Why Nvidia S Quantum Outlook Crushed Ionq And Rigetti Computing

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Jan 2, 2026, 8:12 AM

why nvidia s quantum outlook crushed ionq and rigetti computing

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently predicted it could take 15 to 30 years to bring “very useful quantum computers” to the market. He said those systems would require a million more quantum bits (qubits) than they have today. Huang’s cautious comments caused two of the market’s most popular quantum computing stocks, IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) and Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI), to plunge 39% and 45%, respectively, on Jan. 8. Let’s see why that happened — and if IonQ and Rigetti are still worth buying after their precipitous declines. Start Your Mornings Smarter!

Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » Traditional computers store their data in binary bits of zeros and ones. Quantum processing units (QPUs) can store zeros and ones simultaneously in qubits, which enables them to process data much faster than traditional computers. But quantum computers are much larger and pricier than their binary counterparts, and they tend to produce more errors with their rapid fire calculations. That’s why they’re still mainly used by universities, research institutions, and government agencies for niche calculations instead of more practical applications for mainstream businesses.

Daily stocks & crypto headlines, free to your inbox By continuing, I agree to the Market Data Terms of Service and Privacy Statement Quantum computing stocks experienced a significant market correction after Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, tempered expectations by suggesting that practical, “very useful” quantum computers might be 15 to 30 years away from realization. This statement led to a collective $8 billion market value loss for companies like Rigetti (RGTI), D-Wave Quantum (QBTS), Quantum Computing (QUBT), and IonQ (IONQ). This development stymied what had been a speculative bubble, fueled by last year’s excitement around Google’s quantum computing breakthrough. The search giant’s Willow chip demonstrated remarkable capabilities, solving in five minutes a problem that would take one of the world’s fastest supercomputers an astonishing septillion years.

Despite the potential in areas like national security and government contracts, the immediate revenue generation of these firms remains negligible, casting doubts on their investment value due to potential dilution risks. At the same time, the U.S. government is ramping up efforts, as per a Bloomberg report, to limit AI chip exports to nations such as China and Russia, seeking to preserve its technological advantage in an increasingly tense geopolitical environment. Expected to be unveiled this week, the new restrictions will implement a three-tier system: top-tier U.S. allies will have unrestricted access to U.S. chips; second-tier, adversaries will face a complete ban on semiconductor imports; and third-tier countries, comprising most of the world, will encounter limits on the total computing power they can acquire.

Nvidia (NVDA), a leader in AI hardware, has publicly criticized these measures, warning that they could hinder U.S. economic growth and threaten its technological leadership. Huang has articulated that while national security is paramount, a balanced approach is crucial to sustain U.S. competitiveness in the AI sector, highlighting the delicate balance between security and economic innovation. Despite these challenges, Nvidia is pressing forward. At CES 2025, CEO Jensen Huang unveiled the GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip, delivering a petaflop of AI performance at FP4 precision — a bold step toward democratizing AI computing power.

This move aligns with Nvidia’s broader strategy to dominate AI while tapping into trillion-dollar markets like autonomous vehicles. Currently a $5 billion business for Nvidia, this sector is viewed as just the starting point. To solidify its position, Nvidia has announced new partnerships with major automakers, including Toyota, Aurora, and Continental, to develop next-generation autonomous vehicle fleets. Even more intriguing, the company’s vision extends beyond autonomous vehicles into gaming, robotics, and other sectors poised for AI-driven innovation. With its chips in high demand and a track record of groundbreaking advancements, Nvidia is tackling regulatory and market challenges head-on, solidifying its influence across the tech landscape through relentless innovation and expansion. Huang’s announcements and Nvidia’s strategic direction illustrate a company that is playing the long game in tech, focusing on transformative technologies that could redefine industries.

While the quantum computing sector faces a reality check, Nvidia’s approach to AI and its broader tech ecosystem underscores its commitment to shaping a future where technology not only advances but also navigates the... WallStreetPit does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. During the early premarket trading on Wednesday, it looks like comments from the Nvidia CEO during the previous session are weighing on quantum computing companies. Also, it is worth noting that yields in the US continue to rise, making this a difficult short-term environment for these stocks. During the early Wednesday session, IonQ broke down pretty significantly in pre-market trading, which was facilitated by a statement yesterday made by Nvidia’s CEO that he did not believe quantum computing would be much...

So, the question then remains, is this a real thing? Probably not. This is probably going to end up being a buying opportunity, but you certainly don’t jump in right here. You wait for the market to stabilize. After all, this is one man’s opinion, and although he is very educated in the computing world, he probably doesn’t really have a good grip on the timeline of how these things play out. After all, most things that are thought to be futuristic are always thought to be way out in the future and they tend to show up in about half the time expected.

So, I suspect what we have is a situation where it’s a culmination between Jensen Wang speaking and interest rates in America skyrocketing. I do believe that this will be a value trade eventually, but I would not be surprised to see this thing fall all the way down to the $36 level. Rigetti Computing is going to be in the same situation, losing about $4 in pre-market trading, but I think here you have a scenario which is going to be the same situation. Perhaps we will make it back down to the 50-day EMA, which would be a massive sell-off, as the 50-day EMA is currently hanging around the $8 level, but we’ll just have to wait... Again, this is a momentum of stock, so you have to be careful. You want to wait for signs of stability, and maybe a little bit of a bounce before you get involved.

But I, for one, am not shorting a stock based on a CEO’s opinion, especially one that could possibly end up being a competitor. Rigetti Computing (RGTI), IonQ (IONQ), and other quantum computing stocks fell roughly 40% Wednesday after Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang told Wall Street analysts that “very useful quantum computers” are likely 20 years away. Rigetti Computing stock was down 45% at market close while IonQ dropped 39%. Fellow stocks in the sector, D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) and Quantum Computing (QUBT), plummeted 36% and 43%, respectively. Responding to a question from Evercore ISI analyst Mark Lipacis during a conversation with analysts at the tech industry’s annual CES trade show in Las Vegas, Huang said, “Quantum computing can't solve every problem.” “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,” he said. Quantum computing stocks enjoyed a massive rally in late November and throughout December as growing interest and technological advancements fueled bets that the technology would take off sooner rather than later.

Why Nvidia S Quantum Outlook Crushed Ionq And Rigetti Computing

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