On Wednesday, Google said rapid advances in quantum computer hardware and quantum error correction, as well as updated estimates of how quickly a quantum machine could break current encryption standards, have increased the urgency to act as soon as possible.
“Quantum computers will pose a significant threat to current cryptographic standards, and in particular to encryption and digital signatures,” Google said, while noting that PQC migration is necessary for users to use authentication services securely.
This is the first time Google has set a timeline for rolling out post-quantum features in its products. The 2029 timeline is earlier than some industry estimates for Q Day – the point at which quantum computers become powerful enough to break current public-key encryption.
“It is our responsibility to lead by example and share an ambitious timeline. In doing so, we hope to provide the clarity and urgency needed to accelerate digital transitions not only for Google, but across the industry.”
Source: JP Richardson
Google’s call for urgency comes as Google continues to develop its quantum chip, Willow, which has a computing capacity of 105 qubits, making it one of the most powerful in the industry.
There are also growing concerns that quantum computers could seriously disrupt the crypto industry by breaking cryptographic algorithms used to secure digital assets. However, there is still debate over whether only crypto wallets with exposed public keys are vulnerable or all coins are at risk.
Crypto networks are also considering post-quantum upgrades
The Ethereum Foundation launched a “Post-Quantum Ethereum” resource center on Tuesday, focused on protecting the blockchain from future quantum computing threats and securing billions of dollars in value on the network.
The post-quantum team plans to implement quantum-resistant solutions in Ethereum at the protocol level by 2029, with solutions targeting the execution layer to follow.
In January 2025, Solana developers created a quantum-resistant vault on the Solana blockchain to protect user funds from quantum threats by implementing a complex hash-based signature system that generates new keys every time a transaction is made.
However, to access this feature, Solana users must store their funds in Winternitz vaults rather than regular Solana wallets, as this is not a network-wide security upgrade.
During this time, there has been a growing division within the Bitcoin ecosystem over what actions developers should take, if at all.
One of the loudest voices in the Bitcoin ecosystem, Blockstream CEO Adam Back, says quantum risks are vastly overstated and no action is needed for decades.
On the other hand, security researcher Ethan Heilman and others have proposed a new type of exit for Bitcoin, called Pay-to-Merkle-Root, via the Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 360 (BIP-360), which aims to protect Bitcoin addresses against possible short-exposure quantum attacks.
However, this implementation could take seven years, Heilman told Cointelegraph in February.
