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A bipartisan U.S. Senate bill, the Quantum Grid Utility Assurance and Resilient Defense (Quantum-GUARD) Act, was introduced to prepare the electric grid for cybersecurity threats posed by future quantum computing. The measure would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to factor quantum-related cyber risk into reviews of electricity reliability standards and to study the use of post-quantum cryptography across both information technology and operational technology environments.
Lawmakers and industry observers warned that quantum advances could eventually break legacy public-key cryptography used throughout critical energy infrastructure, including SCADA communications and software update mechanisms. The proposal aligns with broader federal efforts to accelerate migration to quantum-resistant encryption by 2030, while highlighting that the challenge extends beyond new algorithms to upgrading grid infrastructure without disrupting reliability.
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A June executive order from the Trump administration accelerated the federal government's timeline for migrating systems and data to post-quantum cryptography from 2035 to 2030. The move is cited as part of the broader federal push toward quantum-resistant encryption.
Sens. Mike Rounds and Chris Coons introduced the bipartisan Quantum Grid Utility Assurance and Resilient Defense (Quantum-GUARD) Act to prepare the U.S. electric grid for cybersecurity threats posed by future quantum computing. The bill would direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to account for quantum-related risks in reliability standards reviews and study post-quantum cryptography for both IT and OT systems.
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Ohio lawmakers advanced **House Bill 650** to create a bipartisan Frontier Technologies and Quantum Commission that would study quantum computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and robotics, while the UK outlined plans to invest up to **£2 billion** to become a global leader in quantum computing by the early 2030s. Both efforts reflect a broader push to prepare for rapid advances in quantum technology, with policymakers seeking expert guidance on economic impact, workforce needs, commercialization, and national security as competition with China intensifies. Security concerns featured prominently in both policy and industry discussions. Experts warned that quantum capabilities could eventually undermine current encryption through **"harvest now, decrypt later"** attacks, increasing pressure to migrate to post-quantum cryptography, while debate in the cryptocurrency sector focused on whether future quantum systems could expose bitcoin tied to revealed public keys. Galaxy Digital said the threat to Bitcoin is real but not yet existential, noting that most holdings are not immediately vulnerable and that developers are already pursuing quantum-resistant address types, phased protocol upgrades, and other mitigations.
Jul 2, 2026
The White House is preparing executive orders to tighten protection of U.S. quantum research against foreign espionage and speed the federal government’s shift to post-quantum encryption. One draft order would direct the FBI and intelligence community to strengthen safeguards around American quantum work, with concern focused on foreign collection efforts and the long-term threat of **"harvest now, decrypt later"** operations that store encrypted data for future decryption once quantum capabilities mature. A separate order would reportedly require federal civilian agencies to adopt **NIST-vetted** quantum-resistant encryption before the current 2035 target, with draft deadlines of **2029 or 2030** and reporting to OMB for agencies that fall behind. The broader initiative also includes support for the domestic quantum sector through federal research, development, hosting of a government-backed quantum computer by the Departments of Energy and Defense, and expanded Commerce Department planning and financing, building on more than **$2 billion** in previously announced incentives for nine quantum companies under the **CHIPS and Science Act**.
Aug 11, 2026
Concerns about **quantum computing** undermining today’s cryptography are influencing both market behavior and policy planning. A Jefferies strategist reportedly removed a 10% **Bitcoin** allocation from a model portfolio, citing the risk that future quantum advances could eventually compromise cryptographic protections underpinning cryptocurrencies (e.g., long-term concerns around breaking schemes associated with Bitcoin’s security model, which relies on `SHA-256` hashing and public-key cryptography for ownership control). The decision reflects broader investor anxiety that a surprise cryptographic break could rapidly erode confidence and value across crypto markets. In parallel, the **G7 Cyber Expert Group** published a roadmap calling for the financial sector to complete **post-quantum cryptography (PQC)** implementation by **2034**, emphasizing early-stage quantum risk awareness, sensitive data and critical system mapping, and building detailed inventories that include third-party dependencies. The roadmap recommends beginning migration activities in the 2026–2029 window, progressing to quantum-resistant solutions through 2034, and prioritizing **cryptographic agility** so organizations can adapt as standards and threats evolve. Separate reporting on a **58% increase in ransomware victims in 2025** describes a fragmented ransomware ecosystem and sector targeting trends, but it is not directly tied to quantum-driven cryptographic risk or PQC migration planning.
Jun 29, 2026