Asia Morning Briefing: Quantum Computing Poses Major Risk to Crypto, Analyst Says

Bitcoin Edges Higher in Asia as Macro Themes Expand: ETF Outflows, Japan Bonds, and Quantum Threats in Focus

Bitcoin regained some ground early Tuesday in Asia, trading at $106,402.39, up 0.9%, after a weekend drop linked to $616 million in spot ETF outflows and rising geopolitical instability. The downturn ended BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust’s 31-day inflow streak, underscoring renewed investor caution amid stalled U.S.-China trade negotiations.

BTC fell as low as $103,748 over the weekend before staging a modest recovery.

Adding a new dimension to market analysis, several strategists—led by Weston Nakamura—have highlighted a growing correlation between Bitcoin and Japan’s 30-year government bond yields. This rare cross-market relationship may signal a broader rebalancing of global risk flows, with Japan’s yield curve increasingly influencing digital asset behavior, potentially surpassing traditional U.S. equity correlations.

Bitcoin is now testing support at $104,300, with traders assessing both local ETF flows and global macro signals for directional cues.

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Quantum Computing Seen as Underestimated Risk for Crypto Ecosystem

The cryptocurrency industry may be severely underestimating the threat posed by quantum computing, according to a new warning from Rick Maeda of Presto Research. In a detailed report and interview with CoinDesk, Maeda urges industry players to begin a systematic transition to quantum-resistant cryptography before a future breach becomes technically feasible.

“Preparation must be linear—not reactive,” Maeda said. “If we wait until quantum machines are capable of attacking elliptic curve cryptography, it’s already too late.”

While today’s quantum processors remain well below the threshold required to threaten blockchain security—operating at around 10 logical qubits with high error rates—Maeda believes complacency is risky. He cites economic disincentives as the main hurdle: “There’s no revenue model for quantum-proofing until it’s a crisis.”

He also notes that while announcements like Google’s quantum advancements draw headlines, they come with significant performance trade-offs that limit real-world cryptographic impact—for now.

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Headlines at a Glance

Meta Investors Reject Bitcoin Allocation Proposal

Meta shareholders overwhelmingly voted down a proposal to allocate a portion of the company’s $72 billion in cash to Bitcoin. The measure—put forward by Strive’s Ethan Peck and backed by the National Center for Public Policy Research—garnered just 0.08% support. While Meta has exited earlier crypto ventures like Libra, it remains active in exploring stablecoin payments across its platforms. Shares rose 3.5% to $670.09 following broader tech gains.

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Crypto Lobbyists Defend Stablecoin Bill from Legislative Distractions

As the GENIUS Act heads for final debate in the U.S. Senate, crypto industry groups are pushing back against efforts to attach unrelated amendments. The bill, which targets the regulation of stablecoin issuers like Circle and Tether, faces a risk of derailment from lawmakers seeking to insert provisions from the Credit Card Competition Act.

Despite the procedural threats, the GENIUS Act holds bipartisan support. Analysts at Capital Alpha put the chances of passage this year at 60–65%, with the Senate viewed as a pivotal test before House consideration.

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Market Recap

• Bitcoin (BTC): ▲ 0.9% to $106,402.39 – ETF outflows ease; watching Japan bond correlation
• Ethereum (ETH): ▲ 3% to $2,539.04 – Institutional demand drives rebound from $2,500
• Gold: ▲ 2.1% to $3,371.40 – Three-week high as safe-haven flows accelerate
• Nikkei 225: ▲ 0.36% – Asian equities rise with Wall Street tailwinds
• S&P 500: ▲ 0.4% – Markets advance despite ongoing global trade frictions

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