Trump Signs Executive Orders on Quantum Security, Setting 2031 Post-Quantum Cryptography Deadline

According to The Block, President Trump signed two executive orders on Monday, June 16, aimed at accelerating U.S. quantum computing capabilities and establishing post-quantum security standards. Executive Order 14409 focuses on securing against advanced cryptographic attacks, while EO 14411 advances quantum innovation. The orders establish concrete timelines, including a mandate for federal high-value systems to migrate to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) by the end of 2031, and quantum sensors deployment by September 2028.

Project Eleven CEO Alex Pruden told The Block that the directives allocate "government dollars and time" toward quantum-secure blockchain research and development. The orders extend PQC requirements across the entire federal contractor base, not just government agencies, and specifically reference NIST-standardized algorithms (ML-KEM, ML-DSA, SLH-DSA). While the executive orders do not directly mention blockchains, security experts note that quantum threats pose significant risks to Bitcoin, with millions of coins holding exposed public addresses at potential risk from quantum computers executing Shor's algorithm to derive private keys.