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Last week’s newsletter told you about the launch of Nirvanic (which is using quantum simulations of neurons to simulate what makes human consciousness) and Photonic’s partnership with Telus to help prepare industries for a quantum future. And this week, there’s even more local news in quantum.

BTQ Technologies — one of Vancouver’s most established quantum companies — has partnered with Australia’s Macquarie University to expand its research. The project will build on the success of the pair’s 2022 collaboration, which resulted in a the development of “quantum proof-of-work”: a new approach to managing the distributed ledgers required for blockchain technologies, which dramatically reduces their energy usage and carbon footprint.

Why is blockchain and crypto suddenly so relevant again? Scroll down to our “ideas and insights” section below to find out.

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The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade announced its new board members and executive committee for 2024-2025.

Walter Pela, regional managing partner of KPMG will chair the organization, while Stuart Louie, co-President of the London Drugs Group, has been appointed to the role of senior vice-chair.

In total, the board consists of 35 B.C. business leaders spanning a wide range of industries and sectors, including Canadian Tire, the Aquilini Group, Industrio AI, and more. The new board of directors meets the requirements contained in the Government of Canada’s 50-30 challenge, which was adopted in January 2021, achieving gender balance and significant representation of under-represented groups.

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Dean Skurka, president and CEO of Toronto-based cryptocurrency company WonderFi, was reportedly kidnapped and held for ransom in downtown Toronto this week.

Remember crypto? Well, if you’ve gone full HODL during the last two years (holding on for dear life to your investments), you’ve been rewarded. At the moment that a Trump presidency became apparent, the crypto markets soared. Bitcoin alone jumped nearly eight percent, climbing above $75,000 and breaking its previous value record set in March. Other currencies saw similar gains.

Trump made claims during his campaign that he would make America “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin, as well as accepting campaign donations in the digital currency and launching his own venture to trade crypto.

Crypto has always been a shady world, and incidences of physical violence reportedly follow spikes in value. Jameson Lopp, who runs a U.S. security firm that focuses on protecting cryptocurrency owners, said he’s aware of 170 other cases of suspects using violence to steal bitcoins.

So before you start counting your new multimillions, it might be time to think about some personal security first. Oh — and now the crypto winter has apparently thawed, watch out for get-rich-quick schemes (or, more likely, get-rich-quick scams).

November 13 | 🎟️ #VTJTalks: Lessons Learned from Multimillion Dollar Exits: Be in the room with leaders who entered the Vancouver tech ecosystem and achieved a successful exit. Learn from their companies' real-world stories and insights on navigating the path to multimillion-dollar deals. ​This gathering is a great opportunity to hear practical advice, ask questions, and network with other founders and investors, whether you’re looking to scale your business or are simply curious about the exit process.

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November 18 | 🎟️ Vancouver Tech Business Book Swap: This event offers the perfect setting to connect with fellow members while sharing business or tech-focused reads. Bring a book (or two) that has inspired you, and trade it for a new source of knowledge from someone else in the community. It's a chance to swap more than just books — gain fresh perspectives, build connections, and spark inspiration as we head into the holiday season and prepare for the new year. For Vancouver Tech Journal members.

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