Ethereum Should Strive To Become 'Cryptographically Safe' For 100 Years, Says Vitalik Buterin: Resist The Trap Of 'Ekeing Out More Efficiencies'

Vitalik Buterin called for the swift deployment of quantum-resistant technology for Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) on Monday, emphasizing its importance for long-term cryptographic safety.

Is Efficiency Worth Sacrificing For Security?

Buterin took to X to voice his concerns about delaying quantum resistance in the name of efficiency.

“We should resist the trap of saying ‘let’s delay quantum-resistance until the last possible moment in the name of eking out more efficiencies for a while longer,'” the cryptocurrency mogul argued.

Buterin noted that while individual users can choose whether to adopt the new standard, the implementation must happen at the protocol level.

“Being able to say ‘Ethereum’s protocol, as it stands today, is cryptographically safe for a hundred years’ is something we should strive to get to as soon as possible,” he added.

The remarks come nearly a week after Buterin said that the Ethereum network should prioritize decentralization and resilience over efficiency and convenience.

The Quantum Threat: Are Cryptocurrencies Prepared?

Buterin’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about the implications of quantum computing for the cryptocurrency market.

Jameson Lopp, Chief Security Officer at self-custody platform firm Casa, stated in December that upgrading Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), which involves migrating funds to a quantum-resistant version, could take up to a decade.

A 2024 study led by the University of Kent's School of Computing suggested that a protocol update to protect Bitcoin from quantum computing threats could require nearly 305 days of downtime if only 25% of the bandwidth is allowed for the process.

Digital asset management firm Grayscale said in a December report that quantum computing won’t have a significant impact on cryptocurrency valuations in 2026, while acknowledging that "Bitcoin and most other blockchains will eventually need to be updated for post-quantum tools."

Price Action: At the time of writing, ETH was exchanging hands at $3,335.49, up 6.81% in the last 24 hours, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

Photo: Shutterstock/Alexey Smyshlyaev

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.