According to scientists at Sydney University of Technology, the collapse of existing blockbuster platforms will occur in 10 years. By that time, quantum computers will learn to crack key elements of cryptography on which digital currencies are based, ITNews reports..

Quantum computers are still in their infancy, but, according to Australian scientists, by 2027 they will be able to break into elliptical cryptography, on which digital signatures are based, confirming ownership of tokens in lockkoy bucks and other crypto-currencies. As a result, no later than 2027, all digital assets will be threatened. Attackers using quantum computers can easily steal them.

Conclusions of researchers at Sydney University of Technology are set forth in the article "Quantum Attacks on Bitcoins and Ways to Protect Against It". According to them, not all of the blockade is threatened with collapse in connection with the improvement of quantum computing. Thus, ASICs that use crypto-currency masters are too fast compared to the calculated clock speed of quantum computers, so the very process of mining will remain relatively safe in the face of future "quantum" attacks.

Researchers urge operators of block-platforms to develop technology that is used to verify transactions in chains of the distributed registry. This is the so-called proof-of-work (POW). It protects the block from DoS attacks. The essence of the technology is that the computer from which the request for access to the system is sent must, for its receipt, perform a certain, rather complex computational task. The computer will, of course, perform it, but the massive attack becomes meaningless, since the time and electricity expended by the whole botnet becomes incommensurable with the possible benefit of the attack. Equally, this is also true if the botnet consists of quantum computers.

Australian scientists also suggest replacing the existing POW-algorithm bitcoin HashCash with more advanced Momentum, Cuckoo Cycle and Equihash. The real solution to the problem, they see in the transition of block-platforms to the so-called post-quantum cryptography, capable (in theory) reliably protect against attacks using quantum computers. "Many existing accounts in the blockroom and all new transactions will be at risk in the next 10 years, so we need to think about solving the problem now," the researchers warn..

At the beginning of next year, Google will achieve "quantum superiority". The company will create a quantum computer with a 22-chip chip that can perform calculations that would take a typical computer billions of years.