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Will Quantum Computing Kill Bitcoin? - Scott Aaronson with Eli Ben Sassonwww.youtube.com/watch?v=XZCMysmbRxs
415 sats \ 9 comments \ @Scoresby 4h bitcoin
Scott Aaronson writes the very interesting blog, Shtetl-Optimized. Aaronson is a reasonable voice in the quantum computing world.
Here is an interview that Eli Ben Sasson (the Starkware guy) did with him about how much of a threat quantum computing may be to Bitcoin and on what timeline.
It's pretty interesting: the first half is mostly Aaronson explaining quantum computing and how to evaluate the various announcements that companies in the field make.
The main takeaway that I got form it is that Aaronson pretty firmly believes that quantum computing development no longer has any theoretical hurdles, and that it has largely become an engineering problem: build quantum computers with more good qubits.
I also found this X thread useful: https://x.com/andurobtc/status/1996243776998699507
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102 sats \ 5 replies \ @Undisciplined 4h
When scientists and engineers refer to things as simply being engineering problems, they tend to overlook the corresponding economic problems. Resources aren't infinitely available for their projects.
Bitcoin won't be hacked until doing so is profitable ("profitable" has a richer meaning in economics than it does in finance, which probably matters here). How far are we from that?
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69 sats \ 4 replies \ @optimism 1h
First, the feds will print trillions upon trillions to build AI datacenters. Then, they will print quadrillions upon quadrillions to convert these useless spaces into facilities operating close to absolute 0. Then, they steal all the bitcoin and earn back all the printing.
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100 sats \ 3 replies \ @Undisciplined 1h
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69 sats \ 2 replies \ @optimism 1h
I won't disagree with that assessment. But if you don't give a shit and you have a money printer, then there is no compelling reason not to. Especially if you can on the side shitcoin your way to your own riches. Just launch a memecoin bruh.
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100 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined 1h
Going after bitcoin is still only worthwhile if it's worth the opportunity cost involved.
  1. The actual resources needed are scarce, so attaining them will have real consequences
  2. There are other uses for freshly printed money
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69 sats \ 0 replies \ @optimism 35m
I also agree re: 1. Why go after bitcoin if you can just print more? And that automatically confirms 2.
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102 sats \ 1 reply \ @freetx 4h
firmly believes that quantum computing development no longer has any theoretical hurdles, and that it has largely become an engineering problem
haha. I love how these guys try to minimize the challenge....
There is no theoretical issue with you balancing 8000 champagne glasses on a silver platter while you ski down mount everest....its simply an "engineering problem"
They gotta keep pumping their investors....
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28 sats \ 0 replies \ @Scoresby OP 4h
good analogies!
I'm generally skeptical of the threat posed by quantum computing, and I'm certainly not inclined to buy much of what Ben Sasson is selling. But, I've found Aaronson to be pretty reasonable in the past and this interview wasn't bad.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @nitter 4h
https://twiiit.com/andurobtc/status/1996243776998699507
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