GoKawiilInternational Business Machines Corp. (IBM) signage on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025.
Quantum computing shares popped in premarket trading on Thursday, following reports that the U.S. government will award $2 billion in grants to nine firms operating in the space.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on the deals, which will see the U.S. government take equity stakes in the companies.
IBM is reportedly the biggest beneficiary of the package, with the U.S. Commerce Department agreeing to give the firm $1 billion, per the WSJ.
Shares of IBM were trading 6% higher at 7:18 a.m. ET, climbing down from earlier gains that saw shares rise by close to 8%.
The company is a frontrunner in the movement to build supercomputers using quantum technology, which developers say will be able to solve complex problems existing computers cannot tackle.
Chipmaker GlobalFoundries is receiving $375 million, according to the WSJ, with other grant recipients D-Wave Quantum , Rigetti Computing and Infleqtion expected to be awarded $100 million. Startup Diraq is reportedly set to receive a $38 million grant.
Shares of D-Wave were last seen trading 16% higher. Rigetti shares were about 13.8% higher, while Infleqtion stock gained more than 23% ahead of Thursday's regular trading session.