VanEck CEO Warns Quantum Tech Could Test Bitcoin’s Core Security

Bitcoin’s long-term security and privacy could face a serious test from quantum computing, according to Jan van Eck, CEO of asset manager VanEck.

He said the firm still backs Bitcoin, but would reconsider that view if its basic protection breaks.

VanEck Questions Bitcoin’s Encryption Strength

Speaking on CNBC, van Eck said a key debate inside the Bitcoin community now centers on whether the network’s encryption can withstand future advances in quantum computing.

Jan van Eck CNBC Interview. Source: CNBC

“There is something else going on within the Bitcoin community that non-crypto people need to know about,”

he said, noting that developers and early adopters are asking whether Bitcoin’s current cryptography remains strong enough as quantum research progresses.

He stressed that VanEck supports Bitcoin today and runs several products tied to it. However, he added that the company existed long before Bitcoin and would “walk away” if it ever concluded that the asset’s core investment case no longer held.

VanEck is one of the largest crypto-focused asset managers in the world. Its spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund in the United States has drawn more than 1.2 billion dollars in net inflows since it launched in early 2024.

Bitcoin Holders Explore Zcash for Stronger Privacy

As privacy concerns grow, VanEck said many long-time Bitcoin supporters have started looking at alternatives for more confidential transactions. He pointed in particular to Zcash, a token designed with stronger privacy tools.

He said that “OGs” and Bitcoin maximalists are paying closer attention to Zcash as they seek ways to keep transaction details more private on-chain.

Zcash’s price has climbed by more than 1,300 percent over the past three months as interest in privacy coins has risen. The rally comes amid a broader push from some users to move away from easily traceable transactions and toward tokens that offer more anonymity.

At the same time, some cryptographers argue that Bitcoin’s cryptography is not in immediate danger.

Earlier this month, cryptographer and long-time cypherpunk Adam Back said he does not expect quantum computers to pose a meaningful threat to Bitcoin for at least 20 to 40 years.

Four-Year Bitcoin Cycle and Bear Market Risk

Beyond quantum risk and privacy, van Eck said markets are already adjusting to Bitcoin’s familiar four-year cycle. He argued that the pattern of strong rallies followed by heavy corrections is being priced in ahead of time.

He said investors should consider building positions during downturns rather than chasing rallies, describing dollar-cost averaging into bear phases as a more disciplined way to gain exposure.

Van Eck also said Bitcoin “for sure” should appear in modern portfolios because of global liquidity, broad access, and the reality of on-chain activity. He tied that view to the asset’s growing role in mainstream markets and its established trading infrastructure.

He briefly outlined the halving cycle, where Bitcoin’s block reward falls roughly every four years.

According to him, each cycle over the past decade has included one sharply negative year. He said 2026 fits that pattern on historical charts, and that some investors are already positioning for a potential downturn that year.

The CEO added that this cycle has looked different from earlier ones. Bitcoin’s gains have been smaller than in past bull runs, and many expect any future correction to be less severe as well.