Shares of leading U.S. quantum computing companies surged after reports that the Trump administration is considering taking ownership stakes in the sector in exchange for federal funding. According to the Wall Street Journal, firms including IonQ, Rigetti, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc. are in talks about potential equity-based partnerships.
The Defiance Quantum ETF climbed 1.3% on the news, while individual stocks rose as much as 16%. The Commerce Department, however, denied that formal negotiations are underway. The potential move aligns with Washington’s shift toward direct government participation in strategic technologies — a policy seen recently in semiconductor and critical mineral sectors.
Analysts say such investments could strengthen U.S. dominance in emerging computing fields as rivals like China and Europe expand their research funding. Quantum computing, which harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics, could one day outperform traditional computers by vast margins.
