Insider’s memory
- Coinbase has created an independent advisory board of leading quantum computing and cryptography experts to assess how future quantum computers could affect blockchain security and to provide public guidance to the crypto ecosystem.
- The company said most large blockchains rely on cryptographic methods that remain secure today but could be challenged by large-scale quantum machines, requiring years of advanced research and coordinated preparation.
- The advisory board will issue position papers, issue security recommendations, and support Coinbase’s broader post-quantum roadmap, which includes near-term product updates and long-term crypto research.
Coinbase is moving early to address the rise of large-scale quantum computers, a risk that is still years away but could shake up the foundations of blockchain security.
The crypto exchange said in a company blog post that it was forming an independent advisory board to assess how advances in quantum computing could affect blockchains and to provide guidance to developers, users and institutions well before the technology becomes practical. The move reflects growing concern that cryptosystems protecting today’s digital assets will not remain secure indefinitely.
Coinbase said the new independent Quantum Computing and Blockchain Advisory Board will bring together leading researchers in the fields of quantum science, cryptography and distributed systems to assess risks, publish position papers and respond to major scientific developments as they occur. The company designed this effort as part of a long-term security strategy rather than as a reaction to an immediate threat.
If they can be built at sufficient scale and reliability, quantum computers should solve certain mathematical problems much faster than classical machines. These capabilities could have far-reaching effects in sectors such as finance, healthcare, materials science and national security. For blockchain systems, the problem is that many of these systems rely on cryptographic techniques that could potentially be weakened or cracked by quantum algorithms.
Most major blockchains today use elliptic curve cryptography to secure wallets and verify transactions. According to Coinbase, these systems remain secure against today’s computers, but a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could one day undermine them. Preparing for this eventuality requires years of advance planning, new cryptographic standards and coordination within the industry, the company said in its post.
The advisory board is intended to operate independently and provide public-facing analysis rather than internal advice only. Coinbase said the group will publish assessments of the state of quantum computing, issue recommendations to developers and organizations, and provide timely guidance following major advances in the field.
A council built around quantum and cryptographic research
The council includes researchers whose work spans quantum theory, applied cryptography and blockchain security. Members understand Scott Aaronsona leading theorist of quantum computing; Dan Bonehspecialist in modern cryptography and blockchain research; And Justin Drakewhich focuses on the long-term security of blockchain networks.
Other members include Sreeram Kannanfounder of EigenLayer; Yehuda Lindellwho leads crypto research at Coinbase; And Dahlia Malkhiexpert in resilient distributed systems.
Coinbase said one of the group’s key roles is to provide independent information rather than providing promotional endorsement. The board’s work will be made public and will be aimed at the broader blockchain ecosystem, not just Coinbase products.
Initial results from the advisory committee are expected in the coming months, when it plans to publish a position paper establishing a baseline assessment of quantum risk and outlining the first steps toward resilience. This document is intended to serve as a reference point for developers and organizations beginning to think about post-quantum security, according to the post.
A post-quantum security strategy
The advisory board is part of what Coinbase has described as a broader post-quantum roadmap. Some measures are already implemented. These include updates to how Bitcoin addresses are processed and changes to internal key management systems to align with what the company described as the strongest protections available today.
On a research level, Coinbase said it is working to support post-quantum cryptographic schemes within secure multi-party computing systems. These approaches aim to distribute cryptographic trust across multiple parties, reducing the risk that a single compromised key could expose assets. One example cited by the company is ML-DSA, a type of digital signature system designed to remain secure even against quantum attacks.
The company also stressed the importance of independent oversight as research into quantum computing accelerates. Rather than waiting for standards bodies or regulators to impose changes, Coinbase said it wants to help the industry better understand the problem early on, when there is still time to gradually migrate systems.
