1 Bitcoin Bounty: Project Eleven Challenges Quantum World to Break BTC Key

The research team at Project Eleven has launched the Q-Day Prize, an open challenge aimed at quantum technology experts. 

The task is simple. Use a quantum computer to break a test key built on the same cryptographic system that protects the Bitcoin network. 

The prize is 1 BTC. The deadline is April 5, 2026.

The purpose of the competition is not to target Bitcoin directly but to test the strength of its underlying cryptographic model against potential quantum threats. 

At the center of the challenge is the ECDSA algorithm. Based on elliptic curves, it secures digital signatures and access to funds. In theory, it is the very key that Shor’s algorithm could break once quantum computing reaches sufficient power.

Project Eleven estimates that more than 6.2 million BTC, worth nearly $500 billion, are stored in addresses with exposed public keys. As a result, these wallets would be the first at risk if a quantum attack proves successful.

The organizers stress that the goal is not to undermine confidence in cryptocurrency but to provide a transparent assessment of existing risks. Project co-founder Alex Pruden said the industry needs a clear picture of how close we are to a quantum threat, and the Q-Day Prize is meant to bring that into focus.

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The Quantum Threat May Stop Being Theoretical

The Q-Day Prize is more than a scientific challenge. It is an effort to mark the point when the quantum threat becomes real. Project Eleven aims to move the conversation around Bitcoin’s security from theory into practice. 

Notably, this approach has been used before. In the history of cryptography, public challenges like the RSA Factoring Challenge and the SSL Cipher Challenge have provided concrete ways to test the strength of security technologies in real-world conditions.

Related: Quantum Computer Broke Encryption for the First Time

Today, quantum technology is advancing faster than ever. 

• Google’s Willow quantum chip recently completed a task in five minutes that even the most powerful supercomputers cannot solve. 
• Amazon, Microsoft, and other tech giants are also showing steady progress in building stable and scalable chips. 

In this context, the Q-Day Prize stands as a timely stress test for the entire crypto industry.

Quantum computing is no longer confined to research labs. IBM, AWS, Google, and Alibaba now offer cloud solutions, lowering the entry barrier for developers and researchers. This means a successful attack might not come from an academic paper but from the open world.

For Project Eleven, the goal is not only to record a breakthrough. It is about prompting the industry to seriously evaluate the risks. The earlier the scale of the challenge is understood, the more time the Bitcoin and Web3 ecosystems will have to transition to post-quantum standards.