IonQ to buy SkyWater for 1.8 billion to expand hardware capabilities

IonQ’s shares rose about ​4% in early trading, while SkyWater jumped nearly 8%.

By acquiring its own fabrication facility and securing embedded access to a trusted U.S. ‍foundry, IonQ will be able to begin testing its planned 200,000-qubit chips in 2028, which is earlier than previously expected, the company said. In quantum computing, a ⁠qubit serves as the fundamental unit of information.

SkyWater, a U.S. semiconductor ‍foundry with operations in Minnesota, Florida, and Texas, will use those facilities as quantum ‌production ‌hubs for IonQ, the companies said.

SkyWater’s shareholders will receive $15 in cash and $20 in IonQ stock for each share of SkyWater, representing a premium of nearly 12% to SkyWater’s last closing price.

The deal is expected to ⁠close in the ⁠second or ​third quarter of 2026, after which SkyWater will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary, remaining under the leadership of CEO Thomas Sonderman, who will report to ‍IonQ CEO Niccolo de Masi.

The subsidiary will continue to provide its existing aerospace, defense, and commercial customers with wafer services, advanced packaging, and specialized components like atomic ​clocks.

IonQ also said it expects its full-year ‍2025 revenue to be at the high end or above its previously announced forecast of $106 ​million to $110 million.