Now, this isn't a problem today, but if quantum computers ever reach the point w...

…Until then, the public key is hidden behind a cryptographic hash, which acts as an extra layer of protection. But Taproot changed this by making public keys the default way of interacting with addresses. That's great for efficiency and user experience, but it also means public keys can be exposed onchain the moment funds are received. Now, this isn't a problem today, but if quantum computers ever reach the point where private keys can be derived from public keys, then taproot coins wouldn't even need to be spent to be at risk. So, then this begs the question of how much BTC could be at risk and when. Unfortunately, there's no definitive answer to either question, which is a scary thought in itself. That said though, several institutions and analysts have weighed in. For instance, the National Institute for Standards and Technology or NIST says the threat isn't imminent…