Even if quantum computers manage to crack Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin stash, it wouldn't necessarily trigger a total market collapse. Satoshi’s coins make up roughly 5% of the total Bitcoin supply. When you consider that the US dollar recently hit a 4% annual inflation rate, a sudden flood of Satoshi's coins would actually be pretty comparable to standard fiat money printing. It's also estimated that up to 30% of all existing Bitcoins have exposed public keys, which makes them vulnerable. But the market could likely absorb the hit over time. If hackers slowly liquidated those vulnerable coins over a six-year period, it would work out to an annual inflation rate of about 4%. Nobody wants that, of course, but it's an economic shock the market could handle. On the bright side, this looming threat is exactly the push the industry needs. It creates a massive incentive to speed up quantum research and shift toward quantum-resistant security and alternative networks. We're already seeing protocols adapt; for instance, Bitcoin Cash (BCH) just added quantum vaults with its recent Layla upgrade in May 2026. The real wildcard might actually come from regulators and Wall Street. Traditional financial institutions could easily use the quantum threat as a handy excuse to step in. They might try to grab control of early Bitcoin holdings, including the genesis blocks, under the guise of being the only secure custodians who can keep the network safe.