SEALSQ Corp (NASDAQ:LAES), the semiconductor and post-quantum cryptography subsidiary of WISeKey (NASDAQ:WKEY), announced Wednesday it has entered a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to potentially acquire a majority stake in QUOBLY, a Grenoble-based pioneer in silicon-based quantum computing.
The deal, structured in multiple stages, contemplates an initial minority investment followed by a path to majority ownership.
If finalized, the total investment is expected to reach approximately $200 million.
The transaction is anchored to SEALSQ’s dedicated Quantum Fund, a strategic vehicle designed to foster "sovereign" European quantum technologies that can compete with U.S. and Chinese giants.
QUOBLY, a spin-off from France’s prestigious CEA-Leti and CNRS research institutes, is a leader in silicon spin qubits.
Unlike competitors using exotic materials or superconducting loops, QUOBLY’s technology is compatible with standard CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) manufacturing.
This allows them to leverage existing semiconductor "mega-fabs" to scale toward the goal of a one-million-physical-qubit processor by 2031.
The move follows a strategic collaboration announced between the two firms in November 2025.
By vertically integrating QUOBLY’s hardware with SEALSQ's specialized security chips, the combined entity aims to serve "mission-critical" sectors including defense, intelligence, and finance—industries increasingly wary of the "Quantum Apocalypse," where future quantum computers could crack current encryption standards.
The transaction remains subject to rigorous financial and technical due diligence, as well as regulatory approvals in France and the U.S.