Quantum Computing News: Is the Next Big Investment Opportunity Beyond Quantum Chips?

Welcome to Monday's quantum update. The latest developments show the quantum sector expanding beyond processor performance, with companies raising capital, preparing for public listings, strengthening ties to U.S. manufacturing, and building post-quantum security directly into hardware and software platforms.

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1. NordLocker Rebuilds Platform for Post-Quantum Security

We begin with NordLocker, an encrypted cloud storage provider owned by the creators of Nord Security, which has rebuilt its platform around a new journaling architecture in order to improve speed and support future post-quantum cryptography. The new system records file changes as small, individually encrypted events rather than reloading the entire encrypted storage structure each time a file is updated.

NordLocker says uploads and downloads are now more than 10 times faster, and complex file operations are more than 100 times faster. The architecture also isolates quantum-sensitive encryption in a dedicated layer, allowing the company to introduce post-quantum algorithms later without another major platform redesign.

2. Xanadu Expands U.S. Quantum Operations

Next, Xanadu Quantum Technologies Limited (XNDU), a photonic quantum computing company, is expanding its U.S. operations with a larger presence in Albany, New York, and workforce growth across 19 states. The company's U.S. headcount has increased more than fivefold since 2023 as it works more closely with semiconductor and technology partners, including Corning (GLW), Applied Materials (AMAT), DISCO, and EV Group. Xanadu is using established photonics and semiconductor supply chains to support the development and manufacturing of its quantum hardware, building on its Aurora system and recent research into GKP qubits designed for fault-tolerant computing.

3. Quantum Art and Classiq Explore Wall Street Listings

Israeli quantum companies Quantum Art and Classiq are reportedly in advanced talks to go public via SPAC mergers that could value each company at between $2 billion and $5 billion. Quantum Art is developing trapped-ion quantum hardware and could become the first Israeli quantum computing company listed on Wall Street, potentially before the end of 2026.

Classiq builds software that helps companies create applications across different quantum systems and works with technology companies including Nvidia Corporation (NVDA), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), and Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN). The reported discussions show how quantum companies are turning to public markets for the large amounts of capital needed to fund years of hardware and software development.

4. Former OQC CEO Joins Cambridge Innovation Capital

Ilana Wisby, the former founding CEO of Oxford Quantum Circuits, has joined Cambridge Innovation Capital as an Entrepreneur in Residence. Wisby led OQC as it introduced Europe's first Quantum Computing as a Service product, deployed 32-qubit systems in commercial data centers, raised more than $100 million, and increased its valuation 55-fold. At Cambridge Innovation Capital, she will work with founders and researchers to identify commercial applications for quantum technology and help turn early scientific research into investable businesses.

5. SEALSQ Signs $5 Million Quobly Agreement

We end this update with SEALSQ Corp (LAES), a semiconductor and cybersecurity company that signed a $5 million commercial agreement with the French quantum computing company Quobly. SEALSQ will integrate post-quantum security technologies, Cryo CMOS chips, secure semiconductor architecture, and hardware-based identity tools into Quobly's silicon quantum computing platform.

The technology is expected to support Alloy Pioneer, Quobly's first-generation quantum computer, which is scheduled to become available through the cloud by the end of 2026. For LAES investors, the agreement provides a concrete example of quantum-related spending moving beyond research, with security becoming part of the hardware design before larger systems reach commercial deployment.

We used TipRanks' Comparison Tool to line up notable pure-play quantum stocks alongside stocks mentioned in the piece. It's a great tool for investors to gain a deeper view of each stock and the broader quantum sector.