# Crypto AG

> Swiss company supplying cryptographic equipment

**Wikidata**: [Q665539](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q665539)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crypto_AG)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/crypto-ag

## Summary  
Crypto AG was a Swiss Aktiengesellschaft that designed and sold cryptographic equipment. Founded in 1952 by the Swedish inventor Boris Hagelin, the company operated from Steinhausen, employed about 250 people, and was jointly owned by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service until its dissolution in 2018.

## Key Facts  
- **Founded:** 1952 by Boris Hagelin.  
- **Headquarters:** Steinhausen, Switzerland.  
- **Industry:** Cryptography and information technology.  
- **Legal form:** Aktiengesellschaft (public limited company) and privately held.  
- **Ownership:** 50 % held by the Central Intelligence Agency (1970 – present) and 50 % held by the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (1970 – 1993).  
- **Employees:** Approximately 250.  
- **Dissolved:** 2018.  
- **Website:** https://www.crypto.ch/en.  
- **PCI vendor ID:** 1320.  
- **IPv6 routing prefix:** 2001:1558:1000::/48.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What did Crypto AG produce?  
A: Crypto AG supplied cryptographic hardware and software used for secure communications, positioning itself within the cryptography and information‑technology sectors.  

### Q: Who owned Crypto AG?  
A: The company was co‑owned by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (50 % from 1970) and the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (50 % from 1970 until 1993).  

### Q: When did Crypto AG cease operations?  
A: Crypto AG was formally dissolved in 2018 after more than six decades of activity.  

### Q: Where was Crypto AG based?  
A: Its headquarters were located in Steinhausen, Switzerland.  

### Q: How many people worked for Crypto AG?  
A: The firm employed roughly 250 staff members.  

## Why It Matters  
Crypto AG occupied a unique niche at the intersection of commercial cryptography and state intelligence. By providing encryption devices to governments and corporations worldwide, it played a pivotal role in shaping secure communications during the Cold War and beyond. Its joint ownership by the CIA and the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service gave the firm unprecedented access to intelligence networks, influencing both the development of cryptographic technology and the geopolitical landscape of information security. Understanding Crypto AG’s history illuminates how private industry can be leveraged for covert state objectives, and it offers a case study in the ethical and strategic complexities of exporting encryption tools. The company’s dissolution in 2018 marked the end of a controversial chapter in the global cryptographic market, but its legacy continues to inform discussions on trust, transparency, and the interplay between commercial tech firms and intelligence agencies.

## Notable For  
- **Dual intelligence ownership:** First known commercial cryptography firm jointly controlled by the CIA and a foreign intelligence service.  
- **Long‑standing operation:** Operated continuously from 1952 until 2018, spanning the Cold War era.  
- **Global client base:** Supplied encryption equipment to numerous governments and private entities worldwide.  
- **Technical identifiers:** Assigned PCI vendor ID 1320 and an IPv6 routing prefix (2001:1558:1000::/48).  
- **Swiss corporate identity:** Registered as an Aktiengesellschaft with the Swiss enterprise identification number CHE‑100.069.067.  

## Body  

### History  
- **1952:** Boris Hagelin, a renowned Swedish cryptographer, founded Crypto AG in Switzerland.  
- **1970:** The Central Intelligence Agency acquired a 50 % stake; the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) took the remaining 50 %.  
- **1993:** The FIS ended its ownership, leaving the CIA as the sole known intelligence stakeholder.  

### Ownership and Governance  
- **CIA involvement:** Held a 50 % share from 1970 onward, influencing strategic direction and client outreach.  
- **Swiss Federal Intelligence Service:** Co‑owned the firm from 1970 to 1993, providing Swiss governmental oversight.  
- **Legal structure:** Operated as an Aktiengesellschaft (public limited company) while also being described as a privately held entity in later sources.  

### Products and Services  
- **Core offering:** Cryptographic equipment for secure communications, encompassing both hardware and software solutions.  
- **Industry classification:** Listed under both “cryptography” and “information technology” in corporate registries.  

### Corporate Profile  
- **Headquarters:** Steinhausen, Switzerland, serving as the central hub for research, development, and administration.  
- **Workforce:** Approximately 250 employees managed design, production, and client support.  
- **Online presence:** Maintained a corporate website at https://www.crypto.ch/en.  
- **Technical identifiers:** PCI vendor ID 1320; IPv6 routing prefix 2001:1558:1000::/48, indicating a dedicated network block.  

### Dissolution  
- **2018:** Officially dissolved, ending over 60 years of operation. The closure marked the conclusion of a distinctive chapter in the interplay between commercial cryptography and intelligence agencies.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. [Source](https://apps.db.ripe.net/search/lookup.html?source=ripe&key=2001:1558:1000::/48&type=inet6num)