D-Wave Advantage2 Mines Crypto Blocks With 100x Less Power, Winning 92% on Quip
Updated
Updated · New Scientist · Jun 22
D-Wave Advantage2 Mines Crypto Blocks With 100x Less Power, Winning 92% on Quip
1 articles · Updated · New Scientist · Jun 22
Summary
12.5 watts of power was enough for D-Wave’s Advantage2 to mine blocks on the experimental Quip blockchain, where it won 92% of the blocks it entered despite being available only about five minutes a day.
Quip’s proof-of-work uses an optimization problem that appears better suited to the quantum machine than to conventional computers, which consumed about 1,334 watts on average to win a block.
Postquant Labs says a classical computer capable of beating Advantage2 more consistently would need roughly 300 times the quantum system’s power, though detailed public benchmarking has not yet been released.
The network has run since April and was designed to be quantum-safe, offering a test bed for claims that quantum hardware can make blockchain mining both more secure and less energy-intensive.
Researchers and executives see broader potential for quantum proof-of-work, but critics say the high capital and manufacturing costs of quantum hardware still cloud the economics of scaling such systems.
While D-Wave mines new coins, is the real quantum race to break into 6.9 million vulnerable Bitcoin wallets?
Will quantum blockchains create a decentralized utopia or centralize power with the few who own the hardware?
Is 'quantum mining' a green revolution, or do its huge manufacturing costs just shift the economic burden?
Quantum Computers Enter Blockchain: D-Wave’s Advantage2 Mines Quip, Raising Stakes for Crypto Security and Efficiency
Overview
In April 2026, D-Wave's Advantage2 quantum computer made history by mining Quip, an experimental cryptocurrency, and outperforming classical machines in blockchain mining for the first time. This breakthrough signals a new era for distributed computing, as the Quip team aims to transform their network into a global distributed quantum computer. In this vision, various quantum computers will connect and compete to solve diverse problems, making advanced computing power more accessible and pushing the boundaries of what blockchain technology can achieve.