Quantum computing CEOs hope “validating” government backing proves their technology is no longer speculative
Publish Date: 2026-05-22 10:15:00
Source Domain: sherwood.news
In recent years, publicly traded quantum computing upstarts have been whipped around by grand pronouncements from the world’s largest companies and the presumption of support from the government of the world’s largest economy, causing massive waves of retail money into and out of their stocks.
In other words, speculation drove speculative stocks.
Thursday’s massive gains in Infleqtion, D-Wave Quantum, and Rigetti Computing were no exception. The surges came as the Trump administration awarded grants to these firms, among others, in exchange for equity stakes.
In interviews with Sherwood News, the CEOs of Infleqtion and D-Wave called the government’s backing “validating” and an “important endorsement,” respectively, making the case that the funding signals their technology is no longer speculative — and leaves them well positioned to prove it.
“ The US government decided to take a very hard look at the state of the quantum computing industry and walked away with the conclusion that we are closer than most had thought,” said Infleqtion CEO Matthew Kinsella. “Therefore the US government felt it was time to invest taxpayer money into quantum computing companies because it’s a critical technology that they deem no longer speculative.”
“ This is about accelerating our R&D program,” said D-Wave CEO Dr. Alan Baratz. “With this government funding, we’re able to make a more significant investment sooner and accelerate that work, and in the case of our gate-model program, potentially up to a three-year acceleration.”
Ahead of this announcement, Infleqtion had already been selling quantum equipment (like sensors and clocks) or software to the Department of Defense and NASA. D-Wave, for its part, has a partnership with Davidson Technologies and Anduril Industries (two companies that have received lucrative defense contracts) to help improve US missile defense planning.
However, these investments by the government do not mark a bid to see…
