The Quantum Threat
"Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" attacks are already underway. Adversaries collect encrypted blockchain data today — waiting for quantum computers to decrypt it tomorrow.
Trillions in on-chain value run on ECDSA — an algorithm Shor's quantum algorithm breaks in polynomial time.
NIST published post-quantum standards (FIPS 204) in August 2024. Most blockchains haven't moved.
Sources: NIST IR 8413 (2022) · McKinsey — The Quantum Technology Monitor (2023)