Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has warned that Bitcoin could lose its position as the largest cryptocurrency if its governance system cannot organize a response to quantum computing.
Summary
- Hoskinson says Bitcoin could lose leadership if governance can’t coordinate timely quantum-security developments effectively.
- Bitcoin developers are already discussing post-quantum migration plans, including BIP 361 and new signature designs.
- Cardano’s onchain governance allows ADA holders to vote on improvements, but coordination disputes have arisen again.
He made the comments during an interview with Starting Block published on July 24. Hoskinson described Bitcoin as “frozen in time” because major changes require broad agreement from all developers, miners, node operators and users. He pointed out that Cardano’s official voting system gives its community a clear channel to approve development. His comments present an argument for management rather than proof of quantum attack.
Hoskinson introduces quantum security as a test of dominance
Bitcoin relies on elliptic-curve notation to prove ownership of funds. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could, in theory, derive private keys from exposed public keys and authorize transactions without the owner’s consent. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology describes this as a future risk and has already measured algorithms designed to withstand quantum attacks.
Hoskinson said that quantum computing will test whether Bitcoin can change without weakening the attributes that underpin its value. He said that BTC may not remain the leading cryptocurrency if its dominance cannot improve. However, he did not name another network to replace it or give a threatening date.
Bitcoin developers are already studying migration options
Bitcoin has no official voting body onchain. Developers can propose code, but users and node operators decide whether to use it. Miners, traders and wallet providers also influence whether the development gets enough support. This slow process avoids regular rule changes, although it can make emergency communications difficult.
The quantum resistance function is already active. Bitcoin Optech tracked BIP 361, which describes a phased departure from the current ECDSA and Schnorr signatures after developers opted for a post-quantum system. Other suggestions include new address formats, hybrid signatures and recovery methods. These ideas are still being reviewed.
Any such change would also require wallets, exchanges, custodians and long-term administrators to move funds without splitting the network or creating conflicting ownership rules during the limited transition.
Some researchers estimate that millions of BTC sitting in public key addresses are visible. Those coins could face huge exposure if a capable quantum computer emerges. The timing remains uncertain, and researchers continue to debate which coins should go, be frozen or remain usable.
Cardano points to an onchain legal authority
Cardano completed the move to full public governance through the Plomin hard fork in January 2025. ADA holders can vote directly or delegate voting power to representatives known as DReps. Stakeholders and the constitutional committee also participate in selected decisions. The system can authorize hard forks and withdrawals from the blockchain.
Hoskinson said Cardano could use that structure to vote for migration away from vulnerable quantum infrastructure. However, Cardano has not yet completed such a migration. Its management system must still evaluate technical designs, approve funding and plan users, developers and service providers for any change.
The process has also generated controversy.Cardano messengers rejected or challenged several proposals linked to Hoskinson and Input Output through 2026. One application included research on Leios scaling and quantum-insensitive cryptography. Official voting does not guarantee approval of the program supported by the founder.
Cardano is preparing for scaling work alongside security research
Hoskinson also said that Cardano is preparing for its biggest upgrade and said that the network will be “60 times faster.” Development updates indicate that teams are testing Ouroboros Leios, a design intended to increase performance by separating the roles of the blocks and allowing more work in parallel. Developers continue to integrate the prototype and Cardano node software.
The 60-fold figure is always Hoskinson’s average instead of the average result from the live network. Leios still needs testing, technical review and regulatory approval. Cardano’s hard fork by van Rossem shows that DReps, stake pool operators and the constitutional committee can coordinate development.
Hoskinson described Cardano as a “spiritual successor” to Bitcoin because it maintains a fixed income model while adding smart contracts and formal governance. Bitcoin supporters may reject that comparison, since Bitcoin’s limited transaction process is part of its security model. Bitcoin relies on extensive offchain consensus, while Cardano records most decisions directly on-chain.
The quantum issue remains open for both networks. Bitcoin developers are designing migration options, while Cardano is funding research and building governance tools. No network has released a complete post-quantum transaction system. Effective testing will come when developers agree on secure cryptography and communities must decide how to move users and funds.
