# Expert: Bitcoin Faces $8B Attack Risk, Ethereum More Secure Professor Harvey warns that Bitcoin is vulnerable to attacks due to derivatives markets. - **Source:** [CryptoPotato](https://brifing.si/source/bd22636b-ec8d-42a8-8cca-1937c50e0f6c) - **Published:** 2026-07-13 - **Topic:** [Finance](https://brifing.si/c/finance) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/73545b8a-a42c-4a18-8a92-0461700c0785 ## Bitcoin's New Risk Profile Professor Campbell Harvey from Duke University stated that Bitcoin's 51% attack risk has become economically viable due to derivatives markets. Attackers could profit from price drops by shorting BTC. ## Cost of the Attack Harvey estimates that such an attack would cost around $8 billion, roughly 0.5% of Bitcoin's total market value. ## Ethereum's Security Harvey claims Ethereum is more secure against similar attacks due to its proof-of-stake model. Attackers risk driving ETH prices higher, eliminating short-selling opportunities. ## Bitcoin Community's Reaction Harvey's remarks sparked significant backlash from the Bitcoin community, with many arguing it reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of how derivatives work. ## Role of Social Consensus Some experts argue that Bitcoin's social consensus could reject blocks produced by an attacker, making the strategy economically self-defeating. ## Bitcoin's Future Harvey contends that Bitcoin's high volatility disqualifies it as a reliable store of value, raising questions about its long-term future. ## Sources covering this story - https://cryptopotato.com/expert-bitcoin-faces-8b-attack-risk-ethereum-more-secure/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._