Will quantum computing destroy cryptocurrencies in the future?
我们经常在媒体上看到这样的新闻：“量子计算机将是数字货币最大的威胁”，“现有的数字货币将无法抵御量子攻击”等。
We often see such news in the media: "quantum computer will be the biggest threat to digital currency", "existing digital currency will not be able to resist quantum attack" and so on.
这些新闻提到的“量子计算机”，“量子攻击”说的是一种最新的计算机技术。这种最新的技术一旦能够大规模应用于日常生活，会轻易破解现有的密码学难题，现有的加密体系将不再安全有效。
The "quantum computer" mentioned in the news and the "quantum attack" refers to the latest computer technology. Once this latest technology can be applied in daily life on a large scale, it will easily break the existing cryptography problems, and the existing encryption system will no longer be safe and effective.
- 什么是量子计算机？什么是量子攻击？
What is a quantum computer? What is a quantum attack?
量子计算机是基于物理学上“量子纠缠”原理所研制的一种新型计算机。它的工作方式和现有计算机有着本质的不同。
Quantum computer is a new type of computer based on the principle of "quantum entanglement" in physics. It works in a fundamentally different way than existing computers.
举例来说：假如有100万本书，要在这100万本书中找是否存在一句话A。现有的计算机会一本本书拿出来一页页地翻，逐字逐句地查是不是有句子A。
For example: if you have A million books, look for A sentence A in those million books. Existing computers would pull out A book and leaf through it, checking word for word for sentence A.
而量子计算机呢？会一台分身为100万台，然后每一台查一本书。
What about quantum computers? One would be a million copies, and then each copy would be a book.
目前世界上最强的超级计算机是“神威太湖之光”，它的运算速度是9.3亿亿次，而一台50量子比特的量子计算机运算速度将达到1125亿亿次，是神威太湖之光的100倍还多，瞬间秒杀。
The most powerful supercomputer in the world is sunway taihulight, which can perform 930 million quintillion calculations. A 50-qubit quantum computer will perform 112.5 billion quintillion calculations, more than 100 times faster than sunway taihulight.
理论上讲，一个300量子比特的量子计算机将能够瞬间执行超过宇宙内原子数量总和的计算次数，瞬间破解任何现有的密码，包括所有数字货币使用的加密技术。
In theory, a 300-qubit quantum computer would be able to perform more calculations than the number of atoms in the universe combined in a split second, cracking any existing password, including the encryption technology used in all digital currencies.
所以用这样的量子计算机来攻击现有的数字货币几乎是不费吹灰之力。这就是业界常说的“量子攻击”。 So attacking existing digital currencies with a quantum computer like this is almost a no-brainer. This is known in the industry as a "quantum attack".
抗量子攻击，魔高一尺，道高一丈。
Resist quantum attacks.
对量子计算机的出现和可能带来的威胁，其实业界很早就展开了相关研究。并且已经出现了不少抗量子攻击的技术，比如抗量子密码（Quantum Resistant Cryptography）技术。还出现专门研发抗量子攻击技术的组织OQS（Open Quantum Safe Organization）。
The emergence of quantum computers and the possible threat, in fact, the industry has long carried out relevant research. And there have been a number of technologies Resistant to Quantum attacks, such as Quantum Resistant Cryptography. The OQS Open Quantum Safe Organization, which specializes in anti-quantum attack technology, has also emerged.
- 未雨绸缪
Plan for a rainy day
虽说量子计算机对数字货币的威胁是巨大的，但实际上量子计算机要真正投入应用还有相当长的路要走，还要解决相当多技术上的难题，这不是一朝一夕的工作。
Although the threat of quantum computer to digital currency is huge, in fact, quantum computer has a long way to go before it can be put into practical use and solve a lot of technical problems.
业界已经意识到量子计算技术可能带来的威胁，很多数字货币团队现在已经开始着手采用抗量子计算的技术了。
The industry is aware of the potential threat posed by quantum computing, and many digital currency teams are now working on anti-quantum computing technologies.
每次当看到新闻媒体谈到“量子计算”的威胁，总让我想起上世纪末人们对“千年虫”威胁的恐惧。那个威胁后来被证明不过是虚惊一场，因为科研人员很早就开始部署相关的解决方案，从而规避了这个问题。
Every time I see the news media talk about the threat of "quantum computing," it reminds me of the fear of the millennium bug at the end of the last century. That threat turned out to be a false alarm, as researchers circumvented the problem by deploying solutions early on.
数字货币领域也是如此，目前有些数字货币（比如NEO，DapCash等）已经采用了抗量子攻击技术。以太坊正在部署抗量子攻击技术。
The same is true in the field of digital currency. At present, some digital currencies (such as NEO, DapCash, etc.) have adopted anti-quantum attack technology. Ethereum is deploying anti-quantum attack technology.
所以，大家根本不用过于担心量子计算可能对数字货币带来的威胁。对于数字货币投资者而言，要关注的是自己所投资的数字货币是否在抗量子攻击方面有所准备和跟进。
So you don't have to worry too much about the threat that quantum computing might pose to digital currencies. For digital currency investors, what they should pay attention to is whether the digital currency they invest in is prepared and followed in terms of resisting quantum attacks.