NIST adds HQC algorithm from SandboxAQ to PQC standards
SandboxAQ has announced that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has officially selected HQC (Hamming Quasi-Cyclic) as the fifth algorithm in its suite of post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) standards.
Among these five PQC algorithms, three will be utilized for signatures. The remaining two, HQC and ML-KEM, will serve as the NIST-approved algorithms that ensure the confidentiality of communications across the Internet, cellular networks, payment systems, and more.
The selection of HQC marks SandboxAQ’s second major contribution to NIST’s post-quantum standardisation effort, a crucial step in ensuring the protection of the world’s most critical data.
HQC is a key encapsulation mechanism designed to secure the exchange of encryption keys in a quantum-resistant manner. Unlike traditional public key encryption systems, such as the widely used RSA public key cryptosystem and elliptic-curve cryptography (ECC), which quantum computers render obsolete, HQC is built on the well-established mathematical foundation of error-correcting codes that are not vulnerable to quantum attacks. It provides strong security guarantees while balancing performance factors such as computational efficiency and key size, which are key considerations for large-scale real-world deployments. In NIST’s final selection report, the HQC algorithm, co-invented by members of the SandboxAQ team, emerged as a robust and reliable candidate for broad adoption across industries, following multiple rounds of global cryptanalysis and peer review.
Before HQC, the SandboxAQ team played a significant role in developing SPHINCS+, one of the initial algorithms selected by NIST as part of its first set of PQC standards in 2022. With HQC now formally accepted into the standardisation process, SandboxAQ has contributed to two of the five critical PQC standards for key exchanges and signatures, demonstrating strong and sustained leadership in quantum-resistant cybersecurity and paving the way for a safer digital world.
“HQC has foundations in coding theory that offer strong theoretical and practical protection against known quantum decryption methods, while its efficient performance profile makes it well-suited to real-world adoption,” said Taher Elgamal, a partner at Evolution Equity Partners and senior advisor at SandboxAQ, who is colloquially called ‘the father of SSL’. “With SPHINCS+ and HQC both standardised by NIST, SandboxAQ has solidified its leadership in developing effective PQC for enterprises and government agencies.”
“We began developing HQC in the 2000s, and by the 2010s, we had demonstrated that this protocol resolved a 40-year-old open problem in code-based key exchanges. Today, HQC stands as one of only two protocols securing the confidentiality of nearly all global communications,” said Carlos Aguilar Melchor, chief cybersecurity scientist at SandboxAQ. “At SandboxAQ, we’ve long championed the importance of standardisation, and contributing to two of the five NIST PQC standards reflects our commitment to shaping the future of cryptography.”
SandboxAQ occupies a unique position to enhance cryptographic postures, ensure better compliance, reduce outages, and strengthen cybersecurity. It produces world-class cryptographic research, internationally recognised standards, and widely adopted cryptographic innovations. By leveraging this world-leading expertise, SandboxAQ also offers an industry-leading cryptography management product, positioning itself uniquely within the global cryptographic landscape.
Our flagship cryptographic offering, AQtive Guard, is trained on billions of cryptographic findings, meticulously structured and enriched with supplemental data by our world-class cryptography team. Leveraging our distinctive AI approach, seamless third-party integrations, and comprehensive 360-degree coverage sensors, AQtive Guard delivers unparalleled visibility and effectiveness for protecting enterprises and governments.
www.sandboxaq.com
www.nist.gov
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