Xiphera launched nQrux Root of Trust on September 30, 2026, delivering a new hardware-based foundation for secure systems built with post-quantum cryptography. The intellectual property is designed for direct integration into custom application-specific integrated circuits and systems on chips, offering a streamlined path to enhanced security. Originally developed through an ESA General Support Technology Programme project for demanding space applications, the technology now extends to a wider range of industries. “Space systems place high demands on security and reliability, sometimes with missions having very long-term operation,” says Petri Jehkonen, Director of Strategic Programs at Xiphera.
nQrux Root of Trust: Secure Foundation for ASIC and SoC
The nQrux Root of Trust, launched on September 30, 2026, establishes device identity and safeguards cryptographic keys through a purely digital logic implementation, eliminating the vulnerabilities associated with CPU or firmware dependencies. This architecture minimizes the potential attack surface by maintaining a simplified design, a critical consideration for applications demanding high security. The project focused on creating quantum-resilient hardware security, a necessity given the increasing threat of quantum computing to current encryption standards.
This initial work has now expanded to serve a broader range of applications, including IoT, industrial automation and data centers. The compact implementation of nQrux Root of Trust reduces both logic and memory requirements, resulting in a smaller silicon footprint while simultaneously enabling quantum-resilient security. This efficiency is particularly valuable in resource-constrained environments, such as edge devices and space-based systems.
The IP combines secure device identity, key management and modern cryptography, including Post-Quantum Cryptography, to provide a comprehensive security solution. Matti Tommiska, CEO and Co-founder of Xiphera, explains, “Root of Trust is an important addition to our portfolio. It combines our expertise in hardware-based cryptography into a solution that customers can integrate directly into their designs.” This gives them a faster way to build a secure foundation for their products, while allowing their R&D teams to focus on their own product development and innovation.
The design of nQrux Root of Trust prioritizes ease of integration into existing ASIC, SoC, and FPGA architectures. By using a ready-to-integrate IP core, developers can significantly reduce development effort and lead times compared to building these security functions from scratch, allowing companies to bring secure products to market more quickly and gain a competitive advantage in an increasingly security-conscious landscape.
The IP’s suitability extends to applications spanning AI infrastructure, defense systems and mission-critical operations, highlighting its versatility and broad applicability, Xiphera says. The company anticipates that this approach will become increasingly important as the need for hardware-level security continues to grow across diverse industries.
Root of Trust is an important addition to our portfolio. It combines our expertise in hardware-based cryptography into a solution that customers can integrate directly into their designs. This gives them a faster way to build a secure foundation for their products, while allowing their R&D teams to focus on their own product development and innovation.
Matti Tommiska, CEO and Co-founder of Xiphera
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