Singaporean brothers’ ‘unbreakable’ encryption challenges quantum threats

SINGAPORE, June 21 — Two Singaporean brothers have developed what they describe as a new form of “unbreakable” encryption built on mathematical equations long considered impossible to solve, positioning their start‑up for the coming era of quantum‑enabled cyberthreats.

According to The Straits Times, Lim Meng Liang, 38, and his older brother Ken Lin, 45, left their finance and investment careers to build Aires Applied Quantum Technology in 2023, after Lim secured a US patent for applying Diophantine equations — problems known for having no solutions — to data encryption.

The company’s flagship product, LionGuard, is a subscription‑based mobile app that encrypts files stored on devices, cloud systems or networks using sender‑generated keys. The brothers say the method is designed to withstand attacks from future quantum computers, which experts warn could crack today’s encryption in a fraction of the time required by traditional machines.

Aires has raised more than US$2 million (RM8.3 million) from private investors and government agencies, and is exploring a potential listing in the United States, Singapore or Japan to fund global expansion. The app is currently in beta with over 100 enterprise subscribers across sectors including oil and gas, commodities trading, ed‑tech, cloud services and financial services.

Beyond file encryption, the start‑up holds four international patents, including technology for securing QR codes and barcodes now being piloted in Europe. The brothers plan to lower subscription fees to attract SMEs such as law firms, accounting practices, F&B chains and family offices.

Aires is part of Singapore’s growing quantum‑tech ecosystem, supported by a S$37 billion national R&D budget announced in 2025. Other local players include Squareroot8 Technologies and Horizon Quantum, which launched Singapore’s first commercial quantum computer for hire earlier this year.

The siblings said early scepticism — including from their own parents — has given way to rising interest from organisations now asking practical questions about integration and deployment timelines. They see this shift as a sign that quantum‑resistant cybersecurity is moving from theory to commercial reality.