U.S. President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at bolstering quantum computing development and addressing security threats related to the technology. The move targets the potential risks of large-scale quantum computers rendering existing cryptographic systems obsolete.
The U.S. government must shift its cryptographic key systems used in major systems to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) by the end of 2030, according to Executive Order 14409. It also requires replacing digital signature systems with PQC-based alternatives by the end of 2031.
This transition has significant implications for industries relying on public-key cryptography, such as Bitcoin and Ether, which could be exposed to security threats as quantum computing advances. Estimates suggest that about 7 million Bitcoin could be vulnerable to future quantum attacks.