On April 3, 2026, PQShield announced completion of the external ML-KEM evaluation for CRYPTREC, Japan’s cryptographic standardization body. The evaluation supported inclusion of ML-KEM, as standardized in NIST FIPS 203, in the CRYPTREC Ciphers List, which defines the cryptographic algorithms approved for Japanese government procurement.
According to the PQShield announcement, the milestone removed a key barrier to deploying quantum-safe cryptography across government, critical infrastructure, and the wider technology supply chain. The evaluation confirmed ML-KEM’s security against classical and quantum attacks, examined performance and parameter selection, and assessed resistance to side-channel and physical attacks.
The inclusion formed part of Japan’s broader PQC migration strategy, with the National Cyber Command Office targeting a full transition to quantum-safe cryptography by 2035. A formal national PQC migration roadmap was expected by May 2027.