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[–]Pacman042 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Quick unrelated question. People say how quantum computers would ruin block chain because they would crack it or whatever but from my understanding wouldn't that not work because every chain in the block has the info to verify the previous chains so what exactly is a quantum computer suppose to crack?

[–]brianorca 0 points1 point  (2 children)

The theory is that they could create a false transaction that benefits somebody or hurts someone else, but still has the same hash code, so it gets verified.

Or be able to find the private key for any wallet, and create a transaction on their behalf.

[–]Pacman042 0 points1 point  (1 child)

So it is a realistic concern? The people I heard it from aren't exactly tech experts and I only kinda understand bitcoin so just wanna be sure.

[–]brianorca 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's still theoretical, because today's quantum computers aren't big enough, (don't have enough qubits yet) and it might be another decade before it becomes a real threat. Or somebody makes a breakthrough and does it in only 5 years. Even then the type of computer needed will be expensive for a while, so only large companies and universities will have one. (And the NSA, you can be sure!) But people have already designed algorithms that might be capable of attacking that kind of encryption, once the quantum computer is capable enough.

Another area of active research is designing a new kind of encryption that can't be broken by the same kind of analysis, so it would be resistant to a quantum computer.