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D-Wave Acquires Quantum Circuits for $550 Million Merger

1/9/2026

30 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

D-Wave Quantum Inc. announced the acquisition of Quantum Circuits Inc. for $550 million, to close in late January 2026.
The merger positions D-Wave to lead in quantum annealing and gate-model technologies.
The integration of Quantum Circuits' dual-rail qubit technology will improve qubit quality.
Dr. Rob Schoelkopf will lead a new research center in New Haven, Connecticut.
D-Wave plans to launch its first gate-based system by the end of 2026.

History

Historical Context

In 2019, Google announced its Sycamore processor achieved quantum supremacy by completing a calculation in 200 seconds, a task projected to take classical supercomputers 10,000 years. This milestone followed decades of advancements in quantum computing, including D-Wave's commercial quantum computer launch in 2011. The competition intensified as IBM challenged Google's claims, highlighting the ongoing race for dominance in quantum technology.

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Story summary

D-Wave Quantum Inc. announced the acquisition of Quantum Circuits Inc. for $550 million, to close in late January 2026.
The merger positions D-Wave to lead in quantum annealing and gate-model technologies.
The integration of Quantum Circuits' dual-rail qubit technology will improve qubit quality.
Dr. Rob Schoelkopf will lead a new research center in New Haven, Connecticut.
D-Wave plans to launch its first gate-based system by the end of 2026.

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