Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
Quantum Computing | Dec 11, 2024

Image: Super Computer Development (Google blog)
Earlier this week, Google introduced its latest quantum computing chip, Willow, a breakthrough that could reshape the future of technology. According to reports, this isn't an incremental improvement but an actual leap towards solving the world's toughest problems. Previously, quantum computing has been more of a promise than a reality due to many tech challenges such as its error rates that make calculations less reliable. Willow solves this problem by scaling up qubits drastically while reducing errors, setting a new standard in the advanced field. Let's have a closer look at what makes Willow a game-changer.
Willow can solve incredibly complex problems in just five minutes. That includes tasks that would take today's top supercomputers over 10 septillion years to solve. That's a mind-boggling amount of power and beyond what humans can even comprehend.
Put this another way, this type of compute power will allow researchers to tackle problems that were previously impossible to even attempt. Yes, in the future we can all expect to never see the processing 'hour glass' while we wait ever again.
Most quantum chips run into trouble as they grow, with errors piling up as more qubits are added. Willow’s latest design fixes this by allowing more qubits while actually reducing errors. Imagine a race car that not only gets faster but also becomes safer and more reliable the faster it goes. Yes, that's one of the mind-boggling parts of this breakthrough.
Earlier quantum computers were basically restricted to lab use to work on theoretical problems. Willow game-changes this with its stability and speed, making it possible to use in the practical real world as we know it today in cases such as:
Willow's milestone of keeping an error-corrected qubit stable for up to an hour means it's stable and possible to handle more complicated calculations without failure. This reliability is key for making quantum computing suitable for practical use cases, and why Willow's breakthrough is a game-changer.
Google’s announcement has drawn reactions from across the tech world. Elon Musk and Sam Altman were 'wowed' with the milestone, highlighting its potential impact.
Competitors like IBM and Microsoft are advancing their quantum efforts to keep pace.
Google has also partnered with Nvidia to strengthen its position. Nvidia’s Eos supercomputer helps simulate quantum designs and accelerating development to address challenges like noise interference.
One big question is whether quantum computing could break the cryptographic security that protects cryptocurrencies? For now, Bitcoin and other blockchain systems remain secure. Experts estimate a quantum computer would need at least 13 million qubits to crack Bitcoin’s encryption in a day. With 105 qubits, Willow is powerful but nowhere near that threshold.
The cryptocurrency industry is actively preparing for a quantum-secure future. For example, Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has outlined plans to integrate quantum-resistant cryptographic upgrades into Ethereum's foundational code to protect the network's long-term security.
Also, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has identified the first group of encryption tools designed to survive attacks from future quantum computers.
Google's breakthrough quantum computing chip Willow will accelerate the practical use of quantum computing tech capable of revolutionizing industries over night. While it doesn’t pose an immediate threat to current cryptographic systems, it sure does remind us how quickly technology evolves in a way that just may solve humanity's toughest problems.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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BRICS | Dec 3, 2024

Image: Freepik/ibrandify
The original BRICS member nations including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa previously announced their bold vision to challenge the dominance of the U.S. dollar by creating a shared currency. The plan hatched and promised an alternative currency and payment system that would be free from the influence of U.S. sanctions and monetary policy.
Lord Lamont of Lerwick stated:
"If it ever happened, it would be a major threat to the Western-led financial system, but above all it would make it impossible for the West to impose sanctions on countries like Russia, China or Iran or other malign countries."
But is the dream now unravelling?
Just a few days ago, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced that American wasn't going to sit by idly while BRICS trading bloc tries to circumvent the U.S. dollar and threatened to implement a 100% tariff on BRICS nations if they launch an alternative currency. He also demanded commitment from these countries that that would and abandon any de-dollarization efforts.
The idea that the BRICS Countries are trying to move away from the Dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER. We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 30, 2024
Russia isn’t backing down arguing that Trump's threats could backfire by pushing even more countries to consider alternatives other than the dollar.
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman:
"[The dollar is losing its appeal as a reserve currency for many countries, a trend that is gathering pace]. More and more countries are switching to the use of national currencies in their trade and foreign economic activities. If the U.S. uses force, as they say economic force, to compel countries to use the dollar it will further strengthen the trend of switching to national currencies (in international trade)."
Recent reports say that some BRICS members may be stepping back from the initiative due to varying economies and conflicting monetary policies that are anticipated to be difficult to overcome. Each country has unique economic needs so a one size fits all approach to a currency solution is tricky. For example, China is an economic powerhouse and may prioritize its own currency at the expense of smaller nations.
Is it a zero sum game with a clear winner and loser?
China is best positioned to benefit if a BRICS currency takes off. They are the largest economy in the BRICS trading bloc and Beijing could use the initiative as a stepping stone to boost the yuan's role in global trade. China is strategically looking to increase its global influence so its beyond just economics. Critics are concerned that such dominance by China would come at the expense of smaller BRICS members.
Russia, currently at war with the Ukraine and constantly at loggerheads with the U.S. has a lot riding on the idea of an alternative BRICS currency. Russia is currently facing a litany of sanctions and economic isolation so an alternative to the U.S. dollar could help stabilize Russia's economy and offer it a better hand on the geopolitical global stage. Conversely, a failed BRICS currency could force Russia into a rock and a hard place.
India is being more cautious as it understands that while a BRICS currency may make trading easier within a bloc, it could give China more control. India has its own massively growing economy and aspirations so it's walking a fine line that balances cooperation while protecting its independence.
For Brazil and South Africa the risks are high with smaller rewards since their economies are much smaller and they may struggle to stay competitive in a system dominated by China and Russia. So while they may be benefits for a larger block, their smaller interests could easily get pushed to the side so the benefits aren't as clear nor are they guaranteed. Having said that Brazil has been a strong advocate for a BRICS currency system over the dollar.
While the U.S. dollar is still dominant, cracks are appearing as some countries are seeking alternatives to U.S. economic sanctions or geopolitical strategies. Since trading nations are deeply integrated and affect global markets, any significant changes to currency dynamics could have serious global impact. It could appear as shifting exchanges rates, new supply chains / trade flows and different financial alliances.
Companies and policymakers need to remain agile. Even if the BRICS currency initiative fails, its a movement that gained momentum and certainly a trend that the world cannot ignore.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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RPAA | Dec 2, 2024
Image: Freepik/rawpixel.com
The Bank of Canada has published a list of applicants (currently 1187) including many key players in Canada’s retail payment space. This list will be updated regularly and will show all registered PSPs once the transition period ends on September 8, 2025.
PSPs must comply with regulations to manage risks and protect user funds. The Bank of Canada emphasizes the importance of compliance and is committed to supporting PSPs in understanding their responsibilities under the RPAA.
A new guideline on protecting users' funds will be published shortly which contains key information for payment service providers to meet their responsibilities.
Stay tuned for more updates...
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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AI | Nov 28, 2024

Image: Freepik
Well there's not a day that goes by that artificial intelligence (AI) doesn't amaze while also inflicting fear. AI's latest milestone is unsettling, as its been proven that it can clone human voices so convincingly that even bank's advanced security systems can be tricked. This article is based on an investigative piece by Shari Vahl at the BBC who proved that a clone of her voice breached two major bank's voice ID systems. The security and fraud implications raise the frightening truth that current authentication protections are not good enough in the era of generative AI.
Today, voice cloning believe it or not is pretty straightforward. There are a growing number of voice cloning services that varying features and capabilities such as ElevenLabs, Resemble AI, and Respeecher. Descript compares a few of the pros and cons of the best AI voice cloning tools here.
So Vahl cloned her voice and tested it on the 'voice ID' systems of Santander and Halifax banks. Both systems use a simple phase to authenticate voice ID, "my voice is my password' and grant full access to bank accounts and tools. Here's how the conversation went.

Image: Shari Vahl Voice ID authentication with Voice Clone at Santander bank
Yes, as you see from the conversation above, using her cloned voice she successfully passed Voice ID and logged into her account, using basic speaker equipment at home. She duplicated the same process at Halifax Bank with the same result so she was two for two in hacking into her own bank account with a cloned voice ID.
Many companies such as Rogers say that Voice ID or Voice biometrics is more secure than traditional PINs or passwords but if a cybercriminal can easily pass (or by-pass) a voice ID system using a cloned voice easily, to access sensitive information or drain bank accounts, we've got a serious problem.
Santander and Halifax both defended their systems saying that voice ID is just one layer of their security framework. Here's how they responded according to the BBC article.
Halifax Bank response:
"[Voice ID is an] optional security measure. We are confident that it offers a higher level of security compared to traditional knowledge-based authentication methods, and that our layered approach to security and fraud prevention provides the right level of protection for customers' accounts, while still making them easy to access when needed."
Santander Bank response:
"We have not seen any fraud as a result of the use of voice ID and are confident that it provides greater levels of security than traditional knowledge-based authentication methods. [Voice ID] is one element of our stringent approach to customer security and fraud prevention, with a range of comprehensive checks based on the nature of the customer's request. We constantly review, test and enhance our systems in response to increasingly sophisticated tactics used by fraudsters."
Banks, government, regulators, businesses, and customers all need to wake-up and take the appropriate actions to protect themselves.
While AI is a marvel technology, it's creating new risks that demand smarter protections for all. Similar to the old saying "buyer beware", we now live in an age of "user beware." Stay informed. Stay safe.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
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