What if someone builds a quantum computer fast enough to crack your bitcoin wallet's security and siphon off your coins?
The lock and key Think of a bitcoin wallet as a mailbox with a narrow horizontal slot at the top and a key held only by the owner.
When a user sends bitcoin, their wallet uses the private key to create a digital signature, a tamper-proof stamp.
One possible transition would be a “1-of-2” setup: the same bitcoin could be spent using either a traditional ECDSA or Schnorr key, or a post-quantum key.
Use of state Some post-quantum signature schemes need the wallet to keep track of information, called “state," after each signature.
Oct 14, 2026 · via coindesk.com
Cisco Networks, through its Outshift R&D and incubator unit, has for several years been piecing together the network architecture needed for quantum computing.
Such entanglement can’t be done with classical bits of information, and is a key part of what makes quantum systems so much faster and more powerful.
Now Cisco is pulling in the tools needed to scale the quantum network itself.
Quantum is a different and more complex animal, says Reza Nejabati, head of quantum research and Quantum Labs at Cisco.
That's really the missing piece without which you cannot actually scalably operate your quantum networks in the future.”
Oct 14, 2026 · via nextplatform.com
Artificial intelligence’s incredible ability to solve complicated problems could help unravel the security underpinning much of the cryptocurrency industry by accelerating the development of super-advanced quantum computers capable of cracking its defenses.
“My bet is that quantum computers will happen sooner than people expect and will happen before AGI,” Pruden said.
“A quantum computer is actually a very specific thing.
Some crypto insiders attribute part of the recent decline in digital-asset prices — despite a friendlier regulatory environment — to investors pricing in the risk that quantum computers could crack the industry’s defenses.
“The question is what do we do about it,” said Nic Carter, partner at the crypto investment firm Castle Island Ventures.
Oct 14, 2026 · via nypost.com
A Strange Quantum Effect Predicted in 1959 In everyday physics, a charged particle responds to the electric and magnetic fields it encounters.
Such models are particularly important in particle physics and high-energy physics, where scientists study the basic particles and interactions that make up the universe.
"Rather than having matter evolve in a fixed background, the matter and gauge field become part of the same quantum dynamics."
A Quantum Effect That Stops Particle Motion With their simulated loop in place, the scientists examined how a matter particle moved between locations through a process known as quantum tunneling.
The particle had two possible paths around the loop, but the magnetic flux changed their relative quantum phases.
Oct 13, 2026 · via sciencedaily.com
Pasadena, Calif.-based quantum computing startup Oratomic has raised $775 million since its March 2026 launch, bringing substantial investor backing to its effort to build fault-tolerant quantum computers, the company said last week.
Founded by researchers and engineers working in fault-tolerant quantum computing and neutral-atom technology, Oratomic is developing systems built around reconfigurable arrays of neutral atoms.
Bluvstein is a physicist and quantum computing researcher whose academic work has focused on quantum computation using reconfigurable arrays of atoms.
Bluvstein also served as a visiting associate professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in late 2025 before moving to lead Oratomic’s efforts to develop fault-tolerant quantum computers.
Oratomic has pointed to research with scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) suggesting utility-scale quantum computers may require far fewer resources than previously estimated.
Oct 13, 2026 · via citybiz.co
Quantum computers may be at least five years away from "commercial usefulness" but anticipation that a breakthrough could be imminent is growing within the sector.
The second is computation, which is where quantum computers come in.
Superconducting machines, on the other hand, although most advanced in engineering terms, require massive refrigeration systems for cooling, which means they score low for "commercial value", Mooter believes.
Sandhu decided to enter a quantum world, which is even more heavily male-dominated than the wider tech space, for various reasons.
Sandhu believes her dad's love of science and willingness to nurture her own love of it made a big difference for her here.
Oct 13, 2026 · via diginomica.com
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has identified eight scientific applications to guide the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers.
What are fault-tolerant quantum computers?
Fault-tolerant quantum computers are systems designed to perform reliable computations despite errors that can occur during quantum operations.
Unlike conventional computers, which process information using bits, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, to represent and manipulate information according to quantum mechanics.
The eight priorities will provide a framework for assessing progress and identifying where fault-tolerant quantum computers could offer capabilities beyond those achievable with today’s leading supercomputers.
Oct 13, 2026 · via innovationnewsnetwork.com
Many types of materials are currently being considered for use in quantum technology, but most can only hold a stable quantum state when chilled to extreme temperatures.
This is just one way that PPPL continues to advance strategic national priorities, such as creating the technology of the future.
The oxygen-based defects Martirez is studying shine blue, while the boron-based defects emit an ultraviolet light.
Research could allow quantum chemistry to enrich itself When Martirez thinks about the future of his field, he said it’s interesting to note that quantum chemistry may help develop tools to “enrich itself” in the decades to come.
Martirez said a practical multi-qubit system would vastly improve the level of accuracy of quantum chemistry calculations.
Oct 13, 2026 · via newswise.com
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the segment of the U.S. Department of Defense responsible for advancing technological innovations, recently announced which quantum computing companies had advanced to Stage C of its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI).
For investors, the focus should be on IonQ and IBM, which now have a leg up on other publicly traded quantum computing companies.
IonQ IonQ being chosen to advance to Stage C of DARPA's QBI is not surprising.
With the highest accuracy so far and plans to become a complete quantum ecosystem player, IonQ is one of the best bets in the quantum computing space today.
IBM is far from being a pure-play quantum computing company, but its future is tied to the technology.
Oct 13, 2026 · via fool.com
Insider Link Alice & Bob demonstrated GPU decoding of its LDPC-cat error-correction codes using NVIDIA NVQLink and synthetic data, a step toward scalable error correction for cat-qubit quantum computers.
The demonstration did not achieve real-time decoding, and Alice & Bob plans to optimize data transfer and processing to keep pace with its quantum computers.
PRESS RELEASE — Alice & Bob, a leader in fault-tolerant quantum computing, today shared results from implementing GPUs to decode its LDPC-cat architecture using NVIDIA NVQLink.
LDPC-cat codes were developed by Alice & Bob for its cat-qubit architecture and first introduced in the paper “LDPC-cat codes for low-overhead quantum computing in 2D” published in January 2025.
Showing that our LDPC-cat codes can be decoded on NVIDIA GPUs with existing tools is encouraging for scaling, because it means decoding capacity can grow with the machine.
Oct 13, 2026 · via thequantuminsider.com
Three Florida State University theoretical physicists are part of a major national initiative exploring how quantum computing could help answer fundamental questions in high energy physics.
“Their new DOE grant will connect high energy physics with quantum computing and demonstrates their continued physics leadership.”
Expanding quantum computing To explore how quantum computing can expand theoretical capabilities, the team is applying the technology to quantum chromodynamics, or QCD — the theory that explains the interaction holding quarks and gluons together inside protons and other particles.
“The natural question arising from the revolution we’re seeing in quantum computing and information asks if we can use quantum computing to explore how to make our theoretical predictions and calculations even more efficient and precise.”
In addition to aligning with the FSU Initiative in Quantum Science and Engineering, this project contributes to multiple U.S. national priorities including the Quantum Genesis Initiative in the Genesis Mission, which seeks to deliver scientifically relevant quantum computing to the nation by 2028.
Oct 13, 2026 · via news.fsu.edu
Most people consider quantum computers the supreme danger to digital security today.
Machine learning exploits structured mathematical patterns and hidden shortcuts in curves and lattices.
Industry experts confirm this rapidly approaching reality by estimating the theoretical worst-case threat horizon for machine learning math at 2 years.
They currently provide 100% protection against all publicly known machine learning attacks.
Technologists look closely at frameworks like SPHINCS and WOTS to provide the next layer of digital security.
Oct 12, 2026 · via benzinga.com
The acquisition brings together IonQ’s post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and quantum key distribution (QKD) capabilities with Elisity’s enterprise Zero Trust technology platform.
IonQ is offering its customers a vertically integrated full-stack quantum platform across quantum computing, networking, sensing and cybersecurity.
IonQ’s Multiproduct Revenue Growth Opportunity IonQ brings an established track record in growing its quantum security and quantum-secure communications offering.
About Elisity Elisity helps enterprises advance Zero Trust security for users, devices, workloads, AI agents and other non-human identities.
About IonQ IonQ, Inc. (NYSE: IONQ) is the world’s leading quantum platform and foundry – delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security.
Oct 12, 2026 · via hpcwire.com
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Oct 12, 2026 · via investors.com
Contemporary quantum computers function according to the distinctive principles that govern subatomic particles and other infinitesimally small entities.
Scientists from Rutgers, International Business Machines Corp., and associated research institutions demonstrated that a quantum computer can perform continuous self-examination and component recalibration throughout its operational cycle.
Scaling quantum computers will necessitate their ability to detect and rectify errors during operation, a function referred to as error correction, enabling the development of a fault-tolerant quantum computer.
A fault-tolerant quantum computer maintains accurate computations despite the frequent minor errors occurring in its individual quantum bits.
To build a fault-tolerant quantum computer, we have to make these checks and corrections not just once or twice, but a huge number of times during a calculation.
Oct 12, 2026 · via azoquantum.com
The study demonstrates how hybrid quantum systems can simulate fundamental interactions that become increasingly difficult to model on classical computers.
Image: Artist’s illustration of the loop formed by the hybrid quantum system.
PRESS RELEASE — Physicists in the Department of Physics, University of Oxford, have used a hybrid quantum computer, formed by qubits and quantum oscillators, to observe the Aharonov-Bohm effect in a quantum simulation.
Their experiment used a hybrid quantum system with two kinds of component, each playing a different physical role.
Together, the two studies highlight the potential of hybrid quantum architectures for simulating fundamental interactions that are difficult to tackle classically.
Oct 12, 2026 · via thequantuminsider.com
IonQ Inc., a publicly traded supplier of quantum computers, today announced plans to acquire Elisity Inc. for $1.3 billion.
IonQ’s flagship product is a 256-qubit quantum computer called Superion 256 that debuted last month.
Last year, it bought a Swiss startup called ID Quantique that developed a series of physical data encryption devices.
IonQ plans to extend Elisity’s vulnerability detection features after the acquisition closes.
It’s believed that a hypothetical large-scale quantum computer would be capable of bypassing those algorithms.
Oct 12, 2026 · via siliconangle.com
Starknet (STRK) extended its rally on Sunday after its parent company, StarkWare, warned that "the quantum threat may be much closer than we think," as the firm behind the network weighs breaking away from Ethereum (ETH) to move faster on security.
The rally came as StarkWare co-founder and CEO Eli Ben-Sasson explained that blockchains needed to become "future-proofed" quickly, because artificial intelligence was advancing fast enough to bring quantum computing's threat to cryptography closer than most people assumed.
The bottom line of all of this is that AI is speeding up the timeline towards breaking Bitcoin and Ethereum signatures with Quantum computers.”
- Eli Ben-Sasson, CEO of StarkWare and co-founder of Zcash Amidst the growing chatter, STRK’s price was up over 52% during the past 24 hours.
A Test Run On Bitcoin Starknet also published proof that the idea already works, built on the chain it says is least able to adapt quickly: Bitcoin.
Oct 11, 2026 · via tradingview.com
World Quantum Readiness Day is all about raising awareness of the need to prepare for, the point at which quantum computers become powerful enough to break public-key cryptography.
But, while it’s imperative that organizations take steps to move to the new core standards i.e.
New quantum resilient algorithms require increased memory and CPU resources.
“Harvest now, decrypt later” (HNDL) attacks which see threat actors collect “persistent-value” encrypted data today with the expectation that future quantum capabilities will allow them to decrypt it.
However, if they can’t verify their compatibility, this will have a detrimental impact on plans and delay migration, so make supplier engagement, vendor roadmaps, and contractual requirements part of quantum readiness planning from the start.
Oct 11, 2026 · via cybersecurity-insiders.com
TRON [TRX] could bring its quantum-resistant security layer to mainnet “any time,” according to founder Justin Sun.
We’re closely tracking progress in quantum computing and AI, and we’re ready to bring quantum resistance to mainnet at any time.
For its part, Starknet is considering switching from Ethereum [ETH] to a full standalone L1 to fast-track its post-quantum security.
Tron races to secure $100B in assets, but… In April, TRON [TRX] first announced its post-quantum (PQ) upgrade plan following Google’s warning that the industry should take proactive steps to upgrade.
Rigorous internal testing and independent external reviews by global experts are the key to protecting users and partners assets on TRON.
Oct 11, 2026 · via ambcrypto.com