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Quantum Leap: 100,000 Qubits Needed to Crack RSA

2/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Paul Webster, head of Iceberg Quantum, estimates cracking RSA would require about 100,000 qubits.
This follows progress that cut the requirement from 170 million to under a million qubits.
The approach uses quantum low-density parity-check (qLDPC) codes, enabling qubits to connect over greater distances and improve efficiency.
Nevertheless, challenges remain in building such machines, and experts warn that breaking RSA could have serious implications, underscoring urgency to advance quantum computing.

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Story summary

Paul Webster, head of Iceberg Quantum, estimates cracking RSA would require about 100,000 qubits.
This follows progress that cut the requirement from 170 million to under a million qubits.
The approach uses quantum low-density parity-check (qLDPC) codes, enabling qubits to connect over greater distances and improve efficiency.
Nevertheless, challenges remain in building such machines, and experts warn that breaking RSA could have serious implications, underscoring urgency to advance quantum computing.