Why did Qubic want to mine Monero with its useful proof of work?
Qubic wanted to mine Monero to turn computing power into income for its own ecosystem. Under its “useful proof of work” approach, Monero mining offered a way to earn XMR and use that value to support Qubic, including buying and burning QUBIC tokens.
Why Monero fitted the plan
Qubic’s broader idea is that computers supporting a crypto network should do work with value beyond keeping that network running. Its useful proof of work, often shortened to uPoW, has included work connected to its artificial intelligence ambitions.
Monero offered a different kind of usefulness: a computing task with an established reward and a market for that reward.
Monero uses RandomX, its mining algorithm—the set of rules computers follow to compete for new coins. RandomX favors CPUs, the general-purpose processors in ordinary computers and servers. That made it a practical target for a project coordinating substantial CPU computing power.
The attraction was straightforward:
- Qubic could direct computing resources toward Monero mining.
- Successful mining could earn XMR.
- That XMR could be sold to fund Qubic’s economic strategy.
Monero’s ongoing mining rewards also mattered. Its tail emission pays 0.6 XMR per block, with a block arriving roughly every two minutes. That creates a continuing reward stream to compete for, though it does not guarantee profitable mining.
What Qubic wanted to do with the money
A central purpose of the Monero initiative was to finance QUBIC buybacks and burns.
A buyback means using funds to purchase QUBIC tokens on the market. Burning means permanently removing tokens from circulation.
The intended loop was:
- Put computing power to work mining Monero.
- Receive mining revenue in XMR.
- Convert that revenue into purchases of QUBIC.
- Burn the purchased tokens.
The goal was to connect outside revenue with demand for QUBIC and a reduction in its token supply.
You should not read that as a promise of higher token prices. Electricity costs, mining competition, exchange prices, and the amount of QUBIC being issued or sold all affect the result. Buybacks alone cannot guarantee a rising price.
Why calling it “useful” needs context
Mining Monero does not train an AI model. RandomX calculations also do not produce scientific discoveries or some reusable computing result.
Their direct purpose is to help secure Monero through proof of work, where miners demonstrate that they have spent computing effort.
For Qubic, the additional “usefulness” was economic: those calculations could generate revenue that supported a separate ecosystem.
That distinction helps you understand the proposal without confusing two different claims. Qubic was not making Monero’s mining calculations perform AI training at the same time. It was using Monero mining as an income-producing workload within its broader computing strategy.
Why the plan became controversial
The concern was not simply that Qubic wanted to earn XMR. It was that concentrating enough Monero mining power under one coordinated operation could threaten Monero’s independence and security.
A sufficiently dominant miner could potentially reorder recent transactions or obstruct confirmations. It could not simply unlock your wallet or spend your coins without your keys.
Claims about Qubic’s actual share of Monero mining power need dated, independently checked evidence. Pool figures and public statements are not, by themselves, proof of lasting network control.
The bottom line
Qubic wanted Monero mining to provide outside revenue, especially for QUBIC buybacks and burns. The “useful” part was primarily that financial contribution—not that mining XMR itself advanced AI research.
