# Ethereum researchers warn AI could crack wallet signatures in months

> Two leading Ethereum researchers say AI advances might break ECDSA signatures, urging users to move funds to never‑used addresses.

Oossa · 2026-10-08 · https://oossa.com/en/ethereum-researchers-warn-ai-could-crack-wallet-signatures-in-months

Researchers Justin Drake and Vitalik Buterin say AI‑assisted math could break the ECDSA signature system that secures most crypto wallets within months. Drake posted on X that users should switch to "bunker mode" by moving funds to addresses that have never signed a transaction, because signing reveals the public key. Buterin replied that rapid moves could cause migration errors and suggested a long‑term shift toward hash‑only designs, noting even quantum‑resistant lattice schemes might be weakened by AI. No practical break of ECDSA has been demonstrated yet.

## The facts

- Justin Drake and Vitalik Buterin warned on Oct 8, 2026 that AI could break ECDSA signatures within months.
- Current ECDSA scheme has not been broken in practice.

## Why it matters

If AI can break ECDSA, crypto holders may need to change how they store funds to avoid losing assets.

## Sources & references

1. [AI math breakthroughs have Ethereum researchers debating how fast wallet security could collapse](https://the-decoder.com/ai-math-breakthroughs-have-ethereum-researchers-debating-how-fast-wallet-security-could-collapse/) – The Decoder, 2026-10-08

Last updated: 2026-10-08