Prediction: The Quantum Computing Hype Could Cool Off in 2026 -- Here's Why - Nasdaq

Industry analysts predict quantum computing hype may decline in 2026 as early commercialization struggles persist, with overpromised timelines failing to deliver scalable, error-corrected systems for real-world applications. Major cloud providers like AWS, Google, and Microsoft are quietly monetizing quantum via hybrid cloud services, outperforming pure-play quantum firms by integrating quantum processing units (QPUs) into existing infrastructure for enterprise clients. Institutional investors are pulling back from quantum-focused stocks, with IonQ, Rigetti, and D-Wave facing declining valuations amid skepticism over near-term profitability and technological readiness for broad adoption. D-Wave’s annealing-based systems, once hyped for optimization tasks, are being overshadowed by gate-model quantum computers from IBM and others, though no platform has yet achieved fault-tolerant, large-scale quantum advantage. The shift reflects a maturing market where pragmatic, incremental advancements—like quantum-classical hybrid algorithms—are gaining traction over moonshot claims, signaling a potential consolidation phase by 2026.