Study Ranks Cardano as Most Quantum-Resistant Major Blockchain, Bitcoin as Most Vulnerable

Cardano has emerged as the best-prepared major blockchain for the potential threat of quantum computing attacks, according to qLABS' newly published Layer-1 Quantum Vulnerability Index ^[1].

The index scores public blockchains on a scale of 0 to 10, where higher numbers indicate greater exposure to future quantum threats. Cardano achieved the lowest vulnerability score of 5.60, with qLABS citing IOHK's ongoing research since 2018, a research paper submitted to Intersect in February 2025, and the announced Nightstream collaboration with Google and Microsoft in February 2026 as key factors ^[1].

Bitcoin sits at the opposite end of the ranking with a score of 8.33, making it the most vulnerable network in the study. The report points to an estimated 1.6 to 1.9 million BTC held in older P2PK outputs where public keys remain permanently visible, Bitcoin's high network value, and the difficulty of establishing a community-wide migration plan as primary concerns ^[1].

Ethereum (6.80), XRP (6.30), and Solana (6.00) placed in the mid-range, all receiving strong marks for having published post-quantum migration roadmaps ^[1].

qLABS cautioned that the index measures only quantum-specific risk, not overall blockchain security, and disclosed that the organization itself develops post-quantum infrastructure within the Hyperliquid ecosystem ^[1].