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Erste Group has implemented Europe's first commercial entanglement-based quantum encryption pilot in banking, integrating eQKD technology into its fiber network in Vienna with partners A1 and zerothird. This project aims to protect financial systems from future quantum computing threats and marks a transition to operational deployment.

As part of the QUAPITAL initiative, Erste Group plans to create a quantum-secure connection between Vienna and Frankfurt. The pilot has successfully demonstrated the operational stability of zerothird's eQKD system in a live banking environment, paving the way for expansive quantum-secure capabilities across Erste Group's infrastructure and reinforcing Europe's technological sovereignty.