After Nvidia unveiled new quantum computing technology, related stocks on the domestic market also recorded a surge of limit-up prices. Following the sharp rise across the U.S. quantum computing sector, buying interest flooded into quantum cryptography, quantum security, and component-related stocks in Korea all at once.
According to the Korea Exchange on the 16th, DreamSecurity (203650) closed the previous day at 2,730 won, up 30.00% from the prior trading day, hitting the daily limit. DreamSecurity is classified as a company researching Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) technology in preparation for the quantum computer era. As concerns grow that existing encryption systems could be shaken if the computational performance of quantum computers becomes reality, market attention has focused on companies possessing security technologies.
Other quantum computing theme stocks also surged in unison. QSI (066310) closed at 17,510 won, up 29.99%; RNTX (123010) at 1,735 won, up 29.96%; ICTK (456010) at 22,950 won, up 29.95%; and Xgate (356680) at 12,980 won, up 29.93%. QSI is related to quantum computer components, while RNTX gained attention for its history of supplying quantum random number generator chips. ICTK and Xgate also drew renewed attention for possessing PQC-based security technologies.
The direct catalyst for the day's surge was positive news from the United States. On the 14th (local time), Nvidia unveiled "Ising," an artificial intelligence (AI) model product line that improves the chronic challenges of error correction in quantum computing. While quantum computers can theoretically achieve computational capabilities surpassing existing supercomputers, their high error rate due to sensitivity to external environmental changes has been cited as the biggest obstacle to commercialization. Nvidia explained that this technology can increase quantum error correction speed by up to 2.5 times and improve accuracy by 3 times.
Related stocks in the U.S. market also responded immediately. Nvidia closed the previous day at $196.51, up 3.80%, and IonQ, a quantum computer specialist company, surged 20.16% on the back of its announcement of technology linking multiple quantum computers into a single network. Other stocks such as D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing, and Quantum Computing also showed double-digit gains.
In the market, there are also forecasts that the commercialization timing of quantum computing could be moved up earlier than expected. Earlier, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said at the beginning of the year that it could take at least 20 years to commercialize quantum computers, but recently retracted his judgment, saying he was wrong. Inside and outside the industry, 2029-2030 was seen as the turning point for commercialization, but observations are gaining traction that expectations could be moved up further as the pace of technological progress accelerates.
However, securities firms are also warning about overheating. While quantum computing is certainly considered a key candidate for next-generation AI infrastructure, many domestic related stocks are currently moving largely based on theme expectations rather than actual performance. The outlook that the market size could grow rapidly remains valid, but analysts point out that an approach considering high stock price volatility is necessary, as considerable time is needed before actual business results and profitability are achieved.
