Shares of Rigetti Computing Inc (NASDAQ: RGTI) surged nearly 11% to $40.00 in early Thursday trade after reports emerged that the U.S. Commerce Department is in discussions with several quantum computing companies — including Rigetti, IonQ, and D-Wave Quantum — about taking equity stakes in exchange for federal funding.
According to people familiar with the matter, the discussions center around providing a minimum of $10 million in funding per company, as part of Washington’s broader push to secure and strengthen U.S. leadership in quantum technology — a sector increasingly viewed as critical for national security and future innovation.
The potential plan marks an expansion of the Trump administration’s intervention strategy in strategically vital industries, aiming to ensure the U.S. remains competitive in quantum computing amid rising global investment from countries like China and Canada.
Other quantum-focused startups such as Quantum Computing Inc. and Atom Computing are also reportedly considering similar arrangements.
If finalized, the move would be unprecedented, signaling a direct government ownership role in private quantum companies, which could reshape public-private collaboration models in emerging technologies.
Rigetti’s stock has now gained over 25% this month, reflecting growing investor optimism around U.S. government backing and the company’s strategic role in next-generation computing.
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