From Quantum Computing to Blockchain: New Market Opportunities Created by Emerging Technology Convergence in 2025
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New Paradigm of Technology Convergence
As we enter the second half of 2025, the global tech industry is reaching a new turning point that surpasses the innovation of single technologies. Emerging technologies like quantum computing, blockchain, brain-computer interfaces (BCI), 6G communications, and synthetic biology, which have developed individually, are now converging to create unexpected synergies. According to a recent report by market research firm Gartner, the technology convergence market is projected to grow from its current size of $124 billion in 2025 to $568 billion by 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 34.7%.
What is particularly noteworthy is that this convergence is creating entirely new business models and industrial ecosystems beyond mere technological amalgamation. For instance, New York-based startup IonQ and California’s Rigetti Computing are developing a ‘quantum blockchain’ solution by combining quantum computing technology with blockchain encryption security, offering a level of security previously unattainable with traditional encryption methods. Their initial tests reportedly achieved a security level 10^15 times greater than the conventional RSA-2048 encryption method.
This trend of technological convergence is also rapidly spreading in Korea. Samsung Electronics, based in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, unveiled a prototype of its ‘Neuro Display’ in October 2025, which combines its quantum dot display technology with brainwave recognition technology. This technology analyzes users’ brainwave patterns in real-time to provide a personalized visual experience, with initial tests showing a 73% improvement in user satisfaction compared to existing displays. Samsung announced plans to invest 850 billion won in this technology over the next three years.
Chinese tech giants are also making aggressive investments in this field. Beijing-based Baidu announced that its ‘Quantum-AI Convergence Platform,’ which combines its AI platform with quantum computing, achieved a learning speed 1,000 times faster than existing AI models. Additionally, Tencent, based in Shenzhen, is developing technology that integrates brain-computer interfaces into its blockchain-based metaverse platform, allowing users to manipulate virtual environments with their thoughts.
Market Changes and Competitive Landscape
This trend of technology convergence is fundamentally altering the competitive landscape of traditional tech companies. In the past, companies specialized in specific technology fields competed independently, but now the ability to integrate various technologies into platforms is emerging as a key competitive advantage. IBM, based in Armonk, New York, proactively responded to this change by launching its ‘Hybrid Cloud-Quantum Computing Integration Platform’ in the first half of 2025. This platform seamlessly integrates quantum computing capabilities into existing cloud services, enabling customers to solve complex optimization problems 2,300% faster on average compared to previous solutions.
IBM’s approach has elicited an immediate market response. In the third quarter of 2025, IBM’s quantum computing-related revenue increased by 156% year-on-year to $2.4 billion, accounting for 15.2% of total revenue. The adoption rate is particularly high in the financial services sector, with major investment banks like JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs utilizing IBM’s quantum-cloud convergence solution for risk calculations and portfolio optimization.
Meanwhile, Intel, based in Santa Clara, California, has taken a different strategy. Intel launched its ‘Loihi 3rd Generation’ chip in September 2025, combining its semiconductor manufacturing technology with neuromorphic computing. This chip mimics the neural network structure of the human brain, performing AI computations with 1/1000th the power of a conventional CPU. More intriguingly, the chip exhibits quantum computer-like performance in specific computations by leveraging quantum effects. Intel announced that it expects to ship 1.5 million units of the Loihi 3rd Generation chip in the fourth quarter of 2025.
In the Asian market, SK Telecom, based in Seoul, is showing a unique positioning. SK Telecom is building a ‘Quantum Secure Communication Network’ by combining its 5G/6G communication infrastructure with quantum encryption technology. As of November 2025, it has commercialized a fully secure communication service using quantum entanglement over a 400km section connecting Seoul and Busan. This service is theoretically nearly 100% hack-proof compared to existing encrypted communications and has garnered significant interest from government agencies and financial institutions. SK Telecom announced plans to complete a nationwide quantum secure network connecting major cities by 2026.
LG Electronics, also based in Seoul, is demonstrating a differentiated approach. LG is pursuing the ‘Mind Home’ project, which combines its smart home devices with brain-computer interface technology. This system analyzes users’ brainwave patterns to automatically adjust lighting, temperature, and music in the home. In beta testing in the second half of 2025, the average user satisfaction score was 8.4/10, with particularly high responses from elderly users. LG announced plans to invest 420 billion won in commercializing this technology by 2026.
The competition among these companies is evolving beyond mere technology development into a race to build new ecosystems. Each company is expanding partnerships centered around its core technologies, which is accelerating overall market growth. For example, IBM has entered into a strategic alliance with Samsung Electronics to develop quantum computing-based semiconductor design technology, while Intel is conducting joint research on neuromorphic memory technology with SK Hynix.
Market analysts predict that this trend of technology convergence will be the most important growth driver for the tech industry over the next five years. According to a recent report by McKinsey, new market opportunities arising from technology convergence are expected to reach $12 trillion globally by 2030. The Asia-Pacific region is projected to account for 42% of the total market, showing the most significant growth, driven by government-level investments and aggressive technology development by major Asian countries such as Korea, China, and Japan.
Moreover, the investment patterns of venture capital and private equity are changing significantly. In the first to third quarters of 2025, investments in startups in the technology convergence field increased by 289% year-on-year to $84.7 billion. The quantum computing-AI convergence sector accounted for 31% of total investments, emerging as the most popular investment target. This increase in investment reflects investors’ confidence in the commercialization potential of the technology convergence field.
However, alongside this rapid development, new challenges are also emerging. The most significant issue is the increased complexity and resulting security vulnerabilities due to technology convergence. As multiple technologies are combined, potential attack vectors increase exponentially, making it difficult to fully address them with existing security frameworks. According to a 2025 report by the cybersecurity institute SANS Institute, security incidents in technology convergence systems cause an average of 4.7 times more damage than those in single technology systems.
Regulatory and standardization issues are also emerging as critical challenges. In a situation where each technology field has different regulatory frameworks, there is a lack of a consistent regulatory framework for new converged technologies. The European Union (EU) plans to release a draft ‘Converged Technology Regulatory Guidelines’ in December 2025, and the United States and China are also working on similar regulatory frameworks. The Korean government is expanding its ‘Emerging Technology Convergence Regulatory Sandbox’ system, led by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and plans to complete a comprehensive regulatory framework by 2026.
The shortage of talent is another serious challenge. While there are many specialists in individual technologies, there is a severe lack of convergent talent capable of understanding and utilizing multiple technologies integratively. According to LinkedIn’s 2025 Global Talent Report, the demand for experts in the technology convergence field is 8.3 times higher than the supply. Consequently, major companies are actively pursuing the retraining of existing employees and fostering convergent talent through industry-academia cooperation with universities.
Despite these challenges, the potential for innovation brought by technology convergence is immense. Particularly, there are countless application areas that can contribute to solving fundamental human problems in fields such as healthcare, education, environment, and energy. For example, a new drug development platform combining quantum computing, AI, and synthetic biology is expected to reduce development time by 1/10 and increase success rates by threefold compared to existing methods. Additionally, the convergence of brain-computer interfaces and VR/AR technology holds the potential to fundamentally change the education paradigm.
In conclusion, the technology convergence trend we are witnessing at the end of 2025 can be evaluated as the prelude to a new industrial revolution, beyond mere technological progress. How companies adapt to these changes and seize new opportunities will be key factors determining their future competitiveness. Korean companies, in particular, are facing a significant opportunity to secure a leading position in the global market with active government support. It is essential to continuously monitor the development trends and market changes in this field.
*This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Investment decisions should be made based on individual judgment and responsibility.*
