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Quantum Computing Could Threaten Blockchain and Crypto

Blocksight Staff

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Bloomberg Law

Quantum computers have the potential to break the most advanced cryptographic protocols, including those used for blockchain protocols, in operation today. That’s because quantum computers, which are based on the principles of quantum mechanics, can in theory complete some computationally intensive operations that would take today’s classical computers an extraordinary amount of time.

A quantum computer works using quantum bits or qubits. Unlike traditional binary bits, which can only be 0 or 1, qubits can be a combination of 0 and 1 at the same time. This property of qubits, known as superposition, allows quantum computers to perform multiple calculations in parallel. Additionally, a phenomenon known as entanglement allows two qubits to be connected in such a way that the state of one qubit affects the state of the other, regardless of the physical distance between them. This effect, combined with superposition, allows quantum computers to perform certain calculations even faster.

But today’s quantum computers are finicky and of limited use. They are susceptible to the slightest environmental interference, such as the Earth’s magnetic field, local radiation and even cosmic rays, which make calculations performed by current quantum computers error-prone. Because of these technical and operational challenges, quantum computers are currently accessible to only a small number of companies and researchers, and it could take a decade or more for quantum computers to impact current cryptographic protocols.

However, recent research suggests that this inflection point may be coming sooner than expected. One June 2023 paper from IBM and researchers at UC Berkeley have shown that even noisy and error-prone quantum computers can provide superior utility to that of today’s classical computers.

This potentially accelerated timeline could have far-reaching consequences, including for many cryptocurrencies and their underlying blockchain protocols, as the cryptographic functions and encryption standards they rely on could soon be vulnerable to quantum attacks.

For example, cryptocurrency miners using quantum computers may be able to mine cryptocurrency much faster than other miners. This could threaten the decentralization of many mining-based blockchain protocols. Quantum computers could also decrypt the private key from a public key, allowing bad actors to control and ultimately steal other people’s cryptocurrencies.

Quantum computers could therefore pose a significant threat to cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. In response, some developers are already working to future-proof their blockchain protocol by exploring ways to transition the cryptography that currently protects the protocol to quantum-resistant cryptography.

Investors, users and regulators need to carefully consider the potential risks that quantum computers pose to cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology more generally.

Stopping Cryptocurrency Mining

Many of the world’s most popular and widely used cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, rely on proof-of-work mining to protect the underlying blockchain protocol. A PoW blockchain protocol requires network participants known as miners to compete with each other to be the first to solve complex mathematical puzzles to validate new transactions on the blockchain. The winner of the mining competition is rewarded with cryptocurrency, known as a block reward.

A quantum computer could eventually solve mining puzzles much faster than current-generation mining devices, allowing those with access to quantum computers to accumulate mining rewards and control the transaction validation process by taking on most of the power of network calculation. This is known as the 51% attack. Researchers have suggested that 51% attacks on bitcoin by quantum computers may not be possible before 2028, however, recent evidence indicates it could happen sooner.

Decryption and theft of private keys

Quantum computers capable of breaking modern cryptography could also allow bad actors to control and steal other people’s cryptocurrency. Specifically, future quantum computers could ascertain cryptocurrency private keys from their corresponding public addresses, as private keys are encrypted using so-called digital signature schemes based on modern cryptographic protocols. It would be like a hacker gaining access to a victim’s email password based on their publicly available username or email address.

Researchers generally believe that this type of security threat to public blockchain protocols is more likely to be technologically feasible than a quantum attack on the cryptocurrency mining process due to fundamental differences in the algorithms that would be used to carry out the attacks.

Risks and potential consequences

The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stands at over $1.15 trillion. Cryptocurrencies are an integral and ever-growing part of the investment portfolios of both retail and institutional investors around the world. While not an immediate threat, quantum computers could soon pose significant and material risks to this rapidly growing and resilient asset class.

Therefore, there may be some circumstances where various entities, including asset managers and public companies, may wish to consider publicly disclosing the impact that quantum computers may have on cryptocurrency investments or investment strategies involving cryptocurrencies.

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg Tax, or its owners.

About the author

Daniel Davis is a partner and co-chair of Katten’s capital markets and regulatory practice.

Alexander Kim is an associate in Katten’s capital markets and regulatory practice.

Write for us: Guidelines for authors

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We are the editorial team of Blocksight, where seriousness meets clarity in cryptocurrency analysis. With a robust team of finance and blockchain technology experts, we are dedicated to meticulously exploring complex crypto markets with detailed assessments and an unbiased approach. Our mission is to democratize access to knowledge of emerging financial technologies, ensuring they are understandable and accessible to all. In every article on Blocksight, we strive to provide content that not only educates, but also empowers our readers, facilitating their integration into the financial digital age.

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Ether Drops Further After ETF Launch

Blocksight Staff

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Bitcoin Surpasses $66,000 Thanks to Strong ETF Flows

Key points

  • Spot ether ETFs began trading in the U.S. today, with the funds initially having more than $10 billion in collective assets under management.
  • Analysts expect the launch of spot ether ETFs to have a net negative impact on the underlying price of ether in the near term, due to expected outflows from the pre-existing Grayscale Ethereum Trust.
  • Spot Bitcoin ETFs continue to see strong inflows, with BlackRock’s IBIT alone seeing more than $500 million in inflows on Monday.
  • Franklin Templeton, a spot ETF issuer on bitcoin and ether, has invested in a project that intends to bring Ethereum technology to Bitcoin.

Nine-point ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs)) started trading on the stock market on Tuesday, but all the optimism ahead of their approval did not translate into gains for the cryptocurrency markets.

Ether (ETH), the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain, dropped less than 1% around the $3,400 level as of 1:30 PM ET, while Bitcoin (BTC) fell more than 2% to around $66,000.

Ether ETFs’ Debut Isn’t as Flashy as Bitcoin ETFs’

Spot ether ETFs began trading at just over $10 billion assets under management (AUM)), according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart, most of that money is in the current Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE) which has now been converted into an ETF.

“In the long term, Grayscale will simultaneously have the highest and lowest fees in the market. The asset manager’s decision to keep its ETHE fee at 2.5% could lead to outflows from the fund,” Kaiko Research said in a note on Monday.

Outflows from ETHE, if they occur, would be similar to those faced by Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) after spot bitcoin ETFs began trading in January of this year, most likely due to high fees for the two original funds. Grayscale’s existing fund charges 2.5% fees, while a new “mini” ether ETF will charge 0.15% and commissions for other ETFs are set at 0.25% or less.

Such outflows could impact the price of ether and market sentiment.

“There could be a pullback shortly after the launch of Ethereum spot ETFs, i.e. outflows from Grayscale Ether Trust could dampen market sentiment in the short term,” Jupiter Zheng, a partner at Hashkey Capital’s liquid fund, told The Block.

But Grayscale remains optimistic.

“Compared to the splashy debut of spot bitcoin ETPs in January, the launch of ethereum ETPs has been relatively muted,” said Zach Pandl, Grayscale’s head of research, adding that investors may be “undervaluing” ether ETFs that are “coming to the U.S. market in tandem with a shift in U.S. cryptocurrency policy and the adoption of tokenization by major financial institutions.”

Bitcoin ETF Inflows Continue to Rise

As for bitcoin, there is clearly no lack of demand for spot ETFs, such as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBITS) recorded its sixth-largest day of inflows in its short history on Monday, at $526.7 million, according to data from Farside Investors. Daily inflows for the overall spot bitcoin ETF market also hit their highest level since June 5.

In particular, asset manager Franklin Templeton, which has issued both bitcoin and ether ETFs, appears to have decided to cover its back when it comes to Ethereum by investing in Bitlayer, a way to implement Ethereum technology on a second-layer Bitcoin network, according to CoinDesk.

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Spot Ether ETFs Start Trading Today: Here’s What You Need to Know

Blocksight Staff

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Spot Ether ETFs Start Trading Today: Here's What You Need to Know

Key points

  • Spot ether ETFs will begin trading on U.S. exchanges on Tuesday. Nine ETFs will trade on Cboe BZX, Nasdaq and NYSE Arca.
  • Ether ETFs offer investors exposure to the price of their underlying assets.
  • Commissions on these new ETFs generally range from 0.15% to 0.25%.
  • These ETFs do not provide exposure to Ethereum staking.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially approved nine ether spots (ETH)exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for trading on U.S. exchanges. Trading for these new cryptocurrency investment vehicles begins today. Here’s everything you need to know.

What new ether ETFs are starting to trade today?

Spot ether ETFs starting trading today can be found at Quotation, NYSE Arkand Cboe BZX. Here’s a breakdown of each ETF you can find on these three exchanges, along with the fund tickers:

Cboe BZX will list the Invesco Galaxy Ethereum ETF (QETH), the 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF (CETH), the Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH), the Franklin Ethereum ETF (EZET) and the VanEck Ethereum ETF (ETHV).

Nasdaq will have the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) created by BlackRock, which also operates the largest spot bitcoin ETF under the ticker IBIT.

NYSE Arca will list the Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW) and the Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE). The Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust (ETH), which will begin trading on the same exchange.

How does an ether ETF work?

Spot ether ETFs are intended to offer exposure to the price of ether held by the funds. Ether is the underlying cryptocurrency of the Ethereal network, the second largest crypto network by market capitalization.

ETF buyers are buying shares of funds that hold ether on behalf of their shareholders. Different spot ether ETFs use different data sources when it comes to setting the price of ether. Grayscale Ethereum Trust, for example, uses the CoinDesk Ether Price Index.

None of the ETFs launching today include pointed etherwhich represents a potential opportunity cost associated with choosing an ETF over other options such as self-custody or a traditional cryptocurrency exchange.

Ether staking currently has an annual return of 3.32%, according to the Compass Staking Yield Reference Index Ethereum. However, it is possible that the SEC will eventually approve Ether staking held by ETFs.

How can I trade Ether ETFs?

ETFs can simplify the trading process for investors. In the case of cryptocurrencies, instead of taking full custody of the ether and taking care of your own private keysSpot ether ETFs allow investors to purchase the cryptocurrency underlying the Ethereum network through traditional brokerage accounts.

Today, not all brokers may offer their clients spot ETFs on cryptocurrencies.

What are the fees for ether ETFs?

The fees associated with each individual spot ether ETF were previously revealed In the S-1 OR S-3 (depending on the specific ETF) deposit associated with the offerings. These fees are 0.25% or less for all but one.

The Grayscale Ethereum Trust, which converts to an ETF, has a fee of 2.5%. The Grayscale Mini Ethereum Trust has the lowest fee at 0.15%. These fees are charged on an annual basis for the provider’s management of the fund and are in line with what was previously seen with spot bitcoin ETFs.

Brokers may also charge their own fees for cryptocurrency trading.

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Kamala Harris Odds Surge Amid $81M Fundraise. What Does It Mean for Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies?

Blocksight Staff

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Kamala Harris Odds Surge Amid $81M Fundraise. What Does It Mean for Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies?

Market odds and memecoins related to US Vice President Kamala Harris have soared as the latest round of donations tied to the Democratic campaign raised $81 million in 24 hours, bolstering sentiment among some traders.

The odds of Harris being declared the Democratic nominee have risen further to 90% on cryptocurrency betting app Polymarket, up from 80% on Monday and setting a new high.

Previously, in early July, bettors were only betting on 8%, but that changed on Saturday when incumbent President Joe Biden announced he would no longer run in the November election. Biden then approved Harris as a candidate.

Polymarket traders placed $28.6 million in bets in favor of Harris, the data showsThe second favorite is Michelle Obama.

Somewhere else, Memecoin KAMA based on Solanaa political meme token modeled after Harris, has jumped 62% to set a new all-time high of 2 cents at a market cap of $27 million. The token is up a whopping 4,000% from its June 18 low of $0.00061, buoyed primarily by the possibility of Harris becoming president.

As such, Harris has yet to publicly comment on cryptocurrencies or her strategy for the growing market. On the other hand, Republican candidate Donald Trump has expressed support for the cryptocurrency market and is expected to appear at the Bitcoin 2024 conference on Saturday.

However, some expect Harris or the Democratic Party to mention the sector in the coming weeks, which could impact price action.

“While he has not yet received the official nomination, there is consensus that last night’s development is in line with current Democratic strategy,” cryptocurrency trading firm Wintermute said in a Monday note emailed to CoinDesk. “Keep an eye on Democrats’ comments on this issue in the coming days.

“The prevailing assumption is that Harris will win the nomination and any deviation from this expectation could cause market volatility,” the firm added.

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Top 30x Cryptocurrency and Coin Presales Today: Artemis Coin at #1, Others Are: BlockDAG, 99Bitcoin, eTukTuk, and WienerAI

Blocksight Staff

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Top 30x Cryptocurrency and Coin Presales Today: Artemis Coin at #1, Others Are: BlockDAG, 99Bitcoin, eTukTuk, and WienerAI

The cryptocurrency market has seen a lot of growth and imagination lately, with new ventures popping up regularly. A critical pattern in this space is the rise of crypto pre-sales, which give backers the opportunity to get involved with promising projects early on. Artemis is a standout option for crypto investors looking to expand their portfolios amid the many pre-sales currently underway.

Cryptocurrency presales, commonly referred to as initial coin offerings (ICOs), allow blockchain ventures to raise capital by offering their local tokens to early backers before they become available on open exchanges. Investors can take advantage of these presales by purchasing tokens at a lower price. If the project is successful and the token’s value increases, investors stand to receive significant returns.

>>> Explore the best cryptocurrency pre-sales to buy now <<

The Ultimate List of the Top 5 Cryptocurrency Pre-Sales to Invest In

  1. Artemis: The aim of Artemis (ARTMS) will become the cryptocurrency equivalent of eBay or Amazon. The upcoming Phase 4 will see the launch of the Artemis Framework, which will serve as a stage for digital money exchanges where buyers, sellers, specialized organizations and those seeking administration can participate in coherent exchanges.
  2. DAG Block: uses Directed Acyclic Graph technology to increase blockchain scalability.
  3. 99bitcoin: operates as a crypto learning platform
  4. WienerAI uses AI-powered trading bots for precise market analysis.
  5. eTukTuk focuses on environmentally sustainable transportation options, such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

We have determined that Artemis is the best new cryptocurrency presale for investment after conducting extensive research. It presents itself as the unrivaled cryptocurrency presale choice currently open.

>> Visit the best cryptocurrency pre-sale to invest in now <<

Top 5 Crypto Pre-Sales and Best Cryptocurrencies for Investment Today

Artemis (ARTMS) is attempting to establish itself as the cryptocurrency version of eBay or Amazon. The Artemis Crypto System, which will act as a platform for cryptocurrency transactions, will be launched in Phase 4. Buyers, sellers, service providers, and requesters will all benefit from seamless trading with this system. Customers will be able to purchase things, such as mobile phones using digital money, as well as sell products such as involved bicycles and get paid in cryptocurrency. Additionally, crypto money can be used to pay for administrations such as clinical consultations, legitimate care, and freelance work. Artemis Coin will act as the main currency of the ecosystem, with Bitcoin and other well-known cryptocurrencies from various blockchain networks backing it.

Artemis Coin has increased in price from 0.00055 to 0.00101 from 0.00094. Artemis may be attractive to individuals looking to recoup losses in Bitcoin, as predicted by cryptocurrency analysts. At this point, it seems to present an interesting presale opportunity.

>>> Visit the best cryptocurrency pre-sale to invest in now <<

The world of digital currency pre-sales is an exciting and exciting opportunity that could open the door to game-changing blockchain projects. Projects in this article, like Artemis Coin, offer the opportunity to shape the future of various industries and the potential for significant returns as the industry develops.

However, it is imperative to approach these investments with caution, thorough research, portfolio diversification, and awareness of the risks. You can explore the digital currency pre-sale scene with greater certainty and increase your chances of identifying and profiting from the most promising venture opportunities by following the advice and methods in this article.

>>> Join the best cryptocurrency pre-sale to invest in now <<

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