[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong] A national quantum technology promotion bill to support development of quantum technology has been submitted to the U.S. Senate. The bill focuses on developing next-generation quantum sensors and strengthening supply chains, but there are expectations it could also affect the security systems of cryptocurrency exchanges and custody providers if a government-led shift to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) accelerates.

On July 29 (local time), blockchain media outlet CoinPost reported that Senators Mike Rounds and Richard Blumenthal introduced the national quantum technology promotion bill in the Senate the previous day. The bill requires the defence secretary to designate 3 priority projects for next-generation quantum sensors within 60 days of enactment and mandates deployment of those projects in operational settings by Sept. 30, 2028.

The bill serves to support in law part of an executive order on quantum information science and technology that U.S. President Donald Trump signed on June 22. It focuses in particular on institutionalising plans to build quantum sensor networks and strengthen the domestic U.S. base of the quantum supply chain. The executive order also includes a plan to pursue development of quantum computers for scientific research by 2028 and to transition government systems to a post-quantum cryptography framework by 2030 to 2031.

The bill also requires the Department of Defense, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a quantum technology cooperation plan jointly with private companies within 120 days of enactment. It allows the use of prize-based technology competitions and advance market procurement contracts in the process.

It also calls for expanding domestic U.S. accessibility to Department of Defense foundry resources related to quantum information science and technology within 180 days of enactment.

The part drawing attention from the cryptocurrency industry is the transition to post-quantum cryptography. Post-quantum cryptography is a next-generation cryptographic technology designed to maintain security even if quantum computers in the future reach a level capable of breaking today’s public-key cryptography systems.

The industry has long raised concerns that if quantum computer performance advances beyond a certain level, the security of existing cryptographic methods used by major blockchains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum could be undermined.

If post-quantum cryptography transition becomes mandatory for government agencies, there are also suggestions the same standard could spread across the broader financial sector. In that case, cryptocurrency exchanges and custody providers may need to redesign wallet management, electronic signatures and overall security infrastructure to meet new standards.

The possibility of increased investment in related industries is also being discussed. The U.S. Department of Commerce in May provided incentives totalling $2.013 billion to quantum technology-related companies under the CHIPS and Science Act. If public-private cooperation plans under the bill move into full implementation, there are also suggestions additional funding could flow to companies developing quantum-resistant security technologies.

The bill’s direct focus is quantum sensors, which have high military utility. Quantum sensors could be used to guide aircraft in environments where the global positioning system (GPS) is disrupted, or to detect underground tunnels and missile silos from space.

Infleqtion CEO Matthew Kinsella (매슈 킨셀라) told Reuters, "Quantum sensors are more likely to deliver practical results before quantum computing."

The market sees U.S. quantum technology promotion policy expanding beyond simple support for research and development to encompass national defence, supply chains and next-generation cryptography systems. If the bill is finally passed, the cryptocurrency industry is expected to face the timing of post-quantum cryptography adoption and increased investment in security infrastructure as new core tasks.