Live Demonstration: ASIC Implementation of ASCON Lightweight Cryptography for IoT Applications
Khai-Duy Nguyen, Tuan-Kiet Dang, Binh Kieu-Do-Nguyen, Cong‐Kha Pham, Trong-Thuc Hoang · 2025
The use of IoT devices has increased significantly in recent years, and edge computing in IoT is seen as a new and growing trend in the technology industry. While cryptography is widely used to enhance the security of IoT devices, it also has limitations, such as resource constraints and latency. Lightweight cryptography (LWC) aims to balance resource usage and security while minimizing system costs. Among LWC algorithms, ASCON is a potential target for implementation and cryptoanalysis. A demonstration showcases a system-on-chip (SoC) comprising a RISC-V processor and an ASCON LWC core that implemented the ASCON-128 and ASCON-Hash functions. The SoC was fabricated using a 180nm process.