# Falcon — NIST cryptographic algorithm deprecation schedule: what is approved, deprecated, and disallowed, and when

For Falcon, purpose is digital signature; current status is Selected for standardization; planned status is Pending FIPS standard; replacement is N/A; source document is PQC project page, recorded from its source on 2026-08-15.

- **Algorithm:** Falcon _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Purpose:** digital signature _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Current status:** Selected for standardization _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Planned status:** Pending FIPS standard
- **Replacement:** N/A
- **Source document:** PQC project page

## What the source says

> Falcon digital signature algorithm and <https://csrc.nist.gov/news/2025/hqc-announced-as-a-4th-round-selection> HQC key encapsulation mechanism were selected for ongoing standardization; that process is underway. This process continues with a longer-term effort that solicited additional algorithms for digital signature schemes that could serve as a backup to ML-DSA or that could address unique use cases. Learn more on the <https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/pqc-dig-sig> Additional Digital Signature Schemes page. HQC was selected for standardization on March 11, 2025.

## Source

- https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography

Last verified: 2026-08-15. Review by: 2027-02-11.
Part of [NIST cryptographic algorithm deprecation schedule: what is approved, deprecated, and disallowed, and when](https://referencesource.org/nist-cryptographic-algorithm-deprecation-schedule/).