NIST (US National Institute of Standards and Technology) has enlisted researchers from academia and private industry to get quantum-resistant cryptography ready for 2022. The agency is overseeing the second phase of its Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Process to narrow down the best candidates for quantum-resistant algorithms that can replace modern cryptography.
The NIST process is considering algorithms that fall into two general categories: The first includes key-establishment algorithms that enable two parties that have never met to agree on a shared secret, the second category involves algorithms for digital signatures that ensure the authenticity of data.
Most teams openly share frameworks and feedback on a single mailing list. Some of the competing algorithms represent relatively minor variations on the same cryptographic approaches. (IEEE Spectrum)
