Commerce Unleashes $2 Billion for Quantum Firms as IonQ, Rigetti and D-Wave Jump 50%+
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · Jun 12
Commerce Unleashes $2 Billion for Quantum Firms as IonQ, Rigetti and D-Wave Jump 50%+
3 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · Jun 12
Summary
$2 billion in Commerce Department funding under the CHIPS and Science Act reignited quantum stocks, with IonQ, Rigetti and D-Wave all up more than 50% since late March.
Nine companies are receiving the money in exchange for equity stakes, including D-Wave and Rigetti; IonQ was not among the direct recipients but still rallied on the sector-wide signal.
The surge reflects investor belief that Washington's backing validates quantum computing's strategic importance, especially for cybersecurity and national defense.
Useful, fault-tolerant systems may still be a decade or more away, leaving richly valued pure plays exposed: IonQ trades at 95.7 times sales, while D-Wave and Rigetti top 600 times.
With quantum computers set to break Bitcoin, is a voluntary security upgrade a gamble on our financial future?
Why are federal systems under a strict quantum-security mandate, while the critical digital asset industry is given a choice?
U.S. Bets $2 Billion on Quantum: Equity Stakes, National Security, and the Global Tech Race
Overview
In May 2026, the U.S. government took a major step to strengthen its leadership in quantum technology by announcing a $2 billion investment in quantum firms. This initiative, led by the Department of Commerce, involves taking a minority, non-controlling equity stake in each recipient company. The approach aims to boost returns for taxpayers and speed up domestic technological capabilities. Driven by rising global competition—especially from China’s government-led strategy—the U.S. is acting urgently to address both national security risks from advancing quantum computers and the need to stay ahead in the global tech race.