Latest news with #IBMQuantum
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Crypto Ready for Q-Day?
Are you ready for Q-Day? Do you even know what Q-Day is? If you don't, you're sleepwalking into a digital apocalypse that's not coming—it's already here. Q-Day isn't some distant theoretical event. It's the moment quantum computing shatters every lock, breaks every code, and renders every secret naked. While your most powerful supercomputer would need billions of years to crack modern encryption that currently secures crypto wallets, blockchains, digital banking assets, and WhatsApp chats, a quantum computer could do it over lunch. Every "secure" transaction, every "private" communication, every "protected" system becomes an open book. As Jay Gambetta, Vice President of IBM Quantum, warns: "The quantum threat isn't coming—it's here. Nation-states are harvesting encrypted data TODAY, betting they'll decrypt it tomorrow. If you're not quantum-safe now, you're already compromised." Let me be brutally clear: whether Q-Day arrives in one year, two years, or five years is completely irrelevant. Why? Because of "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" attacks. Right now, as you read this, malicious nation states and criminal actors are vacuuming up encrypted data including medical records, financial transactions, state secrets, and your personal communications. They can't read it today, but they're betting on quantum to unlock it tomorrow. Computer scientist Deborah Frincke from Sandia National Laboratories doesn't mince words: "Pretty much anything that says a person is who they say they are is underpinned by encryption. Some of the most sensitive and valuable infrastructure that we have would be open to somebody coming in and pretending to be the rightful owner and issuing commands to shut down networks, influence the energy grid, or create financial disruption." In May 2025, BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager with $11.6 trillion under management, did something unprecedented. They added quantum computing as a critical risk warning to their Bitcoin ETF filing, warning that quantum advances could "undermine the viability" of cryptographic algorithms used not just in Bitcoin but across the entire global tech stack. Researchers warn that 4 million bitcoin—roughly 25% of all usable BTC—could be stolen once quantum computers advance enough to break their encryption. Leading quantum expert. It's not just Bitcoin. Ethereum and most blockchains today rely on Elliptic Curve Cryptography, and quantum will shatter that. Experts predict that Q-Day will come within the next five-to-seven years, but it could be sooner. Quantum is coming for bitcoin like meteors came for the dinosaurs. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has already proposed emergency hard-fork solutions for when quantum computers crack Ethereum accounts. The Ethereum blockchain would need to be paused for an unknown time until it's restored to a new quantum-resistant blockchain, a process that could take years. Behind closed doors at private crypto conferences, influential cryptographers and business leaders are concerned about a potential catastrophe where a computer strong enough to reverse engineer wallets' private keys could flood exchanges with ancient Bitcoin, sending prices spiraling. This isn't about losing your Netflix password. This is about the complete collapse of digital trust across Bitcoin wallets, Ethereum smart contracts, DeFi protocols, banking systems, power grids, military communications, healthcare records, and government secrets. By leveraging its computational power, a quantum miner could consistently solve the mathematical puzzles required to add new blocks to the blockchain, transforming mining from a decentralized global industry into an oligopoly controlled by quantum-capable entities. Some optimists say we have until 2030 before quantum computers can break encryption. They're missing the point entirely. The damage is being done today. Every piece of data transmitted now is a future casualty. According to a December 2023 Reuters report, Tilo Kunz of cybersecurity firm Quantum Defen5e told Defense Information Systems Agency officials that Q-day could come as soon as 2025. Google Quantum AI has already lowered the barrier to breaking widely used RSA-2048 encryption to fewer than one million qubits, dramatically reducing the resources needed for crypto-breaking quantum attacks. Forget patches, updates, or hoping someone else will solve this. Quantum resistance must be built into the foundation, not bolted on as an afterthought. We need post-quantum cryptography that can withstand both classical and quantum attacks, quantum-resistant digital signatures using hash-based and lattice-based cryptography, complete blockchain infrastructure overhauls, immediate migration from vulnerable crypto addresses, and action now, not committees discussing action later. QRL's Iain Wood warns: "It is now no longer controversial to say that all blockchains that exist by 2035 will have to be post-quantum secure." Researchers at the University of Kent say that upgrading to post-quantum crypto-systems could take 75 days of downtime for Bitcoin, or over 300 days if the network operated at 75% capacity. Think about what that means for a trillion-dollar asset class. Q-Day isn't a future problem—it's a present crisis. While everyone's chasing AI dreams, the quantum nightmare is unfolding. The harvest is happening now. The decryption is coming. 2025 is probably our last chance to start migration to post-quantum cryptography before we are all undone by cryptographically relevant quantum computers. Stop asking when Q-Day will arrive. It's here. The only question is: will you be ready, or will you be roadkill on the quantum highway? In the quantum age, there are only two types of data: quantum-safe and future-compromised. For crypto holders, there are only two types of digital assets: post-quantum secured and future-worthless. Your Bitcoin, your Ethereum, your entire crypto portfolio hangs in the balance. The quantum clock is ticking, and every second you wait is another step toward total cryptographic annihilation. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Can IonQ Maintain Its Quantum Edge With China Advancing Fast?
As China accelerates its progress in quantum communications—mainly with space-based quantum key distribution (QKD)—IonQ, Inc. IONQ is racing to fortify its global leadership. The first-quarter 2025 earnings call showed that IonQ is not just keeping pace but expanding aggressively across compute, networking, and space applications, making bold moves that could entrench its competitive edge for strategy hinges on its ability to scale quantum computing through a networked, multicore architecture, enabled by photonic interconnects and powered by key acquisitions. The recent buyouts of Lightsynq and Capella are pivotal. Lightsynq brings quantum memory and repeater technology that can stretch quantum networks hundreds of miles, while Capella adds satellite-based QKD capabilities and classified project access, directly addressing the frontier where China is surging IonQ's expansion isn't just technical, it's commercial. The company sold a $22 million Forte Enterprise system to EPB, marking the first U.S. deployment combining a quantum computer and network. It also closed the ID Quantique deal, adding four commercial quantum networks in the telecom and defense reporting a net loss of $32.3 million in the first quarter, IonQ remains well-capitalized with nearly $700 million in cash. With DARPA partnerships, cloud access via AWS, and breakthroughs in quantum machine learning, IonQ is staking its claim as the full-stack quantum China looms as a formidable rival, IonQ's integrated approach across ground, cloud, and space gives it a real shot at long-term supremacy in the quantum race. Two of IonQ's most relevant competitors in the global quantum race are International Business Machines Corporation IBM and Alphabet Inc. GOOGL, both of which are heavily investing in quantum computing and encryption technologies. IBM, a long-standing player, has built one of the most mature quantum platforms with its IBM Quantum program. It recently announced plans for a 100,000-qubit machine within a decade, emphasizing error correction and scalable architectures. While IBM leads in industrial partnerships and open-access quantum development, it lags IonQ in photonic interconnect innovation and commercial quantum via its Google Quantum AI division, also poses a major challenge. Known for achieving "quantum supremacy" in 2019, Google is pursuing superconducting qubit systems and has laid out a roadmap toward fault-tolerant quantum computing. However, it remains focused on in-house research rather than commercializing quantum networking, where IonQ currently holds a distinctive first-mover advantage. IonQ shares have gained 71.6% in the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Computer - Integrated Systems industry. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research IonQ's forward 12-month price/sales ratio of 102.99 is far above the industry average of 3.89. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research For IONQ, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 loss per share has narrowed over the past 60 days, as you can see below, depicting analysts' optimism. The estimated figure indicates a much narrower loss than the year-ago reported loss of $1.56 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 revenues implies year-over-year growth of 97.3%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research IONQ stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rigetti Bets on In-House Manufacturing to Accelerate Quantum Advantage
Rigetti Computing RGTI is sharpening its competitive focus through deep vertical integration. The company's Fab-1 facility in Fremont now supports the full quantum chip lifecycle, from design and fabrication to cryo-microwave testing and packaging. In late 2022, Rigetti nearly doubled Fab-1's capacity by adding 5,000 square feet of clean-room space dedicated to wafer manufacturing and new cryo-microwave testing capabilities. This approach positions Rigetti to reduce iteration cycles, protect intellectual property, and potentially deliver faster improvements in fidelity and scale, key to staying relevant in a rapidly evolving industry. Unlike most of its peers, which rely on outsourced fabs or cloud-first models, Rigetti is making a long-term bet on hardware self-sufficiency. This in-house manufacturing edge sets Rigetti apart in a landscape dominated by cloud-led or software-centric models. By controlling every layer of the hardware stack, Rigetti can rapidly prototype, test, and refine its quantum processors, aligning closely with the needs of research institutions, defense agencies, and enterprises seeking customized on-premise solutions. With competitors like IBM focusing on large-scale cloud deployments and QPU access via third-party platforms, Rigetti's vertically integrated Fab-1 strategy positions it to win in use cases where performance consistency, system-level customization, and data sovereignty are mission-critical. International Business Machines IBM, a longtime leader in superconducting quantum computing, offers a robust full-stack quantum platform via its IBM Quantum systems and Qiskit software. However, IBM does not manufacture its quantum chips in-house; it utilizes external fabrication foundries for its superconducting qubit wafers. While IBM leads in coherence and cloud deployment scale, operating over 60 quantum systems globally, Rigetti's control over its fab and packaging enables faster hardware iteration and tighter integration for system deployment, particularly for on-premise or specialized installations. Quantum Computing Inc. QUBT takes an entirely different approach, focusing on software with its Qatalyst platform, which interfaces with multiple third-party QPUs. While this allows QUBT to remain asset-light and flexible, it limits performance tuning at the hardware level. In contrast, Rigetti's vertically integrated Fab-1 strategy ensures end-to-end control of the quantum stack, enabling optimization from qubit architecture to system-level deployment. Shares of RGTI have lost 27.2% in the year-to-date period against the industry's growth of 14.1%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation standpoint, Rigetti trades at a price-to-book ratio of 15.39, above the industry average. RGTI carries a Value Score of F. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Rigetti's 2025 earnings implies a significant 86.1% rise from the year-ago period. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Rigetti Computing, Inc. (RGTI) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Japan unveils world's most advanced quantum–classical hybrid computing system
Japan now hosts the world's most advanced quantum–classical hybrid setup, pairing IBM's cutting-edge quantum system with one of Earth's fastest supercomputers. On Tuesday, IBM and Japan's national research lab RIKEN unveiled the first IBM Quantum System Two installed outside the U.S., integrated directly with Fugaku — the country's flagship supercomputer. This marks a major step toward 'quantum-centric supercomputing,' where quantum and classical systems work together to solve problems neither could tackle alone. The system, launched in Kobe, features IBM's 156-qubit Heron processor, dubbed as the company's best-performing quantum chip to date. It's quality and speed is 10 times better than the previous generation 127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle. With significantly lower error rates and 10x more circuit speed than its predecessor, Heron is now capable of running circuits beyond brute-force simulation on classical machines. "The future of computing is quantum-centric and with our partners at RIKEN we are taking a big step forward to make this vision a reality," said Jay Gambetta, VP, IBM Quantum. "The new IBM Quantum System Two powered by our latest Heron processor and connected to Fugaku, will allow scientists and engineers to push the limits of what is possible." Researchers at RIKEN will use the system to advance quantum-classical hybrid algorithms, starting with challenges in chemistry and materials science. The direct link between Heron and Fugaku will enable low-latency, instruction-level coordination between the two machines — a crucial step in developing practical applications for near-term quantum hardware. "By combining Fugaku and the IBM Quantum System Two, RIKEN aims to lead Japan into a new era of high-performance computing," said Dr. Mitsuhisa Sato, Division Director of the Quantum-HPC Hybrid Platform Division, RIKEN Center for Computational Science. "Our mission is to develop and demonstrate practical quantum-HPC hybrid workflows that can be explored by both the scientific community and industry. The connection of these two systems enables us to take critical steps toward realizing this vision." The two systems are connected via a high-speed network at the instruction level, creating a testbed for quantum-centric supercomputing. This deep integration allows engineers to build parallelized workloads, develop low-latency quantum–classical communication protocols, and optimize software stacks. By letting each system handle the parts of a task it's best suited for, the setup plays to the strengths of both paradigms. The installation of IBM Quantum System Two at RIKEN builds on earlier collaborative work between IBM and RIKEN researchers aimed at achieving quantum advantage — the point where quantum systems outperform classical ones in speed, cost, or accuracy. One such effort, recently featured on the cover of Science Advances, used sample-based quantum diagonalization (SQD) to model the electronic structure of iron sulfides — a complex compound found widely in natural and organic systems. Accurately simulating such materials was once thought to require fault-tolerant quantum computers, but SQD offers a glimpse of what near-term quantum machines can already achieve when tightly integrated with powerful classical infrastructure.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IBM and RIKEN debut IBM Quantum System Two in Japan
Tech giant IBM and RIKEN, a national research laboratory in Japan, have unveiled the first IBM Quantum System Two to be deployed outside the US and beyond an IBM Quantum Data Centre. The system, co-located with RIKEN's supercomputer Fugaku, was officially launched on 24 June 2025 in Kobe, Japan. This initiative is supported by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as part of the "Project for Research and Development of Enhanced Infrastructures for Post 5G Information and Communications Systems." The IBM Quantum System Two at RIKEN is powered by IBM's 156-qubit Quantum Heron processor. IBM Heron boasts a two-qubit error rate of 3x10^-3 across a 100-qubit layered circuit, with a peak two-qubit error of 1x10^-3—ten times better than the previous 127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle. Additionally, Heron's speed, measured by CLOPS (circuit layer operations per second), is 250,000, marking another tenfold improvement over IBM Eagle in the past year, according to the announcement. RIKEN Center for Computational Science'Quantum-HPC Hybrid Platform Division director Dr Mitsuhisa Sato said: 'Our mission is to develop and demonstrate practical quantum-HPC hybrid workflows that can be explored by both the scientific community and industry. 'The connection of these two systems enables us to take critical steps toward realizing this vision.' With 156 qubits, Heron is described as the most performant quantum processor globally, capable of running quantum circuits beyond the reach of brute-force classical simulations. The system is integrated with Fugaku, one of the world's most powerful classical supercomputers, at the RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS). "The computers are linked through a high-speed network at the fundamental instruction level to form a proving ground for quantum-centric supercomputing," enabling the development of parallelised workloads and low-latency communication protocols. This integration aims to leverage the strengths of both quantum and classical systems for advanced algorithm research, including fundamental chemistry problems. The quantum computer joins IBM's global fleet and is expected to build on prior RIKEN-IBM research, such as sample-based quantum diagonalisation techniques used to model iron sulphides, as published in Science Advances. IBM Quantum vice president Jay Gambetta said: 'The future of computing is quantum-centric and with our partners at RIKEN we are taking a big step forward to make this vision a reality.' Recently, IBM introduced new software capabilities that integrate AI security and governance, claiming to offer the industry's first unified solution for managing agentic AI risks. These enhancements merge IBM's an end-to-end AI governance platform, with Guardium AI Security, a tool aimed at safeguarding AI models, data, and usage. "IBM and RIKEN debut IBM Quantum System Two in Japan" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
