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Startup lets researchers test blockchain tasks on a quantum computer for the first time

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Quantum computing could break Bitcoin sooner, says Google

Most of the crypto industry spent this week processing Google’s paper on how quantum computers could break blockchain encryption. One startup is asking a different question — whether quantum hardware can make blockchains better.

Postquant Labs, which is building the world’s shared quantum computer, Quip.Network announced Wednesday the launch of what it calls the first publicly available quantum classical blockchain testnet, where quantum computers and legacy technology work side by side to solve problems.

Quantum computers use the physics of subatomic particles to test many possible solutions simultaneously rather than checking them one by one, which makes them fundamentally different from even the fastest conventional supercomputers, which are just very fast versions of the same step-by-step approach.

The testnet has already attracted 13,000 signups from researchers at MIT, Stanford, and universities around the world, according to the press release shared with CoinDesk. Out of these, six teams have submitted serious computational work so far.

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Postquant Labs’s attempt to investigate how quantum processors can improve blockchain performance stands in contrast to most blockchain developers who see quantum as a threat.

The threat perception has increased multifold after Google published a paper on Monday which found that breaking bitcoin’s cryptographic defenses would require fewer than 500,000 physical qubits, roughly a 20-fold reduction from prior estimates

Note, however, that Postquant Labs’ testnet is a testing environment, not a live, final product. It’s where researchers experiment before anything goes into production.

The testnet has been built in consultation with D-Wave Quantum Inc, a leader in quantum computing systems, software, and services.

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“From a technical perspective, the hybrid design of the testnet is particularly interesting. Participants can contribute using QPUs, CPUs and GPUs, creating a shared environment to evaluate how different compute models perform side by side,” Dr. Trevor Lanting, chief development officer, D-Wave, told CoinDesk.

“This creates an environment to help better understand how quantum approaches compare with classical methods in a blockchain setting, and where they may provide meaningful benefits such as improved energy efficiency or security,” he added.

Developers and researchers can earn QUIP tokens by solving complex mathematical problems using quantum machines, GPUs or regular CPUs. QUIP is meant to be a utility token that can be exchanged for computation resources provided by quantum and classical miners on the network.

If quantum computers can actually outperform regular computers on blockchain tasks — solving problems faster, using less energy, and delivering better results — then distributed ledger could become way more useful for real business applications, not just crypto trading.

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“Today, annealing quantum computers are starting to show performance advantages on useful optimization applications across logistics, manufacturing, and beyond, often delivering better results, faster, and at lower energy cost than classical-only solutions,” said Colton Dillion, CEO and co-founder of Postquant Labs.

“Our goal is to make this quantum advantage accessible across a blockchain network,” Dillion added.

As of now, that’s a big “if.” This testnet needs to prove whether the quantum advantage is real or just marketing.

“Mainnet launch will depend entirely on the performance of testnet, but we are eager to launch as soon as we have proven the capabilities of the network to solve real-world problems, and shown quantum demand and supply both exist on either side of the market,” Postquant Labs told CoinDesk.

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Do quantum computers exist?

Yes, they do, but not the sci-fi version that breaks Bitcoin and other blockchains or hacks into banks and major financial institutions.

D-Wave’s machines are not the quantum computers in Google’s paper. They are annealing systems, specialized hardware for optimization problems like route planning and resource allocation.

They cannot run Shor’s algorithm, cannot break encryption, and cannot do anything the Google paper describes. They are good at one specific class of problem, and that is the class Quip.Network is testing.

Postquant is using D-Wave’s Advantage2 annealing quantum computer through the company’s Leap cloud service.

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In early internal tests, Postquant says D-Wave’s Advantage2 system beat out 80 H100 GPUs and 480 CPU cores on solution quality, time-to-solution, and energy efficiency for these specific optimization problems.

Those results have not been independently verified or published. Until they are, the claim is the company’s alone.

What role does D-Wave play?

D-Wave is not a full partner or investor. and has only advised Quip Network on the development of the testnet” and is “providing access to the Advantage2 system and consultation on the development of the testnet.”

Importantly, D-Wave has not independently endorsed the overall technical architecture — their involvement is limited to providing hardware access and consultation.

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Crypto World

Robinhood (HOOD) Stock Faces Wave of Analyst Downgrades Amid Slowing Trading Volumes

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HOOD Stock Card

Key Takeaways

  • Needham reduced HOOD price target from $100 down to $90 while maintaining its Buy recommendation
  • Compass Point lowered its target from $127 down to $108, retaining its Buy stance
  • March data revealed declining volumes across equity, options, and cryptocurrency trading
  • HOOD shares have plummeted 52% in the last six months and 38% since the year began
  • The company’s banking arm has exceeded $1.5 billion in total deposits

Robinhood Markets has encountered significant headwinds this week as several Wall Street analysts have lowered their price expectations following the release of disappointing March trading data.


HOOD Stock Card
Robinhood Markets, Inc., HOOD

On Wednesday, Needham’s John Todaro revised his price target downward from $100 to $90, though he maintained his bullish Buy rating. His decision stemmed from observations of decelerating growth throughout virtually all segments of the platform.

“We view HOOD as the most advanced financial services platform in its evolution toward a comprehensive financial super app, however the latest volume data and reduced net interest income suggest a more subdued operating environment,” Todaro explained.

The March performance report, published March 30, indicated equity notional trading volumes reached approximately $196 billion. The platform processed 187 million options contracts, while cryptocurrency trading notional volumes totaled $16 billion.

Todaro adjusted his equities and options projections for the first quarter of 2026 downward but maintained his cryptocurrency volume forecasts unchanged, noting that declines in that sector had already been incorporated into previous models. He also reduced revenue expectations for both 2026 and 2027, primarily due to anticipated lower trading activity and diminished net interest income.

His revised $90 target price reflects 27 times Needham’s discounted fiscal 2027 EV/EBITDA calculation.

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This adjustment came one day after Wolfe Research’s Steven Chubak lowered his target from $115 to $81 — representing approximately a 30% reduction. His revision followed a decline in cryptocurrency transaction revenues, further pressured by broader digital asset market weakness.

Compass Point Joins Downgrade Chorus

Compass Point’s Ed Engel similarly decreased his price objective on Wednesday, moving from $127 to $108 while preserving his Buy rating. His forecasting models project Q1 revenue coming in 9% beneath consensus expectations, with shortfalls anticipated across all three primary business lines.

Engel observed that retail trading activity typically decelerates after five to six straight months of volatile market conditions, and that most retail investor favorites have generally declined since early October.

He made a comparison to April 2025, when analysts were reducing forecasts ahead of Liberation Day. Engel proposed that should markets recover, Robinhood could emerge as a significant beneficiary considering the 2026 IPO calendar.

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HOOD shares have now declined 52% during the past six months and trade 46% beneath their 52-week peak of $153.86. The stock currently carries a P/E multiple of 34.14 and commands a market capitalization of $63.1 billion. InvestingPro’s analysis indicates the stock appears overvalued at present price levels.

Banking Segment Provides Encouraging Signs

Despite trading challenges, not all indicators are negative. Robinhood’s banking operation has surpassed $1.5 billion in deposits, serving nearly 100,000 funded customers — representing an approximately 50% deposit increase over a recent timeframe.

Bernstein SocGen Group reduced its price target from $160 to $130 while maintaining an Outperform rating. The investment firm continues to forecast 25% earnings per share expansion by 2026 and a 30% revenue compound annual growth rate spanning 2025 through 2027.

Jefferies launched coverage with a Buy recommendation and an $88 price target, highlighting opportunities from expanding global retail participation and a diversified product offering.

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According to TipRanks, HOOD maintains a Strong Buy consensus recommendation based on 15 Buy ratings and 2 Hold ratings, with an average price target of $117.33 — suggesting approximately 67% potential upside from current trading levels. The most optimistic price target among analysts reaches $147.

The company’s complete first-quarter earnings report is scheduled for release in May.

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Soluna Announces $53M Acquisition of Wind Farm for AI Facility

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Mining, Bitcoin Mining, Energy, Data Center, Renewable Energy

Soluna Holdings, a publicly traded Bitcoin (BTC) mining and AI infrastructure company focused on renewable energy, announced on Thursday that it closed a $53 million deal to acquire a wind farm to power its upcoming Project Dorothy 3 AI data center campus.

The Briscoe Wind Farm, located in Briscoe County, Texas, has a potential capacity of up to 300 megawatts (MW), according to the company’s announcement.

The company forecasts that the facility will generate annualized revenue between $20 million and $24.4 million. 

Shares of Soluna are up by about 7.6% following the news, and are trading at about $0.76 at the time of writing.

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Mining, Bitcoin Mining, Energy, Data Center, Renewable Energy
Soluna Holdings’ share price rose on the day of the acquisition announcement. Source: Yahoo Finance

Soluna expanded into AI data center infrastructure in February 2024, amid an industry-wide pivot toward AI and high-performance computing infrastructure to shore up declining revenues from the crypto mining business.

Related: AI data center gold rush sparks debate over impact on Bitcoin mining

Miners adopt renewable energy solutions amid profit squeeze

The Bitcoin mining industry faces several economic headwinds, including declining block rewards, rising energy costs and compressing profit margins, with many companies operating near or below breakeven levels.

Up to 20% of mining companies aren’t profitable, according to a March 2026 report from asset manager CoinShares.  

The average cost to mine a single Bitcoin rose to nearly $80,000 in the fourth quarter of 2025, CoinShares said. Bitcoin is currently trading well below that level.

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Mining, Bitcoin Mining, Energy, Data Center, Renewable Energy
The average cost to mine a single BTC for major mining companies. Source: CoinShares

“Q4 2025 marked the most challenging quarter for Bitcoin miners since the April 2024 halving,” the report said.

The October 2025 market crash, which caused Bitcoin to plummet from an all-time high around the $125,000 level to a low of about $60,000, and rising network hashrate have placed even more pressure on the industry, CoinShares said.

Mining, Bitcoin Mining, Energy, Data Center, Renewable Energy
Bitcoin’s hashrate, or the total computing power expended by miners to secure the network, continues to rise. Source: CoinShares

Bitcoin mining companies sold over 15,000 BTC between October and early March to cover operating expenses, and the pace of selling has continued in recent weeks.

Several Bitcoin mining companies, including The Pheonix Group and Sangha Renewables, have adopted renewable energy solutions to power their operations and remain competitive amid a challenging business environment. 

Canaan, a mining hardware manufacturer and mining company, partnered with Soluna in September to deploy a wind-powered BTC mining facility at the Briscoe, Texas site. 

Related: AI may already use more power than Bitcoin — and it threatens Bitcoin mining

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