Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson (찰스 호스킨슨) sharply criticised Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin (비탈릭 부테린)'s AI-related warning on cryptographic security, cryptocurrency outlet U.Today reported on Oct. 9 local time.

In a long post on X, formerly Twitter, Hoskinson described Buterin's remarks as unfounded fear about lattice cryptography. Lattice cryptography is one of the core elements underpinning current post-quantum cryptography systems. Buterin argued that faster AI-driven mathematical discovery could significantly shake lattice cryptography within the next 2 years. His logic is that AI could find new mathematical shortcuts that invalidate existing security assumptions.

Hoskinson said the claim relies too heavily on speculation and lacks mathematical proof. He said lattice cryptography has undergone decades of deep research and rigorous verification. He also noted that researchers have continued to refine security assumptions by reflecting new information about attack techniques.

He warned that Buterin's position could cause serious damage across the cybersecurity industry. He said discouraging the use of lattice cryptography would be a negative factor for efforts to protect internet communications from quantum computers. If doubts spread about the safety of lattice cryptography, the transition away from existing cryptographic systems could also be delayed. In that case, sensitive information that could be stolen in the future would be put at risk, Hoskinson said.

The dispute came shortly after Ethereum researcher Justin Drake (저스틴 드레이크) warned of a security crisis he called "bunker mode". Drake argued that AI could someday undermine the elliptic curve digital signature algorithm, or ECDSA, used to approve cryptocurrency transactions. He said that if a sufficiently powerful mathematical breakthrough emerges, private keys could be extracted from exposed public keys in far less time than expected.

Buterin lent weight to Drake's view, saying AI could advance mathematical research at an unprecedented speed. He also urged cryptocurrency holders to refrain from hasty decisions or moving funds.