Quantum computing ETF just put in back-to-back years that would make a growth investor blush. The Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM) returned 50.5% in 2024 and 36.7% in 2025 roughly double the Nasdaq-100 both years. And heading into 2026, QTUM is already up over 36% year-to-date.
That performance has investors paying attention who weren’t even aware quantum computing was investable. And unlike picking individual quantum stocks a notoriously volatile, high-risk game ETFs let you spread across hardware makers, software developers, semiconductor enablers, and established tech giants all at once.
But not every quantum ETF is built the same. Some hold 80+ companies across semiconductors and AI. Others go narrower, targeting pure-play quantum companies only. The expense ratios, risk profiles, and holdings look completely different depending on which fund you pick.
Here’s what you need to know before putting money in.
What Is a Quantum Computing ETF?
A quantum computing ETF is an exchange-traded fund that pools exposure across companies working on or enabling quantum computing. Because there are very few pure-play quantum companies that are large enough and liquid enough to hold on their own, most quantum ETFs blend:
- Pure-play quantum companies- IonQ, D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing, Quantinuum (pre-IPO at the time of writing)
- Semiconductor enablers – Nvidia, ASML, Micron, Tokyo Electron
- Big tech with quantum divisions – IBM, Google (Alphabet), Microsoft
- Defense and security – Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman (increasingly added for their quantum research)
The broad composition is deliberate. Quantum hardware companies are still in the commercialization phase revenues are growing but profitability is years away for most. Pairing them with profitable enablers (semiconductors, cloud, AI infrastructure) gives the fund some ballast without abandoning the quantum thesis.
This is also why quantum ETFs often overlap with AI and semiconductor funds. If you already hold a broad AI ETF, check for holdings overlap before adding a quantum fund on top. You may be doubling exposure to the same names.
The site’s coverage of machine learning and AI infrastructure and computer chips and semiconductors is directly relevant here the underlying hardware driving quantum computing is the same silicon and photonic layer being tracked by the funds below.
Why Quantum Computing ETFs Are Beating the Market Right Now
Three things converged between 2024 and 2026 that shifted quantum from “perpetually 10 years away” to something investors are pricing in now.
1. Google’s Willow chip (December 2024)
Google demonstrated below-threshold quantum error correction on superconducting qubits a benchmark researchers had chased for 30 years. Error correction is the critical bottleneck before quantum computers can run reliable, fault-tolerant computations at scale.
2. IBM’s roadmap credibility
IBM has been consistent about hitting its qubit-count milestones. That reliability is rare in deep-tech, and it’s given institutional investors a clearer reason to treat quantum as near-term rather than speculative.
3. New public market entrants
Ion-Q went public via SPAC in 2021. D-Wave Quantum followed. Rigetti. Quantum e-Motion. Each new entrant gave ETF managers more to work with which is why funds like QTUM expanded from 40-odd holdings to over 80 between 2022 and 2026.
For a deeper look at how cloud security engineers are already adapting infrastructure for the post-quantum cryptography era, that’s a useful parallel read because post-quantum security is one of the most commercially immediate applications of quantum research.
The Best Quantum Computing ETFs in 2026
1. Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM) – The Flagship
Expense ratio: 0.40%
AUM: $3.6B+
Holdings: 80+ stocks
2024 return: +50.5%
2025 return: +36.7%
2026 YTD (as of writing): +36.5%
QTUM is the original and still the most liquid quantum computing ETF on the market. It follows the BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index, which means it captures quantum hardware companies alongside semiconductor and AI enablers.
Top holdings include Nvidia, IBM, Micron Technology, Lam Research, ASML, Tokyo Electron, and IonQ. No single stock dominates the top 10 holdings account for around 16% of the portfolio, with individual weights between 1.3% and 2.15%.
The geographic split is worth knowing: about 57% US, then Japan at ~10%, Netherlands at ~9% (ASML), and Taiwan at ~6%. You’re getting global semiconductor exposure by default.
Who it’s for: Anyone who wants broad quantum exposure with the liquidity and track record to justify conviction. This is the default choice for most investors entering the space.
2. WisdomTree Quantum Computing ETF (WQTM) – The Pure-Play Option
Expense ratio: ~0.45%
AUM: Smaller (launched late 2025)
Holdings: Pure-play quantum focus
2026 YTD: +21.1%
WQTM launched in late 2025 and takes a deliberately narrower approach. Unlike QTUM, it avoids diluting the portfolio with broad-market tech giants. If you want direct quantum exposure without buying a de facto AI/semiconductor ETF with quantum branding, this is the better-fitting option.
The tradeoff is liquidity. WQTM is newer, with a smaller asset base. That means wider bid-ask spreads and more price volatility around earnings events for the underlying companies. Not a dealbreaker for a long-horizon hold, but worth knowing if you plan to trade in and out.
3. ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (ARKQ) – The Cross-Thematic Play
Expense ratio: 0.75%
AUM: ~$2.1–2.2B
Average annual return (10-year): ~22%
2025 return: +48.8%
2024 return: +33.9%
ARKQ is not a pure quantum fund. It’s Cathie Wood’s autonomous tech ETF, with Tesla (~10% weight), Teradyne, and Kratos Defense among its largest positions. Quantum computing stocks account for only 3–5 holdings at any given time.
But ARKQ makes this list because its broad exposure to robotics, AI, and automation frequently overlaps with the same enabling technologies that power quantum computing. If you believe quantum computing accelerates autonomous systems which is a reasonable long-term thesis ARKQ captures some of that upside alongside other growth vectors.
The 0.75% expense ratio is the highest on this list. That bites into returns over time. Run the math before assuming past performance justifies the cost.
4. Van Eck Quantum Computing ETF (QNTM) – European UCITS Option
Expense ratio: ~0.50%
Structure: UCITS-compliant
For investors based in the EU or UK, QNTM from Van Eck is the primary UCITS-compliant option. It blends pure quantum companies with patent leaders in the space. QANT from iShares uses a thematic scoring methodology to select holdings rather than a rules-based index, which produces different portfolio composition.
5. iShares U.S. Tech ETF (BlackRock exposure)
BlackRock’s broader tech funds provide indirect quantum exposure through their holdings in IBM, Google, and Microsoft all of which have active quantum computing divisions. Not a quantum-specific fund, but worth knowing for portfolio construction if you want exposure without committing to a pure-play fund.
How to Choose the Right Quantum Computing ETF
Step 1: Check the expense ratio
The difference between 0.40% and 0.75% compounds significantly over a decade. QTUM and WQTM are the most cost-efficient options.
Step 2: Look at what you already hold
If your portfolio already includes Nvidia, IBM, or ASML through an AI or semiconductor ETF, adding QTUM on top may be mostly redundant. WQTM’s purer quantum focus gives you additive exposure in that case.
Step 3: Understand the pure-play vs. diversified tradeoff
Pure-play quantum companies are still pre-profit for the most part. More pure-play exposure = higher upside if the technology commercializes fast, higher downside if timelines slip. Diversified funds (QTUM, ARKQ) manage that risk by anchoring to profitable semiconductor and AI businesses.
Step 4: Think in time horizons
Quantum computing is a 5–15 year commercial buildout. The ETFs that are beating the market now are doing so on sentiment and early milestones, not on quantum revenue being a meaningful part of the economy yet. Size your position accordingly.
The Overlap Problem Nobody Talks About
Here’s something most quantum ETF write-ups skip over: if you already own QQQ, an AI ETF, or any broad semiconductor fund, you probably already have meaningful exposure to the same companies driving quantum ETF returns.
Nvidia, ASML, Micron, and IBM appear in virtually every tech-adjacent ETF on the market. Adding QTUM doesn’t necessarily double your exposure to quantum computing it may mostly just double your exposure to Nvidia and ASML.
The genuinely differentiated exposure in a quantum ETF tends to be concentrated in the smaller holdings: IonQ, D-Wave, Rigetti, BTQ Technologies, Quantum e-Motion. These are the companies where the quantum-specific thesis lives. And they’re also the most volatile positions in the fund.
If pure quantum exposure is what you’re after, look at what percentage of the fund actually holds dedicated quantum companies versus semiconductor enablers. WQTM is structured with that distinction in mind. QTUM uses the latter as ballast by design.
Understanding how the underlying computer chip ecosystem is evolving from classical to quantum architectures gives this context real weight.
Risks to Know Before You Invest
1. Timeline slippage
Quantum computing has a long history of breakthrough announcements followed by longer-than-expected commercialization timelines. Error correction is solved in research environments, not yet at commercial scale. If the next round of milestones gets pushed, valuations of pure-play companies compress fast.
2. Competition from classical computing
Improvements in GPU architecture and AI accelerators continue to extend the practical limits of classical computing. Some use cases expected to require quantum in 2020 are now handled by classical systems. That’s not fatal for the thesis, but it does push the commercial TAM of quantum further out in time.
3. Post-quantum security as a regulatory driver
This is actually a tailwind. Governments and enterprises are increasingly mandating post-quantum cryptography standards which means spending on quantum-resistant security whether or not quantum computers become widely deployed. Companies with post-quantum security exposure in the portfolio benefit from this regardless of the hardware timeline. This connects directly to the work cloud security engineers are doing today.
4. Volatility
Quantum stocks move fast on news. Ion-Q and D-Wave have both traded at 3x and 0.3x their prior-year prices within 12-month windows. ETFs smooth some of this out but not all of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best quantum computing ETF right now?
For most investors in 2026, the Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM) is the strongest combination of liquidity, track record, and cost efficiency. It has over $3.6 billion in AUM, a 0.40% expense ratio, and returned 50.5% in 2024 and 36.7% in 2025. Investors wanting purer quantum exposure without big-tech dilution should look at WisdomTree’s WQTM instead. - Is QTUM a good investment?
QTUM has been a strong performer relative to the Nasdaq-100 over the past two years. Whether it’s “good” depends on your time horizon, risk tolerance, and existing portfolio. It’s not a low-volatility position it’s a thematic tech fund with meaningful exposure to pre-profit quantum hardware companies. Understand what you’re buying before sizing up. - Does QTUM hold actual quantum computing companies?
Yes, but they’re not the largest holdings. Pure-play quantum companies like IonQ, D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti, and Quantum eMotion are in the fund, but the largest weights go to semiconductor enablers like Micron, ASML, and Lam Research. That’s deliberate it provides stability from profitable businesses while maintaining quantum exposure. - What’s the difference between QTUM and WQTM?
QTUM (Defiance) is the larger, more established fund with 80+ holdings that mix quantum companies with semiconductors and AI enablers. WQTM (WisdomTree) launched in late 2025 and focuses more narrowly on the quantum computing ecosystem without as much big-tech dilution. WQTM is smaller and less liquid but may give a more direct quantum bet. - Are there quantum computing ETFs for European investors?
Yes. VanEck’s QNTM and iShares’ QANT are both UCITS-compliant quantum computing ETFs available to European investors. Both carry expense ratios between 0.50% and 0.55%. - How much of my portfolio should be in a quantum computing ETF?
There’s no universal answer, but most financial advisors would categorize quantum computing ETFs as thematic/satellite positions rather than core holdings. The common range for thematic tech positions is 3–7% of a portfolio, depending on risk appetite. This is not financial advice consult a qualified financial advisor for guidance on your specific situation.
Conclusion
Quantum computing ETFs aren’t hype anymore. The performance numbers are real, the underlying milestones are real, and the institutional money moving into the space is real. QTUM’s back-to-back years of 35–50% gains aren’t built on speculation alone they reflect genuine hardware progress, expanding public market options, and growing enterprise demand for post-quantum security.
That said, the commercialization timeline is still measured in years, not quarters. The funds that hold semiconductor enablers alongside pure-play quantum companies are better insulated against timeline slippage than a concentrated bet on IonQ or Rigetti alone.
For most investors, QTUM remains the entry point: liquid, diversified, cost-efficient, and proven over multiple market cycles. If you want purer quantum exposure and can tolerate lower liquidity, WQTM is worth a look. If you’re EU-based, QNTM or QANT gives you UCITS-compliant access to the same thesis. The technology is building. The investment infrastructure around it is building faster.
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
