- Project Eleven offers 1 BTC for quantum cracking Bitcoin’s public key
- Can we experimentally confirm or deny the reality of the post-quantum threat
- Checking architectural vulnerabilities of the industry’s main crypto asset
Project Eleven offers 1 BTC for quantum cracking Bitcoin’s public key, raising a fundamental discussion about architectural vulnerabilities of the most important crypto asset and the possibility of experimentally confirming or denying the reality of the post-quantum threat.
More on Project Eleven’s Initiative
Project Eleven is once again raising the issue of how resilient Bitcoin’s cryptographic foundations are in the era of quantum computing.
Specifically, they highlight several key architectural aspects, including Bitcoin’s deliberate use of Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC).
“ECC is favored because it provides the same security as traditional schemes (like RSA) but with much smaller key sizes, making it more efficient. A 256-bit ECC provides the same level of security as a 3072-bit RSA key—a huge efficiency gain.”
This is a critical advantage, but it doesn’t eliminate the question of how resistant ECC really is if we eventually see a major breakthrough in quantum computing. Since quantum machines operate using qubits rather than classical bits, they theoretically scale their computational power exponentially compared to traditional systems.
Why does this matter? Because even the most secure algorithm can eventually be brute-forced. With classical computers, even massive supercomputing clusters would require astronomically long timescales to do so—making the threat largely irrelevant in practice.
Quantum computers, at least in theory, could overcome this. The moment this possibility was first conceived, the post-quantum threat became a serious discussion—not just for Bitcoin, but for the entire global encryption infrastructure. It’s not difficult to imagine the chaos that could unfold if such a shift were to occur, and although the concern remains theoretical for now, it’s being addressed with increasing urgency.
This is where the QDay Prize comes in—a 1 BTC reward offered with a deadline of April 6, 2026.
The mission: break the largest ECC key possible using Shor’s algorithm on a quantum computer. No classical shortcuts. No hybrid tricks. Pure quantum power.
Quantum computers are still in their infancy, but progress is underway. Major players like IBM, Google, and AWS are actively developing systems, and the industry is moving forward. Project Eleven offers several clarifications for participants:
- Small key sizes – You don’t have to crack a Bitcoin key. Even breaking a 3-bit key would be a major milestone.
- Quantum computer access – Several platforms provide public access, such as AWS and IBM.
- Error-prone qubits – Today’s qubits operate with fidelities of 99%–99.9%. Is that enough?
- Shor’s algorithm + elliptic curves – You’ll need to apply Shor’s algorithm to the ECDLP.
Conclusion
This is a strategically important initiative aimed at reinforcing Bitcoin’s long-term resilience and cryptographic integrity. While some other blockchain projects have already begun implementing quantum-resistant mechanisms, in Bitcoin’s case, the hope remains that it will continue to endure—alongside the rest of today’s encryption.
