As warnings mount that a faster-than-expected pace of quantum-computing development could quickly neutralise the security systems of major blockchains such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), Google Research named the XRP Ledger (XRPL) a leading blockchain technology resilient to quantum computing.

According to blockchain outlet The Crypto Basic on March 31, the latest study led by Google Quantum AI, with participation from academia and the Ethereum Foundation (EF), said elliptic-curve cryptography (ECC), a core blockchain cryptographic technology, could be broken quickly if powerful quantum computers emerge.

The study focused on timing. Researchers said once quantum computing passes a certain threshold, the cost of deciphering ECC could fall sharply. They said it could not be ruled out that attacks could occur within minutes if quantum computers with sufficient performance appear. In particular, it presented an 'on-spend' attack scenario that intercepts transactions while they are being processed on the network. That points to a structural risk in which transaction contents could be exposed and stolen before final confirmation. The researchers explained they demonstrated the risk using Zero-Knowledge Proofs rather than providing a specific attack method.

Another reason the study drew attention was that XRPL was mentioned as a post-quantum response case. The report introduced XRPL as one of the few blockchains experimenting with quantum-resistant technology and confirmed related research is under way. In the community, a figure known as an XRPL validator, Vet, shared the contents and spread the discussion.

It also pointed to differences in risk depending on chain structure. The analysis said some networks such as Ethereum and Solana could face growing risk over time due to how they expose public keys or because of legacy account structures. By contrast, XRPL supports a 'key rotation' function that allows cryptographic keys to be replaced while keeping the account, which was assessed as a relatively flexible response tool. The report said such a structure does not completely solve the quantum threat and drew a line that it is a foundational level for future upgrades.

The study also included the view that incentives to attack could rise as smart contracts and tokenised assets expand. Researchers said security risks could be higher for networks that handle high-value assets such as real-world assets (RWA). It also mentioned in this context that XRPL is expanding its use in tokenising assets such as U.S. Treasuries.

Market and community reactions focused on the need for pre-emptive responses. Some assessed that XRPL is relatively ahead in preparing a response, but the research itself did not view any specific network as already free from the quantum threat. It stressed that post-quantum security is no longer a distant future issue but an ongoing task.

Ultimately, the study poses two questions for the blockchain industry as a whole. One is how far the pace of quantum-computing development will outstrip existing assumptions. The other is how quickly and flexibly each network can respond to that change. It also cited as an important variable whether differences in account structures such as key rotation could lead to gaps in response speed and cost among blockchains during the post-quantum transition.