The quantum computing sector witnessed a seismic shift on December 22, 2025, as Rigetti Computing (RGTI) shares surged 4.12%, closing at $23.76. The catalyst? A revelation that Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has quietly amassed a $7.7 billion exposure to the quantum sector.
While Buffett is famously known for his “circle of competence” rule, this massive position signals that the “Oracle of Omaha” has identified a major valuation moat in the next frontier of high-performance computing.
The “Secret” Revealed: Where the $7.7B is Actually Parked
Contrary to initial rumors of a direct buyout of smaller pure-plays, Berkshire’s $7.7 billion quantum holdings are concentrated in two tech giants that have become the “picks and shovels” of the industry: Alphabet (GOOGL) and Amazon (AMZN).
- The Alphabet Move: Berkshire recently acquired over 17.8 million shares of Alphabet. Alphabet’s Google Quantum AI recently debuted its Willow chip, a system that demonstrated a verifiable quantum advantage by performing calculations in 200 seconds that would take traditional supercomputers 10,000 years.
- The Amazon Connection: Berkshire’s long-standing position in Amazon now carries a “quantum premium.” Amazon Web Services (AWS) recently introduced the Ocelot chip, which claims to support up to 90% quantum error reduction, a critical hurdle for commercial scalability.
Why RGTI is Surging on This News
Although Berkshire hasn’t bought RGTI directly, the $7.7 billion validation from the world’s most successful value investor has triggered a massive “sympathy rally” across pure-play quantum stocks:
| Ticker | Price (Dec 22, 2025) | % Change |
| RGTI (Rigetti Computing) | $23.76 | +4.12% |
| QUBT (Quantum Computing Inc) | $10.89 | +5.32% |
| QBTS (D-Wave Quantum) | $26.82 | +7.75% |
| IONQ (IonQ Inc) | $48.48 | +4.39% |
Institutional Confidence and the 2026 Outlook
The influx of capital into Alphabet and Amazon suggests that institutional investors are no longer viewing quantum as a “fringe” science project. Instead, it is being integrated into the Artificial Intelligence (AI) flywheel.
- Vertical Integration: Companies like Alphabet are self-funding their R&D, allowing them to pursue “fault-tolerant” quantum roadmaps without the pressure of quarterly pure-play revenue.
- Commercial Viability: With Amazon’s Braket platform allowing researchers to test algorithms in real-time, the transition from lab-based experiments to enterprise-grade solutions is accelerating.
Market Analysis: Is This a Sustainable Rally?
While the surge in RGTI is impressive, analysts urge caution. Pure-play stocks remain highly volatile and often move based on broader sector sentiment rather than individual earnings. However, the Berkshire Hathaway validation provides a psychological floor for the industry that hasn’t existed before.
Investor Note: “Buffett isn’t buying the qubit; he’s buying the infrastructure that manages the qubit.” — Market Analyst, Red94.