A recent study by Caltech and quantum startup Oratomic suggests that quantum computers with as few as 10,000 qubits could potentially break the encryption securing Bitcoin and Ethereum wallets. This marks a significant reduction from previous estimates, which required hundreds of thousands of qubits. The research indicates that a system with around 26,000 qubits could break ECC-256, the encryption standard for these blockchains, in approximately 10 days. The findings, published on the arXiv preprint server, highlight the rapid advancement in quantum computing capabilities, posing a growing threat to current cryptographic security. The study also notes that RSA-2048, used by financial institutions, would require about 102,000 qubits and three months to break. As quantum technology progresses, the urgency for the crypto industry to transition to quantum-resistant platforms increases, with the potential risk to funds in vulnerable addresses becoming more pronounced.