Inflection Point Supply Shock | Quantum Risk Is Forcing Institutions To Rethink Bitcoin | Christopher Jensen
Feb 3, 2026
Christopher Jensen, Director of Digital Asset Research at Franklin Templeton, offers institutional perspective on Bitcoin, quantum risk, and investment strategy. He explains why quantum threats are resurfacing now. He outlines how quantum could target Bitcoin signatures, who might be hit first, and how institutions are pricing and managing that risk. He also describes monitoring and potential upgrade paths.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Quantum Risk Is Now An Engineering Problem
- Quantum risk has moved from pure research into an engineering problem with real, near-term implications.
- Christopher Jensen argues cryptographically relevant quantum computers are coming and must be factored into asset risk assessments.
Signatures, Not The Chain, Are The Primary Threat
- The core existential threat to Bitcoin is forging signatures by deriving private keys from public keys using Shor's algorithm.
- That attack targets signatures, not the chain itself, and could enable mass theft if quantum computers reach sufficient power.
Choke Points May Be First Targets
- Initial quantum attacks may target centralized choke points like exchanges and custodians rather than high-profile dormant wallets.
- Such breaches could be stealthy and delay community-wide alarm until patterns emerge.