Trump Orders US Quantum Computing Push Amid Crypto Q-Day Fears

President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at accelerating U.S. quantum computing development and preparing federal agencies for potential security risks posed by future quantum machines.

The first order, Executive Order 14411, establishes the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) initiative, which requires the Department of Energy to identify technical requirements for an advanced quantum computer within 90 days and work toward deploying at least one such system at a federal research facility.

The orders also direct intelligence agencies to assess how increasingly powerful commercial quantum computers could affect national security, including the transition to post-quantum cryptography. This has significant implications for the crypto industry, as experts have warned of the hypothetical arrival of 'Q-Day,' when quantum computers become capable of breaking encryption systems.

Crypto projects are already preparing for future threats by exploring different strategies to protect blockchain networks from potential quantum attacks. The Bitcoin community is discussing a migration path to post-quantum cryptography, while the Ethereum Foundation's Kohaku project is considering introducing wallet-level protections without requiring a hard fork.