The crypto industry hasn’t forgotten the quantum threat hanging over the sector like a sword of Damocles. Hong Kong has now revealed how prepared its local banks are for quantum computing.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has launched a quantum readiness assessment system for the banking sector. The regulator published a white paper and the first Quantum Preparedness Index.
Hot topic: Quantum Computing Threat to Bitcoin: Real or Hype?
The sector average came in at 2.3 out of 10. About half of surveyed banks have no formal post-quantum transition plan. Another 32% haven’t started the transition at all.
HKMA has set a target of reaching 10 by 2030. The initiative comes as Hong Kong moves more traditional finance onto distributed ledgers and expands tokenization.
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Quantum Preparedness Index and 2030 Transition Timeline
According to HKMA, about 68% of banks are either aware of quantum risks or are in the planning and pilot stages. However, only one-third are actively studying or piloting quantum initiatives. Roughly half of banks have already discussed the topic at the board level.
To meet the 2030 target, the regulator will develop post-quantum cryptography toolkits with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s Business School and conduct training seminars.
In the white paper, HKMA warned that quantum computers capable of running Shor’s algorithm at scale could threaten widely used cryptographic systems, including RSA and elliptic curve cryptography. The regulator urged banks to inventory their cryptographic systems, assess risks, and prepare migration plans. Replacing embedded security mechanisms could take years.
Read more: Ethereum Proposes Post-Quantum Account Protection for $0.07 — No Hard Fork Required
Tokenization in Hong Kong: Why Quantum Readiness Matters
HKMA tied quantum preparation to the expansion of tokenization in Hong Kong. Since 2023, authorities have conducted three tokenized green bond issuances totaling about HK$16.8 billion. In February 2026, Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan said banks in the city hold over HK$14 billion in digital assets under custody, up 180% year-over-year. Tokenized deposits reached HK$29 billion.
One surveyed bank completed a pilot project applying post-quantum cryptography for distributed ledger connectivity. In 2024, HSBC tested quantum-resistant technology for tokenized gold operations. In June 2026, HKMA formed an expert group to expand tokenization in the debt market.
Read more: Coinbase: 7M Bitcoin Are Vulnerable to Quantum Threat — What BTC Holders Should Do
Bitcoin and the Quantum Threat: No Deadline
Unlike Hong Kong’s banks, bitcoin (BTC▲$77,666.00) has no regulator to set a deadline. Its transition to post-quantum cryptography depends entirely on community consensus–which remains divided. Oxford University quantum computing lecturer Stefano Gogioso noted that Ethereum (ETH▲$2,518.27) has a foundation with at least some roadmap, while bitcoin’s governance is “completely different — it doesn’t have one.“
Technical proposals exist. In February 2026, BIP-360 was merged into the bitcoin proposals repository. It proposes adding Pay-to-Merkle-Root output types via a soft fork. Another proposal, BIP-361, co-authored by Casa founder Jameson Lopp, calls for phasing out legacy ECDSA and Schnorr signatures.
The main obstacle remains consensus. The community rarely unites around changes that affect the network’s foundational principles.
Learn more: Experts Warn: AI Is Accelerating the Quantum Threat to Crypto
