Agreed. I've been an advocate for holding precious metals for quite a while. 

![](https://stasher.news/uploads/738)

@untraceable: it's always and everywhere impossible to prove. That's why I emphasize the importance of alternatives here:
 https://stasher.news/items/340538/r/OldNorseAnarchist?commentId=340543

OldNorseAnarchist

Different chains use different cryptographic primitives, and breaking one doesn't necessarily mean all cryptography is broken tomorrow.

Even if there are chains which remain safe in this hypothetical scenario, it will get dragged down by the rest of the market. Nobody is going to think "OK, which crypto IS safe? so that I move my money to safe crypto?"

No, they will panic, and yell in unison "GET OUT OF CRYPTO, AI BROKE CRYPTO. YOUR MONEY IS NOT SAFE IN CRYPTO. WALLETS BEING DRAINED AS WE SPEAK."

So it doesn't matter if you've taken all the right steps to secure your funds/chain. If Bitcoin or ETH or some other chain gets pwned by AI, thats a black swan event and your coins are going down 50 to 99% quickly.

The problem I have with these hypotheticals is that they are impossible to disprove because they are based on unknowns. You can't prove there is something we don't know that AI is going to discover this unknown knowledge and pwn encryption as we know it. Its like saying, "Prove there isn't a meteor made out of an invisible new undiscovered element hurtling towards the earth right now to destroy it."

crypto

AskSN

What do you make of this "AI might break cryptography" buzz?

untraceable

> Different chains use different cryptographic primitives, and breaking one doesn't necessarily mean all cryptography is broken tomorrow.

Even if there are chains which remain safe in this hypothetical scenario, it will get dragged down by the rest of the market. Nobody is going to think "OK, which crypto IS safe? so that I move my money to safe crypto?"

No, they will panic, and yell in unison "GET OUT OF CRYPTO, AI BROKE CRYPTO. YOUR MONEY IS NOT SAFE IN CRYPTO. WALLETS BEING DRAINED AS WE SPEAK."

So it doesn't matter if you've taken all the right steps to secure your funds/chain. If Bitcoin or ETH or some other chain gets pwned by AI, thats a black swan event and your coins are going down 50 to 99% quickly.

The problem I have with these hypotheticals is that they are impossible to disprove because they are based on unknowns. You can't prove there is something we don't know that AI is going to discover this unknown knowledge and pwn encryption as we know it. Its like saying, "Prove there isn't a meteor made out of an invisible new undiscovered element hurtling towards the earth right now to destroy it."