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A quantum‑computing collective known as Project Eleven has thrown down a public gauntlet to the global cryptography community, offering a reward of one Bitcoin to the first team that can break a deliberately down‑scaled version of Bitcoin’s elliptic‑curve cryptography using a genuine quantum computer before 5 April 2026.

Announcing what it calls the “Q‑Day Prize” on X, the group wrote: “We just launched the Q‑Day Prize. 1 BTC to the first team to break a toy version of Bitcoin’s cryptography using a quantum computer. Deadline: April 5, 2026. Mission: Protect 6 M BTC (over $500 B).” The post crystallises a concern that has hovered over the Bitcoin ecosystem for more than a decade: the eventual arrival of large‑scale, error‑corrected quantum hardware capable of running Shor’s algorithm against real‑world keys.

Project Eleven is not asking contestants to shatter Bitcoin’s 256‑bit curve directly. Instead, teams must demonstrate Shor’s algorithm against elliptic‑curve keys ranging from one to twenty‑five bits—sizes derisively called “toy” by professional cryptographers but still orders of magnitude beyond what has been publicly achieved on physical quantum processors. The organisers argue that even a three‑bit break would be “big news,” because it would provide the first quantitatively verifiable benchmark of quantum progress on the elliptic‑curve discrete‑log problem (ECDLP). In their words, “Nobody has rigorously benchmarked this threat yet.”

To qualify, a submission must include gate‑level code or explicit instructions runnable on actual quantum hardware, along with a narrative of methods employed, error‑rates managed and the classical post‑processing required. Hybrid attacks that lean on classical shortcuts are disallowed. All entries will be published, a decision the group frames as an exercise in radical transparency: “Instead of waiting for breakthroughs to happen behind closed doors, we believe in facing this challenge head‑on, in a transparent and rigorous manner.”

Why 1 Bitcoin—And Why Now?

Bitcoin’s security ultimately rests on the hardness of the discrete‑logarithm problem over the secp256k1 curve. While classical attacks scale exponentially, Peter Shor’s 1994 quantum algorithm could in principle solve the problem in polynomial time, collapsing the cost from cosmic to merely gargantuan. Current research estimates that on the order of two thousand fully error‑corrected logical qubits—perhaps backed by millions of physical qubits—would be sufficient to threaten a 256‑bit key. Firms such as Google, IBM, IonQ and newcomer QuEra are racing to cross the four‑digit logical‑qubit threshold, though none has publicly demonstrated anything close to that capability today.

Project Eleven says its prize is intended less as a bounty and more as a diagnostic. More than ten million Bitcoin addresses, holding over six million coins, have already exposed their public keys through prior spending activity. If quantum technology crosses the critical threshold before those coins are migrated to post‑quantum addresses, the funds would be vulnerable to immediate theft. “Quantum computing is steadily progressing,” the group warns. “When that happens, we need to know.”

The initiative lands amid a flurry of quantum‑resilience proposals within the wider Bitcoin ecosystem. Earlier this month, a group of developers submitted the Quantum‑Resistant Address Migration Protocol (QRAMP), a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal that would orchestrate a network‑wide move to post‑quantum key formats. Because QRAMP would require a consensus‑breaking hard fork, its political prospects remain uncertain.

Separately, Canadian startup BTQ has pitched an exotic proof‑of‑work alternative called Coarse‑Grained Boson Sampling, which would substitute today’s hash‑based mining puzzles with photonic sampling tasks executed on quantum hardware. Like QRAMP, BTQ’s concept demands a hard fork and has yet to garner broad support.

From a technical standpoint, running even a five‑bit elliptic‑curve version of Shor’s algorithm is brutally unforgiving: qubits with fidelities above 99.9 %, coherent for hundreds of microseconds, and orchestrated through deep circuits numbering in the thousands of two‑qubit gates would be required. Error‑correction overhead further compounds the engineering burden, meaning that contenders will likely have to employ small‑code logical qubits and impressive compilation techniques merely to keep noise under control.

Yet the prize may prove irresistible for university labs and corporate R&D teams eager to demonstrate practical quantum advantage. Cloud‑accessible devices from IBM’s Quantum System Two, Quantinuum’s H‑series and OQC’s superconducting platforms already allow limited, pay‑per‑shot access to dozens—or in IBM’s case, hundreds—of physical qubits. Whether any of those machines can sustain the circuit depth necessary remains to be seen.

Either outcome supplies invaluable data. In the words of Project Eleven’s launch tweet, the objective is stark: “Break the biggest ECC key with Shor’s algorithm. The reward: 1 BTC + go down in cryptography history.”

At press time, BTC traded at $84,771.

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Former US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler has stated that Bitcoin (BTC) could continue to exist and thrive for a long time. 

However, Gensler emphasized that this may not be the case for most altcoins, as they lack solid fundamentals.

Why Gary Gensler Believes in Bitcoin

In a recent interview with CNBC, Gensler mentioned that Bitcoin’s enduring presence could be attributed to its strong global interest. 

“Something like Bitcoin may persist for a long time because there’s 7 billion people around the globe, a real keen interest in it,” he stated.

Gensler, who served as SEC Chair from 2021 to 2025, made these remarks in response to questions about the crypto industry’s reaction to the dismissal of lawsuits and investigations initiated during his tenure. 

While at the SEC, Gensler took a hard stance on cryptocurrency regulation. He launched multiple enforcement actions targeting several exchanges, token issuers, and other crypto entities. 

While he refrained from commenting directly on the dismissal of these cases, he shifted focus to broader trends within the cryptocurrency market.

“I’m going to step back a little bit from any individual cases and just say this again to your viewing public. This is a very small part of the financial markets, but if you were interested in this, think about every financial asset sort of trades on a bit of fundamentals and sentiment. But this field is almost 99, or maybe one might say 100% sentiment and very little on fundamentals,” said Gensler.

The former SEC chair advocated for careful asset risk assessment. He noted that the primary focus should be the project’s fundamentals. Moreover, he warned that many assets are driven predominantly by sentiment. As a result, he suggested that such tokens are generally unsustainable and likely to lose value over time.

When pressed on whether Bitcoin should be grouped with other cryptocurrencies, Gensler drew an analogy to precious metals. He implied that Bitcoin holds a unique position in the cryptocurrency world.

“There’s only two or three precious metals. We humans have a certain fascination with two or three precious metals like gold,” he remarked. 

Gensler believes that the vast majority of cryptocurrencies, especially those driven by trends, memes, or social sentiment, will not attract lasting interest. He stressed that only a few, like Bitcoin, will stand the test of time.

These comments align with Gensler’s previous statements on the crypto market. In a January 2025 interview with CNBC, he acknowledged BTC’s volatility yet showed faith in its long-term prospects.

“With 7 billion people around the globe, 7 billion people want to trade it just like we do have gold for 10,000 years. We have Bitcoin. It might be something else in the future as well,” Gensler noted.

Despite the optimistic outlook, Gensler disclosed that he did not own any Bitcoin or other crypto assets.

Gensler’s remarks reflect ongoing debates about the legitimacy and sustainability of cryptocurrencies. While Bitcoin has gained traction as a store of value, many altcoins struggle to demonstrate the same level of acceptance. 

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Semler Scientific is looking to raise $500 million in new securities after settling a large case with the Department of Justice, according to company filings. The health care technology company will use some of the money to expand its crypto holdings, which are already in excess of 3,000 coins.

Company Enters $30 Million Settlement With Justice Department

As per recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, Semler Scientific has reached a $29.75 million settlement with the Department of Justice regarding marketing practices for its QuantaFlo product. The probe, which started in 2017, centered on potential violations of federal anti-fraud laws regarding the manner in which the company marketed its flagship product.

The settlement negotiations progressed in recent months following years of cooperation with several subpoenas. The deal is not complete yet, according to the company’s Tuesday SEC filing, but Semler has already obtained a way to finance the payment.

Semler Scientific's filing with the SEC. Source: US SEC.

Coinbase Loan To Fund Settlement Without Selling Bitcoin

Instead of liquidating its cryptocurrency holdings, Semler intends to use a loan from Coinbase to settle the DOJ case. The loan will be secured by the company’s large Bitcoin reserves, which stand at 3,190 BTC valued at about $267 million at current market prices.

This funding strategy enables Semler to satisfy its legal requirements without liquidating its cryptocurrency holding. With Bitcoin as collateral, the company can preserve its balance sheet strength while fulfilling the settlement needs.

Half-Billion Dollar Securities Filing Points To Bigger Crypto Plans

Apart from the settlement expenses, Semler has submitted an S-3 registration to the SEC to sell $500 million worth of securities. The filing indicates the company is not merely raising cash to pay the DOJ settlement but wants to increase its Bitcoin holding substantially.

Image: Threads

The action is made at a time when other businesses continue to accumulate Bitcoin into their coffers. According to reports in the filing, Michael Saylor’s firm recently bought 3,450 bitcoins worth $286 million, increasing its holdings to 531,640 bitcoins. Another company, Metaplanet, acquired $26 million worth of Bitcoin over the same time.

Image: Brookings Institution

Market Analysts Remain Bullish Despite Price Swings

The timing of Semler’s intended Bitcoin buys is during market volatility yet also forecasts of extreme price appreciation. An analyst, who goes by the handle “Titan of Crypto” forecasted Bitcoin to hit $137,000, although no timeframe was given for that price level.

The healthcare technology firm has not indicated precisely when it will finish its securities offering or make further Bitcoin buys. Nevertheless, the SEC filing clearly indicates that adding to cryptocurrency holdings is still a priority in addition to paying for the DOJ settlement.

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Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.