D-Wave CEO Alan Baratz warns quantum computers could break Bitcoin mining

Alan Baratz, chief executive of quantum‑computing firm D‑Wave, said in a Yahoo Finance interview that sufficiently advanced quantum machines will eventually be able to out‑perform the hardware used for Bitcoin proof‑of‑work mining. He urged the cryptocurrency industry to start exploring quantum‑native alternatives before the technology becomes a practical threat.

Baratz highlighted D‑Wave’s experimental quantum proof‑of‑work protocol, which relies on quantum optimisation problems and is claimed to be about 1,000 times more energy‑efficient than Bitcoin’s current mining process. While the proposal remains in early stages and would likely meet resistance from developers and miners, it demonstrates a potential path toward quantum‑resistant mining.

Most experts agree that today’s quantum hardware is far from capable of compromising the Bitcoin network. The discussion has broadened after AI firm Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview model, Eve, uncovered new attacks on weakened cryptographic algorithms, raising concerns that advanced AI could accelerate cryptographic breakthroughs.