Quantum Leap: Sealsq solution safeguards AI operations from quantum attacks

Welcome to the latest edition of “Quantum Leap” where The Fly decodes news and activity in the quantum computing space.

QUANTUM RESISTANT AI: Sealsq (LAES) announced an initiative with Sealcoin (WKEY) to protect artificial intelligence agents from the looming threats posed by quantum computing. Sealsq is introducing a new suite of solutions designed to safeguard AI operations and decision-making processes against adversarial quantum attacks. The company said, “Today’s cryptographic systems are under threat from the rise of quantum computing. Even the most secure digital identities and transactions risk becoming vulnerable. To address this, SEALCOIN AG is embedding quantum-resistant cryptography into every layer of its agent infrastructure, from identity certificates and wallet authorizations to smart contract execution. In partnership with SEALSQ, and leveraging the upcoming QS7001 secure element, this collaboration future-proofs AI Agents from the ground up. SEALSQ’s post-quantum secure AI framework integrates NIST-recommended PQC algorithms with its secure element chips and embedded cryptographic modules, ensuring confidential inference through homomorphic encryption optimized for SEALSQ hardware, robust identity and authentication with post-quantum digital identities, trusted execution environments that defend against both classical and quantum-level attacks, and scalable deployment across IoT, autonomous vehicles, smart infrastructure, defense, and healthcare.”

PURCHASE ORDERS: Rigetti Computing (RGTI) secured purchase orders totaling approximately $5.7M for two nine-qubit Novera quantum computing systems. Both systems are upgradeable, allowing the customers to increase the system qubit count for more complex computations and research. Delivery for both systems is expected in the first half of 2026. One system is being purchased by an Asian technology manufacturing company. The system will serve as a testbed to develop internal quantum computing expertise. They also plan to benchmark and validate their own quantum computing technologies with the Novera system. The other system is being purchased by a California-based applied physics and artificial intelligence startup. The system will be used for quantum hardware and error correction research.

SEALKAYNESQ: Sealsq Corp announced the signing of a term sheet with Kaynes SemiCon to form a joint venture company, SealKaynesq to be established in India. The new entity aims to focus on developing a semiconductor design and personalization center, strengthening India’s strategic position in the global semiconductor supply chain. The company said, “This strategic collaboration moves beyond a generic design center, to create a specialized hub for high-security semiconductor solutions. The proposed Joint Venture plans to establish an Outsourced Semiconductor Test & Personalization facility within Kaynes SemiCon’s manufacturing site in India. This initiative aims to enhance Kaynes SemiCon capabilities with advanced Wafer/Final Test services, compliant with Common Criteria standards, and integrate Public Key Infrastructure and Post-Quantum Cryptography personalization capabilities to serve the INDIA market where National Security regulations apply. A key strategic milestone will be the localized deployment of the SEALSQ Quantum Shield semiconductor in India, providing a foundation for secure post-quantum computing resilience across multiple sectors. SEALSQ will hold 51% of the JV’s share capital, while Kaynes SemiCon will hold 49%, with governance shared equally under a five-member board. Intellectual property rights will be licensed exclusively to the JV by WISeKey and SEALSQ, with new IP developed by the JV owned by the company.”

BOARD APPOINTMENT: IonQ (IONQ) announced the appointment of General John Raymond to its board of directors. General Raymond most recently served as the first chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force.

MIXED SECURITIES SHELF: Quantum-Si (QSI) filed a $300M mixed securities shelf on Friday September 26.

POST-QUANTUM SEMICONDUCTOR: Sealsq announced a definitive agreement with Quantix Edge Security to develop and deploy Spain’s first post-quantum semiconductor personalization center in the Region of Murcia. This agreement, a key milestone in the Quantix Edge Security project previously announced by the company in June 2024, is expected to generate $25M of revenue over the next three years with recognition likely to be milestone based over the course of the project. The company anticipates that the project will start in H1 2026 and further expects that the project milestones will occur regularly over the life of the project creating a relatively even spread of revenue recognition. Sealsq also plans to accelerate commercialization by distributing its post-quantum semiconductors through Quantix Edge Security beginning in 2026, even while the Murcia facility remains under construction. This strategy will enable early adoption of Sealsq’s quantum-resistant technologies and supports the company’s $170M pipeline of potential revenue as part of its broader Quantum Roadmap.

ALGORITHMIC BOND TRADING: HSBC (HSBC) announced what it calls “the world’s first-known empirical evidence” of the potential value of current quantum computers for solving real-world problems in algorithmic bond trading. Working with a team from IBM (IBM), HSBC leveraged an approach that utilized quantum and classical computing resources to deliver up to a 34% improvement in predicting how likely a trade would be filled at a quoted price, compared to common classical techniques used in the industry, the bank stated. Jay Gambetta, VP IBM Quantum, said: “This exciting exploration shows what becomes possible when deep domain expertise is integrated with cutting-edge algorithm research, and the strengths of classical approaches are combined with the rich computational space offered by quantum computers. Such work is essential to unlock new algorithms and applications that are poised to transform industries as quantum computers scale, and the future of computing takes shape.” Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring says IBM is the “clear leader” in the quantum market after HSBC announced it successfully used IBM’s Heron quantum processor to better optimize bond trading, one of the first known commercial applications of quantum. Morgan Stanley’s research indicates that IBM has the largest and broadest ecosystem of advanced quantum computers today, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm finds early quantum commercial applications as “incredibly important” in proving the quantum value proposition. However, Morgan Stanley finds it challenging to gain confidence that quantum should be a material driver of IBM shares. It has an Equal Weight rating on the name with a $253 price target.

RECORD QUBIT SCORE: IonQ announced it has achieved a record algorithmic qubit score of #AQ 64. This milestone was achieved on an IonQ Tempo system, three months ahead of schedule, establishing IonQ as the only company to reach #AQ 64.