U.S. Government Considers Equity Stakes in Quantum Computing Firms, Including IonQ

The U.S. government is reportedly in discussions to acquire equity stakes in leading quantum computing companies—IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum—as part of a national security initiative. This development has sent shockwaves through the sector, with IonQ's stock experiencing a volatile trajectory: surging to $82 in mid-October after J.P. Morgan Chase unveiled a $10 billion investment program encompassing quantum technologies, then plunging nearly 30% before rebounding on the government stake rumors.

IonQ has demonstrated technical prowess, achieving a record algorithmic qubit score of #AQ 64 ahead of schedule, with trapped-ion technology boasting 99.99% 2-qubit gate fidelity. The company's hardware is already accessible via major cloud platforms—Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud—and revenue grew 82% year-over-year to $20.7 million.

While a Department of Commerce official denied the equity talks, investor George Budwell maintains IonQ remains 'the quantum play to bet on' should government backing materialize. The market's reaction underscores the sector's sensitivity to geopolitical and institutional interest.