The real reason banks are transitioning to post-quantum cryptography now

Описание: Article link: https://open.substack.com/pub/johanos...

The article explains that post-quantum cryptography isn’t a switch banks can flip when quantum computers arrive; it’s a multi-year migration across thousands of systems that underpin payments, trading, identity, mobile banking, and long-lived customer data. That’s why leading financial institutions are acting now: the sector’s technology refresh cycles, vendor dependencies, and constrained testing windows move far more slowly than the risk narrative. The practical point is simple: waiting increases the chance of being forced into rushed, high-stakes change later.

It also highlights why this is a board-level programme management issue, not a science experiment. Cryptography is embedded everywhere, so changing it safely requires inventories, prioritisation, coordinated timelines with counterparties, and pressure on suppliers to prove readiness. The takeaway for leaders is to start with a credible transition plan: map where public-key crypto lives, align upgrades to refresh cycles, test interoperability, and build “crypto agility” so future algorithm shifts are manageable. For South Africa and emerging markets, the message is clear: you can’t opt out of global financial interoperability, so early planning is the cheapest form of resilience.