Trump Administration Considers Equity Stakes in Quantum Computing Firms Despite Official Denial
Quantum computing stocks experienced a significant surge following reports that the Trump administration is considering equity stakes in leading quantum firms. These include IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that discussions involve minimum funding awards of $10 million each. This move marks the administration’s expansion into a critical technology sector.
Despite the Commerce Department’s swift denial, stating it is “not currently negotiating equity stakes with quantum computing companies,” shares continued to rise. IonQ jumped over 13%, while Rigetti and D-Wave rose 11% and 14% respectively in Thursday trading. The potential investments would follow the administration’s recent stakes in Intel (10%) and MP Materials (15%). This signals an unprecedented government intervention in private markets outside of financial crises.
Industry experts view quantum computing as vital for future breakthroughs in materials science and drug discovery. The market is projected to reach $4 billion by the early 2030s. However, current quantum computers remain largely experimental. Companies in this sector generated under $750 million in combined revenue in 2024.
Source: CNBC