Just as the DeepSeek-driven sell-off in artificial intelligence stocks calms down, China is trumpeting advances in another cutting-edge technology, with implications for quantum computing stocks.
According to the China Science and Technology Daily, startup Origin Quantum Computing Technology's prototype machine has "received more than 20 million remote visits globally, passing an important milestone in the country's quantum computing development."
Researchers from 139 countries or regions have accessed Origin Quantum's machine remotely, with the most users coming from the United States, Russia, Japan and Canada, the Chinese media outlet said on Feb. 14.
Origin Quantum's "Wukong" quantum computer features 72 working qubits. Origin Quantum, founded in 2017, uses superconducting technology. IBM, Alphabet's Google and Rigetti Computing also use superconducting quantum technology.
Startup D-Wave Wins Big Order
Rigetti is among public quantum companies. Quantum computing stocks also include D-Wave Quantum, IonQ and Quantum Computing.
Further, international competition is rife. D-Wave last week won a big deal in Germany. The Jülich Supercomputing Centre bought one of D-Wave's quantum systems.
Meanwhile, the "Origin Wukong" machine has been available via cloud computing since Jan. 6, 2024.
While China generally has been viewed as lagging the U.S. in quantum computing, it may be ahead in quantum communications, also called quantum networking. China has been testing secure quantum communications in fiber-optic and satellite networks.
Also, China has announced that it will spurn U.S.-led efforts to develop encryption algorithms that are resistant to quantum computers, instead choosing to develop its own standards, said the New Scientist in a report.
Similar to artificial intelligence, the U.S. has aimed at controlling exports of technologies that could boost China's quantum development.
Meanwhile, Quantum computers use quantum bits known as qubits to encode information. Further, Quantum computers generate and control qubits to perform computations.
Quantum Computing Stocks Lag In 2025
Quantum stocks rallied in December after Alphabet's Google announced the "Willow" quantum computing chip.
But quantum computing stocks have pulled back in 2025. As of Feb. 14, IonQ is down 10% while Rigetti has retreated 22%. D-Wave has dropped 24% and Quantum Computing has shed 52%.
Further, China startup DeepSeek has roiled AI stocks, including Nvidia. Chipmaker Nvidia is among AI stocks to watch.
DeepSeek came out of nowhere to release a powerful AI training model developed with much less computing power. AI stocks sold off amid new questions over the outlook for capital spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Here's IBD's take on the key questions involving DeepSeek, including U.S./China competition in artificial intelligence and the pursuit of human-like AGI (Artificial General Intelligence).
More Quantum Computing News And Analysis
Follow Reinhardt Krause on Twitter @reinhardtk_tech for updates on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing.
