US awards $2B to quantum

The U.S. Commerce Department plans to award about $2 billion in grants to nine quantum-computing companies and take equity stakes in the recipients, according to a Wall Street Journal report cited by Reuters on Thursday. The package would extend Washington’s recent use of direct industrial-policy funding beyond semiconductors and rare earths into quantum computing. CNBC reported that quantum-related shares jumped in premarket trading after the report, with IBM, D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing and Infleqtion among the companies named. ### Which companies are reported to be getting the money? IBM is the biggest reported recipient, with a $1 billion award, CNBC said, citing the Wall Street Journal. GlobalFoundries is reported to be in line for $375 million, while D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing and Infleqtion are expected to receive about $100 million each. Startup Diraq is also expected to receive $38 million, CNBC reported. (cnbc.com) Nine companies are included in the package, according to the report, though not all recipients and award sizes were publicly detailed in the material available Thursday morning. CNBC said the U.S. government would take equity stakes in the companies as part of the deals. ### Why are equity stakes part of the package? The Wall Street Journal report, as summarized by CNBC and Reuters, said the government would not only provide grants but also take ownership positions in the companies. (cnbc.com) That structure would mirror a broader Trump administration approach of pairing federal support in strategic industries with direct stakes, CNBC reported in an earlier October 2025 report on similar quantum discussions. The Commerce Department did not immediately comment in the CNBC report published on May 21. CNBC said the deals still have to be formally completed. ### How did markets react when the report appeared? IBM shares were up about 6% in premarket trading at 7:18 a.m. ET, after earlier rising nearly 8%, CNBC reported. D-Wave shares were last seen up 16%, Rigetti was up about 13.8%, and Infleqtion gained more than 23% ahead of the regular session, according to CNBC. (cnbc.com) Quantum Computing Inc. shares were also quoted higher on CNBC’s market pages. The move added to a pattern of investors using policy announcements as a catalyst for small and mid-cap quantum names. CNBC said the funding is reported to come from the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. ### Why does this matter beyond the stocks? Moody’s said in a report published May 20 that institutional finance is increasingly treating quantum computing as a future operational and systemic cyber risk as digital-asset infrastructure expands into mainstream markets. (cnbc.com) The report said major financial institutions including JPMorgan and HSBC are already testing post-quantum cryptography, crypto-agile systems and quantum-secure communications technologies. The Quantum Insider also cited a recent G7 central-bank working group report that said quantum technologies could eventually affect encryption, payments and market infrastructure, with post-quantum cryptography seen as the main defensive path. Those assessments place the U.S. funding push alongside a separate effort by banks, regulators and technology firms to prepare for quantum-era security risks. (thequantuminsider.com) ### What should readers watch next? The next step is formal completion of the nine reported deals by the Commerce Department and the companies involved. CNBC said the awards are tied to the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, and company disclosures from IBM, GlobalFoundries, D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing, Infleqtion and Diraq are likely to provide the first official details on timing, final amounts and any equity terms. (cnbc.com) (thequantuminsider.com)