Usman Salis
● According to Barchart, quantum computing stocks took a beating this week. Major players like Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT), IonQ (IONQ), Rigetti Computing (RGTI), and D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) all dropped over 30% in just five days. The synchronized crash marks a harsh reality check for a sector that had been riding high on AI hype earlier in 2025.
● The selloff exposes a fundamental problem: investor excitement has run way ahead of business reality. These companies are still in early stages—burning cash, generating minimal revenue, and nowhere near profitability. If stock prices stay weak, they'll struggle to raise new capital, which could mean delayed research, restructuring, or worse. Smaller quantum startups look particularly vulnerable heading into 2026.
● Hundreds of millions in market value evaporated across the sector, hitting both institutional funds and retail investors who'd bet on quantum breakthroughs. The crash could push investors back toward proven earners—AI infrastructure companies and established chip makers with actual profits. Some analysts think struggling quantum firms might survive by partnering with tech giants like NVIDIA, Google, or IBM rather than trying to go it alone.
● This mirrors what's happening across speculative tech stocks after their surge through mid-2025. With Treasury yields dipping below 4% and economic uncertainty rising, money is flowing back to safer bets, leaving high-risk innovation plays exposed.
● While quantum computing's long-term potential remains real, this correction shows that hype-driven valuations eventually have to face the slow, expensive grind of actually building a commercial business.
Usman Salis
