Quantum Blockchain Technologies CEO on US Patent Update, Strategy & Next Steps

Why It Matters

Securing these memory‑assisted ASIC patents would give QBT a defensible edge in Bitcoin mining hardware, influencing market dynamics and the company’s valuation.

Key Takeaways

• US patent office issued final rejection, but 30‑50% later granted.
• QBT plans to respond within two‑to‑three months with robust argument.
• European extension filed, covering 36 countries, keeps patents pending internationally.
• Memory‑assisted ASIC design aims to pre‑compute SHA‑256 hashing data.
• NDA forced black‑box images of mining rig, limiting public detail.

Summary

The interview with Francesco Gardin, CEO of Quantum Blockchain Technologies (QBT), centered on a recent final rejection from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the company’s next steps. Gardin explained that while the term “final rejection” sounds conclusive, historically 30‑50% of such decisions are later overturned after further examiner interaction. QBT intends to file a detailed response within the two‑to‑three‑month window allowed by the USPTO.

Key insights included the parallel filing of a European patent extension covering 36 jurisdictions, which keeps the applications pending and provides a basis for potential infringement actions. The three patents focus on a memory‑assisted ASIC architecture that pre‑computes SHA‑256 hashing data, a departure from conventional ASICs that lack on‑chip memory. This approach could make QBT’s mining hardware uniquely resistant to copying, as competitors would need both the chip and the pre‑loaded data.

Gardin highlighted concrete examples, noting that a prior‑art discovery prompted the latest USPTO rejection and that a mining rig shipped from Oregon arrived in Milan within 48‑72 hours. Due to a strict NDA with the ASIC manufacturer, the publicly shared images were deliberately blacked out, underscoring the sensitivity of the hardware design.

The implications are significant: if QBT secures the patents, it could establish a defensible moat around a novel Bitcoin‑mining ASIC, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape and boosting investor confidence. Conversely, prolonged prosecution could delay commercialization, affecting revenue timelines and market positioning.

Original Description

Quantum Blockchain Technologies PLC (AIM:QBT, FRA:BYA1) CEO Francesco Gardin talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the implications of a recent US Patent Office ruling related to its AIS Ultra Boost technology and outlined the company’s next steps in the patent process.

Gardin clarified that what may appear as a “final rejection” is in fact a standard procedural step, noting that “between 30 and 50% [of applications] are granted or approved” after such outcomes. QBT now plans to respond within the required two to three-month window following internal discussions and engagement with the examiner.

The interview also covered the European Patent Office publication of its Message Schedule Arrays application, which Gardin described as a routine step confirming the patent is now officially pending across multiple jurisdictions.

Gardin detailed the company’s broader patent strategy, focusing on hardware-based innovations in Bitcoin mining. He highlighted a novel “memory-assisted” SHA-256 hashing approach, explaining that the technology introduces pre-computed data storage within ASIC chips — a departure from conventional designs where data is not retained. This approach, he said, represents “a totally new and innovative” method while also protecting key proprietary elements.

Additionally, Gardin discussed the recent installation of a mining rig at the University of Milan, noting that images were obscured due to confidentiality agreements with the ASIC manufacturer.

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