IBM looks to Latin America for its next quantum centers IBM is driving quantum computing in Latin America with investment in training and research, in a year in which it expects to see the first “quantum advantages” and accelerate the development of regional applications. Quantum advantage occurs when something can be done faster or more economically than with traditional computing, which faces certain physical limits to continue evolving. “Quantum computing is like a completely different paradigm, which takes advantage of the laws of quantum mechanics to process information and that allows for a completely different and more powerful approach,” Alexandre Pfeifer, IBM Quantum leader for Latin America, told BNamericas. In this interview, Pfeifer talks about the new IBM Quantum community in Mexico, the evolution of the technology, talent challenges and plans to open quantum computing innovation centers in Latin America. BNamericas: What is the current state of progress in quantum computing? Pfeifer: We have been investing in the technology for quite some time now, a couple of decades. Since 2016 we have had a quantum computer in the cloud. Today we already have a fleet with several computers, with uptime above 99%, available to everyone, with data centers in Europe and the United States. As for what technology can achieve, this year we are going to see the first of what we call quantum advantages, that is, doing something with a quantum computer that is better, or faster, or cheaper than if we did not use it. It is important to emphasize here that the quantum computer is not going to replace the classical computer; the technology, together with the algorithms that are going to provide us with the first quantum advantages, or that we expect will do so, have all been hybrid so far, and that is how we
May 5, 2026 · via bnamericas.com
All press releases IBM: A Decade of Quantum on the Cloud YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y., May 4, 2026 - On 4 May 2016, IBM (NYSE: IBM) put the first quantum computer on the cloud. It was a seminal moment in computing history, and for thousands of early users who would get their first experience with real quantum hardware in the months and years to follow. Today, we celebrate a tremendous milestone: ten years of cloud-accessible quantum computing. Now, as day one of IBM’s annual Think conference gets underway, our clients and partners reflect on what the first decade of the cloud has enabled—and what comes next. Those early IBM Quantum users include Dr. Álvaro Nodar, Advocate for the Basque Quantum (BasQ) initiative and Quantum Technical Lead at Global Data Quantum: “The first time I accessed a real quantum device through the cloud was in 2016, during my master’s,” said Nodar. “I remember my professors telling us about its release, and that same afternoon I started running the circuits I had been working on in exercises, projects, and exams," he said. "It was mind-blowing to take all those pen-and-paper circuits and test them on a real device.” Help shape the next decade of quantum computing on the cloud. Sign up for a free Open Plan account on IBM Quantum Platform, and run circuits today. Democratizing access In hindsight, IBM’s decision to put a quantum computer on the cloud marked a profound shift for quantum information science, though at the time, few could fully appreciate how much it would change the trajectory of the field. “The concept of putting a quantum computer on the cloud in 2016 was an absolute stroke of brilliance because it enabled everything that’s happened since then,” said Jamie Garcia, Director of Growth & Strategic Partnerships at IBM Quantum.
May 5, 2026 · via newsroom.ibm.com
Physicists at the University of Vienna have extended the lifespan of magnons, tiny waves in magnetic materials, to 18 microseconds, a hundredfold increase over the previous limit of a few hundred nanoseconds. This breakthrough addresses a key obstacle in the development of practical quantum computers, potentially enabling devices dramatically smaller than current prototypes. Researchers achieved this by exciting short-wavelength magnons in ultra-pure spheres of yttrium iron garnet cooled to just 30 millikelvin, demonstrating that magnon lifespan is limited not by fundamental physics, but by material quality. “In this state, magnons are no longer fleeting signals, but become long-lived, reliable carriers of quantum information,” explains the team, suggesting the possibility of building a quantum computer the size of a 1-cent coin. Yttrium Iron Garnet Enables 18-Microsecond Magnon Lifetimes This advancement isn’t simply incremental; it fundamentally alters the potential scale of quantum computing hardware, suggesting devices could one day be built no larger than a 1-cent coin. The research, recently published in Science Advances, demonstrates that extending magnon lifetimes isn’t constrained by immutable physical laws, but rather by the purity of the materials used to generate them. By exciting short-wavelength magnons, inherently less susceptible to surface defects, they observed these significantly prolonged lifetimes. “Even the least pure sample surpassed all previous records,” indicating that further improvements are achievable through advancements in materials science. This discovery is crucial because it shifts the focus from theoretical physics to practical material engineering. This extended lifespan transforms magnons from fleeting signals into robust carriers of quantum information, comparable to superconducting qubits. “With lifetimes of 18 microseconds, magnons transform from lossy intermediate links into robust quantum memories and low-loss communication links on a chip,” explained the researchers. Magnons could potentially serve as a ‘quantum bus’ connecting hundreds of qubits, or as universal translators in hybrid quantum architectures,
May 4, 2026 · via quantumzeitgeist.com
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May 4, 2026 · via youtube.com
Intel Announces Leadership Appointments to Advance Client Computing and Enable Future Innovation Key Terms physical ai technical quantum computing technical neuromorphic computing technical photonics technical NEWS HIGHLIGHTS - Intel appoints Alex Katouzian as executive vice president and general manager of Client Computing & Physical AI - Names Pushkar Ranade chief technology officer Alex Katouzian Appointed to Lead Client Computing & Physical AI Group Alex Katouzian will join Intel as executive vice president and general manager of the Client Computing and Physical AI Group. In this role, Katouzian will align Intel’s client computing business with emerging physical AI systems that span robotics, autonomous machines, and other AI devices. “AI is creating unprecedented opportunities at the edge, driving a sea change in client computing and physical AI systems,” said Lip-Bu Tan, Intel CEO. “Alex brings deep technical expertise, strong operational discipline, and decades of experience building and scaling global compute platforms. He is the right leader to help us reimagine client computing beyond the traditional PC and align this future with the next wave of growth in physical AI.” Katouzian joins Intel from Qualcomm Technologies where he most recently served as executive vice president and group general manager of mobile, compute, and extended reality (XR). He is widely recognized for his technical vision and consistent track record of execution at scale. “Intel is creating the foundation for AI-driven transformation, from leading in AI PCs, to scaling AI inference at the edge, and accelerating the future of physical AI systems,” said Katouzian. “I’m excited to join Lip-Bu and the Intel team at this critical moment to help scale innovation and deliver the next generation of computing experiences.” Katouzian will join Intel in May. Pushkar Ranade Appointed Chief Technology Officer Intel also announced that Pushkar Ranade has been appointed chief technology officer, transitioning from
May 4, 2026 · via stocktitan.net
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May 4, 2026 · via youtube.com
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May 4, 2026 · via youtube.com
A new quantum-inspired algorithm is reshaping how scientists approach some of the most complex materials known, enabling rapid analysis of structures that were previously beyond computational reach. Quantum technologies, including quantum computers, rely on materials that display unusual quantum effects under specific conditions. Researchers have found that these properties can also be engineered by adjusting a material’s structure. For example, stacking and slightly twisting layers of graphene creates a moiré pattern that can transform the material into a superconductor. As scientists build increasingly intricate layered systems, they reach structures such as quasicrystals and super-moiré materials. The challenge is predicting which designs will be useful. Modeling these materials requires calculating vast amounts of data. In the case of quasicrystals, this can involve more than a quadrillion numbers, far exceeding the limits of even the most powerful supercomputers. A Quantum-Inspired Breakthrough Researchers at Aalto University’s Department of Applied Physics have introduced a quantum-inspired algorithm that can handle these massive, non-periodic systems with remarkable speed. According to Assistant Professor Jose Lado, this work also highlights a growing feedback loop in quantum technology. “Crucially, these new quantum algorithms can enable the development of new quantum materials to build new paradigms of quantum computers, creating a productive two-way feedback loop between quantum materials and quantum computers,” he explains. Tensor networks play a central role in this approach, as they can represent functions across extremely fine computational grids. This makes them well-suited for analyzing large-scale quantum materials. The findings could lead to dissipationless electronics, which may help reduce the heat generated by AI-driven data centers. The research team was led by Lado and included doctoral researcher Tiago Antão, the study’s lead author, along with QDOC doctoral researcher Yitao Sun and Academy Research Fellow Adolfo Fumega. Their results were published in Physical Review Letters as an Editor’s
May 4, 2026 · via scitechdaily.com
“Both biological and digital vision convert light into electrical signals through light-sensitive elements—the retina in the eye and image sensors in cameras,” write a research team from Italy led by Professor Thomas M. Brown (University of Rome Tor Vergata) in a recent Advanced Materials Technologies paper. Colour, brightness and contrast are all transmitted from those photosensitive elements to a processing unit to be turned into an image. The difference is that biological environments are essentially wet, whereas technologies designed to replicate their functions tend to focus on solid-state components. The new proof-of-concept ‘BIOPIX’ (bioinspired pixel sensor array) from Brown’s team blends the two, using sensors built from organic electronics within a biological liquid medium. BIOPIX comprises a 2×2 sensor array that mimics the dichromatic, cone-mediated vision seen in mice plus a 4×4 array with rod-like polymer sensors to enable grayscale. The arrays are stencil-printed onto microelectrodes and encapsulated in Ames’ medium, a water-based liquid specially designed for use in retinal research, which functions here as the electrolyte. “Fabrication of the arrays is easily scalable, and the resulting biocompatible device works at the interface between electronics and biology, capturing light and converting it into electrical signals in a way that more closely emulates the complex mechanisms involved in biological vision,” explains Ebin Joseph, post-doctoral researcher at Tor Vergata. “By letting organic electronic materials interact with a liquid biological environment, BIOPIX reacts to light in a way that is much closer to how a real retina works in nature, both in how it senses colour (spectrally) and how quickly it responds,” adds Professor Brown. BIOPIX responds on the order of tens of milliseconds, mirroring the slower ionic dynamics of liquid-based mammalian retinas, and its sensitivity is comparable to that of established solid-state polymer semiconductor photodetectors. The research team also connected their BIOPIX
May 4, 2026 · via advancedsciencenews.com
MIT and IBM expand research partnership to combine AI and quantum computing The new MIT-IBM Computing Research Lab evolves from the Watson AI Lab founded in 2017, adding quantum computing to its scope after nearly a decade that produced more than 1,500 peer-reviewed articles and funded over 500 students and postdoctoral scholars. IBM and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have opened the MIT-IBM Computing Research Lab, expanding a partnership that began in 2017 to include quantum computing alongside foundational AI research. The new lab replaces the MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab and reflects a shift in focus toward hybrid computing systems that integrate quantum hardware with classical systems and AI methods. The lab is structured around three research pillars: AI, algorithms, and quantum computing. Each area has co-leads drawn from MIT faculty and IBM Research, with the overall lab continuing under the co-direction of Aude Oliva, senior research scientist at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and David Cox, Vice President of AI Foundations at IBM Research. From Watson AI Lab to a broader computing mandate The original Watson AI Lab funded more than 210 research projects involving over 150 MIT faculty members and more than 200 IBM researchers. It produced over 1,500 peer-reviewed articles and supported more than 500 students and postdoctoral scholars. Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research, IBM Fellow, and IBM chair of the new lab, says: "We expect the MIT-IBM Computing Research Lab to emerge as one of the world's premier academic and industrial hubs accelerating the future of computing. Together, the brightest minds at MIT and IBM will rethink how models, algorithms, and systems are designed for an era that will be defined by the sum of what's possible when AI and quantum computing come together." Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT's Provost and MIT chair of the
May 4, 2026 · via edtechinnovationhub.com
A researcher broke a 15-bit elliptic curve key on a real quantum computer in April 2026, winning Project Eleven's Q-Day Prize and 1 BTC for the largest public demonstration of the attack class that protects every Bitcoin wallet. The key was tiny, 256-bit ECDSA is not remotely close to falling, but the direction is clear. Roughly 6.9 million BTC sit in addresses with exposed public keys, including Satoshi's estimated 1 million coins, and every advance in quantum hardware shrinks the gap between "theoretical threat" and "practical timeline." Bitcoin developers have been watching this trajectory for years. BIP-360, published on February 11, 2026, and merged into Bitcoin's official BIP repository, is their answer. It proposes a new output type called Pay-to-Merkle-Root (P2MR) that works almost exactly like Taproot (P2TR) but removes the one piece that quantum computers could eventually exploit. BTQ Technologies deployed the first working implementation on Bitcoin Quantum testnet v0.3.0 in March 2026. Why Taproot Has a Quantum Problem To understand what BIP-360 fixes, you need to understand what Taproot exposes. When Bitcoin activated the Taproot upgrade in November 2021, it introduced P2TR (Pay-to-Taproot) outputs with two spending paths. The first is the keypath spend, where a single public key sits directly on the blockchain and the owner proves they hold the matching private key. The second is the scriptpath spend, where spending conditions are hidden inside a Merkle tree of scripts, and only the branch being used gets revealed at spend time. The keypath is fast, cheap, and private for normal use. But it puts the public key on-chain in plaintext. Today that is perfectly safe because no computer can reverse ECDSA from public key to private key. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer running Shor's algorithm could do exactly that. Google's April 2026 whitepaper estimated a full 256-bit
May 4, 2026 · via phemex.com
Blog summary: - Today, we celebrate ten years since IBM put the first quantum computer on the cloud, opening real hardware to a global community. - Cloud access helped turn quantum computing from a niche research pursuit into a growing, real‑world industry. - A decade of progress has delivered major advances in hardware and software, from early demos to 156‑qubit systems and a mature programming stack. - Most lasting is the human impact: the early users of cloud-accessible quantum computers are now the developers, founders, and partners shaping the field’s future. On 4 May 2016, IBM put the first quantum computer on the cloud. It was a seminal moment in computing history, and for thousands of early users who would get their first experience with real quantum hardware in the months and years to follow. Today, we celebrate a tremendous milestone: ten years of cloud-accessible quantum computing. Now, as day one of IBM’s annual Think conference gets underway, our clients and partners reflect on what the first decade of the cloud has enabled—and what comes next. Those early IBM Quantum users include Dr. Álvaro Nodar, Advocate for the Basque Quantum (BasQ) initiative and Quantum Technical Lead at Global Data Quantum: “The first time I accessed a real quantum device through the cloud was in 2016, during my master’s,” said Nodar. “I remember my professors telling us about its release, and that same afternoon I started running the circuits I had been working on in exercises, projects, and exams," he said. "It was mind-blowing to take all those pen-and-paper circuits and test them on a real device.” Help shape the next decade of quantum computing on the cloud. Sign up for a free Open Plan account on IBM Quantum Platform, and run circuits today. Democratizing access In hindsight, IBM’s decision to
May 4, 2026 · via ibm.com
Powerful AI finds 100+ hidden planets in NASA data including rare and extreme worlds - Date: - May 3, 2026 - Source: - University of Warwick - Summary: - Astronomers have unleashed a powerful new AI tool called RAVEN to comb through data from NASAâs TESS missionâand itâs paying off in a big way. By analyzing millions of stars, the system has confirmed over 100 exoplanets, including 31 brand-new worlds, and identified thousands more promising candidates. What makes this especially exciting is the discovery of rare and extreme planets, like those that whip around their stars in less than a day and others lurking in the mysterious âNeptunian desert,â where planets are thought to be scarce. - Share: Astronomers at the University of Warwick have confirmed more than 100 exoplanets, including 31 newly identified worlds, using a new artificial intelligence system. The team applied this tool to data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), a mission that scans the sky for slight dips in starlight that occur when a planet crosses in front of its host star. Their findings, published in MNRAS, are based on a detailed analysis of observations from more than 2.2 million stars gathered during TESS's first four years. The researchers focused on planets that orbit very close to their stars, completing a full orbit in less than 16 days. This approach has produced one of the most precise measurements yet of how common these short-period planets are. "Using our newly developed RAVEN pipeline, we were able to validate 118 new planets, and over 2,000 high-quality planet candidates, nearly 1,000 of them entirely new," said first author Dr. Marina Lafarga Magro, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Warwick. "This represents one of the best characterized samples of close in planets and will help us identify the
May 4, 2026 · via sciencedaily.com
Key Points Nvidia's new Ising AI models will drastically reduce the error rates of quantum computers. Alphabet's Willow processor and advanced algorithms are causing big leaps in quantum computing capabilities. Microsoft's Majorana 1 processor and Azure Quantum put the company at the forefront of quantum computing services. Quantum computing is moving closer to real-world applications, and the pace of technological development -- and the excitement around its possibilities -- has pushed quantum computing stocks to the forefront of many investors' minds. And the payoff for companies getting in on the ground floor of this technology now could be huge. McKinsey estimates that the quantum computing market could be worth $100 billion by 2035. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » A quick peek at the top 10 most popular stocks on Robinhood reveals three tech companies already making big waves in quantum computing: Nvidia(NASDAQ: NVDA), Alphabet(NASDAQ: GOOGL)(NASDAQ: GOOG), and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). Here's why these tech stocks could be the surprise winners in the quantum computing market. Nvidia has the biggest quantum computing potential Nvidia recently made some big news when it announced a collection of open-source artificial intelligence (AI) models, called Ising, that help calibrate quantum computing processors. The company says that Ising results in decoding that is up to 2.5 times faster and 3 times more accurate than traditional methods. That's a big deal because one of the biggest hurdles to the real-world applications of quantum computers is that they make many errors. With Ising, Nvidia is preparing for a world where hybrid computing -- a mixture of traditional computers and quantum computers -- solves big problems. IBM recently said hybrid computers
May 4, 2026 · via theglobeandmail.com
Bitcoin developers, researchers, and market participants are finding common ground on the debate over quantum computing. The Bitcoin news now centers on how the network should treat Satoshi Nakamoto’s dormant coins, while developers continue work on post-quantum cryptography. Galaxy Digital Research Director Alex Thorn said conversations in Las Vegas showed early agreement across different views in the Bitcoin community. According to Thorn, many participants support protecting property rights, preparing technical safeguards, and avoiding rushed protocol changes. A major point of agreement is that Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin should not be moved, frozen, or restricted. Thorn said most people he spoke with believe touching those coins would damage Bitcoin’s core value proposition. The concern centers on property rights, which remain central to Bitcoin’s design and long-term market trust. Satoshi’s holdings are often discussed as a single large risk factor. However, the Bitcoin news said the structure of those coins makes the issue more complex. The coins are spread across about 22,000 addresses, with roughly 50 BTC per address. A long-range quantum attack would need to crack many separate addresses, not one single wallet. Source: XThat detail changes the scale of the threat. Thorn argued that Satoshi’s holdings do not create one giant target. Instead, the larger short-term risks sit with active entities, including exchanges and major custodians. These firms can move funds and upgrade to post-quantum addresses if a real threat becomes clearer. The quantum computing debate often focuses on old Bitcoin addresses. However, Thorn said active wallets may face more realistic risks than dormant Satoshi-era coins. Exchanges and large holders control concentrated Bitcoin balances, making them more visible targets under extreme scenarios. Even so, those entities have a practical advantage. They can respond to new risks by moving coins to upgraded address types when stronger cryptographic tools become available. That flexibility
May 4, 2026 · via mexc.co
03 May MSP THOUGHT LEADER & MANAGED SERVICE PROVIDER FUTURIST KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR EVENTS Top MSP thought leaders, futurist keynote speakers and IT consultants say that perception of managed service providers has evolved significantly. Once seen primarily as outsourced IT support, it’s clear that the field’s best MSP thought leaders now describe vendors as strategic partners that aid in enabling business growth and innovation. This shift is driven in part by the increasing complexity of technology environments. Organizations today must manage cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity threats, compliance requirements, and rapidly changing software ecosystems. Like celebrity MSP thought leaders advise, maintaining this expertise in-house is neither practical nor cost-effective. Firms step in not just to manage systems, but to provide specialized knowledge and proactive guidance. A defining characteristic of modern vendors is their move from reactive support to proactive and predictive service models, famous MSP thought leaders suggest. Instead of waiting for issues to arise, SME and KOL consultancy advisors use monitoring tools, analytics, and automation to identify and address potential problems before they impact operations. This reduces downtime and improves overall system performance, global MSP thought leaders posit. Cybersecurity has become a cornerstone of the value proposition. If you were to ask, you’d hear international MSP thought leaders emphasize that cmpanies are increasingly responsible for implementing and managing comprehensive security frameworks, including threat detection, incident response, and compliance management. In many cases, they serve as the first line of defense against evolving cyber threats. Also an important trend is the focus on business alignment. Effective companies do not operate in isolation from their clients’ goals, futurist MSP thought leaders argue. They take the time to understand business objectives and tailor their services accordingly, whether that involves scaling infrastructure, supporting remote work, or enabling digital transformation initiatives. Transparency and collaboration are also
May 3, 2026 · via futuristsspeakers.com
Bitcoin developers and crypto advocates are again debating how the network should handle Satoshi Nakamoto’s early Bitcoin holdings. The discussion has grown as quantum computing concerns raise questions about old Bitcoin addresses and future security. Alex Thorn, head of firmwide research at Galaxy Digital, said many Bitcoin developers and advocates agree that Satoshi’s original coins should remain untouched. He said he discussed quantum risks and Bitcoin security with several market participants in Las Vegas. Thorn said the main concern is not only technical security. It is also about Bitcoin’s rule of ownership. He stated, “Satoshi’s coins should not be touched.” He added that violating those property rights could damage Bitcoin’s main value as a neutral money network. Quantum risk renews debate over old wallets The debate focuses on early Pay-to-Public-Key Bitcoin addresses. These addresses used an older structure and may become more exposed if powerful quantum computers can break current cryptography in the future. Some users fear that Satoshi’s coins could become a large target. Thorn described the risk as lower than many people assume. He noted that Satoshi’s estimated coins sit across about 22,000 addresses, with many holding 50 BTC each. That structure would make a broad attack harder to execute. Moreover, a major concern is what would happen if Satoshi’s coins moved or were stolen. Such an event would likely create panic, since those coins have remained untouched since Bitcoin’s earliest years. Thorn argued that the Bitcoin market has already handled very large sell-offs in the past. He suggested that many Bitcoiners may accept even a deep drawdown rather than approve any forced action against Satoshi-linked wallets. He said, “Suffer a 50% drawdown” may be an acceptable trade-off for keeping Bitcoin’s property rights intact. Developers still watch quantum threat The support for leaving Satoshi’s coins alone does not
May 3, 2026 · via cryptonews.net
XRP faces a growing threat from quantum computing, based on new research from an XRP Ledger validator. The validator analyzed approximately 7.8 million accounts and identified 5.6 million as “quantum exposed.” In total, nearly 76.82 billion XRP could be vulnerable to future quantum-based attacks. An account becomes exposed after signing a transaction, which reveals its public key on-chain. Future quantum machines could then reconstruct private keys to access user funds. The report was published by an XRPL validator known as “Vet,” who shared the findings publicly. The study drew widespread attention on social media, including posts from crypto commentators flagging the scope of the risk. Key data showed that 96% of exposed XRP belongs to currently active accounts. The remaining 3.83%, however, sits in dormant wallets inactive for more than five years. Dormant accounts, particularly those created around XRP’s 2013 launch, present the most serious concern. Their owners are unlikely to migrate funds to quantum-secure infrastructure before threats materialize. These wallets could become easy targets as quantum computing capabilities expand over time. The concern is pressing because no active user may be monitoring or protecting these funds. This situation creates a difficult choice for the broader crypto industry. Protecting inactive accounts may require centralized intervention that conflicts with decentralization principles. Leaving them exposed, on the other hand, could allow quantum actors to drain them without resistance. There is currently no clear consensus on how to resolve this dilemma. XRP is not the only blockchain facing this threat. Bitcoin carries even greater exposure, with 1.1 million BTC linked to Satoshi Nakamoto sitting untouched for years. Research from Google also suggests that quantum computers could intercept Bitcoin transactions within minutes. So, the risk extends well beyond the XRP ecosystem. Despite the risks, the XRP Ledger has structural features that support a smoother
May 3, 2026 · via mexc.com
When Christian Weedbrook founded Xanadu Quantum Technologies Ltd. XNDU-T a decade ago, he was determined to raise as much of his financing in Canada as possible. Some investors told him he was wasting his time. “I thought, ‘Maybe it’s true, but why don’t we see how close we can get to that ideal situation,’” he said in an interview last week. Canada’s startup financiers are happy the Australian expatriate stuck to his plan. Xanadu stock has had a strong run since it went public in late March by combining with a Nasdaq-listed special-purpose acquisition company. It closed up 24 per cent on Friday, giving the quantum computer developer a market capitalization of US$10.8-billion. Xanadu is now Canada’s fifth most valuable public tech company. While Xanadu’s early investors are subject to a lock-up and can’t sell until late September, some of their paper returns at the moment beggar belief. Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System led Xanadu’s first two financings through its venture capital arm, investing less than US$30-million. That stake is now worth US$1.45-billion. To put that in perspective, the pension giant’s top public stock holding on Dec. 31 was an US$862-milllion position in Nvidia Corp. OMERS’s Xanadu stake is worth more than its combined holdings in Canada’s Big Five banks, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Mastercard Inc. on Dec. 31. The magnitude of its Xanadu gain “is wacky,” OMERS chief executive officer Blake Hutcheson said in an interview. However, he added, “I’m keeping perspective. It’s on paper and it’s locked up, so I don’t want to get overly zealous. But it’s proof” of OMERS’s thesis in the early 2010s that it could generate 15-per-cent returns over 10 to 20 years from venture capital. Other early Xanadu backers are sitting on massive unrealized gains. Montreal-based Real Ventures’ 2017 fund, which raised
May 3, 2026 · via theglobeandmail.com
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May 3, 2026 · via youtube.com