Qubic Attacks Dogecoin After Conquering Monero

The crypto community was recently shaken by news that the Qubic mining pool had successfully demonstrated a “51% attack” on the Monero network. The news was reported by Cointelegraph, among other outlets. Qubic is known as one of the largest mining pools, founded by Sergey Ivanchenko, also known as “Come-from-Beyond,” the co-founder of the IOTA project. 

The recent attack on Monero, conducted through this pool, served as a prime example of how the centralization of computing power can threaten the security of decentralized networks. This event was a wake-up call, as a “51% attack” is not a theoretical threat but a very real one. It occurs when a single miner or pool gains control of more than half of a blockchain’s computing power (hash rate), allowing them to manipulate transactions, such as performing “double-spends.”

This demonstration prompted many to wonder which network might be tested next. Soon, speculation emerged that Qubic might turn its attention to the popular Dogecoin. But how valid are these fears, and is the meme cryptocurrency truly under serious threat?

The Monero Lesson: Why It Worked

To understand if Dogecoin faces the same fate as Monero, one must first analyze the reasons for the attack’s success. A key factor was Monero’s technical architecture. Its RandomX mining algorithm was specifically designed to be resistant to miners using specialized and expensive hardware (ASICs). Instead, the algorithm was optimized to run on standard CPUs and GPUs. This approach made Monero mining more “democratic” but also more vulnerable to large-scale attacks, as the equipment for them is more widely available.

The Qubic pool was able to quickly accumulate a massive amount of computing power, leading to a sharp spike in the hash rate and, as a result, gaining control of over 51% of the network. According to public data, at the peak of the demonstration, Qubic’s hash rate reached 2.65 GH/s, which allowed them to reorganize the Monero blockchain and gain control over most of the network. The Qubic pool’s management stated that their goal was not to steal funds but to conduct a technical experiment and demonstrate the vulnerability of networks using the RandomX algorithm.

It is important to note that, according to statements from experts and public data, there were no reported cases of fund theft or successful double-spends during this attack. The main consequences were a drop in Monero’s price and the temporary suspension of deposits on major exchanges. This precedent clearly demonstrated that even popular cryptocurrencies with seemingly robust algorithms can be vulnerable if their defenses do not account for real-world threats.

However, before drawing conclusions, it is crucial to examine in detail how Dogecoin differs from Monero and if it has built-in protection mechanisms.

DOGE’s Protective Bastion – Merged Mining

Dogecoin’s unique architecture makes it virtually immune to attacks similar to the one on Monero. The main feature ensuring its security is merged mining (Auxiliary Proof-of-Work, AuxPoW) with the Litecoin network. This unique mechanism allows miners who mine the main (parent) cryptocurrency, in this case, Litecoin, to simultaneously mine the auxiliary one, Dogecoin, without any additional costs or loss of performance. Essentially, miners simply use the same computing power to secure two different networks.

This works as follows: Litecoin miners use their powerful hash rate to secure both networks. To perform a “51% attack” on Dogecoin, an attacker would have to control more than 51% of not only the Dogecoin hash rate but also the total hash rate of the Litecoin network, with which it is inextricably linked. This requires a completely different scale of resources than what was needed for the attack on Monero. The combined computing power of the two networks is orders of magnitude greater than Monero’s hash rate, making an attack economically unfeasible and technically almost impossible. The Qubic pool, even if it wanted to, simply does not have enough power to pull it off.

Furthermore, Dogecoin uses the Scrypt mining algorithm, which is different from Monero’s RandomX. This algorithm also requires specialized hardware, creating another barrier for potential attackers. Unlike Monero, Dogecoin does not rely exclusively on GPUs, which makes it less susceptible to mass attacks using widely available consumer hardware.

Why a Dogecoin Challenge Would Be Crypto’s Ultimate Stress Test

Speculation about a potential Dogecoin test likely stems from the attention generated by the Monero demonstration. However, it would be a mistake to assume that Qubic’s success in one case means vulnerability for all. On the contrary, it highlighted a key distinction: every blockchain is a unique fortress, and its strength depends on its architecture and defense mechanisms.

Dogecoin is a prime example of this. Its unique merged mining architecture with Litecoin doesn’t just protect it; it makes it nearly invulnerable. Launching such an attack would not only be a technically impossible feat but also economically absurd, as the cost of the operation would far exceed any potential gain.

This is precisely why, if Qubic can somehow prove that the Dogecoin blockchain is not as secure as it is presented, it would be a useful wake-up call for many developers who are currently resting on their laurels. The crypto community will be watching to see whether such a test materializes and what it might reveal about network security.