Insider’s memory
- 01 Quantum Inc. has filed a US patent application for its Quantum DeFi Wrapper, a post-quantum security system designed to protect decentralized financial operations and custodial wallets without altering existing blockchain infrastructure.
- The technology uses a post-quantum cryptography “kill switch” inside smart contracts to prevent unauthorized access by interrupting activity when PQC authentication is not satisfied.
- QDW targets vulnerabilities created by classical cryptography on an industry-wide scale, offering a scalable, Layer 1-enabled toolkit as regulators push for quantum-resistant financial systems amid a $3.1 trillion crypto market.
PRESS RELEASE — 01 Quantum Inc. (TSXV: ONE; OTCQB: OONEF), one of the first enterprise cybersecurity providers to market for the quantum computing era, today announced the filing of a U.S. patent application for its Quantum DeFi Wrapper (QDW) technology.
This innovation is designed to protect decentralized finance (DeFi) operations from the potential cybersecurity threat posed by the advent of quantum computers. DeFi underpins almost every operational aspect of the digital asset ecosystem, from lending and borrowing to trading and staking, on major layer 1 blockchains such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Hyperliquid. QDW allows these activities to remain secure in a post-quantum world without requiring changes to existing blockchain infrastructure. Additionally, QDW extends protection to custodian wallets, ensuring that the underlying tokens are protected against quantum vulnerabilities.
At the heart of QDW is a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) binding mechanism integrated into smart contracts. Acting as a “quantum kill switch,” the system stops operations if PQC authentication requirements are not met, preventing unauthorized access through quantum key extraction.
Market context
According to CoinMarketCap, the global crypto market is valued at $3.1 trillion (including stablecoins). As regulators accelerate timelines for building quantum-resilient financial infrastructure, the long-term security of digital assets becomes a key priority. The urgency is underscored by the GENIUS Act, passed in July 2025 in the United States, which requires stablecoins to be backed 1:1 by cash or short-term debt, helping to make them a major source of demand for U.S. Treasuries. Despite this maturity, the industry remains exposed due to the reliance on traditional cryptographic algorithms such as ECDSA. QDW fills this gap by providing broad-spectrum protection without sacrificing interoperability or performance.
Technical highlights
- Patent pending method (US #19/396,202): implementation of a PQC circuit breaker.
- Performance Optimization: Compatible with existing Layer 1 chains.
- Scalable Toolkit: Includes support for custodian wallets and existing post-quantum stablecoins.
Executive commentary
“Combining years of experience in post-quantum cybersecurity, collaboration with NIST, and commercial software engineering, we are excited to unveil our QDW technology for custodial wallets and DeFi operations for the crypto industry, including stablecoins,” said Andrew Cheung, CEO of 01 Quantum. “Our mission is to provide the crypto and stablecoin industries with confidence that digital assets can remain secure not only today, but also in the coming quantum era. It is important to understand that encrypted data collected today may be stored with the intention of decrypting it once quantum capabilities mature. Without proactive defenses, assets today could be compromised tomorrow.”
The quantum threat
The arrival of Q-Day, a time when quantum computers are predicted to be able to break widely used encryption, represents an imminent threat to digital security. Added to this is the growing risk presented by “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, in which adversaries store encrypted data for future quantum decryption. As technology leaders begin to adopt post-quantum cryptographic methods, most public blockchains remain vulnerable. QDW offers a practical and scalable solution to fill this critical gap.
