AI Could Breach Crypto Wallet Security Before Quantum Computers, Ethereum Researcher Says

Forecast Trend Report by Period

Advances in artificial intelligence could undermine the security framework of digital-asset wallets before quantum computers are commercialized, according to a warning cited by Wu Blockchain on October 8.

Justin Drake, a researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, said advances in AI and mathematics could render the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm, or ECDSA, widely used in digital-asset wallets, ineffective within months rather than years.

He said the industry should prepare what he called a "Bunker Mode" in response. That would involve gradually moving assets to new addresses whose public keys have not been exposed and rotating keys after transactions are signed. He added that hasty asset transfers and excessive fear should be avoided.

Drake also recommended that major institutions strengthen cold-wallet security. For core signing systems, he urged them to consider adopting hash-based signature technologies such as SPHINCS. He also called on Ethereum developers to speed a transition to hash-based cryptographic systems.