Chinese researchers have cracked a small but significant piece of modern encryption using quantum computing—specifically, factoring a 22-bit RSA number (a basic encryption building block). While this isn’t nearly enough to break real-world crypto yet, it’s a proof-of-concept leap that hints at a future where quantum machines could dismantle today’s digital security. The team used a D-Wave quantum annealer, a type of quantum computer optimized for specific problems, suggesting even niche hardware might eventually threaten encryption.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t a "sky is falling" moment for your Bitcoin wallet—22-bit encryption is child’s play compared to the 2048-bit standards protecting banks and apps today. But it’s a wake-up call: quantum computers are inching toward the day they could crack codes we rely on daily. The real story here isn’t immediate danger; it’s the ticking clock for crypto experts to future-proof systems before quantum tech catches up. (And yes, they’re already working on it.)