Martin Shkreli Calls IonQ And Rigetti 'Best Shorts' Despite Recent Stock Gains, Cites Offline Quantum Systems

Martin Shkreli, the controversial former hedge fund manager, has recently criticized the operational status of quantum computers from IonQ Inc. (IONQ) and Rigetti Computing Inc. (RGTI), stating that all three of IonQ's quantum devices and both of Rigetti's systems were either offline or experiencing errors. Despite these operational issues, both stocks have seen substantial gains in recent trading sessions. IONQ shares have surged 286% over the past year, while RGTI stock has skyrocketed more than 1,170%. On Tuesday alone, RGTI jumped 42.22% to close at $13.98, while IONQ gained 16.51% to end at $45.31. Shkreli's bearish stance on these stocks, given their operational status, contrasts with the market's positive sentiment, indicating a potential disconnect between the companies' stock performance and their current operational capabilities.

Shkreli's comments align with recent skepticism from tech industry leaders about quantum computing's near-term potential. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang and Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg both suggested that quantum computing applications may be 15 to 20 years away from practical implementation. Shkreli, known as "Pharma Bro" from his controversial tenure as CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, was convicted of securities fraud in 2017 and carries a lifetime ban from the pharmaceutical industry.

The AWS Braket service, which provides access to quantum computing hardware from various manufacturers, showed only four out of ten total quantum devices were operational at the time of Shkreli's post, with Amazon's own classical quantum simulators among the few systems showing "online" status. This further supports Shkreli's bearish stance on the current state of quantum computing technology.



Shkreli's comments raise questions about the long-term prospects of IonQ and Rigetti, as well as the broader quantum computing industry. While both companies have seen significant stock gains, their operational issues may indicate underlying challenges in the development and deployment of quantum computing systems. Investors should carefully consider these factors when making decisions about their portfolios.



In conclusion, Martin Shkreli's bearish stance on IonQ and Rigetti, despite their recent stock performance, highlights the potential disconnect between the companies' operational status and market sentiment. Investors should be cautious when evaluating the long-term prospects of these companies and the broader quantum computing industry, as technological challenges and market dynamics may impact their performance.