Quantum Technologies Key Strategies and Opportunities for Financial Services Leaders 2025

“Quantum communications” refers to the use of quantum mechanical properties – such as superposition and entanglement – to transmit information securely with novel capabilities. They enable ultra-secure networks and are expected to be as vital to quantum computing as traditional networking is to modern computer systems. QKD, a key early application, enables two parties to share encryption keys with provable security against eavesdropping. As the name suggests, QKD is specifically designed for secure key exchange and represents the first practical implementation of quantum communications.24 QRNGs, which use quantum processes to generate truly unpredictable random numbers, often serve as a foundational component of QKD systems.QKD, however, is just the beginning. Future quantum communications will extend far beyond key exchange. Technologies based on entangled photon transmission and quantum repeaters could enable broader functionalities, such as distributed quantum computing, secure multi-party computation and quantum-enhanced networking.25 While the term “quantum internet” is often used to describe this vision, it’s worth noting that some in the academic community prefer more precise terminology due to this term’s broad and sometimes ambiguous connotations. Technologies like QKD and QRNG are referred to as quantum-native security technologies because they rely directly on quantum mechanical principles to achieve security guarantees that are fundamentally different from those of classical cryptography. A defence-in-depth strategy integrates PQC and quantum-native technologies like QKD and QRNG, enabling financial institutions to build layered, adaptable security frameworks that evolve with the quantum threat landscape. Each of these technologies addresses specific use cases and challenges, and there is no single “silver bullet” solution to achieving quantum security. Instead, a combination of these technologies can provide a more robust and comprehensive approach. This multi-layered approach aligns with a broader quantum transformation journey, moving past foundational awareness towards pilot deployment and (ultimately) strategic leadership. Organizations that embrace both quantum-resistant and quantum-native approaches will be best positioned to lead in a post-quantum world. This dual strategy not only mitigates risk but also signals technological leadership and regulatory foresight.26 As organizations prepare for a future shaped by quantum computing, it’s critical to recognize that current PQC solutions may not be sufficient in the long term. If quantum computers evolve beyond today’s expectations, the foundational assumptions behind PQC could be undermined. This concern is echoed by quantum computing expert Scott Aaronson, who notes, “If we want evidence that quantum computing could survive a collapse of P (problems solvable in polynomial time) and NP (nondeterministic polynomial time), we must also seek evidence that bounded-error quantum polynomial time (BQP) is a subset of PH (polynomial time hierarchy).” 27 In other words, our understanding of quantum computational boundaries remains incomplete. To mitigate this uncertainty, forward- looking security strategies should consider quantum- native technologies such as QKD and QRNG, whose security is rooted in the laws of physics rather than assumptions about computational difficulty.4.2 Quantum communications 4.3 Defence-in-depth and strategic roadmap 4.4 Resilience and leadership Organizations that embrace both quantum-resistant and quantum- native approaches will be best positioned to lead in a post- quantum world. Quantum Technologies: Key Strategies and Opportunities for Financial Services Leaders 15