Quantum computing is moving so fast it’s hard to keep up, and with it comes this big rush to get post-quantum cryptography (PQC) in place before things get out of control. The latest developments are shaking up cybersecurity, computing power, and even industries like finance and healthcare. There’s a lot happening right now, so let’s get into it.
Microsoft’s Big Swing with Majorana 1
Microsoft just announced their new quantum chip, Majorana 1, and it’s supposed to make qubits way more stable which is, like, one of the biggest problems holding quantum computers back. If this works the way they say it does, it could be a huge deal for actually making useful quantum processors.
They claim this thing could make quantum computing practical in years, not decades. We’ve been hearing promises like this for a while, but error correction is such a massive issue, and if Majorana 1 helps with that, then yeah, this could be real progress.
Regular qubits are a nightmare because the tiniest interference messes them up, which makes long computations super unreliable. Microsoft is using Majorana fermions—exotic little particles that act as their own antiparticles—to try and cut down on errors, which is something nobody has really been able to do yet.
With this move, Microsoft is turning up the heat on Google, IBM, Intel, and every other company trying to be the first to build a practical quantum machine. If Majorana 1 delivers, it could push Microsoft ahead in this race that’s already way too competitive.
Scramble for PQC Standards
Quantum computing isn’t just cool new tech—it’s also a huge security risk. If quantum machines get powerful enough, they can crack today’s encryption like it’s nothing. That’s why in August 2024, NIST locked in its first official PQC standards. Now, companies and governments are scrambling to get quantum-proof encryption in place before it’s too late.
China isn’t sitting around waiting either. Their Institute of Commercial Cryptography Standards is coming up with its own encryption methods because they don’t want to depend on U.S. standards. This is setting up a big global split in cybersecurity, with different countries going their own way on PQC.
Europe’s getting serious too. ETSI, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, is working on its own PQC guidelines to make sure their infrastructure doesn’t get left vulnerable. The whole thing is turning into a high-stakes competition between nations, each trying to secure their data before quantum computing turns current encryption into a joke.
Banks and Financial Institutions Are on High Alert
Banks know they’re a top target, so they’re moving fast on PQC. SEALSQ, a company focused on quantum-resistant security, just launched solutions specifically for financial services. Considering financial data is probably the juiciest thing for cybercriminals, getting this right is critical.
Google’s already taken action too. They’ve added quantum-resistant digital signatures to their Cloud Key Management Service (KMS), keeping up with NIST’s new standards. They know that if quantum computers break encryption before companies upgrade, it’s going to be absolute chaos.
Regulators are stepping in too. The Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank have basically told financial institutions, “You better start transitioning now,” and there’s talk that banks that don’t take quantum security seriously could start facing penalties down the line.
Teaming Up Against Quantum Threats
Nobody’s tackling this problem alone. SandboxAQ, MITRE, and the Linux Foundation just launched the RWPQC 2025 initiative, trying to get industry leaders, researchers, and governments to speed up PQC adoption because nobody wants to get caught off guard.
Switching to PQC isn’t as simple as just updating software—it’s a complete shift in how encryption works. Quantum computers aren’t mainstream yet, but waiting until they are would be a disaster.
Universities are stepping in, too. MIT and Stanford have research labs focused entirely on finding cryptographic techniques that can hold up against quantum attacks. Their work is shaping how secure communication is going to look in the near future.
What’s Going to Happen to Crypto and Blockchain?
Cryptocurrency is in a weird place because quantum computing could completely ruin it. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and pretty much every blockchain depend on cryptographic methods that quantum computers could eventually rip apart. Microsoft’s quantum breakthrough has got people talking again about whether blockchain is actually ready for a quantum future.
Some crypto projects are already working on quantum-resistant encryption, but it’s a slow process, and there’s still a ton of uncertainty. If quantum computers advance faster than blockchain security does, we could see serious problems, like people straight-up stealing crypto by breaking encryption.
Developers are looking at quantum-resistant solutions like lattice-based cryptography and hash-based signatures, but making these work in existing networks isn’t simple. Getting everyone on board to upgrade blockchain security is going to take serious effort.
What’s Coming Next?
This isn’t just a fight between quantum computing and PQC anymore—it’s a full-on global competition. Companies are making big moves in quantum processors, and security researchers are racing to make sure today’s encryption doesn’t become useless overnight.
Governments are throwing money at the problem. The U.S. Department of Defense is pumping cash into quantum-safe encryption for military and intelligence data, while NATO is working on its own quantum security strategy. Nobody wants to be the weak link when quantum computing finally gets real.
The next few years are going to be wild. More companies will start using PQC, governments will create more quantum-safe regulations, and we’re almost definitely going to see some unexpected breakthroughs. Things are moving fast, and anyone who doesn’t start preparing now is going to have a bad time later.