Saudi Arabia's First Quantum Computer developed by Aramco: Can It Break Bitcoin?

Saudi Arabia's First Quantum Computer developed by Aramco: Can It Break Bitcoin?

Saudi Arabia's first industrial quantum computer, developed by Aramco in partnership with Pasqal, is a significant technological milestone for the Middle East but is currently not capable of breaking Bitcoin encryption. This quantum computer controls around 200 qubits, which is far below the scale needed to compromise Bitcoin's elliptic curve cryptography that secures transactions on its blockchain.

Saudi Arabia, through its state-owned company Aramco, has deployed the region's first industrial quantum computer in partnership with Pasqal, a global leader in neutral-atom quantum computing. The quantum computer, hosted at Aramco's data center in Dhahran, can control 200 qubits arranged in two-dimensional arrays, targeting industrial applications in the energy, materials, and industrial sectors. This marks a significant technological milestone for the Middle East and aims to build regional expertise and accelerate quantum computing developments legally and practically within the Kingdom and the broader region.​

Regarding its potential to break Bitcoin , quantum computing theoretically poses a severe threat to Bitcoin's cryptographic security. Bitcoin relies on elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), which quantum computers, once sufficiently advanced, could compromise using Shor's algorithm. This algorithm can derive private keys from public keys, enabling an attacker to steal assets or forge signatures. However, current quantum computers, including Saudi Arabia's new deployment, are far from having the millions to billions of stable qubits needed to break Bitcoin encryption today. Experts estimate that breaking Bitcoin's encryption might require quantum processors with thousands to hundreds of thousands of qubits, making practical attacks likely more than a decade away.​

The timeline for this threat is generally projected for the late 2020s to 2030s. Advanced quantum machines capable of compromising Bitcoin are expected within 10 to 15 years, according to blockchain analytics reports. The continuous progress in quantum computing power, including Google's and other global research advancements, has increased urgency in the cryptocurrency ecosystem to develop quantum-resistant algorithms and prepare for a post-quantum cryptography era. Solutions such as post-quantum cryptography are being explored to safeguard Bitcoin and other blockchain technologies from future quantum attacks.​

In summary, Saudi Arabia's first quantum computer is a landmark industrial innovation but currently not powerful enough to break Bitcoin's cryptographic defenses. The quantum threat to Bitcoin is real but remains a medium- to long-term risk, with ongoing global research focusing on both advancing quantum technologies and developing quantum-resistant blockchain security methods.