In May of last year, Chinese researchers made waves by claiming they had used a quantum computer to crack RSA encryption, sparking concern in the information security world. However, Western researchers quickly dismissed the claims as exaggerated, easing fears. This incident highlighted the need for new data protection methods in the age of quantum computing. Enter quantum tokens, which are digital representations of assets like stocks and money. November saw a milestone when Mitsui, NEC, and Quantinuum successfully delivered and redeemed quantum tokens over a 10-kilometer fiber-optic network in Tokyo—the first in the industry. The technology utilized quantum key distribution (QKD), an unbreakable method for sharing cryptographic keys that is gaining traction in various sectors including finance and government. The possibilities presented by quantum tokens are generating excitement in information security circles, as they provide unforgeability, local validation, and privacy simultaneously—something that no known non-quantum solution can achieve.
https://spectrum.ieee.org/quantum-tokens