In early trading on the 16th, quantum computer stocks went straight to the upper limit (the top of the daily limit range).

As concerns grew that high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) could be abused for hacking, buying flowed into quantum encryption and security stocks, and expectations for Nvidia's quantum computing technology added to the momentum, sending related themes sharply higher together.

Visitors examine a quantum computer model at Quantum Korea 2025. /Courtesy of News1

As of 9:34 a.m., AXGATE is trading at 16,870 won, up 3,890 won (29.97%) from the previous trading day.

At the same time, Korea Computer & Systems, Photon, Raonsecure, and Dream Security are also hitting the upper limit.

Nvidia's announcement of "ISING" on the 14th (local time), which spurred expectations that it would significantly accelerate the commercialization of quantum computers, is also seen as a factor. ISING is an AI model dedicated to quantum computing, specialized for controlling quantum hardware and correcting errors.

On the back of this, quantum computer-related stocks such as IonQ (20.95%) and Rigetti Computing (13.28%) surged to close higher in New York trading the previous night.

Previously, quantum computer stocks had closed at the upper limit the day before on expectations of a boost to cybersecurity. News that Anthropic's top-tier model, Mythos, found software vulnerabilities and succeeded in hacking heightened concerns about malicious use of hacking, concentrating investor sentiment in quantum encryption and security stocks.

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