Welcome to the Core Blockchain Overview. In this edition, we explore bitcoin neobanks, quantum computing threats, and the launch of Z protocol.

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🔸 What happened: As the competition heats up for onchain strategies, Core is honing in on its plans for a bitcoin neobank and a quantum computing defense, its Initial Contributor Rich Rines and DevRel Rumeel Hussain shared on its latest Token Relations Quarterly Webinar.

In the near future, Core is launching SatPay, a Bitcoin-focused neobank that lets users deposit the asset, borrow stablecoins against it and spend via a debit card, all while their bitcoin earns passive yield. "People like yourself and myself might be willing to use DeFi interfaces, but your average person out there would not," Rines said. "They want something that feels more like a Revolut or Robinhood that has a great and tight UX."

Meanwhile, Core is building out a quantum resistance roadmap to protect its cryptographic layer that secures user funds and transaction signing on the network. "Quantum does not threaten the blockchain itself, the ledger, hashing, [and] mining are likely fine," Hussain said. "The one thing that is [at risk] is the digital signature, which is basically the proof you own a key and authorize the transactions."

🔸 Why it matters: While a lot of bitcoin sits idly, active holders largely want two things: yield on their bitcoin and the ability to borrow against it without selling. Core is building products around both on the front and the back end by implementing network upgrades so the cryptography underpinning those products holds up as quantum computing advances.

SatPay, which is a mobile app built in collaboration with Mobilium, lets users deposit and spend bitcoin for everyday purchases. "The Sat Pay application is the engine which powers [everyday use]," Mobilium founder Wojtek Kosinski said during the webinar. “A card that allows a user to buy a coffee or pay for Uber, and eventually be able to pay for bills."

Sat Pay is designed to make the onboarding process as frictionless as possible, while still abiding by set rules in place, such as KYC. “It should be as simple as possible,” Kosinski said. “You just download it, go through a simple KYC process, put your bitcoin to work, and eventually spend and borrow against it.”

On the flip side, in order to ensure the blockchain can meet the demand of consumer adoption, the infrastructure on the backend needs to work as intended, while steering clear of potential threats. Hussain sees quantum computing as a possibility that could prohibit growth, due to its exposure to encrypted data.

In general, quantum computing is seen as a threat to the signature scheme that proves a user owns their keys and can authorize transactions. Theoretically, it reverse-engineers a private key from a public one, something classical computers cannot do. "Every transaction you have ever sent is publicly available onchain," Hussain said. This means an attacker can target it and then hack it in the future if the right hardware exists. 

To navigate this, Core's response is a hybrid approach where every transaction will carry two signatures, one using today's standard cryptography, and another using a new post-quantum algorithm. "If the quantum breaks the classical, the post quantum covers you," Hussain said. 

In other words, if quantum computers eventually crack today's encryption, the second signature will act as a backup security option. If the new algorithm has an unforeseen flaw, the existing one still protects users. 

🔸 The bigger picture: While Sat Pay and Core's quantum roadmap are solving for different solutions, together they reflect where Core is placing its bets in 2026: that Bitcoin's next phase is about utility. 

On the consumer side, Sat Pay is trying to close the gap between holding Bitcoin and actually using it day to day, without requiring users to sell. On the infrastructure side, Core is future-proofing the cryptographic layer before quantum hardware catches up to the threat. 

All in, Core is putting new infrastructure in place so its products and network can scale for its next phase.

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This information is for entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered financial advice, nor should it be used to make investment decisions. Cryptocurrencies are high risk and you should consult a financial professional before making any financial decisions. Make sure you do your own research.