REG-Quantum Blockchain Technologies Plc: Update on EU and US Patent Applications

Quantum Blockchain TechnologiesAnnouncement

Thu 07:02

7 May 2026

Quantum Blockchain Technologies Plc                                           
  
                               (                                             
"                                              QBT                            
                 " or                                               "         
                                    the Company                               
              ")

Update on European and US Patent                                              
                                 Applications -                               
                                                "                             
                                                 ASIC Ultra Boost             
                                                                 "

European Patent Application

Quantum Blockchain Technologies plc (AIM: QBT), the AIM-listed investment
company focused principally on a research, development and investment
programme within blockchain technology, provides an update in relation to its
European patent application referred to as                                    
          "                                              ASIC Ultra Boost     
                                        " (European Patent Application No.
22793447.8, titled                                               "            
                                 Message Scheduling for Cryptographic
Hashing"), following receipt of an Examination Report from the European Patent
Office (                                              "                       
                      EPO") and initial advice from its European patent
attorneys.

The issuance of an Examination Report is a standard and expected step in the
European patent application process and represents the beginning of
substantive examination by the EPO. Such reports are routinely addressed
through further technical clarification and refinement of the claims.

Examiner Feedback

The Examination Report raises:
*                                                                             
                     an objection relating to patentable subject-matter, based
on the current claim formulation; and                                         
                                                 
*                                                                             
                     novelty objections based on prior publications, including
a thesis by the inventor, a paper by Dr Nicolas T. Courtois, and a US patent
application filed by Intel Corporation (US 2018/0006808 A1).
The Company notes that the inventor's thesis and Intel Corporation's US patent
application are explicitly cited within the patent application.

Company Position and Strategy

Following an initial review with its patent attorneys, QBT believes that the
Examiner                                              '                       
                      s observations                                          
    primarily reflect the breadth of the patent application's current claims
rather than a fundamental weakness in the underlying invention.

In particular:
*                                                                             
                     the patentable subject-matter objection is considered
formal in nature and is expected to be addressed through minor claim
amendments clarifying the technical implementation; and                       
                                                                   
*                                                                             
                     the novelty objections are viewed as relating to claim
scope optimisation, with the Company believing that the core inventive
concepts described in the specification remain distinct and defensible.
The Company therefore considers that there remains a credible pathway to
securing patent protection for ASIC Ultra Boost, through targeted refinement
of the claims and continued technical engagement with the EPO.

Next Steps

The deadline for responding to the Examination Report is 23 August 2026. QBT
is actively working with its patent attorneys to prepare a comprehensive
response, which is expected to include:
*                                                                             
                     revised claim wording aligned with the Examiner          
                                      '                                       
         s comments; and                                                      
                                    
*                                                                             
                     detailed technical arguments reinforcing the novelty and
inventive step of the invention.
US Patent Application

The Company also provides an update in relation to its US patent application
referred to as                                               "                
                             ASIC Ultra Boost                                 
            " (US Patent Application No. 18/696,073, titled                   
                           "                                             
Message Scheduling for Cryptographic Hashing") which, as disclosed previously,
has received a                                               "                
                             Final Rejection" from the United States Patent
and Trademark Office (                                              "         
                                    USPTO                                     
        ").

The Company                                              '                    
                         s US attorneys conducted an interview with the US
Patent Examiner on 24 April 2026 to seek clarification on the objections
raised in the Final Rejection and to discuss a way forward with the US patent
application.

The US Patent Examiner indicated that certain subject-matter from the
description should be recited in the claims, which define the scope of
protection being sought. The Company                                          
   '                                              s US attorneys have now
submitted a set of amended claims for the US Patent Examiner to consider in
more detail. The Company expects to receive the Examiner                      
                       '                                              s
feedback on the amended claims within the next 1-2 weeks. QBT will provide
further updates as appropriate.

Francesco Gardin, CEO and Executive Chairman of QBT, commented:

"                                              We view the Examination Report
from the EPO as a constructive and expected stage in the European patent
application process. Importantly, the feedback received does not challenge the
core of our technology, but rather the way in which the claims are currently
framed.

Our initial assessment is that the issues raised are addressable through
targeted amendments, and we believe the underlying invention remains strong
and differentiated. We are working closely with our patent attorneys to refine
the claims and advance the application. We remain confident in the potential
value of the ASIC Ultra Boost technology and its relevance to next-generation
Bitcoin mining optimisation.

Regarding the US patent application, t                                        
     he recent interview with the USPTO Examiner has provided useful direction
on how to refine our claims, particularly around the treatment of reusable
values and their implementation. We believe that the requested clarifications
are consistent with our existing specification and have been addressed through
the targeted amendments provided. We are now awaiting the Examiner            
                                 '                                            
 s feedback on these proposed changes.

The US patent process may require multiple iterations, especially for
innovative technologies such as ASIC Ultra Boost, and we remain committed to
progressing the application in order to maximise its potential value."

-ends-

For further information please contact:

Quantum Blockchain Technologies Plc                             
                                           
+39 335 296573

Francesco Gardin, CEO and Executive Chairman

SP Angel Corporate Finance                               (Nominated Adviser &
Broker)     +44 (0) 20 3470 0470

Caroline Rowe / Devik Mehta

Leander                               (Financial
PR)                                                                
+44 (0) 7795 168 157

Christian Taylor-Wilkinson

About Quantum Blockchain Technologies Plc

QBT (AIM: QBT) is a London Stock Exchange AIM listed Research & Development
and investing company focused on an intensive R&D programme to disrupt the
Blockchain Technologies sector which includes, cryptocurrency mining and other
advanced blockchain applications. The primary goal of the R&D programme is to
develop Bitcoin mining tools and techniques, via its technology-driven
approach, which the Company believes will significantly outperform existing
market practices



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