This work presents a quantum algorithm for the Monte Carlo pricing of financial derivatives. We show how the relevant probability distributions can be prepared in quantum superposition, the payoff functions can be implemented via quantum circuits, and the price of financial derivatives can be extracted via quantum measurements. We show how the amplitude estimation algorithm can be applied to achieve a quadratic quantum speedup in the number of steps required to obtain an estimate for the price with high confidence. This work provides a starting point for further research at the interface of quantum computing and finance.
This work presents a quantum algorithm for the Monte Carlo pricing of financial derivatives. We show how the relevant probability distributions can be prepared in quantum superposition, the payoff functions can be implemented via quantum circuits, and the price of financial derivatives can be extracted via quantum measurements. We show how the amplitude estimation algorithm can be applied to achieve a quadratic quantum speedup in the number of steps required to obtain an estimate for the price with high confidence. This work provides a starting point for further research at the interface of quantum computing and finance.
Abstract Quantum algorithms for the pricing of financial derivatives have been discussed in recent papers. However, the pricing model discussed in those papers is too simple for practical purposes. It motivates us to consider how to implement more complex models used in financial institutions. In this paper, we consider the local volatility (LV) model, in which the volatility of the underlying asset price depends on the price and time. As in previous studies, we use the quantum amplitude estimation (QAE) as the main source of quantum speedup and discuss the state preparation step of the QAE, or equivalently, the implementation of the asset price evolution. We compare two types of state preparation: One is the amplitude encoding (AE) type, where the probability distribution of the derivative’s payoff is encoded to the probabilistic amplitude. The other is the pseudo-random number (PRN) type, where sequences of PRNs are used to simulate the asset price evolution as in classical Monte Carlo simulation. We present detailed circuit diagrams for implementing these preparation methods in fault-tolerant quantum computation and roughly estimate required resources such as the number of qubits and T-count.
A derivative is a financial security whose value is a function of underlying traded assets and market outcomes. Pricing a financial derivative involves setting up a market model, finding a martingale (``fair game") probability measure for the model from the given asset prices, and using that probability measure to price the derivative. When the number of underlying assets and/or the number of market outcomes in the model is large, pricing can be computationally demanding. We show that a variety of quantum techniques can be applied to the pricing problem in finance, with a particular focus on incomplete markets. We discuss three different methods that are distinct from previous works: they do not use the quantum algorithms for Monte Carlo estimation and they extract the martingale measure from market variables akin to bootstrapping, a common practice among financial institutions. The first two methods are based on a formulation of the pricing problem into a linear program and are using respectively the quantum zero-sum game algorithm and the quantum simplex algorithm as subroutines. For the last algorithm, we formalize a new market assumption milder than market completeness for which quantum linear systems solvers can be applied with the associated potential for large speedups. As a prototype use case, we conduct numerical experiments in the framework of the Black-Scholes-Merton model.
Quantum computing has emerged as a transformative computational paradigm, offering novel capabilities to tackle complex problems in finance—most notably in derivative pricing, risk management, and portfolio optimization. This review synthesizes recent advances in quantum algorithms and hybrid quantum–classical frameworks as applied to financial services, examining how technologies such as quantum-annealing, quantum amplitude estimation, and variational quantum circuits can improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability over classical methods. The study provides a systematic assessment of key use-cases: (1) derivative pricing and greeks computation via quantum Monte Carlo and amplitude estimation; (2) risk management enhancements, including Value-at-Risk (VaR) and conditional VaR through quantum gradient estimation; and (3) portfolio optimization via QUBO (quadratic unconstrained binary optimization) mapping, the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) and quantum annealing approaches. In addition to reviewing technological potential, the paper addresses critical barriers—hardware noise, coherence limitations, data integration, regulatory considerations—and outlines future research directions, including quantum-resilient cryptography in finance and industry coupling. By bringing together algorithmic, financial and regulatory perspectives, this review seeks to guide academics and practitioners toward the next frontier in financial computing.
Financial modeling and risk analysis involve computationally intensive tasks -- Monte Carlo simulation for derivative pricing, portfolio optimisation over high-dimensional asset spaces, and Value-at-Risk estimation from complex multivariate distributions -- where quantum computing offers potential polynomial-to-quadratic speedups. This paper proposes the Quantum Financial Computation Framework (QFCF), a systematic evaluation of quantum algorithms for four core financial computing tasks: option pricing (quantum amplitude estimation for Monte Carlo), portfolio optimisation (QAOA and VQE on quadratic unconstrained binary optimisation formulations), credit risk assessment (quantum Bayesian inference), and Value-at-Risk estimation (quantum arithmetic circuits). QFCF is evaluated on 16 financial benchmark problems spanning European and Asian option pricing, 50-500 asset portfolio optimisation, and credit portfolio loss distributions on near-term (NISQ) and fault-tolerant quantum hardware models. Key results: quantum amplitude estimation achieves quadratic speedup over classical Monte Carlo for option pricing with circuit depth scaling as O(1/ε) versus classical O(1/ε2); QAOA achieves portfolio optimisation solution quality within 4.8% of classical branch-and-bound for 50-asset problems; quantum Bayesian credit scoring reduces inference time by 38x for 200-variable credit networks. The framework introduces the Quantum Financial Utility Index (QFUI) and quantitative quantum advantage thresholds for each financial task.
We discuss how quantum computation can be applied to financial problems, providing an overview of current approaches and potential prospects. We review quantum optimization algorithms, and expose how quantum annealers can be used to optimize portfolios, find arbitrage opportunities, and perform credit scoring. We also discuss deep-learning in finance, and suggestions to improve these methods through quantum machine learning. Finally, we consider quantum amplitude estimation, and how it can result in a quantum speed-up for Monte Carlo sampling. This has direct applications to many current financial methods, including pricing of derivatives and risk analysis. Perspectives are also discussed.
Quantum computing is revolutionizing computational methods in finance by enhancing efficiency and accuracy in financial modeling and risk management. This review explores the impact of quantum computing in finance, focusing on derivative pricing, risk management, and portfolio optimization. It analyzes the benefits, limitations, and future implications of integrating quantum technologies with classical financial systems. A comprehensive review of quantum Monte Carlo methods, quantum algorithms, and their financial applications was conducted. Theoretical foundations, including Chebyshev’s inequality and Grover’s search method, were evaluated for their role in enhancing sampling efficiency and predictive accuracy. Empirical studies and use cases demonstrate the practical implications of quantum computing in pricing financial derivatives and managing risk through Value at Risk and Conditional Value at Risk assessments. The critical findings reveal that Quantum Monte Carlo algorithms provide substantial efficiency gains, reducing sample size requirements by up to fourfold compared to classical methods. Techniques employed in prior studies highlight the effectiveness of Quantum Amplitude Estimation for derivative pricing and risk analysis. However, challenges persist in scalability, data quality, integration with classical systems, and compliance with regulatory standards. This research contributes to the current body of knowledge by providing a comprehensive analysis of quantum algorithms’ practical applications in derivative pricing, risk management, and portfolio optimization, demonstrating the efficiency gains and limitations of quantum approaches. Future research should explore hybrid quantum–classical frameworks, quantum applications in blockchain, and enhanced quantum cryptography to ensure secure and efficient financial transactions.