Banca d'Italia joins Phase 2 of BIS Project Leap to test quantum-safe cryptography in payment systems

9 July 2025

Banca d'Italia is taking part in the second phase of Project Leap, an initiative led by the Innovation Hub Eurosystem Centre of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). The project aims to prepare central banks and the financial system for the challenges posed by future quantum computers, which could compromise the cryptographic algorithms currently used to secure financial transactions and sensitive data.

Building on the success of the initial phase, Leap 2.0 extends the testing of post-quantum cryptography to the market infrastructures of the Eurosystem. Together with Banque de France, Deutsche Bundesbank, Nexi and Swift, Banca d'Italia will test the use of post-quantum digital signatures for liquidity transfers between central banks, thereby helping to strengthen the European payment system and to safeguard financial stability.

For further details on the project, please visit the BIS website.