Google's Quantum: How Willow rewrites blockchain's security rules
This post is a guest contribution by George Siosi Samuels, managing director at Faiā. See how Faiā is committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements here.
Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) recently announced its Willow quantum computing chip, breaking records by completing tasks in under five minutes—tasks that would require classical supercomputers 10 septillion years. At 105 qubits, Willow surpasses its predecessor, Sycamore, not only in computational speed but notably in stability, reducing errors as qubit numbers increase. For enterprise leaders navigating the intersection of emerging technologies, Willow's implications stretch beyond mere computational records—they strike at the heart of blockchain security.
Quantum computing's challenge to blockchain trust
At the core of blockchain security—especially for Bitcoin—is cryptographic certainty. Bitcoin's security hinges on algorithms like ECDSA, which are traditionally resilient against classical brute-force attacks. But quantum computing, exemplified by Willow, operates fundamentally differently. Qubits exist in multiple states simultaneously, exponentially accelerating complex computations. In practical terms, this means quantum technology could eventually decrypt private keys, dismantling blockchain's foundational trust.
The immediate risk isn't a quantum-powered hack tomorrow—it's the erosion of trust today. Leaders and cybersecurity strategists must anticipate this shift in perception. If stakeholders begin to question the robustness of blockchain cryptography, the ripple effects on adoption and investment could be profound.
Cybersecurity under quantum pressure
Expect to see a strategic recalibration in cybersecurity practices: Heightened vigilance: Anticipation of quantum threats will drive enterprises towards more proactive security postures. Organizations might preemptively migrate to quantum-resistant cryptographic standards.
Anticipation of quantum threats will drive enterprises towards more proactive security postures. Organizations might preemptively migrate to quantum-resistant cryptographic standards. Strategic intuition on security shifts: Businesses will lean into strategic intuition, rapidly interpreting quantum signals and adjusting their risk frameworks accordingly.
Businesses will lean into strategic intuition, rapidly interpreting quantum signals and adjusting their risk frameworks accordingly. Rise of quantum-resistant solutions: The market may see accelerated growth in blockchain platforms proactively designed with quantum resistance as a foundational feature.
BTC vs. BSV: Divergent paths in quantum adaptability
Quantum threats also magnify the existing scalability challenges within blockchain networks. BTC remains encumbered by rigid structures, small block sizes, and inherently slow consensus mechanisms. Its inflexible design is ill-suited to swift, quantum-driven shifts in the technological landscape. In contrast, BSV, particularly through initiatives like Teranode, positions itself as a scalable, adaptive infrastructure. By supporting near-unlimited block sizes and facilitating millions of transactions per second, BSV isn't merely addressing today's scalability requirements—it's preparing for tomorrow's quantum contingencies.
For enterprise leaders, this distinction is critical: BTC: Cultural drift towards centralization if quantum mining emerges, exacerbating existing structural limitations.
Cultural drift towards centralization if quantum mining emerges, exacerbating existing structural limitations. BSV: Culturally congruent, scalable foundations designed to evolve with emergent threats, maintaining operational harmony and stability.
Navigating the quantum era
Willow's unveiling by Google is a clear signal. It's a wake-up call, not a panic button. For enterprise professionals and consultants advising organizations in blockchain and cybersecurity, now is the time to: Conduct quantum-readiness audits: Assess current cryptographic practices and identify gaps in quantum resilience.
Assess current cryptographic practices and identify gaps in quantum resilience. Champion cultural congruence: Align cybersecurity strategy with the organization's adaptive rhythm and readiness to embrace quantum-era upgrades.
Align cybersecurity strategy with the organization's adaptive rhythm and readiness to embrace quantum-era upgrades. Stay ahead through informed instinct: Embrace quantum-resistant solutions early, positioning businesses as proactive rather than reactive.
The quantum age demands recalibration—not panic. Google's Willow moves beyond discussions of raw computing power. It's a signal that the rules of blockchain security are about to evolve significantly. Now's the time for enterprises to listen closely and respond strategically.
Watch: Want to develop on BSV? Here's how you can build with Mandala
title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Finextra
4 minutes ago
- Finextra
Vola Finance launces CreditMap loan management dashboard
Vola Finance, a personal financial management platform, today announced the launch of its Vola CreditMap, a new loan management dashboard designed to help consumers take control of personal debt and increase their credit scores. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. The tool provides a centralized, intuitive platform to manage everything from credit cards and student loans to rent and utility reporting. As the average U.S. consumer debt balance surpasses $104,000, borrowers, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are managing more loans than ever before. With student loan repayments resuming and Buy Now, Pay Later services now influencing credit scores, understanding and managing personal debt has become crucial. Unlike other financial tools that silo cash advances, credit-building, or budgeting features, Vola Finance unifies these into a seamless experience centered around debt reduction and credit improvement. CreditMap aggregates verified loan data directly from credit bureaus and financial institutions via Method Financial and actively optimizes repayment schedules to lower users' total cost of debt, something competitors don't offer. The dashboard then translates that data into real-time, actionable insights, helping users monitor loans, track payment timelines, understand what's affecting their credit score, and manage cash flow in one place. Through its partnership with Esusu, Vola also provides credit-building features like alerts and rent reporting that can count toward users' credit scores. "We believe that building strong credit shouldn't feel like a mystery. Vola CreditMap goes beyond simply showing users their credit score, we break down the specific factors influencing it and provide personalized guidance based on where they are in their financial journey," said Tushar Bagamane, CEO of Vola Finance. "Whether it's understanding credit utilization or identifying opportunities to improve their score, we're giving users real, actionable insights. With our growing library of financial literacy tools built directly into the dashboard, we're equipping them with the knowledge to make smarter decisions every step of the way." Key features of Vola CreditMap include: Centralized view of all active loans, including student, auto, credit card, and more Real-time alerts for upcoming payments and opportunities to boost credit Custom insights based on payment behavior and evolving credit bureau policies Rent and utility tracking for inclusion in credit scoring, where eligible Over 30,000 users have been using CreditMap in beta to gain deeper insight into their finances and credit health, and on average, users are managing five active loans. To date, the company supports 6,000+ banks and credit unions, and partners with banks and fintech solutions like Mastercard and FIS to help power Vola's platform.
Finextra
4 minutes ago
- Finextra
Crypto.com partners Plaid for instant asset transfers
today announced a new integration with Plaid to allow users to easily transfer their investments from other platforms to without needing to sell and therefore incur taxes. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. The offering is enabled by Investments Move, Plaid's new product that securely and digitally automates brokerage account transfers and reduces operational complexity, which can shorten the time it takes a user to successfully submit a transfer to less than a minute. Participating users can earn up to a 3% stock transfer bonus. Investments Move, launched by Plaid in October 2024, streamlines the data collection process for the Automated Account Clearing and Transfer Service (ACATS), which is how U.S. investments are moved without being converted to cash. Using Plaid to connect accounts and retrieve information for an ACATS transfer eliminates the need for manual data entry and reduces errors that commonly cause transfers to fail. Users no longer need to download brokerage statements and type information into a form. Investments Move effectively and efficiently captures the data needed to move investments from one account to another—without selling securities and incurring taxes. It can be used when opening a new brokerage account or transferring IRAs. 'We are thrilled to partner with Plaid to make it easier for our customers to transfer their brokerage accounts and assets from other platforms to ours,' said Travis McGhee, Managing Director, Global Head of Capital Markets at 'Enhancing the customer experience with innovative products and partnerships are critical to our overall growth, and utilizing Investments Move is just another step in creating a best in-class platform.' 'Investments Move is another example of how open finance is making it easier for people to manage their money,' said Brian Dammeir, Head of Payments and Financial Management at Plaid. 'Manual ACATs processes are prone to errors that cause frustrating rejections for consumers. By powering transfer flow, we're helping millions of investors move assets seamlessly and freeing up their teams to focus on growth, not ticket-driven support.' Investments Move is available to users in the U.S.
Finextra
4 minutes ago
- Finextra
OLarry raises $10m for AI-powered tax planning
OLarry, an AI-powered tax firm for the next generation of high-net-worth individuals and businesses, today announced that it has raised a $10 million Series A round led by TTV Capital and joined by Walkabout Ventures and Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures, bringing the company's total funding to $14.5 million. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. OLarry bridges the gap between DIY tax preparation and ultra-high-net-worth, hourly tax advisory, empowering thousands of clients to gain access to personalized tax strategies for an all-inclusive annual fee. With AI at its core, OLarry automates client onboarding, document preparation, and data extraction, enabling CPAs to focus on what they do best: provide proactive advice to clients with complex financial situations. 'Proactive tax planning has historically been reserved for the ultra-high-net-worth – those who can afford the most elite tax firms in the country. We built OLarry for the next generation of high-net-worth individuals and businesses, who need personalized tax advice but are underserved by TurboTax or their current tax advisor,' said Eric Rachmel, Co-founder and CEO of OLarry. 'OLarry uses AI to streamline workflows, freeing up CPAs to focus on what they do best: provide holistic tax advice year-round, not just during tax season. In doing so, we enable our clients to make smarter investment and life decisions because they can understand how it will impact their taxes.' The combination of increased demand for personalized tax advice, coupled with a 17% decrease in accountants entering the job market and increasingly sophisticated AI, means that tax preparation services are ripe for disruption. Since OLarry's inception in 2024, the company has deployed a roll-up strategy to rapidly scale its business – acquiring Branton, de Jong & Associates in San Jose and Byrne, Seligman & Co., Inc. in San Mateo – while training its proprietary AI models to automate document requests, classify and extract data, and enable rapid research, bringing automation to the historically manual tax process. 'We invested in OLarry because of the significant market opportunity: 75% of CPAs at the partner level are expected to retire within the next 10-15 years, and dramatic improvements in AI can streamline tax preparation and filing in a way that wasn't possible a few years ago,' said Lizzie Hartley, Partner at TTV Capital. 'OLarry is building an AI-powered tax advisory business at exactly the right time, in the right way – by improving inefficiencies, eliminating manual work, and taking a proactive approach to tax advisory services. We are proud to support Eric, Becky, Corey, and the entire OLarry team as they continue to onboard new clients and scale the business.' OLarry will use its new infusion of capital to continue building out the company's proprietary tax data classification and extraction model, enabling more efficient ingestion and structuring of complex financial data. Funds will also advance the development of predictive scenario planning tools to help clients optimize tax outcomes in real-time, as well as create an agentic, AI-powered client experience to support seamless communication, education, and advisor interactions. OLarry is pursuing strategic CPA firm acquisitions and recruiting nationally recognized, top-tier CPAs to further strengthen its advisory practice
