Corey Clipston, founder of Swan Bitcoin, stated that artificial intelligence poses a more immediate threat to the cryptocurrency industry than quantum computing. He argues that while quantum threats remain largely hypothetical for the next decade, AI is currently being utilized by malicious actors to systematically test and exploit cybersecurity defenses.
The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) issued a warning regarding the use of AI-powered ransomware against critical national infrastructure by 2028. The agency estimates an 80–90% probability that such tools will be used to increase the scale and efficiency of cyberattacks, including social engineering and vulnerability exploitation.
Recent security incidents highlight these risks. In October, Binance suffered a theft of approximately $6.3 billion, linked by the FBI to the Lazarus Group. Additionally, Brazilian exchange Mercado Bitcoin lost about $49 million in a hack, with $10 million subsequently frozen. Experts note that hackers are increasingly using AI to automate phishing and identify flaws in smart contracts.
Regarding quantum threats, research from Google and Alice & Bob suggests that required computational power for breaking Bitcoin cryptography is being reassessed. While some estimates suggest a quantum computer could theoretically compromise transactions, experts like Clipston suggest that the network can transition to post-quantum signature schemes when necessary.
The NCSC recommends that organizations identify vulnerable encryption and implement post-quantum security plans by 2031, with a target to complete the migration by 2035. Meanwhile, AI models are already being used to detect long-standing software vulnerabilities, forcing security teams to accelerate their patching processes.
