This new technology from Microsoft may significantly shorten the time required for quantum attacks on SHA-256 by utilizing Grover's algorithm.

Additionally, breakthroughs in manipulating Majorana fermions for processing data with quantum bits (qubits) within the Majorana 1 quantum chip are emerging.

In a related development, Microsoft has discovered a new state of matter known as a 'topological superconductor', which could further jeopardize bitcoin's security.

As quantum hardware continues to advance, it becomes increasingly vital for cryptographers to devise strategies that will protect bitcoin's long-term security against these quantum threats.

Currently, SHA-256 secures bitcoin transactions through unique fingerprints that are challenging to reverse-engineer with classical computers, but this may not hold against future quantum capabilities.

The ECDSA protocol connects public addresses to private keys, ensuring a one-way guarantee for valid transactions, but faces significant threats from quantum algorithms like Shor's algorithm.

Current bitcoin security is heavily reliant on cryptographic protocols such as SHA-256 and ECDSA, which are increasingly vulnerable to the advancements of quantum computing.

Quantum computers have the potential to drastically reduce the brute-force guessing necessary to compromise SHA-256 and ECDSA, putting bitcoin wallets at risk, including those containing large amounts like Satoshi Nakamoto's.

There are ongoing discussions within the community about forking Bitcoin Core to bolster its defenses against quantum attacks, with various proposed mechanisms including CRYSTALS algorithms and SPHINCS+.