TLDR
- D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) surged as much as 52% week-on-week, with the stock recently trading above $21
- Nvidia launched two open-source Ising quantum AI models — Ising Calibration and Ising Decoding — targeting core quantum computing challenges
- The launch reignited investor appetite for quantum stocks, lifting QBTS alongside peers IonQ, Rigetti, and Infleqtion
- D-Wave’s CEO publicly challenged Nvidia on energy efficiency at the Semafor World Economy Summit
- Commercial bookings are reportedly already ahead of the company’s total for all of fiscal 2025
D-Wave Quantum had a week to remember. QBTS surged as much as 52% over seven days, with the stock climbing back above $21 and landing on lists of top daily gainers across the market.
The catalyst was Nvidia. The chipmaker launched two new open-source AI models under its Ising framework — Ising Calibration and Ising Decoding — both aimed at solving fundamental problems in quantum computing.
Ising Calibration is a vision-language model that automates QPU calibration tasks. It can read quantum experiment output and compare it against expected results. Ising Decoding uses 3D CNN models to handle the demanding error correction work that quantum systems require.
The market read this as a stamp of approval for the sector. Quantum computing had taken a reputational hit after several tech executives said last year that practical quantum utility was still decades away. Nvidia’s direct investment in quantum tooling changed the tone quickly.
QBTS wasn’t alone in the rally. Rigetti, IonQ, and Infleqtion all moved higher in the same wave as investors rotated back into quantum names across the board.
Options Market Flashes Bullish Signal
Trading in QBTS options spiked well above normal levels during the week. Call buying outpaced puts by a wide margin, suggesting traders were positioning for more upside rather than hedging against a pullback.
That kind of options activity often draws additional momentum traders into a name, which can amplify moves in either direction. For QBTS, it added fuel to an already fast-moving situation.
Despite the weekly surge, the stock’s year-to-date performance still sits in negative territory. That context matters for investors trying to assess how much of this move is catch-up versus genuine re-rating.
D-Wave CEO Takes Aim at Nvidia
Even as Nvidia’s launch drove the broader quantum rally, D-Wave’s CEO used the moment to stake out competitive ground. At the Semafor World Economy Summit, he publicly challenged Nvidia on energy efficiency — a pointed message at a time when the company’s products were generating the headlines.
It was a calculated move. With all eyes on quantum computing, putting D-Wave’s efficiency credentials front and center kept the company visible in the conversation.
On the business side, there was more to work with. Recent reports indicate that commercial bookings are already running ahead of D-Wave’s total booking figure for all of fiscal 2025. That internal growth signal gave investors something concrete beyond the sector narrative.
The combination — Nvidia’s quantum push, strong options flow, a vocal CEO, and better-than-expected bookings momentum — explains why QBTS moved the way it did.
QBTS was trading just above $21 as of the most recent session, with options activity remaining elevated heading into the following week.
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