US Considers Investments in Quantum Computing Amid National Security Concerns
The U.S. government is exploring financial assistance to quantum computing firms to enhance its technology capabilities against China.
The United States is reportedly engaging in preliminary discussions with companies specializing in quantum computing to offer financial support, driven by national security considerations. Officials from the Department of Commerce are assessing opportunities to invest in quantum computer technology using funds allocated from the CHIPS Act, ensuring competitiveness with China, according to a report from Bloomberg published on Thursday.
Officials indicated that there may be conditions linked to this financing, potentially requiring equity stakes in the companies involved. This follows a precedent where the U.S. government took a 10% share in Intel in August 2025, as reported by CNBC. However, this kind of arrangement has received criticism from some analysts.
Economist and investor Peter Schiff remarked on X that President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policies and government investments are leading the U.S. towards a centrally planned economy, asserting that the free market should govern funding allocations.
Schiff’s comments on potential government interventions in the economy.
Quantum technology has the potential to break current encryption standards fundamental to cryptocurrencies, as well as the systems that protect critical data in sectors like banking and military operations, prompting a search within the crypto field for post-quantum cryptographic solutions.
Concerns Surrounding Quantum Supremacy
Experts continue to discuss the timeline for “Q-Day,” the moment when a potent quantum computer could breach existing encryption standards, with predictions ranging from five to ten years from now. Some argue that the threat from quantum computing has already emerged via techniques that allow adversaries to gather public keys and store them for future decryption. In an interview, David Carvalho, CEO of post-quantum cybersecurity firm Naoris Protocol, remarked that the average individual may be oblivious to the operational status of powerful quantum systems.
“You might think you’re witnessing a quantum computer, but it could have been covertly active for months,” he indicated.
