During a Wednesday interview with Yahoo Finance, Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave, warned that quantum computing will eventually be capable of breaking Bitcoin's proof-of-work protocol.
Baratz said it is "clear" that sufficiently advanced quantum machines will one day outperform hardware used for mining the flagship cryptocurrency.
For now, the timeline is unclear, but he argues that the cryptocurrency industry should begin considering quantum-native alternatives before the technology matures.
Quantum proof-of-work alternative
Baratz also claimed that D-Wave has already demonstrated a new quantum proof-of-work protocol that could serve as a replacement for BTC’s existing mining mechanism.
The protocol relies on quantum optimization problems that can be solved efficiently by quantum systems.
The concept aims to preserve the competitive nature of proof-of-work while simultaneously ensuring that mining remains resistant to attacks.
Baratz said the approach is roughly 1,000 times more energy efficient. He claims that such a protocol could eventually become a viable alternative for BTC.
For now, the proposal remains experimental. Bitcoin's current proof-of-work algorithm has worked for years, and this potential transition would likely be met with strong pushback from the community.
Quantum threat still evolving as AI adds new twist
Most experts agree that today's quantum hardware is still far from posing an immediate threat to the network.
The debate has also expanded beyond quantum computing alone in the light of new research from AI company Anthropic. As reported by U.Today, Anthropic's Claude Mythos Preview model Eve recently discovered previously unknown attacks against deliberately weakened versions of cryptographic algorithms.
The research has fueled discussion over whether increasingly capable AI systems could accelerate cryptographic breakthroughs. Bitcoin evangelist Samson Mow has opined that there’s no need to rush to adopt post-quantum cryptography.
Dan Burgin
U.Today Editorial Team
