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DARPA Just Revealed the 2 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy Now

2026-10-13 09:22 •Geoffrey Seiler •The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective •Equities •IONQ•IBM•MSFT•QNT

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Why South African Investors Should Watch Quantum Computing, But Stay Selective

DARPA’s backing of IonQ and IBM highlights potential, yet local impact remains distant for now.

Quantum computing promises revolutionary leaps in processing power, with IonQ and IBM making the biggest strides supported by DARPA’s funding. IonQ’s world-leading accuracy and IBM’s ambitious fault-tolerant roadmap catch the eye. But South African investors should temper expectations. These companies aren’t listed locally, and the technology is still years from commercial scale. For now, the rand’s reaction—USD/ZAR—may offer the clearest market signal, as stronger US tech innovation tends to buoy the greenback. South African banks and industrials, such as Standard Bank or Barloworld, will likely be insulated from direct quantum gains in the near term. A tilt into tech-heavy funds offshore could work for those wanting exposure, but it’s still speculative. Watch USD/ZAR as a barometer; if the rand weakens on stronger US tech rallies, consumers face imported cost pressures. This view could be wrong if quantum breakthroughs accelerate commercialization far faster than expected—then local proxy plays might emerge sooner. this is just our opinion and not financial advice

How I would invest

Avoid direct exposure to quantum plays on the JSE for now. Watch USD/ZAR closely and consider trimming rand-hedged foreign tech exposure if the dollar spikes on DARPA news.

What I would watch
  • USD/ZAR
  • Standard Bank
  • Barloworld
What could go wrong
  • Faster-than-expected quantum tech commercialization
  • Rand volatility triggered by US dollar moves
How strongly I feel

6/10

IonQ and IBM have advanced to Stage C of DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, which provides up to $300 million in funding to develop commercially viable fault-tolerant quantum computers by 2033. IonQ leads in accuracy with 99.99% 2-qubit gate fidelity and recent quantum error-correction breakthroughs, while IBM pursues a faster superconducting qubit approach with ambitious plans for a fault-tolerant system by 2029.

Our take is based on reporting first published by The Motley Fool.

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