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BTQ Technologies Corp. has published a landmark research paper that establishes the physical and economic reality of using quantum computers to mine Bitcoin.
The study, titled “Kardashev Scale Quantum Computing for Bitcoin Mining,” reveals that while quantum computers are often viewed as a threat to the network, using them to accelerate traditional mining is currently an impossible task.
According to the author, Pierre-Luc Dallaire-Demers, competitive quantum mining would require a massive amount of resources.
At Bitcoin’s January 2025 difficulty level, a quantum fleet would need approximately 10^23 physical qubits and 10^25 watts of power.
To put that in perspective, that energy requirement approaches the total power output of a star.
Related: Google warns quantum attack could crack Bitcoin in 9 minutes
The research clarifies a common misunderstanding in the crypto industry.
While many worry about "quantum-accelerated mining," the paper argues this is a dead end once real-world hardware and energy costs are included. Instead, the study warns that the true "cryptographic crisis" is the vulnerability of Bitcoin’s digital signatures.
“To push mining into non-trivial consensus effects, one must invoke astronomical quantum fleets operating at energy scales that lie far above present-day civilization,” said Dallaire-Demers.
“The real cryptographic crisis is the signature vulnerability, and that clock is already ticking.”
The findings support BTQ’s ongoing work on "Bitcoin Quantum," a specialized architecture designed to protect the network from future quantum attacks.
By focusing on the authentication layer, BTQ is developing resilient transaction designs and post-quantum cryptographic standards, such as NIST-standardized signatures and the "Pay-to-Merkle-Root" model.
Christopher Tam, President and Head of Innovation at BTQ, noted that the industry must shift its focus toward securing these systems.
“Quantum computing may reshape digital money, but not by making legacy Bitcoin mining practical,” Tam stated.
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Beyond security, the research strengthens the case for BTQ’s Quantum Proof of Work (QPoW).
Unlike trying to force quantum hardware to perform classical mining, QPoW is designed specifically for quantum machines.
Models suggest that a quantum sampler consumes only 0.25 kWh over a 10-minute interval, compared to 390 kWh for classical equivalents—a 1,560x energy advantage.
Ultimately, the research suggests that the future of digital money lies in quantum-native consensus systems that are built for the capabilities of tomorrow’s machines rather than retrofitting the technology of the past.
