> they would be a tremendous boon for cryptocurrency mining
Only for the miner's short-term self-interest. If quantum computers become practical (e.g. a few states and organisations have one, of sufficient size/speed to beat contemporary classical setups on some problems), then I would imagine a sharp drop in value for any cryptocurrencies whose proof-of-work is vulnerable to known quantum shortcuts.
Only for the miner's short-term self-interest. If quantum computers become practical (e.g. a few states and organisations have one, of sufficient size/speed to beat contemporary classical setups on some problems), then I would imagine a sharp drop in value for any cryptocurrencies whose proof-of-work is vulnerable to known quantum shortcuts.