NEW YORK, December 28, 2025, 9:31 PM ET — Market closed
- IonQ shares ended the last session down 7.6% at $46.00, after trading as low as $45.78.
- Other U.S.-listed quantum-computing stocks also slid, with D-Wave down about 8.1%, Rigetti down 8.6% and Quantum Computing Inc down 6.5%.
- Recent IonQ updates have centered on new system deals in South Korea and Switzerland, announced on Dec. 23 and Dec. 17. [1]
IonQ shares fell 7.6% to $46.00 in their last U.S. session on Friday, retreating with other quantum-computing stocks into the final days of the year.
The move matters because IonQ is one of a small set of publicly traded “pure plays” in quantum computing — companies whose main business is building quantum hardware and services — and the group has been prone to sharp swings on relatively little news. [2]
With the sector still early in commercial adoption, traders have been treating customer deals and roadmaps as key markers for progress, even as near-term earnings remain volatile. [3]
IonQ traded between $45.78 and $50.08 in the session and ended on volume of about 19.7 million shares, according to market data.
The drop was broadly in line with peers. D-Wave Quantum closed down about 8.1%, Rigetti Computing fell about 8.6% and Quantum Computing Inc slid about 6.5%, based on the same data.
IonQ’s most recent company update came on Dec. 23, when it said it finalized an agreement with South Korea’s Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) to deliver a 100-qubit “Tempo” quantum system. [4]
A qubit is the basic unit of information in a quantum computer; a higher qubit count can enable more complex calculations, though performance also depends on how often the machine makes errors.
“This is a defining moment for both IonQ and South Korea,” Chief Executive Niccolo de Masi said in the statement. [5]
IonQ said the system will be integrated into KISTI-6 (“HANKANG”), a high-performance computing cluster, and made available through a secure private cloud — a “hybrid” setup that pairs quantum processors with conventional computing. [6]
Earlier, on Dec. 17, IonQ said it expanded its partnership with Switzerland’s QuantumBasel, a deal it said lifts the total value above $60 million and extends its on-site presence in Switzerland through 2029. [7]
IonQ sells access to its quantum computers through cloud platforms including Amazon Web Services’ Amazon Braket, Microsoft’s Azure Quantum and Google’s Cloud Marketplace, according to company information on Reuters. [8]
Before Monday’s session, traders will be watching whether IonQ can hold above the late-week low around $45.78. A move back through the $50 area would put the recent slide in a different light after Friday’s swing.
Investors are also looking for the next catalyst — whether that comes from additional customer wins, fresh contract details tied to recent deals, or the company’s next quarterly update — at a time when thin holiday liquidity can magnify price moves in smaller, risk-sensitive stocks. [9]
References
1. www.ionq.com, 2. www.reuters.com, 3. www.reuters.com, 4. www.ionq.com, 5. www.ionq.com, 6. www.ionq.com, 7. www.ionq.com, 8. www.reuters.com, 9. www.ionq.com
