VanEck CEO stated: "If Bitcoin cannot fight against quantum, we will exit the market," as old money shifts to ZCASH.

VanEck CEO warns of quantum computer threats, Bitcoin old money shifts to Zcash, market prepares for asset protection ahead of the 2026 Bear Market (Background: Bitcoin to be cracked before 2030? Google Willow “Quantum Echo” sparks expert debate: Most public keys have been exposed) (Context: V God warns that Bitcoin will be cracked in 2028: it will happen before the U.S. elections, Ethereum needs to upgrade quantum defenses within four years) Wall Street is adjusting its chips for the next generation of technological risks. In November 2025, VanEck CEO Jan van Eck made a rare statement in a CNBC interview, saying that if Bitcoin (BTC) cannot quickly respond to the threat of quantum computing, “we will exit.” In a single sentence, he ignited an alarm for funds to reassess the security of crypto investments, also explaining why the long-dormant privacy coin Zcash (ZEC) has surged 1,300% in the past three months, reaching $560. Quantum risk has become a new consensus on Wall Street. Bitcoin relies on the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA). In front of traditional computers, this mathematical maze is unbreakable; but with Shor's algorithm combined with quantum hardware, it may directly calculate private keys from public keys in the future, equivalent to breaking into a vault. VanEck pointed out that asset management institutions are reluctant to gamble their decades of accumulated wealth on technological timelines, especially after Trump’s new administration released regulatory-friendly signals, making institutional positions larger than ever, and the “safety red line” has been raised higher. The countdown of “collect now, decrypt later” Quantum computers are not yet fully commercialized, but hackers have already adopted the strategy of “collecting now, decrypting later”: first batch-download on-chain public data, waiting for hardware maturity to crack it all at once. According to analysis from Cryptoslate, about 6.5 million Bitcoins use the early P2PK type addresses, with public keys exposed, accounting for about one-third of the total supply. In market value terms, 100s of billions of dollars could be exposed to risk around 2030. For long-term holders who view Bitcoin as a family heirloom, this means re-evaluating the past simple strategy of “buy and hold.” Zcash becomes a refuge for transfer The movement of funds indicates the level of anxiety. Zcash uses zk-SNARKs for zero-knowledge proofs, allowing for optional concealment of transaction paths, public keys, and amounts, making it difficult for quantum computers to lock onto and crack targets. Citing Van Eck's observations, many “Bitcoin OGs” have already moved part of their positions into ZEC to hedge against quantum risks. A Wall Street quantitative trader privately admitted, “We're not abandoning Bitcoin; we're buying insurance.” Upgrade challenges and the 2026 cycle crossover For Bitcoin to implement quantum-resistant cryptography, it will inevitably require soft forks or even hard forks. The decentralized structure makes decision-making like “changing engines mid-flight,” and technical consensus and implementation will take at least a few years. However, the market cycle waits for no one. Van Eck pointed out that the four-year cycle of Bitcoin is still ongoing, and “2026 may be a year of negative returns.” Currently, $87,000 has been viewed as a policy-related upper limit; if the upgrade is delayed, the bear market and quantum threat may resonate. Cryptographer Adam Back believes that the quantum crisis is still 20 to 40 years away, but Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently warned of tangible risks by 2030. The timeline is not unified, but the capital market chooses to deploy early. In summary, although Bitcoin will receive policy support in Washington in 2025, it still has to face new opponents brought by mathematics and physics. Investors do not need to panic sell, but need to closely monitor whether developers can complete upgrades within the squeeze of technical timelines and market cycles. Otherwise, Bitcoin may repeat the fate of Netscape Navigator—pioneering an era but not necessarily dominating the future. Related reports Solana founder warns Bitcoin is about to be cracked: without upgrading against quantum before 2030, it will collapse Google Willow chip introduces “Quantum Echo” algorithm: 13,000 times faster than supercomputers, is Bitcoin no longer safe? Jen-Hsun Huang claims useful quantum computers are still far off, D-Wave drops 36%, CEO angrily states: totally wrong, welcome to take my class <VanEck CEO states: if Bitcoin cannot counter quantum “we will exit,” market old money shifts to ZCASH> This article was first published in BlockTempo, the most influential blockchain news media.