Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has pushed back against claims that advances in artificial intelligence could eventually break Bitcoin’s security and trigger a major price collapse.
The debate started after investor Liron Shapira argued that AI could weaken Bitcoin’s security assumptions and potentially cause BTC to fall by more than 50% within the next two years. Buterin disagreed with that scenario, saying he believes the probability of AI breaking Bitcoin’s core security mechanisms is extremely low.
Buterin explained that not all AI-related threats would represent a direct attack on Bitcoin’s foundation. Issues involving software vulnerabilities, mining pools, or network infrastructure could potentially be addressed through updates and improvements without changing Bitcoin’s underlying rules.
However, he argued that a real breakthrough against Bitcoin’s cryptographic foundation, such as breaking its hash functions or Proof-of-Work mechanism, remains highly unlikely. According to Buterin, the probability of AI achieving such a level of attack is “tiny.”
The discussion highlights a broader question facing the crypto industry: whether artificial intelligence will become a threat to blockchain security or a tool that strengthens cybersecurity. While AI could potentially improve hacking capabilities, it could also help developers detect vulnerabilities, analyze code, and improve network defenses.
Buterin also pointed to his own portfolio exposure when responding to the prediction. He said that if he were betting against an AI-driven Bitcoin collapse, he would effectively already be taking the opposite side of that bet because approximately 90% of his net worth is held in ETH.
The comments also reflect the interconnected nature of crypto security. A major breakthrough against fundamental cryptographic systems would not only affect Bitcoin but could create broader challenges across the digital asset industry, including Ethereum and other blockchain networks.
For Bitcoin investors, the key issue is whether AI will create genuine security risks or simply accelerate the ongoing competition between attackers and defenders in cybersecurity.
