In 2019, the Chinese Association for Cryptologic Research (CACR) launched a domestic post-quantum cryptography (PQC) competition to evaluate quantum-resistant algorithms for public-key encryption, digital signatures, and key agreement protocols. The competition ran from approximately 2018 to 2020.
According to the Post-Quantum Cryptography Coalition, the CACR competition evaluated algorithms at two security levels (128-bit and 256-bit), corresponding to NIST levels I and V. Three algorithms received first-place awards, four were placed second, and six earned third place. Reported finalists included LAC, a lattice-based encryption scheme, and Aigis, a digital signature algorithm.
Competition materials were available only in Chinese, limiting international access. CACR experts showed a preference for lattice-based algorithms, similar to the direction taken by NIST’s parallel standardization process in the United States. The selections diverged from NIST’s chosen algorithms, establishing an independent Chinese track for quantum-resistant cryptographic standards.