Post-Quantum Crypto Secures Korea Payments: BTQ Tech
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Daou Data, a key affiliate of the Daou Kiwoom Group, is partnering with BTQ Technologies to fortify Korea’s payment infrastructure against future threats from quantum computing. The collaboration will integrate hardware-based Korean post-quantum cryptography into Daou Data’s payment gateway and value-added network systems, aiming to protect against potential “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” attacks. Keypair will support implementation, building on a previously announced strategic investment and co-development relationship with BTQ focused on hardware-rooted security technologies. This partnership extends BTQ’s momentum within Korea, adding to existing work with ICTK, Danal, Finger, and QSSN, and positions the company at the intersection of post-quantum hardware, payments, and secure communications.
Daou Data Partnership Advances Korean Payment Security Korea’s financial infrastructure is bolstering its defenses against the looming threat of quantum computing through a new partnership focused on hardware-rooted security. BTQ Technologies has joined forces with Daou Data, a significant player in Korean IT and payment processing, to integrate post-quantum cryptography directly into payment gateways and value-added networks. This collaboration is not simply about software updates; it’s a fundamental shift towards securing systems at the hardware level, anticipating attacks that could compromise encrypted data stored once quantum computers become powerful enough to break current encryption standards, a scenario known as “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later.” The strategic alliance leverages BTQ’s expertise in post-quantum security architecture and hardware-rooted trust with Daou Data’s extensive reach within the Korean enterprise IT and payments landscape. Daou Data’s position is particularly noteworthy as the holding company of the Daou Kiwoom Group, a conglomerate with seven listed affiliates spanning finance, IT, security, and other sectors, including Kiwoom Securities and KICA, a key digital identity authority. This broad influence suggests the potential for widespread adoption of the enhanced security measures beyond a single implementation. Keypair, a company in which BTQ previously invested and with whom it is co-developing next-generation security technologies, will provide hardware security modules to support the initiative, accelerating deployment across payments, identity, and regulated systems. This effort builds on BTQ’s momentum across multiple sectors within Korea, having recently secured a US$15 million agreement with ICTK for quantum-secure chip development, launched a proof-of-concept with Danal, and expanded deployment with Finger Inc. Group, a major banking solutions provider.
Olivier Roussy Newton, CEO of BTQ Technologies, said, “Quantum security is no longer a theoretical issue reserved for the lab; it is becoming an operational requirement for real financial infrastructure, especially in environments where encrypted data and system integrity must be protected over long time horizons.” The collaboration aims to establish a more secure architecture for key generation and cryptographic processing within dedicated hardware, reducing vulnerability even in the event of system breaches. Sangjun Kim, CEO of Daou Data, emphasized the need for proactive security measures, stating, “As the threat landscape evolves, we believe the next generation of payment security must be designed not only for current attacks, but also for future cryptographic disruption.” Beyond payments, the companies envision extending these security principles to broader enterprise environments, including security operations infrastructure and Zero Trust architectures, ultimately transitioning organizations from classical cybersecurity models to quantum-resilient infrastructure. BTQ & Keypair Enable Hardware-Rooted K-PQC Integration The escalating threat of quantum computing has spurred a focused effort to fortify existing cryptographic infrastructure, moving beyond theoretical research toward practical implementation. While the advent of fault-tolerant quantum computers remains years away, the potential for “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” attacks, where encrypted data is intercepted and stored for future decryption, is driving immediate action. This partnership is not simply about software updates; it’s about embedding cryptographic functions within dedicated hardware to create a more resilient system. This initiative extends beyond a single client relationship; BTQ is simultaneously working with ICTK, Danal, Finger, and QSSN, demonstrating a broader strategy for establishing post-quantum security standards within Korea. BTQ previously made a strategic investment in Keypair, securing co-ownership of its post-quantum cryptography-related intellectual property and initiating co-development of next-generation hardware-rooted security technologies. This pre-existing investment signifies a long-term commitment to hardware-based security solutions. Quantum security is no longer a theoretical issue reserved for the lab. It is becoming an operational requirement for real financial infrastructure, especially in environments where encrypted data and system integrity must be protected over long time horizons.
Olivier Roussy Newton, CEO of BTQ Technologies QSSN Standardization & Expanding Korean Initiatives BTQ Technologies is establishing a significant presence within Korea’s post-quantum security ecosystem, extending beyond individual partnerships to actively shape national standards. Recent activity centers on the QuINSA-approved QSSN initiative, which BTQ is helping to steer toward submissions to major international standards bodies like ITU, ISO, ETSI, and IEEE, demonstrating a commitment to interoperability alongside localized deployments. The company’s strategy is not solely focused on securing individual networks, but on building a foundational layer for quantum-resistant infrastructure across multiple sectors. The partnership with Daou Data specifically targets strengthening the security of payment gateways and value-added networks through hardware-based Korean post-quantum cryptography, or K-PQC. BTQ will contribute its expertise in post-quantum security architecture and deployment design, while Daou Data will focus on integrating these technologies into its existing payment and enterprise infrastructure. Further deployment with Finger Inc. Group, a major banking-solutions developer, expands BTQ’s reach into the financial sector. As the threat landscape evolves, we believe the next generation of payment security must be designed not only for current attacks, but also for future cryptographic disruption. Sangjun Kim, CEO of Daou Data The escalating threat of “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks is driving a new wave of collaboration focused on long-term cryptographic security, and the partnership between BTQ Technologies and Daou Data exemplifies this shift. BTQ Technologies is addressing this challenge by embedding cryptographic defenses directly into hardware, a move that goes beyond simply updating algorithms, acknowledging that software-based solutions, while important, are inherently vulnerable to evolving attack vectors. Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/btq-technologies-partners-with-daou-data-to-advance-hardware-rooted-post-quantum-security-for-koreas-payment-infrastructure-302741503.html Tags: