QANplatform, a company specializing in quantum-resistant technology, has announced that its technology has been adopted by the first European country. This technology is designed to protect government-owned cybersecurity infrastructure from quantum computing attacks. By utilizing a quantum-resistant blockchain, developers can create smart contracts and applications that are immune to such attacks. The name of the country that has adopted this technology has not been revealed for national security reasons.
The integration of the QAN stack will play a crucial role in the country’s post-quantum cybersecurity measures, according to Patrick Storchenegger, the CEO of QAN’s Intellectual property holding company.
The concept of post-quantum security has gained significant attention since the launch of IBM Condor, the second-largest quantum processor with 1,121 qubits, in December 2023.
The European Commission recognized the growing threat posed by quantum computers and initiated the Quantum Flagship research initiative in 2018. This initiative has a budget of at least €1 billion and a duration of 10 years.
Major companies are also preparing for a post-quantum future. Apple recently released an update in February that incorporates post-quantum cryptography into iMessages, making it one of the few providers of quantum-proof messaging. While Signal introduced a “quantum-resistant” encryption upgrade in September 2023, Apple claims to have achieved “level 3” encryption first.
Although it is currently impractical to break existing messaging encryption models due to the time and computing power required, the advancement of quantum computers will eventually make it possible.
Johann Polecsak, the co-founder and CTO of QANplatform, emphasized the importance of staying ahead of the curve in terms of cybersecurity protocols in relation to quantum computing.
In December 2023, QANplatform secured a $15 million investment from MBK Holding, which will be used to enhance its quantum-resistant technology stack.