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Crypto Crypto AG →
Successor to Crypto AG
Crypto International AG, or CIAG, is a Swiss manufacturer
of cryptographic
and communications equipment,
and a provider of cyber security services,
based in Hünenberg 1 (Switzerland). It is the
successor to Crypto AG
– the company founded by
Boris Hagelin
in 1952 – since 1 February 2018.
Crypto International AG is owned by the Swedish cyber security entrepreneur
Andreas Linde, who took over the portfolio of
Crypto AG (Hagelin)
on 1 February 2018.
For an overview of historical and legacy products, please refer to our
Crypto AG page or visit the company's website below.
➤ Products
➤ History
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Until 11 February 2021 located in Steinhausen (Switzerland).
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On 11 February 2020, the German, Swiss and American press revealed that
the predecessor of Crypto International AG
— Crypto AG (Hagelin) —
had been owned and operated since 1970 by the German intelligence Service
Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND)
and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA),
as part of a secret operation codenamed RUBICON. 1
Although the BND had left the operation in 1994, the CIA continued
until the assets had been transferred to Linde in 2018 [1].
Shortly after the revelation of Operation RUBICON,
the Swiss Government
announced that pending a formal investigation, the export licence of
Crypto International AG (CIAG)
had been suspended. This appears strange, as CIAG was a completely knew
legal entity that had no official ties with the old Crypto AG.
In the first week of March,
the police raided the offices of
Crypto International AG in Steinhausen
(Switzerland) to secure evidence,
awaiting a formal SECO investigation [2].
On 3 July 2020, the Swiss newspaper Neue Züricher Zeitung (NZZ)
announced that CIAG was about to lay off 83 of its 85 staff, which was
effectively the entire workforce [3]. It seems likely that the two owners
– Andreas and Emma Linde – were the only two remaining employees.
It is currently unknown whether they will be taking legal steps against the
former owners or the former directors of the old (now liquidated)
Crypto AG.
A few weeks later, the same newspaper announced that CIAG
had filed for bankruptcy [7], although this seems doubtful as the company is not
registered as such with the Commercial Register in the Swiss Kanton of Zug [8].
On 11 February 2021, the company moved its legal seat from Steinhausen to
a new address in Hünenberg [8] and updated its website accordingly.
By June 2021 the old premises in Steinhausen was abandonned and the
logo was removed from its facade.
According to the local newspaper Zuger Zeitung, plans are
underway for demolition of the 1966 factory and the administration buildings
to make room for approx. 200 appartments [9].
The image above was made on 1 April 2021 by professional photographer
Patrick Hürlimann in Steinhausen, when the company logo was removed
from the now abandonned building in Steinhausen. Over the course of
the past year, Patrick has made an impressive series of photographs
of the downfall of the once so big and famous Swiss company [10].
➤ More photographs
➤ More about Operation RUBICON
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Initially called Operation THESAURUS, but later renamed RUBICON.
➤ More
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On 21 August 2020, the Swiss newspaper Tagesanzeiger revealed that
after the announcement of the mass layoffs,
on 4 July 2020, the company owners – Andreas and Emma Linde – had
registered a new company with the Swiss Chamber of Commerce, named
Asperiq AG [4].
The registration became effective on 7 August 2020 [5].
It is likely that Asperiq AG
is affiliated with the Swedish Asperiq Group AB
– founded in 2017 –
as it is also owned by the Linde family.
➤ About Asperiq
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- Until 11 February 2021
Crypto International AG
Zugerstrasse 42
6312 Steinhausen
Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0)41 749 7722
Website: www.crypto.ch
- From 11 February 2021
Crypto International AG
Rothusstrasse 23
6331 Hünenberg
Phone: +41 (0)41 749 7722
Website: www.crypto.ch
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- Crypto Museum, Operation RUBICON
February 2020.
- Urs Paul Engeler, Razzia bei der Crypto AG
Handelszeitung (Switzerland). 18 March 2020.
- Marcel Gyr, Crypto International entlässt fast die gesamte Belegschaft...
Neue Züricher Zeitung (NZZ), 3 July 2020.
- Tagesanzeiger, Crypto International: Eigentümer gründen neue Firma
Retrieved August 2020.
- Monetas Handelsregister, Asperiq AG
Retrieved August 2020.
- Monetas Handelsregister, Crypto International AG
Retrieved June 2021.
- Marcel Gyr, Crypto International enlässt fast die gesamte Belegschaft —
als Folge eines fragwürdigen Enscheids des Bundesrats
Neue Züricher Zeitung (NZZ), 3 July 2020.
- Commercial Register Kanton Zug, Crypto International AG
CHE-421.008.995. 21 December 2017 — 11 February 2021.
- Zuger Zeitung, The final dismantling of Crypto AG
8 June June 2021. Photographs: Patrick Hürlimann, 7 April 2021.
- Patrick Hürlimann, Taking down the CRYPTO logo from the building in Steinhausen
1 April 2021. Reproduced here with permission from the artist.
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Tuesday 14 January 2020. Last changed: Friday, 02 July 2021 - 18:10 CET.
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![1 April 2021 - the CRYPTO logo is removed from the building in Steinhausen. © Copyright Patrick Hürlimann Fotografie [10].](img/303633/000/full.jpg)