A Google Quantum AI study published on March 30 estimates that a quantum computer could compromise Bitcoin encryption within nine minutes, and also identified cryptocurrency networks that have already implemented post-quantum cryptography (PQC), demonstrating that the transition is technically possible.
This paper classifies these networks into two groups. One is a network that was originally born using PQC, and the other is a network that integrates PQC into protocols that were originally vulnerable to potential quantum attacks.
A shielded cryptocurrency network
Launched in 2018, the Quantum Resistant Ledger (QRL) chain has been highlighted by Google as: Most integrated case Reconstructing post-quantum networks from their origins.
According to paper Its original design from Google was based on a signature scheme called XMSS (Extended Merkle Tree Signature Scheme). This is an algorithm based on hash functions that is resistant to quantum hardware.
According to the official QRL documentation, XMSS protects the signatures users use to authorize transactions. That is, every time someone transfers funds, The network uses XMSS instead of ECDSA to verify its signaturea vulnerable scheme used in Bitcoin and Ethereum.
However, XMSS has operational limitations. each key Only a limited number available Safely again and again. For this reason, according to the project roadmap and the way Google is also highlighting it, QRL includes additional support for ML-DSA (a graticule-based signature standard approved by NIST in 2024), which does not have that limitation and extends the system’s flexibility for different types of use.
After Google’s announcement and mention of the QRL project; The price of this token has increased by over 40%as reported by CriptoNoticias.
Mochimo (MCM) is another network born after quantization. According to paper Uses a variant of Winternitz One-Time Signatures (WOTS+) by Google. This is another hash function-based scheme that protects transaction signatures and is integrated directly into the network’s consensus layer.
Every time a user transfers funds, Sign the transaction using your WOTS+ private keythe node verifies its signature using the corresponding public key. Used keys are discarded and new keys are automatically generated, preventing reuse by attackers.
ABEL is the third network that Google has identified as post-quantum since its conception. Unlike QRL and Mochimo, Abelian combines quantum resistance and privacy. This chain uses lattice encryption (based on the NIST-approved CRYSTALS-Dilithium and CRYSTALS-Kyber standards) to Secure transaction signatures and account keys.
Additionally, it uses a linkable ring signature scheme, a mechanism that allows you to verify that a transaction is legitimate without revealing the sender. To protect your privacy This is done on many different levels, from pseudonyms to complete concealment of amounts and addresses.
According to Google research, Abelian was also created Layer 2 network called QDaysupports smart contracts compatible with Ethereum’s code execution environment, the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), under post-quantum protection.
Similarly, the price of ABEL token is also recorded an increase of over 24% Following this report from Google Quantum AI.
people in transition
Algorand (ALGO) is the most advanced case in this group. In 2025, the network executed its first transaction secured with Falcon signatures, a lattice-based post-quantum algorithm standardized by NIST.
In the context of Algorand, Falcon Specifically protects smart transactions and health tests (cryptographic chain state certificates used in cross-network integration) and available as a native operation for smart contract developers.
Falcon also produces signatures of approximately 1,280 bytes, which is smaller than other post-quantum schemes. However, it is much heavier than the current 70-75 byte ECDSA signature.. According to the paper, Algorand also allows users to change the private key associated with their account, facilitating a complete transition to PQC in the future.
Solana (SOL) appears in the paper with a more limited rollout. According to Google, and as previously reported by CriptoNoticias, the network has experimentally implemented a feature called Solana Winternitz Vault, which uses WOTS+ signatures to protect digital assets stored in specific vaults.
he paper We call this an experimental deployment, which means: Not integrated into the main protocol However, it is available as an option for users who want an additional layer of post-quantum protection for their funds.
Finally, the network created by Ripple, XRP Ledger (XRPL), is also listed. paper From Google. As stated in the report, in December 2025, XRPL Labs engineer Denis Angell confirmed that the AlphaNet experimental network integrated ML-DSA into three components of the protocol, with signatures weighing approximately 2,420 bytes. :
- account: Replace elliptic curve-based keys with grid-based IDs.
- transaction– Require ML-DSA signature to authorize payments and token transfers.
- Agreement between validators– Secure communications and votes that determine which blocks are valid.
Why are these advances important beyond networks?
he paper Google doesn’t just describe these implementations as isolated achievements. He presented these as evidence that the transition to PQC is technically feasible in real networks with real users.
According to our analysis, the main obstacle to the transition is the availability of post-quantum schemes. Create a signature that is 10 to 100 times heavier than your current signatureThis means each block takes up a larger space, higher fees for the nodes that maintain the network, and larger storage requirements.
A smaller network with a tighter community and more agile governance. they could move faster That’s because the cost is spread across fewer users and less legacy infrastructure.
panorama to explain paper Google’s comments are clear. The transition to post-quantum cryptography is not a laboratory hypothesis, but an ongoing process. PQC-born networks from their origins demonstrate that armored chains can be built from the first block, while the deployments of Algorand, Solana, and the XRP Ledger prove that already established networks can move in that direction without abandoning their ecosystem.
What all cases have in common is governance agility. Communities become more cohesive and more dynamic decision-making structures enable faster progress. That is precisely the challenge the entire cryptocurrency ecosystem must solve before quantum hardware ceases to be a theoretical threat.
(Tag Translation) Bitcoin (BTC)
