Researcher cracks 15-bit ECC key with quantum computer, wins 1 BTC

Independent researcher Giancarlo Relli has successfully cracked a 15-bit Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) key using public quantum hardware, claiming a one BTC (approx. $78,000) bounty from Project Eleven, CoinDesk reported. The feat marks the largest quantum attack demonstration to date, representing a 512-fold increase in scale over a record set last September. While this does not pose an immediate threat to Bitcoin's 256-bit security system, experts have pointed out that quantum attacks are materializing faster than anticipated. The estimated number of physical qubits required to crack 256-bit encryption has recently fallen to under 500,000.