Stablecoins have become central to the digital economy, with billions in daily transactions and stronger regulatory backing under the GENIUS Act. Yet experts warn that advances in quantum computing could undermine their very foundations.
Elliptic curve and RSA cryptography, widely used in stablecoin systems, are expected to be breakable once ‘Q-Day’ arrives. Quantum-equipped attackers could instantly derive private keys from public addresses, exposing entire networks to theft.
The immutability of blockchains makes upgrading cryptographic schemes especially challenging. Dormant wallets and legacy addresses may prove vulnerable, putting billions of dollars at risk if issuers fail to take action promptly.
Researchers highlight lattice-based and hash-based algorithms as viable ‘quantum-safe’ alternatives. Stablecoins built with crypto-agility, enabling seamless upgrades, will better adapt to new standards and avoid disruptive forks.
Regulators are also moving. NIST is finalising post-quantum cryptographic standards, and new rules will likely be established before 2030. Stablecoins that embed resilience today may set the global benchmark for digital trust in the quantum age.
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The United States, Japan, and South Korea held two Trilateral Quantum Cooperation meetings this week in Seoul and Tokyo. Officials and experts from government and industry gathered to discuss securing quantum ecosystems against cyber, physical, and intellectual property threats.
The US State Department stressed that joint efforts will ensure breakthroughs in quantum computing benefit citizens while safeguarding innovation. Officials said cooperation is essential as quantum technologies could reshape industries, global power balances, and economic prosperity.
The President of South Korea, Lee Jae Myung, described the partnership as entering a ‘golden era’, noting that Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo must work together both to address North Korea and to drive technological progress.
The talks come as Paul Dabbar, the former CEO of Bohr Quantum Technology, begins his role as US Deputy Secretary of Commerce. Dabbar brings experience in deploying emerging quantum network technologies to the new trilateral framework.
North Korea has also signalled interest in quantum computing for economic development. Analysts note that quantum’s lower energy demand compared to supercomputers could appeal to a country plagued by chronic power shortages.
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For decades, quantum mechanics has powered tools like semiconductors, GPS and fibre optics, a foundation often described as Quantum 1.0. The UN has declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology to mark its impact.
Researchers are now advancing Quantum 2.0, which manipulates atoms, ions and photons to exploit superposition and entanglement. Emerging tools include quantum encryption systems, distributed atomic clocks to secure networks against GPS failures, and sensing devices with unprecedented precision.
Experts warn that disruptions to satellite navigation could cost billions, but quantum clocks may keep economies and critical infrastructure synchronised. With quantum computing and AI developing in parallel, future breakthroughs could transform medicine, energy, and security.
Achieving this vision will require global collaboration across governments, academia and industry to scale up technologies, ensure supply chain resilience and secure international standards.
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Quantum computers may soon grow more powerful through 3D printing, with researchers building miniaturised ion traps to improve scalability and performance.
Ion traps, which confine ions and control their quantum states, play a central role in ion-based qubits. Researchers at UC Berkeley created 3D-printed traps just a few hundred microns wide, which captured ions up to ten times more efficiently than conventional versions.
The new traps also reduced waiting times, allowing ions to be usable more quickly once the system is activated. Hartmut Häffner, who led the study, said the approach could enable scaling to far larger numbers of qubits while boosting speed.
3D printing offers flexibility not possible with chip-style manufacturing, allowing for more complex shapes and designs. Team members say they are already working on new iterations, with future versions expected to integrate optical components such as miniaturised lasers.
Experts argue that this method could address the challenges of low yield, high costs, and poor reproducibility in current ion-trap manufacturing, paving the way for scalable quantum computing and applications in other fields, including mass spectrometry.
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A new partnership between the federal government and New Mexico’s state and local businesses aims to establish the state as a leader in quantum computing.
The initiative will see the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) working alongside local researchers and companies to develop and commercialise next-generation technology. A total of up to $120 million could be invested in the project over four years.
New Mexico’s selection for the project is due to its long history of innovation, its two national defence labs, and a high concentration of leading scientists in the field.
The goal is to harness the ‘brainpower’ of the state to build computers that can solve currently impossible problems, such as developing materials that resist corrosion or finding cures for diseases. One of the project’s aims is to test the technology and differentiate between genuine breakthroughs and mere hype.
Roadrunner Venture Studios will be assisting in developing new quantum computing businesses within the state. A successful venture would bring economic gains and jobs and position New Mexico to lead the nation in solving some of its most pressing challenges.
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IBM has announced plans to develop next-generation computing architectures by integrating quantum computers with high-performance computing, a concept it calls quantum-centric supercomputing.
The company is working with AMD to build scalable, open-source platforms that combine IBM’s quantum expertise with AMD’s strength in HPC and AI accelerators. The aim is to move beyond the limits of traditional computing and explore solutions to problems that classical systems cannot address alone.
Quantum computing uses qubits governed by quantum mechanics, offering a far richer computational space than binary bits. In a hybrid model, quantum machines could simulate atoms and molecules, while supercomputers powered by CPUs, GPUs, and AI manage large-scale data analysis.
Arvind Krishna, IBM’s CEO, said the approach represents a new way of simulating the natural world. AMD’s Lisa Su described high-performance computing as foundational to tackling global challenges, noting the partnership could accelerate discovery and innovation.
An initial demonstration is planned for later this year, showing IBM quantum computers working with AMD technologies. Both companies say open-source ecosystems like Qiskit will be crucial to building new algorithms and advancing fault-tolerant quantum systems.
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El Salvador, the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender, has restructured its national bitcoin holdings to strengthen security against potential future threats. The National Bitcoin Office (ONBTC) announced that the country’s 6,280 BTC, worth around $687 million, has been split across 14 new addresses, each holding no more than 500 BTC. Officials say this change reduces exposure to risks, including those that could arise from advances in quantum computing.
The concern stems from the possibility that quantum computers, once powerful enough, could break cryptographic protections and reveal private keys. While no such machine exists today, bitcoin developers have long debated the timeline of this threat. ONBTC also highlighted that avoiding address reuse improves security and privacy while allowing the government to maintain transparency.
The broader bitcoin community remains divided on the urgency of quantum risks. Some experts argue the issue is exaggerated, while others warn that the industry may have far less time than previously thought. A developer known as Hunter Beast recently cautioned that breakthroughs in IBM’s quantum experiments suggest the worst-case scenario could arrive within three years.
The bitcoin strategy of El Salvador continues to draw criticism from international institutions. The IMF, which approved a $3.5 billion loan to the country, insists that no new bitcoin purchases have been made this year and that the government is merely reshuffling its reserves. The ONBTC disputes this claim, maintaining that fresh purchases are still taking place despite pressure to scale back its cryptocurrency policies.
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China has begun construction on its first facility dedicated to the production of photonic quantum computers in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. The project marks a step toward the development of large-scale quantum computing capabilities in the country.
The factory, led by Beijing-based quantum computing company QBoson, is expected to manufacture several dozen photonic quantum computers each year once operations begin.
QBoson’s founder, Wen Kai, explained that photonic quantum computing uses the quantum properties of light and is viewed as a promising path in the field.
Compared with other approaches, it does not require extremely low temperatures to function and offers advantages such as stable operation at room temperature, a higher number of qubits, and longer coherence times.
The upcoming facility will be divided into three core areas: module development, full-system production, and quality testing. Construction is already underway, and equipment installation is scheduled to begin by the end of October.
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IBM and AMD have launched a strategic collaboration to pioneer quantum-centric supercomputing architectures, blending IBM’s quantum computing capabilities with AMD’s strengths in high-performance computing (HPC), AI acceleration, CPUs, GPUs and FPGAs.
Their vision involves creating hybrid systems where quantum components handle atomic-scale or highly complex tasks, such as molecular simulation or optimization, while classical and infrastructure powered by AI processes large datasets efficiently.
The approach aims to unlock new levels of computational power. A demonstration of these hybrid workflows is scheduled for later this year.
Additionally, AMD’s technology may facilitate real-time error correction, a vital step toward achieving IBM’s goal of fault-tolerant quantum computing by the end of this decade.
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Funding season is restarting in Europe, with investors expecting to add several new unicorns in the coming months. Despite fewer mega-rounds than in 2021, a dozen startups passed the $1 billion mark in the first half of 2025.
AI, biotech, defence technology, and renewable energy are among the sectors attracting major backing. Recent unicorns include Lovable, an AI coding firm from Sweden, UK-based Fuse Energy, and Isar Aerospace from Germany.
London-based Isomorphic Labs, spun out of DeepMind, raised $600 million to enter unicorn territory. In biotech, Verdiva Bio hit unicorn status after a $410 million Series A, while Neko Health reached a $1.8 billion valuation.
AI and automation continue to drive investor appetite. Dublin’s Tines secured a $125 million Series C at a $1.125 billion valuation, and German AI customer service startup Parloa raised $120 million at a $1 billion valuation.
Dual-use drone companies also stood out. Portugal-based Tekever confirmed its unicorn status with plans for a £400 million UK expansion, while Quantum Systems raised €160 million to scale its AI-driven drones globally.
Film-streaming platform Mubi and encryption startup Zama also joined the unicorn club, showing the breadth of sectors gaining traction. With Bristol, Manchester, Munich, and Stockholm among the hotspots, Europe’s tech ecosystem continues to diversify.
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