In brief
- France will stop certifying security products that lack quantum‑safe encryption beginning in 2027.
- Officials warned that future quantum computers could decrypt data intercepted today.
- The decision arrives as crypto developers and wallet providers prepare for potential quantum threats to Bitcoin and other blockchains.
France is preparing to phase out security products that lack quantum‑resistant encryption, highlighting growing worries about the future of cryptography that protects everything from government networks to Bitcoin.
According to Reuters, France’s cybersecurity agency ANSSI announced this week that it will cease certifying products without quantum‑safe encryption starting in 2027 and advises companies to procure only quantum‑safe solutions by 2030.
ANSSI certification is required for French government agencies and critical‑infrastructure operators, making the move a de‑facto phase‑out of legacy cryptographic systems.
“It’s not only a technical issue,” ANSSI Chief of Staff Samih Souissi said at the annual France Quantum conference. “It’s a matter of governance, industrial planning, regulation, and sovereignty.”
The policy shift comes amid increasing anxiety over “Q‑Day,” the anticipated moment when quantum computers become powerful enough to break modern encryption. Security experts also warn of “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, where adversaries collect encrypted data today expecting future quantum machines to unlock it.
While quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption do not yet exist, timelines are tightening. In March, Google set a 2029 deadline to transition its systems to post‑quantum cryptography. In May, quantum‑security firm Project Eleven estimated a cryptographically relevant quantum computer could emerge as early as 2030, potentially jeopardizing roughly 7 million Bitcoin.
Crypto industry leaders are already debating how to prepare for a post‑quantum world. Earlier this year, the Ethereum Foundation created a dedicated post‑quantum security team, elevating quantum resistance to a top priority for the network.
Last week, Coinbase’s quantum advisory council urged blockchain developers to begin planning migrations to quantum‑safe cryptography and to address the fate of assets that never transition. Simultaneously, the Stellar Development Foundation unveiled a three‑stage roadmap to migrate the XLM network to quantum‑safe cryptography, including a protocol upgrade that allows users to add quantum‑resistant signers without changing wallet addresses.
Some executives caution against interpreting these projections as an imminent crisis.
“The risk is rising, but this was expected. As we approach the target date for full migration to post‑quantum cryptography, confidence in that timeline grows,” Boundless CEO Shiv Shankar told Decrypt. “There’s no cause for panic. The smartest minds are actively working on this problem.”
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