New Dashboard Tracks Cryptanalysis Research Effort
The tool uses AI to quantify global research investment into public-key assumptions, highlighting a shift toward lattice-based security.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Quantum Computing
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Cryptographer Matthew Green has launched a new online dashboard that quantifies the research effort invested into various public-key cryptographic assumptions. The project utilizes AI models to classify and analyze approximately 16,000 academic papers, converting them into estimated person-level research years.
Why it matters
By mapping the aggregate time spent on different mathematical problems, this study provides a new metric for evaluating the stability and maturity of cryptographic standards. It highlights the shifting focus within the field, showing that interest has recently moved toward lattice-based problems over traditional elliptic curves.
The system processes 16,000 papers to produce cumulative person-years of research effort, marking a shift where structured and plain lattices now surpass elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem (ECDLP) research hours.
The players
Matthew Green
A cryptographer who maintains public-key research tracking tools.
Claude
An AI model family used to execute the research pipeline and analysis.
GPT-6 Astra
An AI model used for the classification and quantification of research papers.
The details
The analysis uses Claude Fable 5.1, Claude Opus 5.5, and GPT-6 Astra to build the pipeline. The system performs an automated extraction of person-level data from academic papers, categorizing them into four groups: ECDLP (elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem, a standard used for digital signatures), structured lattices, plain lattices, and syndrome decoding (a method used in error-correcting codes). By converting authorship and paper metadata into estimated person-years, the tool provides a quantitative view of global research investment.
Timeline
October 15, 2026: Matthew Green released the cryptanalysis effort website.
The Tech Race
This project offers a data-driven view into how global research is prioritizing different cryptographic foundations. It maps the current intellectual investment against the NIST post-quantum cryptography standardization process to highlight the transition toward lattice-based security.
The tool is now live for researchers and security engineers to audit which mathematical foundations are currently receiving the most academic scrutiny. It functions as a public benchmark for understanding which cryptographic assumptions might eventually face retirement in favor of more heavily researched alternatives.
The takeaway
This platform turns the opaque world of academic research into a trackable metric for the crypto-agile era. Professionals should monitor how lattice-based research growth continues to outpace traditional methods to predict upcoming changes in security requirements.
Further reading
For broader trends in emerging security standards, visit our section on Quantum Computing.
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Do you trust AI-generated research analysis to accurately measure long-term scientific progress?
