China opens a call for its own next-generation cryptographic algorithms
5 FEBRUARY 2025, BEIJING
China opened a call for next-generation commercial cryptographic algorithms, known as NGCC, on 5 February 2025. The call solicits new algorithm proposals and sets a deadline of 30 June 2026 for public-key submissions. Through it, China is developing its own next-generation cryptography rather than relying solely on standards set abroad.
The process resembles the NIST competition in structure, soliciting and then evaluating algorithm proposals, but it is a national Chinese effort aimed at Chinese commercial use. Nations increasingly run their own evaluations so they can control the cryptography their critical systems depend on, and the NGCC call fits that pattern.
The move reflects a broader push for cryptographic sovereignty. By running a national call, China gains algorithms it controls and evaluates, which parallels steps by other countries, such as South Korea's selection of home-grown post-quantum algorithms. The trend points to a future with multiple national cryptographic ecosystems alongside the international standards.
Why it matters. China's NGCC call signals that major powers intend to develop and control their own post-quantum cryptography, adding to a world of multiple national algorithm sets. For organizations that operate across borders, that fragmentation raises the value of crypto agility: systems able to support different algorithm families can meet varied national requirements. The 30 June 2026 proposal deadline marks the next milestone to watch.