Key Takeaways:
- The U.S. will invest $2 billion via the CHIPS Act in quantum computing companies.
- IBM gets $1 billion for a quantum foundry focused on superconducting wafers.
- The funding targets long-term cryptocurrency encryption threats, spiking quantum stock prices.
The U.S. government is expanding its US quantum computing investment strategy by backing major technology firms involved in next-generation computing systems. The Department of Commerce announced plans involving companies such as IBM, GlobalFoundries, D-Wave and Rigetti to strengthen American leadership in advanced computing and secure technology supply chains.
The Department of Commerce announced letters of intent with nine companies, including IBM, GlobalFoundries, D-Wave and Rigetti. The investments are aimed at boosting U.S. quantum hardware production and securing strategic supply chains.
Commerce department expands quantum investments
The funding structure gives the federal government minority, non-controlling equity stakes in the companies, reflecting a broader industrial policy strategy already used in semiconductor and rare-earth industries.
IBM is expected to receive $1 billion to launch a quantum foundry subsidiary focused on superconducting wafers used in quantum systems, marking a major step in the expanding US quantum computing investment program. GlobalFoundries is set to receive $375 million to expand domestic manufacturing for multiple quantum computing architectures.
Additional funding targets technical bottlenecks in neutral-atom, photonic, trapped-ion, silicon-spin and superconducting quantum systems. Other firms named in the initiative include Infleqtion, PsiQuantum, Quantinuum, Atom Computing and Diraq.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the investments would strengthen “American quantum capabilities” and support national security goals tied to advanced computing and manufacturing.
Quantum debate reaches cryptocurrency markets
The announcement comes as financial and technology sectors debate the long-term impact quantum computing could have on modern encryption systems.
Researchers and cryptocurrency analysts have increasingly discussed the possibility of “Q-Day,” a term describing the point when quantum computers become powerful enough to break widely used cryptographic protections. Such systems secure digital assets including Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as banking networks and encrypted communications, adding urgency to the broader US quantum computing investment debate.
Industry observers say the concern is not an immediate collapse of blockchain security but the possibility that public blockchain systems may require years of coordinated upgrades before quantum attacks become practical.
A recent report cited by crypto publication Decrypt warned that blockchains may face unique exposure because public keys become visible on-chain after transactions are completed. Advanced quantum systems could eventually use that data to derive private keys.
Government signals long-term strategic shift
Officials emphasized that the funding does not mean quantum decryption capabilities are imminent. However, analysts say the move shows governments increasingly view quantum computing as a strategic technology too critical to rely solely on private investment.
The investments also reflect growing global competition in quantum development among the United States, China and European nations seeking leadership in next-generation computing technologies.
Shares of several quantum-related firms rose following the announcement, highlighting growing investor confidence in the expanding US quantum computing investment strategy. D-Wave climbed more than 33%, while Rigetti increased more than 30% in trading on Friday. IBM and GlobalFoundries also posted gains.
