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IonQ agrees all-stock deal worth up to US$1.3bn for Elisity

The quantum computing group is buying into network security as it pitches protection against both AI-driven attacks and future quantum decryption.

M&A News deals deskTechnology / Cybersecurity · US12 Oct 2026

IonQ agreed on 12 October to acquire Elisity, a zero-trust cybersecurity company, in an all-stock transaction valued at up to $1.3bn.

Elisity website: elisity.com

Why IonQ is buying Elisity

IonQ plans to pair its post-quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution products with Elisity's zero-trust platform for enterprise and government customers, and to extend Elisity's IdentityGraph with cryptographic inventory and risk data. It said the deal opens a microsegmentation market worth more than $10bn that is growing at double digits.

“Q-Day is coming much faster than predicted.”Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and Chief Executive, IonQ

Deal terms and financing

The price includes up to $150m in earnouts tied to Elisity's performance. The number of IonQ shares issued will be based on the volume-weighted average price over 20 trading days before closing, with a floor of $33.07 and a cap of $49.61 per share.

Regulatory approvals and timing

Closing is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary conditions including regulatory approval.

Market context

Elisity, founded in 2019, reports more than 100 customer deployments and says it has doubled revenue and customer count year on year. IonQ shares fell in Monday trading after the announcement. The company earlier this year agreed its $1.8bn purchase of SkyWater Technology.