It is time for the crypto industry to take the threat of AI and quantum computing seriously

If an AI system were to successfully attack or otherwise disrupt the cryptography of a respected blockchain—even in a white hat research setting—every crypto sell-off panic detected before that moment would be trivial. If a computer quantity destroys a blockchain, we might as well all shop nearby. The point of blockchains is to be permanently subverted.

The good news is that there is a well-defined technical roadmap to avoid this. Some, not enough, but some Protocols are in effect. But why do so many fall?

This is a real and powerful threat that the crypto industry ignores at its own peril. To secure the future of decentralized technology, Crypto must urgently upgrade its infrastructure to handle and actively partner in the industries that pose the greatest risk: AI and quantum computing.

Blame it on arrogance, or protectionism, or competition, but cross-industry partnerships and future-proofing technical steps aren’t happening at a significant rate. As a result, technology designed to improve humanity is increasingly vulnerable to the infrastructure that defines it.

Blockchain technology is finally delivering secure, transparent, and self-sovereign systems on a global scale. But now, the threats of AI – and, later, quantum computing – show that crypto is not doing enough to protect everything it’s built on.

A recent one Cornell University Study Examined how AI agents connected to blockchain protocols can be manipulated by adversaries who communicate with their memory or context. Malicious actors can inject fake history or signals, triggering unauthorized transfers or protocol violations, essentially turning on agents driven by the hijacked allies.

Meanwhile, AI in the hands of attackers already exists Fueling cybercrime. AI – powered phishing, malware, and zero – day exploits are proliferating, and traditional defenses are struggling to keep up.

But equally necessary to address is the blind eye most of our industry is turning to volume computing. While we may still be a decade away from breaking blockchains, the risk could be more serious than a 51/49 attack from generative AI. Experts warn that within a decade, powerful quantum machines may Encryption crack That secures up to 25% of all Bitcoin, especially BTC stored in legacy wallets with exposed public keys.

Researchers have already discovered that the traditional public key crypto that forms the core of blockchains is vulnerable to quantitative algorithms that exist today. Post – Quantum Cryptography (PQC) standards are now emerging from government cybersecurity organizations such as NIST and ENISA, but the crypto industry does not take their guidance seriously.

The bottom line is that many operators are prioritizing hypergrowth over responsible scaling and not acting with enough urgency or collaboration with AI experts and volume on future pro systems.

A few blockchains, such as Sui, Ethereum, and Algorand, are actively developing and testing post-quantum algorithms, with SUI even working on a backwards compatibility issue to protect older, non-quantum accounts. Even though NIST standards are being adopted, some of the world’s most important networks still use ECDSA without The amount of Quantum upgrades. Research confirms widespread unpreparedness on major platforms.

The consequences of inaction are real. If AI blockchain systems, hacks can be invisible, stealthy, and systemic. Agents with fake memories can illegally transfer funds, compromise contract security, or corrupt defi protocols. And if quantum computing arrived before we adopted quantum algorithms across the board, attackers could reverse engineer private keys, rewrite histories, and destroy user wallets, destroying hard-earned trust throughout the industry.

There is time to mitigate these systemic risks, but the transition to future-proof technology and partnerships must begin now. Every crypto protocol needs to assess its cryptographic inventory and start planning a phased rollout of post-quantum cryptography ahead of the deadlines security agencies recommend.

Waiting is not a strategy, as it could easily be a leap change in quantum computing or AI – accelerated by AI itself – that moves the threat timeline by years.

Beyond future-proofing blockchains at the protocol level, meaningful partnerships between crypto companies, AI, and quants remain sparse, not enough AI companies co-design secure agent-in-crypto frameworks with crypto companies, and not enough collaboration between the blockchain industry and quant academia.

Together, both crypto and AI operators and quantitative researchers must develop frameworks for unity. This includes creating mechanisms by which blockchains secure AI outputs such as immutable logs, transparent decision history, and reliable governance.

Liaison with regulators also needs to be improved. This means working with organizations like NIST and ENISA to test and help refine emerging cryptography standards. Those who participate in defining what constitutes a proof-of-concept protocol are more likely to implement them correctly and securely.

Better collaboration will lead to safety measures that protect governments, businesses, individuals, and the technology that drives humanity forward. More importantly, the ways in which crypto, AI, and quantum computing can help each other and improve society if working in lockstep are many. Deeper cross-industry integration is not only better for our security, they are better for the global economy.

With Quantum and Crypto collaborations, imagine networks using quantum signatures and secure encryption from day one. And this is where it gets fun. These networks can store next-generation scientific data – medical breakthroughs, genomic research, climate models – with the guarantee that even the most advanced quantifier cannot interfere with historical reality. Quantitative advances are becoming allies rather than threats.

Only by working actively with the AI ​​and quantitative communities can the crypto industry fulfill its promise. Crypto can build systems that are not only safe from tomorrow’s threats but also boost humanity’s potential. But if the industry fails to more effectively partner with other industries and does not fail independently to take steps to mitigate the risk, much of what the world is excited about today can go to zero.