US Department of Energy Announces Plans to Build Quantum Computer Within Three Years

DOE Targets Quantum Breakthrough by 2028

The United States Department of Energy (DoE) has revealed plans to build a fully functional quantum computer for scientific computing within the next three years. The announcement was reported by Science, citing remarks from Deputy Secretary for Science Dario Gil.

Speaking at a SCAC meeting, Gil stated that by 2028 the department expects to deliver the first generation of fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of performing scientifically meaningful quantum computations. The machine will be housed at one of the 10 national laboratories under the Office of Science. Gil did not provide additional technical details.

Why This Matters

With an annual budget of $8.4 billion, the Department of Energy is the largest US funder of physical science research. According to Science journalists, this initiative marks a significant departure from the DoE's previous approach, which avoided favoring specific technologies.

For the crypto industry, advances in quantum computing represent one of the most significant long-term threats. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could theoretically compromise the cryptographic algorithms underpinning Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other blockchain networks. Several projects are already developing quantum-resistant protections in anticipation of such capabilities.

Yale University physicist Steven Girvin described the three-year timeline as "very optimistic but a worthy goal." He noted that researchers have made significant progress in quantum error correction but remain far from achieving full fault tolerance.

Mission Genesis and Updated Scientific Priorities

During the same session, Gil tasked a working group with developing a strategy for how the Office of Science can support a government AI initiative known as "Mission Genesis," signed by President Donald Trump in November 2025.

By July, SCAC is expected to deliver recommendations covering three areas:

• Required computational resources;
• Task prioritization;
• Recruitment of key personnel.

Gil also directed the committee to compile an updated list of potentially significant scientific facilities eligible for funding. The current list was last revised in 2003. The deputy secretary insisted that priority infrastructure align with Mission Genesis objectives, and unlike the previous version, the updated document will be declassified.

Current key research areas for the DoE include advanced computing, fundamental energy science, biology, environmental science, fusion and nuclear energy, and high-energy physics.

Context: The Quantum Race Accelerates

The DoE announcement comes amid growing momentum in quantum technology development. In March 2026, the Turing Award was granted for the first time for achievements in quantum information science, with researchers Gilles Brassard and Charles Bennett receiving the honor.

The race for quantum supremacy carries direct implications for the crypto sector. As government and corporate quantum programs advance, the question of quantum resistance in blockchain protocols grows increasingly urgent.