Quantum Threat: France and the G7 Call for Immediate Action

The ANSSI and the G7 Sound the Alarm

The quantum threat is no longer considered distant enough to be ignored. Although no quantum computer today is capable of breaking the main cryptographic systems used on the Internet at scale, their potential arrival necessitates preparing now for a migration to technologies resistant to these future computing capabilities.

In this context, the ANSSI, which will chair the G7 cybersecurity working group during the French presidency in 2026, has just published a call to action with its partners aimed at public and private decision-makers. The group brings together the national cybersecurity agencies of G7 member countries, as well as the European Commission and ENISA as invited guests.

The conclusion is unequivocal: the transition to post-quantum cryptography is now a strategic security issue that requires collective, coordinated, and proactive action. Both public and private organizations are thus invited to prepare their migration without waiting for the emergence of a quantum computer capable of compromising current systems.

This initiative extends the work initiated in 2025 under the Canadian G7 presidency, which had already led to a technical declaration aimed at structuring a common approach to the quantum risk.

Why the Quantum Threat is So Concerning

Quantum computers exploit quantum physics to solve problems beyond the reach of current machines. While they promise major advances in medicine or science, they also threaten to break the public key cryptography that currently protects the confidentiality, integrity, and authentication of communications.

One scenario particularly worries experts: the so-called "harvest now, decrypt later" attack. Adversaries are currently storing encrypted data to decrypt it later, once a sufficiently powerful quantum computer becomes available. This concerns government files, sensitive personal data, and trade secrets, whose confidentiality must be guaranteed over several decades.

No quantum machine capable of breaking current encryptions exists yet, but the G7 emphasizes that action must be taken now. The migration to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) should be completed by the end of the 2030s in the private sector, with variations depending on the countries.

What the Call Changes for French Companies

For French investors and players in cybersecurity and blockchain, the signal is strong. The ANSSI relies on algorithms standardized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to guide organizations towards new standards resistant to quantum attacks. The recommendations cover governance, project team formation, internal awareness, budgeting, and cryptographic agility.

The cryptocurrency sector is directly concerned. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and most blockchains rely on cryptographic schemes (ECDSA, elliptic curves) that will become vulnerable to a quantum computer with cryptographic capabilities. The Bitcoin community is already actively debating solutions like BIP-360.

For the G7, starting a controlled migration today will be cheaper and easier to manage than a transition in an emergency. For French companies, it is also an opportunity to differentiate themselves by demonstrating their seriousness regarding cybersecurity to their clients and investors.