Quantum Blockchain Technologies PLC (AIM:QBT, FRA:BYA1) told investors it has started live in-house testing of its Method C AI Oracle on a Bitmain Antminer S9, marking a step up from laboratory simulation to a commercial-grade bitcoin mining rig.
The AIM-listed company said the project began in August and is designed to give potential customers a live demonstration of the software’s performance on recognised mining hardware - it previously presented results from a software simulator, but said discussions with larger US bitcoin miners showed that proof on a commercial rig would have broader appeal.
The S9 was selected because it is the last Bitmain machine to use a publicly available open-source operating system and FPGA firmware. QBT noted it has already modified both systems to support the software version of Method C’s AI Oracle.
Testing will now proceed through ASIC hashing data collection, integration into the existing S9 software environment, and live mining performance tuning.
QBT highlighted that successful demonstration of improved hashing quality on the S9 could help unlock commercial demonstrations with both large miners that have built proprietary control-board systems and aftermarket control board integrators.
"I am extremely pleased with the results achieved so far, which show how the company has mastered the innermost details of all levels of a commercial mining rig,"
He added: "based on the many meetings we have held with potential partners and customers on the implementation of this strategy, the Company took a view that it would implement this strategy simultaneously on the Bitmain Antminer S9, the only available rig with an open-source operating system software and core firmware. We believe the increased mining efficiency demonstrated by this project will open up a much larger target market for our products."
The company added that its work is separate from testing on a recently delivered third-party ASIC mining rig in Milan, where results cannot be shared with the wider market. Quantum Blockchain Technologies is an AIM-listed research and development and investment company focused on blockchain technology and bitcoin mining tools.