From Battlefield Radios to Banks: How Quantum Threatens Digital Trust

Quantum computing has the potential to break the encryption that underpins today’s digital world—and the timeline may be closer than expected.In this episode of Wired for Change, Amy Yee sits down with James Nguyen, CEO of Quantropi, to explore what that means in practical terms—from battlefield communications to banking systems.Together, they unpack the real-world implications of quantum risk, including the concept of “harvest now, decrypt later,” the rise of deepfakes, and the broader challenge of maintaining trust in digital systems. It’s a grounded, accessible conversation designed to help leaders cut through the noise and start thinking about what action looks like today.🎧 Chapters00:00 – Introduction: Why quantum risk feels distant01:00 – Battlefield communications and real-world use06:00 – Securing transatlantic communications08:30 – Quantum timelines and “Y2Q”11:00 – The “harvest now, decrypt later” risk13:30 – Deepfakes and trust in digital content17:00 – Where organizations stand today20:00 – Why no one wants to move first27:00 – Legacy systems and infrastructure risk31:00 – Ecosystem risk and global dependencies34:00 – Misconceptions about quantum37:00 – What leading organizations are doing differently39:00 – Build vs. retrofit: where to start42:00 – Practical guardrails for leaders50:00 – Culture, accountability, and leadership01:02:00 – Final takeaway