JPMorgan Chase has announced a major advancement in quantum computing, successfully demonstrating the generation of certified quantum randomness—a development that could transform security protocols, trading systems, and cryptographic applications in finance. The breakthrough, detailed in a peer-reviewed paper published in Nature, marks one of the first practical uses of quantum computing beyond theoretical research.
The project, conducted in collaboration with Quantinuum, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the University of Texas at Austin, introduced a novel two-step protocol to verify true quantum randomness. First, researchers sent randomized challenge circuits to a quantum computer, which responded faster than classical supercomputers could simulate. Second, they mathematically certified the results as genuinely quantum-generated, proving the randomness could not be replicated by conventional computing methods.
Marco Pistoia, Head of Global Technology Applied Research at JPMorgan Chase, called the achievement a “major milestone” that demonstrates quantum computing’s potential to solve real-world problems beyond classical supercomputers’ capabilities. “This development will be vital for cryptography, statistical sampling, and numerical simulations,” he added.
The breakthrough could have immediate implications for financial security, where unpredictable randomness is critical for encryption, fraud prevention, and algorithmic trading. It also accelerates progress toward quantum-secure cryptography, as institutions prepare for a future where quantum computers could crack traditional encryption.