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According to recent reports, VanEck’s leadership has warned that rising quantum computing risks could force the firm to reduce or even exit its Bitcoin holdings.

The firm’s CEO Jan van Eck said he would “walk away from Bitcoin if we think the thesis is fundamentally broken,” a line that has stirred debate across markets and crypto circles.

Matt Sigel, VanEck’s head of digital-assets research, added that a narrow “window of uncertainty” could open if quantum machines reach a level that threatens current cryptography.

VanEck Issues Stark Warning

VanEck’s comments focus on the time between a credible quantum breakthrough and a full, network-wide migration to post-quantum signatures.

Reports have disclosed that this gap could be dangerous because attackers could exploit the period to steal funds or undermine trust.

Some researchers estimate that a careful migration might need about 76 days of highly coordinated action, a logistical challenge for a decentralized network that typically moves slowly on major changes.

VanEck CEO Jan van Eck on CNBC:

“There’s something else going on within the Bitcoin community that non-crypto people need to know about.

And that is: ultimately, VanEck has been around before Bitcoin. We will walk away from Bitcoin if we think the thesis is fundamentally… pic.twitter.com/pCUtuqBVHD

— Arjun Khemani (@arjunkhemani) November 22, 2025

Technical And Coordination Hurdles

Bitcoin’s current cryptography relies on elliptic curve signatures. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could run known algorithms to derive private keys from public data.

That is the technical fear. Based on reports, making Bitcoin “quantum safe” would likely mean adopting lattice-based or hash-based schemes and coordinating a hard fork.

BTCUSD trading at $86,216 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView

Coordination is hard because miners, exchanges, wallet makers, and node operators must all agree. That difficulty is the heart of the worry, not just the math.

VanEck’s public stance is also a hedging move. The company has launched investment products tied to quantum technology, signaling it expects quantum computing to matter financially.

VanEck CEO said the $BTC quantum risk and their readiness to dump it if the risk grows.

We must quantum proof Bitcoin in 2026.

— Ted (@TedPillows) November 22, 2025

At the same time, the CEO’s warning has put pressure on institutional players to reassess risk models and contingency plans. Some long-time Bitcoin holders are said to be looking at privacy coins that emphasize different cryptographic approaches.

Market And Policy Implications

If an institutional player with VanEck’s profile signals a possible exit, market confidence could shift quickly. Institutional flows matter. A scramble to move large holdings would increase price volatility and could trigger further sell orders.

Regulatory and national security agencies have also been paying attention; guidance from some national cyber centers suggests critical systems should adopt post-quantum measures well before threats are immediate, with planning horizons that reach into the next decade.

Featured image from Yuichiro Chino/Getty Images, chart from TradingView

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The recent Bitcoin price action has been marked by a correction from its all-time high of $108,135 achieved just a week ago. Although Bitcoin has largely held up above the $90,000 mark, the correction has seen the cryptocurrency falling to as low as $92,500 in the past 24 hours. This decline has not only shaken confidence in Bitcoin’s immediate trajectory but has also turned attention toward the altcoin market. 

Although the altcoin market has also mirrored this trend of Bitcoin’s price correction, many investors and analysts are expecting an altcoin rally very soon. VanEck weighed in on this expectation with a confident declaration on the social media platform X. According to the investment firm, the crypto industry is currently in an altcoin season that started on November 27.

Altcoin Season Is Here Already—VanEck

Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency, has struggled to maintain its price momentum above the $100,000 mark, raising questions about where the market might head next. While many Bitcoin proponents are expecting a renewed surge in 2025 with the incoming Trump administration in the US, other crypto analysts are turning to the altcoin market. Interestingly, analysts at VanEck suggest that the current crypto environment may favor altcoins against Bitcoin.

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Matthew Sigel, head of digital research at VanEck, elaborated on this phenomenon, explaining that Bitcoin’s dominance in terms of market cap, liquidity, and volume often lays the groundwork for altcoins to outperform. According to Sigel, as capital flows into the market, risk-on sentiment tends to boost nascent crypto applications, particularly those in decentralized finance, gaming, and NFTs, which in turn allows the altcoin market to outperform Bitcoin.

VanEck’s outlook on the altcoin season also highlighted data from Artemis’s Altcoin Season Index, which measures how many of the top 50 altcoins outperform Bitcoin over a 90-day period. According to this index, which ranges from a value of 0 to 1, the altcoin season starts with a reading of 0.6. At the time of writing, the index is currently well above this level, having recently reached 0.8. This suggests that the crypto industry is currently in an altcoin season where profits taken from Bitcoin will start to flow into top altcoins.

Diverging Views On Current Metrics

Interestingly, Artemis’s Altcoin Season Index differs from more conventional metrics, such as those provided by CoinMarketCap. CoinMarketCap defines an altcoin season as a period when 75% of the top 100 altcoins outperform Bitcoin over the last 90 days. By this measure, the index currently sits at 51, though it peaked at an impressive 87 on December 4.

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Nonetheless, many market participants are anticipating an altcoin season, with many betting on the overperformance of many top altcoins against Bitcoin. According to a recent technical analysis by crypto analyst Captain Faibik, altcoin season has officially begun. 

“$BTC (Dominance) Rising Wedge Breakout + Retest confirmed!    #Altseason has officially begun—get Ready for the ride! ,” he said.

Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

In a post on X, Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at investment management firm VanEck, suggested that Microsoft may be open to invest in an Ethereum (ETH) exchange-traded fund (ETF) if it fulfills the company’s yield requirements. Sigel remarked that it “sounds to [him] like MSFT is open to an ETH ETF as long as they can collect staking income.”

Microsoft Open To Spot Ethereum ETFs?

This interpretation came after Amy Hood, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Microsoft, reiterated the company’s long standing engagement with digital assets. While not specifically referencing ETH, Hood noted that Microsoft began accepting cryptocurrency as payment from customers in 2014 and has continued doing so ever since.

“I think it’s important to step back and realize that almost a decade ago, actually maybe a little over, we first started accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment from our customers, and that was in 2014. And we continue to do that today. We were amongst one of the very early companies to realize and accept this after listening to customers,” Hood said.

According to her, the treasury team regularly reviews all available asset classes with an eye on three key factors that influence future decisions. “Our treasury team, along with reviews with the Board of Directors, looks at all the asset classes available to us. It’s important to remember our criteria and our goals of our balance sheet and for the cash balances, importantly, is to preserve capital, to allow a lot of liquidity to be able to fund our operations and partnerships and investments.”

Hood indicated that digital assets are “something we cover with our Board consistently” as Microsoft gauges whether any given category meets its strategic goals. “So with those three goals, we look across asset classes, including cryptocurrency as a form of investment. It’s something we cover with our Board consistently and continue to assess different categories year to year if our goals were to change,” she added.

Sigel’s inference that Microsoft could lean toward ETH-based products rests on three points: the company’s early acceptance of crypto as a payment method, an ongoing evaluation of digital assets at the board level, and the role yield generation could play in any investment choice. Sigel stated:

1) They accept crypto and believe in its utility.
2) The board has already and will continue to evaluate digital assets for the reserve.
3) If the asset has a yield = higher chance of MSFT buying it.

However, not everyone found this conclusion airtight. One Ethereum community member questioned Sigel’s reading of Hood’s remarks, calling it a “leap” to assume Microsoft might buy ETH ETFs, though conceding it remains “possible.”

When asked whether Microsoft might also consider Solana (SOL), Sigel responded succinctly, “Yes.” VanEck itself has experience in the altcoin ETF space, offering a spot Ethereum ETF and having filed an application in June with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a spot Solana ETF. With the incoming Trump administration, experts believe that spot altcoin ETFs like Solana are highly likely to be approved under the new SEC Chairman Paul Atkins.

Meanwhile, Microsoft recently turned down a different crypto-related proposal. According to a prior report from Bitcoinist, a group of shareholders urged the tech giant to include Bitcoin as a reserve asset. That proposal, voted on December 10, failed to gain traction—only 0.55% of shareholders supported it, and the majority effectively rejected the notion of adding BTC to Microsoft’s balance sheet.

Notably, the US SEC approved the first spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on June 23 this year. One key factor for the approval was the removal of staking features in response to the agency’s concerns about the potential classification of staking as an unregistered security.

At press time, ETH traded at $3,931.

Featured image from YouTube, chart from TradingView.com

Recent gains in Bitcoin are owed in part to changes in the political environment, particularly in the US. Incoming US President Donald Trump is backing cryptocurrencies, sparking renewed market optimism among investors.

From reforms in regulatory structures to a proposal for a national Bitcoin reserve, the policies he enforces provide Bitcoin an exceptional outlet for growth in an increasingly open and friendly new landscape. These changes places the US in a strategic position as the world’s leader in crypto innovation while giving a fertile ground for Bitcoin to continue growing.

Crypto On The Rise

These possible changes have been well taken by market participants, who have seen the highest market dominance of BTC at 59%. A bill being worked out may permit state-chartered banks to mint stablecoins without seeking prior approval from the Federal Reserve, putting the US in a very commanding position in the race to dominate financial innovation. Furthermore, proposals to deregulate the energy industry may favor crypto mining, which will place the US in a better position in the global race for blockchain.

Bitcoin’s flirtation with $100K continues as crypto’s top market cap has now reached an ATH of $99,850. As its price continues to hit round numbers and fulfill limit sell orders, it is widely being perceived as only a matter of time. pic.twitter.com/Qb1LTznuij

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) November 22, 2024

Historic Rally: BTC Approaching $100K

Bitcoin is trading at nearly $99,850 and is on the verge of the long-awaited $100,000 milestone. Similar to other bull runs, including the one witnessed after the elections in 2020, when the price of Bitcoin nearly doubled in a matter of a few months, some believe institutional interest coupled with friendly economic conditions and increased on-chain activity are the drivers of this phenomenal appreciation of the price of Bitcoin.

Source: VanEck

According to VanEck’s latest report, Bitcoin still is in its early stages of the rally, and there is minimal technical resistance in its way. With investor enthusiasm building, growing calls for the alpha coin to be adopted as a strategic reserve, and with a supportive US government, this rally appears well-positioned to continue. Experts are optimistic that Bitcoin is going to push forward and hit new highs.

The Future Of Bitcoin: Cautious Optimism

Analysts, while acknowledging that momentum is strong, point out that the market may run too hot, and early signs in the development are a rise in funding rates and increased unrealized profits. However, even from this stage, long-term prospects appear bright given strong institutional demand, solid on-chain metrics, and supportive regulatory changes, according to the forecast of $180,000 by VanEck for Bitcoin in the current cycle.

While historical data may indicate the crypto asset’s growth is decelerating as the markets mature, the cryptocurrency still shows hopeful prospects in the near term. So far, this rally displays the confidence of investors and has incrementally acquired recognition regarding Bitcoin’s role in a changed financial sector.

Featured image from CNBC, chart from TradingView

Jan van Eck, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VanEck, an American investment management firm, has maintained an extremely bullish stance on Bitcoin (BTC), the world’s largest cryptocurrency. According to the popular CEO, Bitcoin is set to witness an exponential surge to $350,000, driven by an adoption rate on par with gold.

Bitcoin Set To Hit Ambitious $350,000 Target

In an exclusive interview with Fox Business on August 2, Van Eck predicted that the price of Bitcoin could surge as high as $350,000. As one of the issuers of Spot Bitcoin ETFs, Van Eck is keenly aware of the volatility in the Bitcoin market and the cryptocurrency’s propensity for unexpected price fluctuations.

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Despite these challenges, the CEO remains highly optimistic about the future value of Bitcoin. He highlights that other crypto bulls have an even more bullish perspective, with some forecasting that the price of one Bitcoin could soar to an astonishing price target of $2.9 million. 

While a $2.9 million price prediction might seem highly ambitious, Van Eck acknowledges that it could potentially be achieved within a few decades, specifically by 2050. The CEO has rooted his bullish expectations on the rapid adoption rate of Bitcoin in the financial sector.

As the first and largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin has shown remarkable growth over the years. It reached an all-time high of about $69,000 in 2021 and surpassed this milestone in 2024, surging above $73,000 following the launch of Spot Bitcoin ETFs. The cryptocurrency has also had an impressive adoption rate, with the number of BTC wallets reaching hundreds of millions globally. 

Van Eck has revealed that “Bitcoin is becoming adopted the way gold is.” The CEO projects that Bitcoin is poised to reach 50% of the total market capitalization of gold. According to reports, gold’s current market capitalization is about $16.6 trillion, while Bitcoin’s stands at $1.04 trillion.

Based on Van Eck’s predictions, Bitcoin is set to reach a substantial market capitalization of approximately $8.3 trillion. This massive increase in market value would significantly boost the price of the cryptocurrency, allowing it to potentially reach the aforementioned $350,000 price target. 

BTC Could Be In Its Worst Performing Month This Year

Despite witnessing impressive gains earlier in July, Bitcoin has experienced a major pullback in its price. Previously, the cryptocurrency surged as high as $70,000 but experienced a strong rejection before dropping in value. 

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According to CoinMarketCap, BTC has crashed by a whopping 23.95% over the past seven days. The cryptocurrency is still on a significantly downward trend, experiencing another 12.32% decrease in the last 24 hours. 

In light of this bearish trend, crypto analyst, Ali Martinez revealed in an X (formerly Twitter) post that historically, Bitcoin’s price tends to witness the worst performance between the months of August and September. 

With the recent downturn and a price crash to $52,859 this August, it seems history might be repeating itself. However, Martinez has indicated that Bitcoin’s TD sequential is presenting a buy signal, suggesting a potential rebound could be in sight. 

Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

Asset manager VanEck recently revised its prediction for Ethereum (ETH), revealing what price it believes the second-largest crypto token could reach by 2030. The firm also did well to outline what could drive Ethereum’s price to this revised price. 

Ethereum To Reach $22,000 By 2030

In a recent blog post, VanEck predicted that Ethereum could reach $22,000 by 2030. Before now, the asset manager had predicted that the crypto token would hit $11,800 by 2030. However, VanEck suggested they had become more bullish on ETH in anticipation of the Spot Ethereum ETFs, which could begin trading soon. 

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They noted that these Spot Ethereum ETFs have caused them to revise their earlier prediction since these funds will allow financial advisors and institutional investors to hold the crypto token. They believe this category of investors could bring new money into the Ethereum ecosystem, further driving up the crypto token’s price. 

VanEck projects that the Ethereum network will likely continue to enjoy rapid share market growth thanks to interest from traditional investors and Big Tech. They believe this, along with EETH’s dominance among smart contract platforms, could lead to a “create path to $66 billion in free cash flows” for the network. 

They base their projection of ETH’s valuation by 2030 on this, stating that these cash flows will accrue to Ethereum’s native token. A rise to $22,000 represents a return of around 487% from Ethereum’s current price and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37.8%. Meanwhile, Ethereum reaching $22,000 will give it a market cap of around $2.2 trillion. 

Highlighting Ethereum’s Potential

VanEck sounded very bullish on the Ethereum ecosystem as it claimed that the network could disrupt existing financial businesses and the largest tech companies, including Google and Apple. Given that Ethereum has earned a reputation as the platform for decentralized applications (dApps), they factored in the market size of business sectors that blockchain technology will disrupt while determining ETH’s future valuation. 

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The asset manager also highlighted how ETH benefits massively from ETH’s potential since no action can be taken on the network without the native token. Additionally, they noted how 80% of the revenues earned on the network are used to buy back and burn Ethereum tokens in circulation. 

Meanwhile, VanEck believes that ETH is “a revolutionary asset with few parallels in the non-crypto financial world.” They referred to it as “Digita Oil” since it is consumed by those transacting on the Ethereum network. 

The asset manager also called it “Programmable Money” and “Yield Bearing Commodity” because of how automated the Ethereum network is and that validators earn yields on the crypto token when they stake their ETH. Lastly, it was referred to as the “Internet Reserve Currency” since it serves as the “base asset” for all activity and most digital assets with the ETH ecosystem worth over $1 trillion. 

Speaking to Fortune on the sidelines of Paris Blockchain Week, van Eck said brokerage platforms aren’t yet allowing advisors to recommend Bitcoin ETFs, though there have been reports that firms such as Morgan Stanley are evaluating them. “Those are our biggest customer bases,” van Eck told Fortune. “So there’s a long ways to go.”

For now, the demand has mainly come from retail customers, although he expects that to change as platforms gain approval to start pushing Bitcoin ETFs. “Paper moves first in this world, and then decisions get made,” van Eck said, predicting that the shift could come this quarter.

‘Don’t get disrupted’

Founded by van Eck’s father in 1955, VanEck has long been at the forefront of alternative assets. John van Eck pivoted to gold investing as he worried about inflation, launching the first U.S. gold stock fund in 1968. “If you’re running a business, you’ve got to make sure that you don’t get disrupted,” his son told Fortune.

In 2017, VanEck became the first ETF issuer to file for a spot Bitcoin ETF, a few years after the Winklevoss-led Gemini applied for one in 2013. The Securities and Exchange Commission rejected potential issuers, with the approval process eventually moving forward after the crypto firm Grayscale sued the agency to convert its Bitcoin trust into an ETF.

Now, with seven companies, including VanEck, applying for a spot Ethereum ETF, van Eck expressed skepticism that the agency would move forward with an approval. “Paperwork usually precedes action from a regulator,” he said, “and there’s no paperwork movements.”

He added that another lawsuit likely would be necessary to push the agency for approval, but there may be less appetite among stakeholders for another lengthy court battle.

‘People thought they were totally crazy’

With a crowded field of 12 Bitcoin ETFs, the question is whether the field will consolidate, with some issuers pulling out or acquiring competitors. VanEck is currently middle of the pack with around $600 million of assets under management, with BlackRock and Fidelity running away with the field.

Despite his firm’s slower start, van Eck said he’s been pleased with the progress. “We’d love to have $600 million in an ETF in its first three months,” he told Fortune. “The chances of that happening statistically in the ETF industry is probably 1%.” Still, he cautioned that due to the low management fees many of the issuers are charging, the vehicles won’t be profit drivers.

Another question is whether issuers will branch out to other custodians, after every firm, with the exception of VanEck, initially chose Coinbase. VanEck instead went with Gemini, which van Eck said was a “tip of the hat” to the firm being the first to apply for a Bitcoin ETF. “People thought they were totally crazy when they filed,” he told Fortune. He added that the firm would soon add a backup custodian.

VanEck is also expanding into other areas of crypto. In early April, van Eck’s son, Nick, announced the launch of his own digital asset firm, a stablecoin company called Agora. His father’s company would serve as the manager of its reserves, similar to how Cantor Fitzgerald holds U.S. Treasuries for Tether.

Despite Tether’s dominance in the stablecoin landscape, van Eck said there’s room for competition, especially with Tether’s wildcat status in the U.S. “A lot of firms are going through regulatory approval,” he told Fortune. “There’s plenty of room for exchanges to use other stables.”

“Because you see the transaction fees for Bitcoin and Ethereum, no one would ever use that database to build anything on, right? My analogy for non-crypto people is, would you want to fill your car at $50, you know, week after week, and then one week at $600? And that’s effectively what high gas fees are on Ethereum,” he said.