The Post-Quantum Financial Infrastructure Framework: A Boardroom Wake-Up Call

From BlackRock’s warning to El Salvador’s pivot—why quantum threats have gone from theoretical to urgent for enterprise boards

By Qryptonic Research, LLC.

A Chain of Events That Boards Can’t Ignore

In May 2025, BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, slipped a notable warning into a Bitcoin-ETF prospectus: advances in quantum computing could undermine the cryptographic security protecting digital assets. It was the first time a global investment leader formally raised the issue in public filings.

By late August, El Salvador—the nation that made Bitcoin legal tender—announced a sudden restructuring of its $678 million reserve. Officials split the holdings across 14 separate wallets, explicitly citing “emerging quantum risks” as a driver of the change.

And in September, a 74-page proposal known as the Post-Quantum Financial Infrastructure Framework (PQFIF) was formally submitted to the SEC’s Crypto Assets Task Force. The framework does not yet carry the force of regulation, but it sets out a blueprint for how regulators and institutions alike might approach the quantum threat.

Individually, each event was notable. Together, they signal a decisive shift: quantum risk has moved from theoretical research papers to the language of ETFs, sovereign reserves, and regulatory dockets.

Why PQFIF Matters

The Quantum Threat Is No Longer Distant

The “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” strategy is already recognized in cybersecurity briefings. Malicious actors collect encrypted data today, anticipating future decryption when quantum machines mature. According to the Global Risk Institute, there is a 17–34 percent probability that a machine capable of breaking RSA-2048 could exist by 2034.

That means long-lived records—insurance contracts, trading logs, custody agreements—are already at risk.

Regulators Are Laying Down Markers

• United States – National Security Memorandum-10 sets a 2035 deadline for federal migration to post-quantum cryptography. While PQFIF is still a proposal, its submission signals where financial regulation is headed.
• European Union – The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) requires ICT risk frameworks to incorporate quantum readiness.
• Global – The Bank for International Settlements and Europol have issued urgent calls for institutions to accelerate PQC planning.

The arc is unmistakable: regulators want early action, not late reaction.

The Cost of Delay

• Financial – Migration costs multiply five- to tenfold when deferred.
• Insurance – Premiums are beginning to reflect quantum-readiness assessments.
• Reputation – A single breach tied to outdated cryptography can permanently damage brand trust.

Inside the Framework

PQFIF sets out six pillars for institutions:

1. Automated Discovery – catalog every cryptographic asset in the enterprise.
2. Risk-Based Migration – prioritize critical systems and phase legacy infrastructure.
3. Hybrid Cryptography – run classical and PQC systems in parallel during transition.
4. Continuous Monitoring – track advances in quantum hardware and cryptanalysis.
5. Built-In Compliance – align with NIST, NSA, CISA, and EU mandates.
6. Cross-Border Coordination – harmonize requirements across jurisdictions.

For boards, the significance is simple: these six principles are emerging as the standard by which auditors, insurers, and regulators will measure preparedness.

Answering the Skeptics

Directors often hear familiar pushback: quantum is years away; budgets are strained; AI deserves more attention. But three points tip the balance:

1. Regulation leads the science. Deadlines exist, regardless of when “Q-Day” arrives.
2. Costs rise with procrastination. Estimates show a $10–20 million spend now balloons to $50–100 million if deferred until 2030.
3. Markets will punish laggards. Cyber insurers and ratings agencies are incorporating quantum risk into their models.

Skepticism may buy time, but it won’t buy protection.

Proof in Practice

A global investment bank piloting PQFIF methodologies scanned its enterprise, identified 47,000 cryptographic assets, and migrated critical custody systems with zero downtime. Result: 22 percent cost savings versus budget and simultaneous compliance across 12 jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, peers slow-walking preparation are already facing rising premiums and deeper audit scrutiny.

The lesson: disciplined pilots work. Hesitation compounds risk.

The Execution Gap

PQFIF sets the what. Boards must find partners for the how. That’s where Qryptonic is positioned:

• Q-Scout™ – Automated discovery and cryptographic inventory.
• Q-Strike™ – Quantum-powered penetration testing to validate defenses.
• Q-Solve™ – Compliance dashboards and auditable reporting.
• QryAI™ – AI-driven orchestration of migration timelines and threat monitoring.

Together, these tools cut costs by 30–50 percent compared to manual approaches while aligning institutions with regulatory expectations.

For directors, Qryptonic’s Gamma deck on PQFIF is equally important. Created by the company, it translates technical frameworks into strategic boardroom terms—clear, visual, and decision-ready.

What Boards Should Do

Boardroom Takeaways

• Recognize fiduciary duty. Quantum readiness now sits within directors’ obligations.
• Establish governance. Assign oversight to the risk/audit committee.
• Demand an inventory. Require a cryptographic asset map within six months.
• Budget realistically. Early funding saves exponentially later.
• Engage partners. Frameworks guide, but execution requires expertise.

The Forward View

This isn’t another buzzword cycle. It’s a Y2K-scale transition—except with no single date, no switch-flipping fix, and higher stakes. Quantum computing will upend the cryptographic assumptions of finance. PQFIF is a blueprint, and boards that adopt it early will gain not just protection, but market leadership.

Qryptonic’s Gamma deck was built for exactly this purpose: to give boards a clear lens on PQFIF and help them decide how to act. Directors who review it quickly see the same conclusion—quantum readiness is not a technical nice-to-have, it’s a fiduciary necessity.

To explore how Qryptonic’s enterprise-grade, post-quantum cryptographic solutions can safeguard your organization today—and against tomorrow’s threats—schedule a strategic briefing with our advisory team.

Contact & Connect

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Sources

1. BlackRock, Bitcoin ETF Prospectus Risk Disclosures, May 2025.
2. Government of El Salvador, Bitcoin Reserve Custody Announcement, Aug 30, 2025.
3. Daniel Bruno Corvelo Costa, Post-Quantum Financial Infrastructure Framework submission to SEC Crypto Assets Task Force, Sept 3, 2025.
4. Global Risk Institute, Quantum Threat Timeline Report, 2024–25.
5. NIST, FIPS 203–205 Post-Quantum Cryptography Standards, Aug 2024; HQC Selection, Mar 2025.
6. NSA, CNSA 2.0 Algorithm Suite, 2022.
7. European Union, Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), Jan 2024.
8. Bank for International Settlements, Project Leap Phase 2: Quantum-Readiness for the Financial System, July 2025.
9. FS-ISAC, Cryptographic Agility Guidance for Financial Institutions, 2023–25.
10. Qryptonic, Gamma Deck: What is the PQFIF? View on Gamma