Cybersecurity fears triggered by Anthropic's top-tier artificial intelligence (AI) 'Mythos' and NVIDIA's quantum computing technology innovations are converging, driving quantum and security-related stocks to hit the upper limit for two consecutive days on the domestic stock market. Quantum technology is emerging as an alternative to counter high-performance AI threats capable of neutralizing existing encryption systems, creating a structure where investment funds are being drawn in.
According to the Korea Exchange, quantum and security-related companies surged simultaneously on the 16th, with 15 companies on the KOSDAQ market hitting the upper limit as of 10 AM. XGate (356680) has been at the upper limit for three consecutive trading days since the 14th. Additionally, Lumens (038060), KCS (115500), RNTX (123010), Camsys, Raon Secure (042510), QSI (066310), Korea Precision Machinery, Korea Information & Communications (025770), Finetech, SGA Solutions, Photon (208710), Ranix, Fasoo (150900), and Dream Security (203650) are trading at the upper limit. About half of these are grouped as quantum and security-related stocks.
Quantum-related stocks also showed strength in the U.S. stock market overnight. IonQ surged 20.95% on the announcement that it has developed core technology for implementing quantum internet, while Rigetti Computing also showed strength with a 13.28% gain.
The primary trigger for the quantum and security rally is the sense of crisis regarding 'AI hackers.' On the 7th (local time), news that Anthropic's high-performance AI model Mythos successfully hacked by autonomously finding software vulnerabilities put global financial authorities on alert. The U.S. convened heads of major banks under White House National Cyber Director Sean Keycross to begin emergency security enhancement work. In Korea, the Ministry of Science and ICT held a current issues review meeting on the 14th, presided over by Second Vice Minister Ryu Je-myung, convening Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) from the three major telecom companies and major platform companies (Naver, Kakao, Woowa Brothers, Coupang, etc.), followed by a closed-door meeting on the morning of the 15th with CEOs of major domestic security companies that employ white-hat hackers to discuss national-level response measures.
Positive news about quantum computer commercialization from NVIDIA also added momentum to the upward trend. On the 14th, NVIDIA unveiled 'Ising,' an open-source AI model that improves the error correction problem that has been a chronic challenge for quantum computing commercialization. NVIDIA stated that this technology can increase quantum error correction speed by up to 2.5 times and improve accuracy by 3 times.
Securities analysts assess that the impact of this theme is growing as quantum cryptography technology establishes itself as an alternative to defend against sophisticated cybersecurity threats. However, there are also strong voices calling for caution in investment given the short-term overheating pattern. One securities industry official advised, "While the highlighted AI security threats and big tech's support for the quantum ecosystem are clear positives, related theme stocks tend to rise and fall sharply based on expectations rather than earnings fundamentals, so investors should avoid impulsive trading."
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