Good news for advanced-computer technology investors: Quantum computing stocks are back on the upswing. Industry stocks have returned 45.4% year to date as of Aug. 11, according to the benchmark S&P Kensho Global Quantum Computing Technologies Index. What’s more, the index is up 8.7% in August. That wouldn’t deserve much attention, except for the fact that the index dropped over 20% in the first three weeks of July. At this point, an uptick is more than welcome. So, why the run-up in quantum stocks over the past few weeks? [Sign up for stock news with our Invested newsletter.] First, the August rally means things are getting back to normal after a massive summer sell-off. As recently as July 17, certain quantum computing leaders were roughly 60% to 75% off their 52-week highs, with some of them dropping another 17% to 20% in a single week. Additionally, the federal government’s recent announcement that it’s injecting $2 billion into the U.S. quantum computing market shows Uncle Sam is serious about becoming a quantum champion. The Trump administration’s move to take equity stakes in quantum computing startups in exchange for funding reinforces the notion that the industry is a U.S. technology priority, instead of a lower-caste corner of the tech market that must sustain itself on private capital. “The U.S. Department of Commerce’s recent $2 billion in proposed CHIPS Act incentives for quantum companies deliberately spans multiple approaches, which is itself a signal,” said Christopher Gannatti, global head of research at WisdomTree, in a recent research note. “The government does not know which architecture wins, and neither does the market.” What investors can do now, Gannatti advises, is “start building a framework for monitoring how the thesis evolves.” Additionally, while many companies in the space are still private, there are some compelling opportunities