Banks and Regulators Launch Cross-Regional Pilot for Quantum-Resistant Digital Asset Transfers

Safeheron, a digital asset custody technology firm, is providing the cryptographic backbone for the pilot, underpinning the quantum-resistant wallet and transfer framework.
Regulators participating in the governance discussions are explicitly tasked with shaping the framework and ensuring alignment with existing regulatory requirements, rather than merely observing outcomes.
The cross-regional pilot is described as a stress-test of quantum-safe wallets and on-chain transfers across three jurisdictions, using ML-DSA-65 and a 2-of-2 MPC design on a NEAR testnet.
Korea is launching a Post-Quantum Cryptography Professional Education Practical Course, a one-day program in Seoul held twice (Sept 11 and Nov 13) with up to 220 participants, aimed at information protection and system personnel.
Banks and financial regulators across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia have launched a pilot program to test quantum-resistant cryptocurrency wallets and blockchain transfers The Quantum Insider. The Responsible Fintech Institute, along with Safeheron and partners like Bison Bank and DK Bank, are stress-testing technology designed to protect digital assets from future quantum computing threats using ML-DSA-65, a post-quantum signature standard, on a NEAR testnet Cointelegraph.
The initiative reflects growing urgency across global financial authorities to adopt quantum-safe cryptography before powerful quantum computers emerge Grafa. Regulators from Abu Dhabi, Bhutan, and Malta are actively shaping governance frameworks rather than simply observing, signaling this is not a theoretical exercise but a coordinated global effort to fortify financial infrastructure TBreak.
The pilot uses a 2-of-2 multi-party computation (MPC) design, a non-custodial method where two separate parties must approve each transaction Grafa. This setup eliminates single points of failure and ensures no one entity controls the wallet. Participating banks generate and transfer digital assets within a shared test environment on NEAR's blockchain network.
ML-DSA-65 serves as the cryptographic backbone—a standardized signature method designed to resist attacks from quantum computers Crypto Briefing. Safeheron, a digital asset custody firm, provides the underlying technology layer that makes these quantum-resistant wallets and transfers possible across the three jurisdictions simultaneously.
Unlike past technology pilots, regulators from Abu Dhabi, Bhutan, and Malta are directly involved in governance decisions The Quantum Insider. They are working to ensure that quantum-safe cryptography aligns with existing financial rules and security requirements in their respective regions. This hands-on approach means the framework being tested can be adopted more quickly when ready for live deployment.
The collaborative structure reflects how seriously regulators view quantum threats. A white paper will be published to document findings, and the technology is expected to eventually be open-sourced Cointelegraph. This transparency supports global adoption rather than fragmented, incompatible solutions across regions.
Beyond pilot testing, South Korea is accelerating education efforts with a new Post-Quantum Cryptography Professional Education Practical Course TBreak. The one-day program targets information protection and system personnel, with sessions scheduled for September 11 and November 13 in Seoul. Each session accommodates up to 220 participants, reflecting regional demand for skilled workers in this emerging field.
This training initiative signals that quantum-safe cryptography adoption requires more than technology—it demands a workforce prepared to implement and maintain these systems Grafa. Korea's focus on practical education complements global regulatory efforts like Hong Kong's 2030 readiness target for quantum-resistant infrastructure.
Financial institutions worldwide face a race against time as quantum computers grow closer to becoming powerful enough to break current encryption methods Crypto Briefing. The pilot and Korea's training programs are part of a coordinated global response. The Bank for International Settlements has called for phased migrations to post-quantum cryptography, setting a timeline for the financial sector to act.
This multi-threaded approach—pilot testing, regulatory governance, and workforce development—demonstrates how seriously authorities treat the quantum threat Cointelegraph. Success in this pilot could set the template for how other financial systems globally prepare for a quantum-secure future.
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