VanEck CEO Warns: Quantum Threat Clock Is Ticking, Bitcoin OGs Moving to Zcash

Wall Street Reassesses Crypto Investment Security

In November 2025, VanEck CEO Jan van Eck made a stunning statement on CNBC's "Power Lunch": if Bitcoin (BTC) cannot address quantum computing threats quickly enough, "we're out." This warning bell ignited a broader reassessment of crypto investment security and helps explain why the long-dormant privacy coin Zcash (ZEC) has surged 1,300% in three months, reaching $560.

Quantum Risk Becomes Wall Street Consensus

Bitcoin relies on Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA). Against traditional computers, this mathematical fortress is impregnable. But Shor's algorithm combined with quantum hardware could directly derive private keys from public keys—effectively picking the lock on the vault.

VanEck notes that asset management firms aren't willing to gamble decades of accumulated wealth on technical timelines, especially as institutional positions have grown larger following friendly regulatory signals from the new Trump administration. The "security red line" has been raised higher.

"Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" Countdown

Even though quantum computers aren't commercially deployed, hackers have already adopted a "harvest now, decrypt later" strategy: bulk downloading on-chain public data now, waiting for hardware to mature before breaking encryption in one fell swoop.

According to Cryptoslate analysis, approximately 6.5 million Bitcoin use early P2PK-type addresses with exposed public keys—about one-third of total supply. At current prices, hundreds of billions of dollars could be exposed to risk around 2030.

For long-term holders who view Bitcoin as a family heirloom, this means the simple "buy and hold" strategy needs reexamination.

Zcash Becomes Safe Haven

Capital flows reveal the anxiety level. Zcash employs zk-SNARKs zero-knowledge proofs, selectively obscuring transaction paths, public keys, and amounts—making it difficult for quantum computers to target specific transactions for attack.

Citing van Eck's observations, many "Bitcoin OGs" have moved portions of their holdings into ZEC to hedge quantum risk. A Wall Street quant trader confided: "We're not abandoning Bitcoin—we're buying insurance."

Why Zcash?

• Quantum Resistance: Zcash's Orchard protocol (z-to-z transactions) uses cryptographic primitives with stronger resistance to quantum attacks.
• Privacy Protection: Even if quantum computers break some cryptography, shielded transaction paths leave hackers with no target to attack.
• Technical Agility: The Zcash development team continuously upgrades the protocol, already preparing for the post-quantum era.

Upgrade Dilemma and 2026 Cycle Collision

For Bitcoin to implement quantum-resistant cryptography, it would require a soft fork or even hard fork. The decentralized structure makes decision-making like "changing engines mid-flight"—technical consensus and implementation would take years at minimum.

But market cycles won't wait. Van Eck points out that Bitcoin's four-year cycle continues, with "2026 likely being a negative return year." The current $87,000 level has been viewed as a policy-driven ceiling; if upgrades lag, the bear market and quantum threat could resonate destructively.

Timeline Debate: 20 Years or 5?

Cryptographer Adam Back believes the quantum crisis is still 20-40 years away, but Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently warned that 2030 could see material risk.

The timeline isn't unified, but capital markets are choosing to deploy early. As van Eck stated: "We're not going to wait until quantum computers actually appear to start worrying."

Investment Takeaway: Don't Panic, But Prepare

In summary, while Bitcoin gained policy support in Washington in 2025, it still faces new adversaries from mathematics and physics. Investors don't need to panic-sell, but they do need to closely monitor whether developers can complete upgrades in the narrow window between technical timelines and market cycles.

Otherwise, Bitcoin could suffer the fate of Netscape Navigator—pioneering an era without dominating the future.

For Zcash holders, this wave of institutional attention brings not just price appreciation but fundamental improvement in the investment thesis. When Wall Street starts taking quantum risk seriously, ZEC with its privacy protection and technical agility stands at a historic inflection point.