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According to recent reports, VanEck's leadership has warned that increasing risks in quantum computing could force the corporate to cut back and even abandon its Bitcoin holdings.
The company's CEO, Jan van Eck, said he would “walk away from Bitcoin if we consider the thesis is fundamentally broken,” a line that has sparked debate in markets and crypto circles.
Matt Sigel, head of digital assets research at VanEck, added that a narrow “window of uncertainty” could open if quantum machines reach levels that threaten current cryptography.
VanEck issues a stark warning
VanEck's comments give attention to the time between a reputable quantum breakthrough and a full, network-wide migration to post-quantum signatures.
According to reports, this vulnerability could possibly be dangerous as attackers could exploit this era to steal funds or undermine trust.
Some researchers estimate that a careful migration could require about 76 days of highly coordinated efforts, a logistical challenge for a decentralized network that typically moves slowly during major changes.
Jan van Eck, CEO of VanEck, on CNBC:
“There is something else happening within the Bitcoin community that non-crypto people have to learn about.
And meaning: Ultimately, VanEck existed before Bitcoin. We will say goodbye to Bitcoin if we predict the thesis is prime… pic.twitter.com/pCUtuqBVHD
— Arjun Khemani (@arjunkhemani) November 22, 2025
Technical and coordination hurdles
Bitcoin's current cryptography relies on elliptic curve signatures. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could run known algorithms to derive private keys from public data.
This is the technical fear. According to reports, Bitcoin's “quantum security” would likely require the adoption of grid-based or hash-based schemes and the coordination of a tough fork.
BTCUSD is trading at $86,216 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView
Coordination is difficult because miners, exchanges, wallet manufacturers and node operators all need to agree. This difficulty is the core of the priority, not only the mathematics.
VanEck's public stance can also be a hedge. The company has launched investment products related to quantum technology, signaling that it believes quantum computing will probably be financially significant.
VanEck CEO said that the quantum risk of $BTC and their willingness to dump it if the danger grows.
We have to make Bitcoin quantum secure in 2026.
— Ted (@TedPillows) November 22, 2025
At the identical time, the CEO's warning has put pressure on institutional players to reevaluate risk models and contingency plans. Some long-time Bitcoin holders are said to be in search of privacy coins that emphasize different cryptographic approaches.
Market and political implications
If an institutional player with VanEck's profile signals a possible exit, market confidence could quickly change. Institutional flows are essential. An try to move large inventory would increase price volatility and will trigger further sell orders.
Regulators and national security agencies have also paid close attention; Guidance from some national cyber centers suggests that critical systems should take post-quantum measures well upfront of imminent threats, with planning horizons extending into the subsequent decade.
Featured image by Yuichiro Chino/Getty Images, chart by TradingView
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