Jul 31, 2026
D-Wave CEO Alan Baratz warned that quantum computing will eventually be capable of breaking Bitcoin's proof-of-work protocol, while IBM separately announced achieving 'trusted quantum advantage' using 70 logical qubits. The developments highlight growing concerns about quantum threats to cryptocurrency security.
IBM's blockchain patent portfolio — spanning over 680 patent families in banking, insurance, and cloud security — was acquired by Circle Internet Group in July 2026, making it the largest U.S. holder of blockchain patents.
Circle Internet Group announced the acquisition of IBM's blockchain patent portfolio, comprising over 680-1,000 blockchain-related patents, making Circle the largest holder of such patents in the United States.
IBM has signed a definitive agreement to acquire HRL Laboratories, a private research lab jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors, adding silicon-spin qubit expertise as a second hardware track alongside its existing superconducting quantum computing technology.
IBM reported preliminary Q2 revenue below estimates, stating businesses are shifting spending from software to data center infrastructure for AI. The announcement triggered a broader market selloff in software stocks.
IBM disclosed plans to invest over $10 billion in quantum computing over five years, aiming to build the first large-scale quantum computer capable of running complex calculations reliably and without errors by 2029.
Cleveland Clinic, Japan's RIKEN research institute, and IBM achieved a breakthrough by simulating the largest protein to date using quantum computing technology, marking a significant advance in computational biology.