Shares of IonQ Inc (NYSE: IONQ) soared 9.72% to $60.84 on Thursday after reports revealed that the U.S. Commerce Department is in talks with several quantum computing companies, including IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum, to provide federal funding in exchange for equity stakes.
According to people familiar with the discussions, the plan would make the U.S. government a partial shareholder in select high-potential quantum startups. The proposed program includes minimum funding awards of $10 million per company, as part of Washington’s broader effort to safeguard critical technologies seen as vital for national security and economic leadership.
This move comes amid the Trump administration’s growing intervention in strategic sectors, such as semiconductors, defense tech, and now quantum computing — industries considered essential to maintaining the U.S. competitive edge over global rivals.
The news sparked strong buying interest in quantum stocks, with Rigetti Computing (RGTI) also up over 10%, and D-Wave Quantum trading higher in premarket activity. Other companies, such as Quantum Computing Inc. and Atom Computing, are reportedly exploring similar funding-linked agreements.
Investors welcomed the development as a potential catalyst for long-term growth, given that federal support could provide both capital stability and technological validation to leading players like IonQ — a company already recognized for its cloud-accessible quantum systems and government partnerships.
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