Post-Quantum Security Chip Advances Embedded Cryptography

Leading semiconductor and digital security manufacturers are advancing hardware with integrated quantum-safe cryptography to address the emerging threat that quantum computing poses to existing encryption standards. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, held 6–9 January in Las Vegas, Samsung Electronics’ System LSI Business presented a security chip incorporating post-quantum cryptography (PQC) with software supplied by Thales, marking a technical milestone in secure embedded systems.

Why Quantum Computing Forces a Rethink of Embedded Security
The accelerated development of quantum computing has prompted industry efforts to future-proof cryptographic systems. Classical public-key cryptographic algorithms such as RSA and ECC are vulnerable to quantum algorithms like Shor’s algorithm, which could, in principle, break these schemes at scale. This vulnerability drives implementation of quantum-resistant cryptographic techniques — part of the broader digital supply chain and automotive data ecosystem’s adaptation to next-generation security requirements. The chip recognized at CES integrates post-quantum cryptography into a mobile security controller, targeting connected devices and Internet of Things (IoT) applications where long-term confidentiality and authentication are essential.

Embedding Post-Quantum Algorithms at the Silicon Level
The security chip embeds Thales’ hardened operating system and quantum-resistant cryptographic libraries within an embedded Secure Element (eSE). By combining firmware and OS support for PQC, the solution is designed to protect encrypted data and device credentials from both classical and anticipated quantum attacks immediately upon device startup. According to published specifications for the Samsung component, the silicon implements hardware-optimized lattice-based PQC algorithms that can deliver processing performance up to approximately 17 times faster than software-only implementations for equivalent cryptographic tasks, while also maintaining a low power and memory footprint suitable for constrained embedded environments.

These technical choices address a known risk vector: “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, in which adversaries record encrypted communications today with the intent to decrypt them once quantum computing capabilities become available. Integrated PQC aims to mitigate this risk by using quantum-secure key exchange and signature schemes standardized or recommended by cryptographic bodies.

From Mobile Devices to Industrial IoT: Where Quantum-Safe Chips Matter
The convergence of post-quantum cryptography and embedded security targets a range of industries that require secure identity and data protection over extended lifecycles. Use cases include consumer electronics, automotive security modules, industrial IoT devices, and mobile communications hardware, where secure boot, authentication, and encrypted storage are critical. Hardware implementation of PQC libraries reduces reliance on host processors for cryptographic operations, enhancing isolation and resilience against side-channel and supply-chain attacks.

From a system integrator perspective, embedding quantum-resistant cryptography at the silicon level facilitates compliance with emerging security frameworks and benchmarks without imposing significant performance penalties. The energy-efficient design and reduced memory requirements support deployment across device classes, from smartphones to connected sensors.

Ecosystem and Collaboration
The partnership reflects an industry trend toward co-design of hardware and cryptographic software stacks. Integrating post-quantum algorithms into secure elements requires alignment between chip designers, cryptographic library providers, and standards bodies such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which has published post-quantum algorithm standards. Although the delivered solution is distinguished in early adoption at a major technology showcase, broader interoperability and benchmarking against alternative PQC implementations will depend on ongoing standardization and certification processes.

What Early Post-Quantum Integration Signals for Long-Lifecycle Devices
The CES 2026 recognition of the Samsung security chip underpinned by Thales’ secure OS and PQC libraries underscores a technical shift in embedded cryptography toward systems designed to withstand quantum-era threats. For technical stakeholders, the integration of quantum-resistant cryptographic mechanisms into mainstream secure elements represents a step toward securing device ecosystems over long product lifecycles and addresses specific vectors of cryptographic risk as quantum computing capabilities evolve.

www.thalesgroup.com