AS Discrete Mathematics

Founded in 2019, AS Discrete Mathematics GmbH is a cryptography research lab based in Zug, Switzerland. Its purpose is to provide services in the fields of discrete mathematics, information theory, computer science, and cryptography — in particular: consultancy, research, prototype development, and integration support.

Researchers

Alan Szepieniec

Founder / CEO

After finishing his PhD at KU Leuven on the topic of “Mathematical and Provable Security Aspects of Post-Quantum Cryptography”, Alan started working for Nervos Foundation. Meanwhile, he founded AS Discrete Mathematics GmbH in Zug and shortly after its foundation he relocated there.

Research Interests:

  • cryptocurrencies and all cryptography related thereto
  • zero-knowledge proofs and interactive proof systems
  • post-quantum cryptography, especially MQ-based and Gröbner basis analysis
  • electronic voting

Former Team Members

Jan Ferdinand Sauer

ferdinand's face

Algebraic Cryptanalysis Expert

As a student of Computer Science at the KIT in Germany, Ferdinand became interested in the world of cryptography around the time of the Snowden leaks. The interesting mathematics combined with the potential to make the world a better place quickly resulted in his passion for almost all things crypto. After completion of his master’s thesis on interpolation cryptanalysis at KU Leuven in Belgium he started working with Alan in Zug.

Intellectual Property

AS Discrete Mathematics does not own, nor intend to own, intellectual property of any kind. To the greatest extent possible, all produced articles, presentations, source code, etc. are dedicated to the public domain. AS Discrete Mathematics does not intend to produce on a contract basis materials that will be owned by another party.

We view cryptography as a potential force for good, but only if a) it is freely accessible, and b) it achieves what it claims to achieve in terms of security. The best way to ascertain confidence in a cryptosystem’s security claims is to subject it to public scrutiny. In contrast, proprietary methods are doomed to be ignored to death.