The Post-Quantum World Q-Day 10x Closer Than We Thought—Pinnacle Paper Accelerates RSA Factoring — with Felix Thomsen and Paul Webster of Iceberg Quantum
Mar 4, 2026
32:06
The groundbreaking Pinnacle Architecture paper has sent shockwaves through the quantum computing industry by demonstrating that RSA-2048 encryption could potentially be cracked with just 100,000 physical qubits. This is a massive order-of-magnitude reduction from previous estimates that once reached into the millions. Join host Konstantinos Karagiannis as he sits down with Felix Thomsen and Paul Webster from Iceberg Quantum as they explain the techniques in the paper and its serious potential ramifications. By leveraging high-efficiency LDPC codes and a novel modular architecture, the team explains how they’ve bridged the gap between theoretical quantum error correction and practical hardware implementation, effectively accelerating the timeline toward Q-Day. More than one quantum computing hardware roadmap has us reaching 100,000 physical qubits before 2030! And there’s no reason to believe future work couldn’t lower the qubit requirements even more.
Beyond the security implications, the architecture is also a blueprint for the first generation of utility-scale quantum systems. Thomsen and Webster detail how their modular design—featuring dedicated processing units, magic engines, and shared memory—can be optimized for “slow” hardware like trapped ions or applied to life-changing scientific breakthroughs in quantum chemistry and material science. Whether you are a cryptographer bracing for the post-quantum transition or a scientist eager to see the first practical applications of fault-tolerant quantum computing, you’ll need to understand this paper’s potential impact.
For more information on Iceberg Quantum, visit https://www.iceberg-quantum.com/.
To read the Pinnacle paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.11457.
Visit Protiviti at www.protiviti.com/US-en/technology-consulting/quantum-computing-services to learn more about how Protiviti is helping organizations get post-quantum ready.
Follow host Konstantinos Karagiannis on all socials: @KonstantHacker
Questions and comments are welcome!
Theme song by David Schwartz, copyright 2021.
The views expressed by the participants of this program are their own and do not represent the views of, nor are they endorsed by, Protiviti Inc., The Post-Quantum World, or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, shareholders, or subsidiaries. None of the content should be considered investment advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. Thanks for listening to this podcast. Protiviti Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, including minorities, females, people with disabilities, and veterans.
Beyond the security implications, the architecture is also a blueprint for the first generation of utility-scale quantum systems. Thomsen and Webster detail how their modular design—featuring dedicated processing units, magic engines, and shared memory—can be optimized for “slow” hardware like trapped ions or applied to life-changing scientific breakthroughs in quantum chemistry and material science. Whether you are a cryptographer bracing for the post-quantum transition or a scientist eager to see the first practical applications of fault-tolerant quantum computing, you’ll need to understand this paper’s potential impact.
For more information on Iceberg Quantum, visit https://www.iceberg-quantum.com/.
To read the Pinnacle paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.11457.
Visit Protiviti at www.protiviti.com/US-en/technology-consulting/quantum-computing-services to learn more about how Protiviti is helping organizations get post-quantum ready.
Follow host Konstantinos Karagiannis on all socials: @KonstantHacker
Questions and comments are welcome!
Theme song by David Schwartz, copyright 2021.
The views expressed by the participants of this program are their own and do not represent the views of, nor are they endorsed by, Protiviti Inc., The Post-Quantum World, or their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, shareholders, or subsidiaries. None of the content should be considered investment advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as an endorsement of any company, security, fund, or other securities or non-securities offering. Thanks for listening to this podcast. Protiviti Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, including minorities, females, people with disabilities, and veterans.