NIST Advances Nine Candidates in PQC Digital Signatures Standardization Process

On July 9, 2026, NIST announced the advancement of nine candidates to the third round of the Additional Digital Signatures for the Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Standardization Process. This decision follows 18 months of evaluation, with the candidates allowed to submit updated specifications and implementations. The third phase of evaluation is expected to last approximately two years. NIST aims to diversify its digital signature portfolio, particularly seeking schemes that do not rely on structured lattices. The previous rounds included 40 submissions, with 14 candidates evaluated in the second round. The upcoming 7th NIST PQC Standardization Conference is scheduled for late spring or early summer 2027. The process is crucial for developing quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms in response to advancements in quantum computing.

Key Points: • NIST has selected nine candidates for the third round of PQC digital signatures. • The evaluation process for these candidates will last approximately two years. • NIST aims to diversify its digital signature schemes beyond structured lattices.