VanEck CEO Questions Bitcoin's Privacy as Quantum Tech Threat Grows
Jan van Eck backs BTC for now but flags encryption risks
Bitcoin supporters are now questioning whether the world’s largest cryptocurrency can withstand the next wave of technology. VanEck CEO Jan van Eck warned that advances in quantum computing could eventually break Bitcoin’s encryption and weaken its privacy protections, even though he still views BTC as a viable investment for now.
In an interview with CNBC, van Eck said the Bitcoin community is debating whether the network’s current cryptography is strong enough as quantum computers develop. He stressed that VanEck believes in Bitcoin but added that the firm existed long before crypto and will walk away if Bitcoin’s core investment thesis fails.
VanEck is one of the largest crypto asset managers, running several Bitcoin products, including a U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF that has attracted more than $1.2 billion in inflows since its launch in early 2024.
According to van Eck, many early Bitcoin holders and “maxis” are now exploring privacy-focused alternatives such as Zcash to gain stronger transaction privacy. Zcash has surged more than 1,300% over the past three months.
Not everyone sees quantum as an urgent threat. Cryptographer and cypherpunk Adam Back recently argued that Bitcoin is unlikely to face serious quantum risks for at least 20 to 40 years.
Van Eck also said Bitcoin’s four-year cycle is being priced in ahead of time. He recommended dollar-cost averaging into bear markets instead of chasing rallies, arguing that Bitcoin still needs to be in diversified portfolios because of global liquidity trends.
He noted that each cycle has featured a major down year roughly every four years, and many investors expect 2026 to follow that pattern with a softer correction than in past cycles. Bitcoin is currently trading more than 30% below its early October peak, after dropping to just over $82,000 before rebounding toward $88,000.
