Nvidia Ceo Jensen Huang Fuels Quantum Stock Frenzy

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Jan 2, 2026, 4:37 AM

nvidia ceo jensen huang fuels quantum stock frenzy

Quantum computing stocks dropped Wednesday after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang declared that useful quantum computers are many years away. "If you said 15 years for very useful quantum computers, that would probably be on the early side," he said during Nvidia's analyst day. "If you said 30, it's probably on the late side. But if you picked 20, I think a whole bunch of us would believe it." Huang said he believes Nvidia will play a "very significant part" in creating the computers and helping the industry "get there as fast as possible." Stocks tied to quantum computing tumbled on the heels of the comments, with Rigetti Computing plunging 40%, while IonQ shed 37%.

D-Wave Quantum dropped more than 30%, while the Defiance Quantum & AI ETF fell 4%. Quantum Computing, which announced a stock offering to raise $100 million, sank 37%. "As valuations have become a bit lofty, we're not surprised by today's correction," said AXS Investments CEO Greg Bassuk, calling the reaction somewhat "overblown." Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang said on Wednesday that quantum computers will soon be able to solve complex, real-world problems that are out of reach for classical computers. Huang’s comments marked a reversal from his previously cautious stance on the technology and sparked a rally in quantum stocks.

The Details: Speaking at Nvidia's GTC Paris developer conference, Huang highlighted how quantum computers process information in fundamentally new ways compared to traditional computers and shortened his timeline for their practical application. "Quantum computing is reaching an inflection point," Huang said during his keynote speech. "We are within reach" of being able to apply quantum computers "in areas that can solve some interesting problems in the coming years," he added. "This is a really exciting time." Read Next: These Are The 3 Hottest Stock Market Themes Trending Now A handful of quantum computing stocks have skyrocketed as some paint the technology as the next big technological innovation, but Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warned analysts that any practical applications are still many years...

Huang said Nvidia is not worried about quantum computing and added that practical applications for the nascent but powerful computers are at least 15 years away or more. “And so if you kind of said 15 years for very useful quantum computers, that’d probably be on the early side. If you said 30 is probably on the late side. But if you picked 20, I think a whole bunch of us would believe it,” Huang told analysts, according to Axios. Quantum computers, which are powered by atom-sized “qubits” that operate via the rules of quantum mechanics, have been shown to be extremely powerful, but only in certain situations. They are distinct from existing “classical” supercomputers, which operate more similarly to a basic laptop, albeit at a much higher level.

Last month, Google researchers announced its homegrown Willow quantum-computing chip could solve a complex math problem that would’ve taken the most powerful existing supercomputers 10 septillion years, or more than the estimated age of... Nisha Gopalan is a former Senior Overnight Assignment Editor for Investopedia News. She is an award-winning financial journalist who has worked in London, where she is currently based, and Hong Kong. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. Mustafa Yalcin / Anadolu via Getty Images Quantum computing shares are jumping in premarket trading Wednesday after Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang said that the industry is “reaching an inflection point."

Huang's comments during his keynote speech at the chipmaker’s GTC Paris developer conference mark more optimistic take by the Nvidia CEO, who said early this year that quantum computing technology is 15 to 30... “Quantum computing is reaching an inflection point,” Huang said in the speech Wednesday. “We are within reach of being able to apply quantum computing, quantum classical computing, in areas that can solve some interesting problems in the coming years.” An AI-generated image illustrates the typical "chandelier" design of a quantum computer. (bpawesome/Shutterstock) Nvidia (NVDA) Chief Executive Jensen Huang's controversial remarks about quantum computing reached Rigetti Computing CEO Subodh Kulkarni via text.

A frantic acquaintance in the investment community wanted to know, "What's going on? Why is Jensen so negative about quantum computing?" Gil Luria, an analyst with D.A. Davidson, had just given another quantum computing company, IonQ, a buy rating. He was… 12/29/2025 OpenAI news often drives many AI stocks up or down. Many tech companies have a stake in OpenAI's success or...

12/29/2025 OpenAI news often drives many AI stocks up or down.... Get instant access to exclusive stock lists, expert market analysis and powerful tools with 2 months of IBD Digital for only $20! Quantum computing stocks dropped Wednesday after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang declared that useful quantum computers are many years away. "If you said 15 years for very useful quantum computers, that would probably be on the early side," he said during Nvidia's analyst day. "If you said 30, it's probably on the late side. But if you picked 20, I think a whole bunch of us would believe it." Huang said he believes Nvidia will play a "very significant part" in creating the computers and helping the industry...

D-Wave Quantum dropped more than 30%, while the Defiance Quantum & AI ETF fell 4%. Quantum Computing, which announced a stock offering to raise $100 million, sank 37%. "As valuations have become a bit lofty, we're not surprised by today's correction," said AXS Investments CEO Greg Bassuk, calling the reaction somewhat "overblown." Nvidia (NVDA) chief executive Jensen Huang doesn’t think useful quantum... Quantum computing stocks such as IonQ (IONQ) and Rigetti Computing (RGTI) fell by more than 40% Wednesday morning after Huang’s comments during Nvidia’s financial analyst day at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). IonQ’s shares were down by about 45%, while Rigetti’s shares fell by more than 48% mid-morning. Quantum Computing (QUBT), which announced a stock offering earlier this week to raise $100 million, saw its shares fall by about 49%.

D-Wave Quantum (QBTS), meanwhile, saw shares fall by around 47%. “If you said 15 years for very useful quantum computers, that would probably be on the early side,” Huang said. “If you said 30, it’s probably on the late side. But if you picked 20, I think a whole bunch of us would believe it.” The Nvidia chief said he thinks the AI chipmaker will play “a significant part” in the development of quantum... An AI-generated image illustrates the typical "chandelier" design of a quantum computer. (bpawesome/Shutterstock) Nvidia (NVDA) Chief Executive Jensen Huang's controversial remarks about quantum computing reached Rigetti Computing CEO Subodh Kulkarni via text.

Get instant access to exclusive stock lists, expert market analysis and powerful tools with 2 months of IBD Digital for only $20! A wave of investor optimism swept the tech sector on Wednesday after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang declared that quantum computing is reaching an “inflection point.” Speaking at Nvidia’s GTC conference in Paris on Wednesday, Huang said quantum systems are approaching the stage where they can begin solving meaningful real-world problems, triggering a sharp rally in quantum-related stocks. Quantum Computing Inc. soared over 32 percent in early trading, reaching $18.99 after gaining $3.86. Rigetti Computing followed with a jump of more than 17 percent, while IonQ shares climbed 7 percent.

The surge reflected renewed investor enthusiasm, with Nvidia’s bullish tone seen as a strong endorsement of the technology’s near-term potential. Notably, in March, Huang had told analysts that truly useful quantum machines might still be 15 years away, a statement that sent the same stocks into a tailspin. On Wednesday, however, he acknowledged that his previous comments had underestimated the pace of progress. Now, Huang believes we are “within reach” of applying quantum systems to challenges across sectors such as cryptography, financial modeling, and drug discovery. During his keynote, Huang also highlighted Nvidia’s Cuda Q, a hybrid platform that bridges classical and quantum computing. He noted its growing importance as quantum advances remain uneven, with full-scale quantum systems still facing challenges like error correction and qubit stability.

Quantum Stock Collapse: Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) fell 38%, with Rigetti (RGTI), D-Wave (QBTS), and IonQ (IONQ) also suffering sharp post-CES losses. Jensen Huang's Sobering Reality: Nvidia's CEO emphasized that quantum computing remains "decades away from practical implementation," redirecting attention to AI-accelerated classical systems. Financial Fragility Exposed: Revenue growth in the quantum sector remains incremental, with companies like IonQ showing promise, but most still unprofitable and reliant on speculative enthusiasm. Investor Sentiment Recalibrated: Nvidia's critique sets a clearer benchmark for assessing quantum computing's true commercial viability, driving a market correction in overvalued stocks. Future Path to Watch: Long-term potential in hybrid quantum-classical systems and scalable quantum solutions still exists, but disciplined evaluation of fundamentals is now critical.

Shares of quantum computing firms took a significant hit in aftermarket trading on Tuesday, following remarks from NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang that cast doubt on the near-term viability of the technology. Companies like IONQ, D-Wave Quantum, QuantumSi, Quantum Computing Inc., and Rigetti Computing saw stock declines ranging from 3% to 15%. This downturn came on the heels of a broader sell-off in the tech sector, which has been under pressure in recent weeks. During an investor meeting, Huang made it clear that he views quantum computing as still being in its infancy, suggesting that it could take at least 20 years before the technology becomes genuinely useful. His comments, made in response to a question from Evercore analyst Mark Lipacis, were striking. Huang noted that if one were to estimate a timeline for practical quantum computers, 15 years might be overly optimistic, while 30 years could be too conservative.

“But if you picked 20, I think a whole bunch of us would believe it,” he stated, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the timeline for quantum advancements. The skepticism from Huang is not without merit. Quantum computing, which leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to tackle complex computational problems, faces numerous physical challenges. The intricacies of manipulating quantum phenomena are daunting, and Huang emphasized that quantum technology cannot address every problem. He pointed out that classical computing remains essential for error correction, a process that is vital for quantum systems to function effectively. This interdependence highlights a significant hurdle: quantum computing cannot yet operate independently of classical systems, limiting its immediate applicability.

Despite Huang’s cautious outlook, advocates of quantum computing continue to champion its potential as a transformative force in the tech landscape. Recent announcements, such as Google’s claim of overcoming a pivotal challenge with a new quantum chip, have sparked excitement. However, even with such advancements, experts agree that practical implementation is still years away. The gap between theoretical breakthroughs and real-world applications remains a chasm that the industry must navigate. The reaction of the market reflects a broader sentiment of uncertainty surrounding the future of quantum computing. Investors, already jittery from a tech sector slump, appear to be recalibrating their expectations based on Huang’s comments.

Nvidia Ceo Jensen Huang Fuels Quantum Stock Frenzy

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