France is moving to phase out existing cryptographic systems to prepare for the era of quantum computers. From 2027 it will stop certifying security products that do not apply post-quantum cryptography (PQC). By 2030, it aims to steer government agencies and critical infrastructure operators to adopt only quantum-resistant products. The move is expected to speed up discussions in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry on how to respond to quantum-computer threats.

On June 18 local time, crypto media outlet Decrypt reported that the French cybersecurity agency ANSSI recently released a roadmap for transitioning to post-quantum cryptography. It said it plans to stop certifying security products that use existing cryptographic systems from 2027.

ANSSI certification is used as a de facto mandatory requirement in the process by which French government agencies and major infrastructure operators adopt products. As a result, ending certification is interpreted as a step toward a phased exit of existing public-key cryptographic systems. France has in effect signalled it will proactively replace cryptographic technology used in government networks and national critical infrastructure.

Sami Souissi (사미 수이시), ANSSI's chief of staff, said at a recent France Quantum event that quantum readiness is not simply a technology upgrade issue. "Quantum readiness is not only a technical issue but also a matter of governance and industrial strategy, regulation, and digital sovereignty," he said.

Behind the decision is concern about so-called "Q-Day." Q-Day refers to the point when quantum computers emerge that can effectively decrypt widely used public-key encryption. The security industry warns that even if quantum computers cannot yet break existing cryptographic systems, attackers could use a "harvest now, decrypt later" strategy by collecting encrypted data now and decrypting it in the future.

In that case, financial information, corporate data and even state secrets considered secure today could be exposed in the future. Major countries and companies are therefore rushing to switch cryptographic systems before Q-Day arrives.

Quantum-computer threats could also directly affect the cryptocurrency industry. Most blockchains, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, rely on public-key cryptography to maintain transaction signatures and wallet security. If quantum computers gain decryption capabilities, concerns have been raised that some wallets and network security structures could be affected.

Project Eleven, a quantum computing research project, forecast that quantum computers with a cryptographically meaningful level of capability could emerge as early as around 2030. It also presented an analysis that about 7 million bitcoins could be exposed to risk in that case.

Major blockchain projects and companies are also stepping up their response. The Ethereum Foundation formed a dedicated post-quantum security team earlier this year and designated related research as a core task. Coinbase's quantum advisory committee has also recently urged blockchain developers to quickly draw up plans to transition to post-quantum cryptography.

The committee in particular stressed the need for policy discussions on how to handle coins that do not migrate to a post-quantum system. The Stellar Development Foundation also recently released a three-step roadmap for transitioning the XLM network to a post-quantum system. It includes a protocol upgrade that would allow adding post-quantum signers without changing existing addresses.

The industry, however, says it is necessary to distinguish between the fact that quantum-computer threats are growing and the judgment that a crisis is imminent. Siv Shankar (시브 샹카르), chief executive of blockchain infrastructure company Boundless, said, "The risk is definitely growing, but this is an expected trend," and added, "There is no need to panic." He added that research institutes and cryptography experts around the world have already been developing response technologies for years.

Global technology companies are also detailing transition timelines. Google announced in March a goal of transitioning its core systems to post-quantum cryptography by 2029.

The industry is assessing France's move as a proactive national-level response to prepare for the quantum era that goes beyond a simple security policy. Analysis has emerged that it could serve as a trigger for the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry to step up discussions not only on technical responses but also on operating systems, regulation and methods of asset migration.