The Quantum Chain Hypothesis (QCH) proposes a unified, scale-invariant framework explaining systemic failures, cascades, and cyclic resets across all domains of reality — from quantum fluctuations to institutional collapse and cosmic expansion. Core Mechanism All systems are modeled as a quantum-interconnected network of energy-limited nodes. External inputs accumulate until a node’s finite capacity C(N) is exceeded → probabilistic rupture occurs → excess energy cascades to neighboring nodes (entanglement-like propagation) → broken nodes enter a “void state” that accumulates negative/dark energy → when void pressure reaches a critical threshold, a violent reset reboots the system (Big-Bang-like, black-hole/white-hole transition, revolution, cellular regeneration, etc.). Key Foundations Thermodynamic grounding via Landauer’s principle (erasure of 1 bit of information costs ≥ kT ln 2 joules) Quantum nuances: superposition for resilience, virtual particles for transient buffering, observer effect as energy injection Mathematical formalization (node capacity, exponential energy accumulation, percolation-based cascades, void accumulation, reset trigger with η ≈ 0.7 matching cosmic dark-energy fraction) Numerical validation: scale-free network simulations (NetworkX) show 54 % average cascade failure rate from gradual overload Applications & Implications Biology: cancer as node disconnection + void accumulation Society: institutional decay as thermodynamic inevitability; design modular, sunset-clause architectures AI: drift detection and built-in reset mechanisms Cosmology: dark energy as collective void pressure driving cyclic cosmology (consistent with Loop Quantum Gravity bounces) Status Speculative but falsifiable hypothesis, open for empirical testing via quantum simulators, gravitational-wave data, organizational analytics, and AI stress tests. Includes full mathematical appendix, simulation code references, and extensive bibliography (Landauer 1961 → recent 2024–2025 arXiv papers on Landauer saturation in Hawking radiation). Keywords (already in metadata): quantum networks, entropy, multiscale failures, dark energy, cyclic cosmology, Landauer’s principle, quantum information thermodynamics