Here's an interesting question: Does it matter if a threat is real, or does it only matter if people believe it's real? Cryptocurrency analyst Willy Woo thinks the answer is obvious when it comes to Bitcoin (BTC) and quantum computing.
The Taproot Puzzle
Woo pointed out Wednesday that something strange is happening with Bitcoin's Taproot upgrade. Adoption has cratered from 42% to 20% since 2024, which is remarkable considering Taproot was supposed to be one of Bitcoin's most significant improvements in recent history.
Activated in November 2021, Taproot was designed to enhance privacy and efficiency for complex multi-signature transactions. So why would users abandon it? Woo's theory: quantum vulnerability. He labeled the upgrade "quantum vulnerable," and he's not alone in that assessment. Jameson Lopp, a respected Bitcoin security expert, identified Taproot addresses as susceptible to quantum attacks back in March.
Fear Versus Facts
This is where things get interesting. Woo challenged the common narrative that quantum computing threats are comfortably two decades away. His argument isn't about timelines, though. It's about psychology.
"What matters NOW is whether investors see risk and are selling," Woo explained. In other words, perceived risk is enough to halt adoption, regardless of whether quantum computers can actually crack Bitcoin today, tomorrow, or in 2045.
Not everyone is buying it. Cryptocurrency veteran Fred Krueger and other users on X accused Woo of spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt, insisting that solutions will roll out when needed.
The Industry Pushback
Woo's concerns stand in sharp contrast to recent statements from major figures in the cryptocurrency world. Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy Inc., said earlier this week that quantum computing would actually strengthen Bitcoin rather than weaken it. His vision involves a quantum resistance upgrade that would migrate active BTC while leaving lost coins "frozen."
A report from digital asset management firm Grayscale echoed this optimism, suggesting quantum computing won't meaningfully impact cryptocurrency valuations in 2026. The firm acknowledged long-term risks to blockchain cryptography but downplayed near-term market effects.
Lopp himself estimated in October there's a "greater than 50% chance" it will take at least another decade before quantum computers become powerful enough to decode a Bitcoin public key and find its corresponding private key.
So who's right? The debate essentially boils down to whether Bitcoin faces a technical problem or a perception problem. And if Woo is correct, the perception problem might be more urgent than anyone wants to admit.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin (BTC) was trading at $86,440.93, down 0.50% in the last 24 hours, according to data from MarketDash.