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Abstract Cryptography proves "knowledge," but it cannot prove "physical origin." This gap is now being forcefully pried open by the 2026 Convergence: Quantum computing erodes the hardness assumptions behind traditional signatures, while Agentic AI drives the marginal cost of synthesizing fraudulent transactions toward zero in a pure algorithmic cloud (a "Causal Vacuum"). This white paper proposes a physical-layer provenance framework for high-assurance financial networks, anchored not by computational hardness, but by the Second Law of Thermodynamics. The framework rests on the Physical-Asymmetry Postulate (Eproduce≫Everify): producing a genuine physical history forces an attacker to do real thermodynamic work, whereas verifying it takes only a single measurement. We introduce Five Physical-Layer Provenance Pillars: CVD (Causal Vacuum Detection): Checking the dissipation trace of real work against synthetic generation. Thermodynamic Audit (TGO / Leq≤0.5 mm): A topological geometric offload framework for origin-side verification. SII (Spatial-Inertial phase Identification): Validating physical-origin consistency up to the Tsirelson quantum ceiling. Zero-Friction Blocking: Default volatility driven by entropy increase. ZTJ-L (Zeno-Triggered Joule Latch): An irreversible phase-transition trigger (Fend state) using the Landauer limit (Emin≥kBT ln2) to destroy high-risk paths physically rather than logically. Strict Disclosure Tiering Statement (Legal DR / Final Legal Boundary: Tier 1: physical mechanisms (CVD / SII / TGO / Λ24 / Leq) already disclosed in HPCA / V7.5 / V8.5. Tier 2: publicly reproducible physical-constant checks. Tier 3: cooperative integration protocol kept under pending CIP and trade secret.
Chin-Yu Hsu (Sun,) studied this question.