Book Image

Quantum Computing and Blockchain in Business

By : Arunkumar Krishnakumar
Book Image

Quantum Computing and Blockchain in Business

By: Arunkumar Krishnakumar

Overview of this book

Are quantum computing and Blockchain on a collision course or will they be the most important trends of this decade to disrupt industries and life as we know it? Fintech veteran and venture capitalist Arunkumar Krishnakumar cuts through the hype to bring us a first-hand look into how quantum computing and Blockchain together are redefining industries, including fintech, healthcare, and research. Through a series of interviews with domain experts, he also explores these technologies’ potential to transform national and global governance and policies – from how elections are conducted and how smart cities can be designed and optimized for the environment, to what cyberwarfare enabled by quantum cryptography might look like. In doing so, he also highlights challenges that these technologies have to overcome to go mainstream. Quantum Computing and Blockchain in Business explores the potential changes that quantum computing and Blockchain might bring about in the real world. After expanding on the key concepts and techniques, such as applied cryptography, qubits, and digital annealing, that underpin quantum computing and Blockchain, the book dives into how major industries will be impacted by these technologies. Lastly, we consider how the two technologies may come together in a complimentary way.
Table of Contents (20 chapters)
5
Interview with Dr. Dave Snelling, Fujitsu Fellow
7
Interview with Dr. B. Rajathilagam, Head of AI Research, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
9
Interview with Max Henderson, Senior Data Scientist, Rigetti and QxBranch
11
Interview with Sam McArdle, Quantum Computing Researcher at the University of Oxford
14
Interview with Dinesh Nagarajan, Partner, IBM
18
Other Books You May Enjoy
19
Index

Conclusion

It is not just Blockchain that is on a collision course with quantum computing. It is almost the entire internet that is at risk. Quantum computing is a serious threat, not just to Blockchain platforms, but to all platforms using techniques like RSA and ECC. However, there are solutions in the form of quantum-proof cryptography for both the internet and the Blockchain industry. Adopting these techniques would necessitate careful consideration of the application and context in which these techniques will be deployed.

I must admit that this chapter has been quite a technical one. However, I have tried to simplify the narrative around cryptography as much as possible. I have covered the key cryptographic techniques, RSA and ECC, and their applications across the internet and Blockchain solutions.

I then touched upon how and why they are at risk once quantum computers go mainstream. There is still a lot of hype around when that will be. Some say it is 2027, some argue...