The European Union is warning about Q-Day, the moment when a quantum computer could become powerful enough to crack the asymmetric encryption that secures banking systems, blockchain networks, and government communications. The NIS Cooperation Group has published a roadmap requiring all 27 member states to plan their transition to post-quantum cryptography by December 31, 2026, with high-risk infrastructure migration due by 2030 and complete conversion by 2035. The « store now, decrypt later » threat allows adversaries to collect encrypted data today and decrypt it later with a quantum computer, making years of communications and government secrets vulnerable. The cryptocurrency sector is particularly exposed: Bitcoin and Ethereum rely on elliptic curve cryptography, and any address that has made a transaction exposes its public key permanently on the blockchain. The gap between 2029, when some quantum attacks may become viable, and 2035, when the EU wants full migration completed, creates a vulnerability window that both regulators and market participants will need to navigate.
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