U.S.-listed quantum computing companies surged after a report revealed that several of them are in discussions with the federal government over possible equity deals tied to funding.
According to The Wall Street Journal, firms including IonQ, Inc. (NYSE:IONQ), Rigetti Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGTI) and D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:QBTS) are negotiating with the U.S. United States Department of Commerce to give the government minority stakes in exchange for federal funding. Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:QUBT) and Atom Computing are reportedly weighing similar proposals.
The news sent shares soaring in premarket trading on Friday: IonQ jumped more than 13%, Rigetti advanced 11.7%, D-Wave surged 16.3%, and Quantum Computing gained 13.6%.
The companies are seeking at least $10 million each from Washington as part of the potential arrangements, according to the report.
The talks reflect the Trump administration’s broader strategy of acquiring ownership positions in what it sees as strategically important industries. In August, the government took an almost 10% stake in Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) by converting about $9 billion in grants into equity.
Deputy Commerce Secretary Paul Dabbar is leading the negotiations, which would mark one of Washington’s first major investments in quantum computing — a field viewed as key to breakthroughs in materials science, chemistry, and drug discovery.
The global quantum computing sector is expected to expand significantly over the coming years. Analysts at Bank of America estimate the market could reach $4 billion by the early 2030s, up from roughly $300 million last year. Although the technology still faces major hurdles, efforts to address them are accelerating.
Those projections build on earlier research from McKinsey & Company, which in June suggested the broader quantum technology market could soar to $100 billion within a decade.