President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders to accelerate U.S. quantum computing development and prepare federal agencies for the security risks posed by future quantum machines. The directives, approved June 22, aim to strengthen American leadership in quantum technologies, which are seen as critical for computing, communications, and cybersecurity. The move intensifies the timeline for the crypto industry, which faces the hypothetical 'Q-Day' when quantum computers could break current encryption.
Executive orders target quantum leadership and post-quantum security
The first order, Executive Order 14411, creates the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) initiative. It requires the Department of Energy to identify technical requirements for an advanced quantum computer within 90 days and deploy at least one such system at a federal research facility. The Department of Commerce is tasked with encouraging private-sector quantum computing companies to participate.
Additional provisions direct NASA, the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Commerce to develop five-year plans for advancing quantum sensing and networking. The order also includes measures to strengthen domestic supply chains, expand the quantum workforce, and increase protections for sensitive research. Speaking at the signing, Trump called quantum technologies "the next generation of innovation" with implications for economic growth, scientific research, and national security.
Crypto industry scrambles for quantum-resistant solutions
The second order directs intelligence agencies to assess how advanced commercial quantum computers could affect national security, including the transition to post-quantum cryptography. This comes as concerns grow over Q-Day, when quantum machines could break encryption securing financial networks, government infrastructure, and blockchain wallets. A recent report from Coinbase's advisory board of cryptography experts urged the Bitcoin community to plan a migration path to post-quantum cryptography now, rather than waiting until the threat is imminent.
Crypto projects are already preparing. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao proposed a future migration period for Bitcoin holders after any quantum-resistant upgrade, arguing vulnerable legacy addresses should not remain exposed indefinitely. Ethereum Foundation researchers from the Kohaku privacy project suggested adding post-quantum protections at the wallet level through smart contract logic, avoiding the need for a hard fork. Meanwhile, the Algorand Foundation released a roadmap to make its layer-1 network broadly quantum-resilient by the end of 2027, covering user accounts, wallets, developer tools, staking, and consensus systems. As government investment in quantum computing rises, blockchain developers are racing to upgrade encryption before the technology catches up.