UCLA Unveils Room-Temperature Quantum Computing Device, Quantinuum Seeks $10 Billion Funding, IonQ Gains Morgan Stanley

Researchers at UCLA and UC Riverside have developed a quantum system that works at room temperature, cutting energy costs and paving the way for hybrid systems. Quantinuum, a top quantum computing firm, is seeking to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in a new round, potentially valuing the company at $10 billion. IonQ has gained Morgan Stanley as a new investor, and other projects are moving forward in the evolving field of quantum computing.

Quantum computing, a frontier in technology, continues to attract significant investment as companies strive to bring their innovations to market. Two prominent players in the field, Quantinuum and IonQ, are at the forefront of this movement.

Quantinuum's Ambitious Funding Round

Quantinuum, a quantum computing company backed by Honeywell International, is reportedly exploring a new funding round that could value the firm at around $10 billion. This potential raise, being discussed with other investors, represents a significant increase from the company's previous valuation of $1.5 billion in 2021 [1]. The size of the fundraising is expected to run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Discussions have taken place with existing Quantinuum investors, as well as possible new backers, about a fresh injection of capital [1]. The company’s upcoming Helios system is expected to support enough logical qubits to outperform classical computers in fields like finance, chemistry, and computational biology. These steps are part of a bigger plan to make quantum computing useful in the real world and tap into a projected trillion-dollar market [3].

IonQ's Strategic Acquisitions and Investments

IonQ, Inc., another leader in quantum computing, has gained Morgan Stanley as a new investor. The company's shares have surged 457.9% over the past year, driven by its significant advancements in quantum computing. IonQ has offered its customers quantum systems via platforms like Microsoft Corporation’s MSFT Azure, Amazon.com, Inc.’s AMZN Amazon Web Services, and Alphabet Inc.’s GOOGL Google Cloud. IonQ now aims to position itself as the NVIDIA CorporationNVDA of quantum computing. While IonQ has shown impressive revenue growth, it has not yet generated profits. The company's operating loss exceeded revenue growth in the second quarter, which could pose financial challenges [3].

Research Advancements and Market Potential

Researchers at UCLA and UC Riverside have developed a quantum system that works at room temperature, cutting energy costs and paving the way for hybrid systems. This development is a significant step forward in making quantum computing more accessible and cost-effective. The quantum computing market is projected to reach a value of $100 billion by 2035, according to McKinsey, indicating substantial growth opportunities for companies in this sector [3].

Conclusion

As the field of quantum computing continues to evolve, companies like Quantinuum and IonQ are positioning themselves to capitalize on the market's potential. While these firms face challenges, their innovations and strategic investments show promise for the future of the industry. Investors should closely monitor these developments and consider the risks and opportunities associated with these investments.

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-20/quantinuum-weighs-raising-funds-at-10-billion-valuation
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/honeywell-eyes-10b-valuation-potential-investment-quantum-computing-firm-quantinuum-2508/
[3] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/markets/stocks/NVDA/pressreleases/34256700/can-ionq-become-the-nvidia-of-quantum-computing-and-is-it-a-buy/