University of Kwazulu-Natal

Prediction The Quantum Computing Bubble Will Burst In 2026 And These

Bonisiwe Shabane
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prediction the quantum computing bubble will burst in 2026 and these

Quantum computing has moved from research labs to surging stock valuations and massive investment flows, with some firms posting gains of hundreds of percentage points. While breakthroughs in hardware, funding, and interest from major tech players fuel optimism, many quantum firms still lack consistent commercial revenue and remain speculative. As the hype builds, 2026 could mark a moment of reckoning, where only firms with real technology and business models survive, and others risk dramatic corrections. Artificial Intelligence has dominated the technology landscape and reshaped industries. While AI continues to grow, investors and innovators are already searching for the next breakthrough. All eyes are turning to the next big leap in computational power, which is quantum computing.

This excitement has pushed quantum startups into the spotlight, with valuations soaring and market expectations rising even faster. It has shifted from a niche area to one of the most hyped and heavily funded domains in modern technology. The key question becomes: Will quantum computing deliver breakthroughs or a sharp market correction? Daily stocks & crypto headlines, free to your inbox By continuing, I agree to the Market Data Terms of Service and Privacy Statement As we close out 2025—the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology—quantum computing is moving fast from laboratory proof-of-concepts to systems that deliver measurable advantages.

Major players like IBM, Google, Microsoft, and emerging challengers in China and Europe have laid the groundwork. 2026 is widely expected to be the year when fault-tolerant prototypes arrive, quantum-safe encryption becomes mandatory for many organizations, and the first commercial applications start generating real ROI. Here’s a clear-eyed look at where we stand today and the key innovations, milestones, and risks shaping quantum computing in 2026. These advances mean 2026 will shift from “can we build it?” to “what can we actually do with it?” Q1 – Verification of Quantum Advantage IBM and partners are expected to run benchmarks on Nighthawk-class systems that independent researchers can verify as outperforming the best classical supercomputers on practical problems (e.g., logistics routing,... Q2 – First Logical Qubits at Scale Pasqal aims for 10,000 physical qubits supporting hundreds of error-corrected logical qubits.

Microsoft’s topological approach could yield room-temperature prototypes, dramatically reducing cooling costs. Some investors on Wall Street worry that artificial intelligence (AI) stocks have become too expensive. While technology stocks generally have become frothy, I think quantum computing is the tech segment most at risk of a steep correction. For the last three years, one theme has dominated the stock market: artificial intelligence (AI). Since the end of 2022 -- when OpenAI kicked off the AI revolution with the commercial launch of ChatGPT -- shares of the Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF and the Invesco QQQ Trust... This level of prolonged momentum, and the resultant higher valuations of some of the tech stocks that drove it, have led some on Wall Street to assert that AI stocks are in a bubble.

Indeed, it's hard to deny that the market has become frothy. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » New machines will use individual atoms as qubits The goal of the quantum-computing industry is to build a powerful, functional machine capable of solving large-scale problems in science and industry that classical computing can’t solve.

We won’t get there in 2026. In fact, scientists have been working toward that goal since at least the 1980s, and it has proved difficult, to say the least. “If someone says quantum computers are commercially useful today, I say I want to have what they’re having,” said Yuval Boger, chief commercial officer of the quantum-computing startup QuEra, on stage at the Q+AI... This article is part of our special report Top Tech 2026. Because the goal is so lofty, tracking its progress has also been difficult. To help chart a course toward truly transformative quantum technology and mark milestones along the path, the team at Microsoft Quantum has come up with a new framework.

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