IBM’s Quantum ‘Cat’ Roars: 120-Qubit Breakthrough Pushes Bitcoin’s Encryption Risk Closer
IBM researchers achieved a significant milestone in quantum computing by entangling 120 qubits, marking a crucial step towards developing quantum computers capable of breaking modern cryptographic protocols, including Bitcoin's encryption. Their work, detailed in a recently published study, demonstrates a Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state with a fidelity of 0.56, which confirms the entanglement of all qubits in a coherent system. This breakthrough indicates advancements towards fault-tolerant systems that could effectively run powerful cryptographic algorithms. Although this quantum computation system is not yet capable of threatening Bitcoin's security, it underscores approaching risks for cryptocurrencies, especially considering Bitcoin's substantial market worth and the vulnerability of existing encryption methods. The implications of these developments are stirring discussions around potential solutions for safeguarding digital assets, emphasizing the urgency for upgrades in blockchain encryption techniques to withstand future quantum threats.
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