Meet the quantum computing stock that could crush IonQ in 2026 - MSN

Key Points New quantum startup Infleqtion uses atoms for its quantum components, just like IonQ. Infleqtion's quantum computing accuracy is much lower than best-in-class IonQ. Infleqtion's additional business lines and lower price could help it outperform IonQ this year. 10 stocks we like better than IonQ › Given the wild success that quantum computing start-ups like IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) enjoyed in 2025, it's no surprise that even more new players have entered the field in 2026. One of these contenders for quantum dominance is Infleqtion (NYSE: INFQ), which briefly reached a market cap of $6 billion in April, despite going public only in February. But could this scrappy upstart's performance really crush the more established IonQ in 2026? I believe it could. Here's how Infleqtion might pull it off. A different kind of quantum While other quantum computing companies use subatomic particles like electrons or photons, both Infleqtion and IonQ use entire atoms instead. The benefit, according to both companies, is that for certain elemental types, all atoms of the same type in the universe are identical. This reduces manufacturing costs and the potential for defects.