Europol has urged organisations, policymakers and the cryptocurrency industry to begin preparing for security threats posed by quantum computing. Two newly published reports examine the potential impact on cryptocurrency wallets, encrypted data and other systems that rely on conventional cryptography. One report, produced by Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, identifies the cryptographic keys controlling cryptocurrency wallets as the main point of exposure. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could potentially derive a private key from an exposed public key and enable unauthorised transfers. The report recommends a phased shift to quantum-resistant cryptography, along with stronger wallet security and key-management practices. A second report, developed with Spain’s University Carlos III of Madrid, focuses on “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks. Under this approach, criminals collect encrypted information today and attempt to decode it when more advanced computing capabilities become available. Europol said the risk is particularly relevant to government communications, intellectual property, medical records and law-enforcement files, although there is currently no clear evidence of systematic exploitation at scale. The reports call on organisations to map their use of cryptography, identify information requiring long-term protection and prioritise systems most vulnerable to future attacks. Recommended measures include retiring outdated protocols, limiting unnecessary data retention, improving key management and testing post-quantum solutions. Europol also highlighted the need for coordinated upgrades across cryptocurrency networks and continued international cooperation against the criminal misuse of digital assets. Post navigation Hyundai CRATER Drives Into Virtual World