Project Case Studies
Deep-dive analyses of major cryptocurrencies and their quantum resistance posture. Cryptographic architectures, governance challenges, migration pathways, and realistic timelines.
What These Case Studies Cover
Each case study examines a cryptocurrency’s complete quantum vulnerability profile: current cryptographic primitives, key exposure levels, governance constraints affecting upgrade timelines, proposed or active migration strategies, and realistic assessments of whether the project can achieve quantum resistance before Q-Day. Scores use the QRC V5.1 methodology where higher scores indicate stronger quantum resistance.
Understanding QRC Scores
QRC scores measure quantum resistance—a cryptocurrency’s ability to withstand attacks from cryptographically relevant quantum computers. Scores range from 0 to 100:
🟢 GREEN: 71–100
Quantum-Ready. Strong protection deployed or comprehensive mitigations in place. Continue monitoring for new developments.
🟡 YELLOW: 31–70
Upgrade Recommended. Partial vulnerabilities exist. Active migration planning or demonstrated crypto-agility provides path forward.
🔴 RED: 0–30
Action Needed. Critical vulnerability with high key exposure and limited migration progress. Requires immediate attention.
Featured Case Studies
Bitcoin (BTC)
YellowThe $1 trillion question. ECDSA signatures, 35% key exposure, no official migration plan, and governance challenges that could take years to resolve.
Ethereum (ETH)
RedDual vulnerability: ECDSA for transactions and BLS for consensus. Highest key exposure but strongest governance agility and active EIP proposals.
Cardano (ADA)
RedThe first mover. Active PQC testnet with SPHINCS+ signatures, concrete migration timeline, and formal governance structure. Leading by example.
Solana (SOL)
YellowPerformance vs. security dilemma. Ed25519 throughout, optimized for speed. PQC signatures would dramatically reduce throughput—an identity crisis awaits.
Polkadot (DOT)
YellowMulti-chain coordination challenge. Relay chain plus 50+ parachains require aligned migration. Substrate framework provides upgrade flexibility.
Monero (XMR)
YellowArchitectural crisis. Ring signatures, stealth addresses, and RingCT all depend on elliptic curves. No production-ready PQC alternatives exist for privacy features.
How to Use These Case Studies
Each case study is structured to help different audiences extract actionable insights:
For Investors
Focus on the Investor Verdict section and score breakdown. Compare governance timelines against Q-Day estimates. Assess whether migration can complete before quantum computers arrive.
For Developers
Examine the Cryptographic Architecture and Migration Strategies sections. Understand which primitives need replacement and what PQC alternatives are being considered.
For Researchers
Review the Timeline Analysis with optimistic, realistic, and pessimistic scenarios. Cross-reference with our scoring methodology for detailed component weightings.
For Project Teams
Use the What Could Go Right/Wrong sections to identify risks and opportunities. Compare your project’s approach to peers and learn from others’ migration strategies.
V5.1 Scoring Components
Each case study includes a detailed score breakdown across seven weighted dimensions:
| Component | Weight | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Signature Resistance | 35% | Quantum resistance of transaction signing algorithms |
| Consensus Security | 15% | Whether the network survives if signatures break |
| Key Protection | 15% | Percentage of value behind unexposed public keys |
| Crypto-Agility | 12% | Ability to upgrade cryptographic primitives |
| Hash Strength | 8% | Post-Grover security margin of hash functions |
| Pairing-Free Status | 8% | Avoidance of BLS signatures and KZG commitments |
| Operational Mitigations | 7% | Active measures reducing quantum exposure |
For wrapped tokens and cross-chain assets, the Dependency Multiplier adjusts the final score based on inherited vulnerabilities from underlying chains.
Explore the Full Rankings
See how all 49 tracked cryptocurrencies score for quantum resistance, or dive into the methodology behind our assessments.
Last updated: December 4, 2025 | Scoring Engine V5.1