# IonQ to Acquire Cybersecurity Firm Elisity in $1.3 Billion All-Stock Deal

- URL: https://stocks.freetheai.org/news/ionq-to-acquire-cybersecurity-firm-elisity-in-1-3-billion-all-stock-deal-bdf593
- Published: 2026-10-12T18:04:34Z
- Category: mergers; sentiment: bearish; impact: high
- Symbols: [NYSE:IONQ](https://stocks.freetheai.org/symbols/NYSE-IONQ)
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IonQ, Inc. (NYSE:IONQ) has agreed to acquire cybersecurity provider Elisity in an all-stock transaction valued at up to $1.3 billion. The agreement includes up to $150 million in performance-based earnouts, with the share issuance calculated using an IonQ stock price between $33.07 and $49.61. IonQ shares dropped 9.24% to $36.20 following the announcement.

Elisity, founded in 2019, delivers Zero Trust network security software that sets identity-based access rules across users, devices, workloads, and artificial intelligence agents. IonQ plans to integrate Elisity's network software with its post-quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution offerings to target government and corporate clients. CEO Niccolo de Masi noted that quantum computers could break traditional encryption sooner than expected, driving demand for advanced protection. Elisity brings more than 100 active customer deployments and has doubled both its annual revenue and customer base year over year.

The acquisition follows IonQ's earlier purchase of semiconductor manufacturer SkyWater Technology. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter, subject to regulatory approval.

## Key points

- IonQ agreed to acquire cybersecurity firm Elisity in an all-stock deal valued at up to $1.3 billion.
- The agreement includes up to $150 million in performance earnouts and ties share issuance to an IonQ price range of $33.07 to $49.61.
- Elisity provides Zero Trust network security, has over 100 deployments, and doubled its customer base and revenue year over year.
- IonQ plans to combine its quantum cryptography products with Elisity's platform for corporate and government clients.
- The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter, pending regulatory approval.

## Questions and answers

### How much is IonQ paying to acquire Elisity?

IonQ is acquiring Elisity in an all-stock deal valued at up to $1.3 billion, which includes up to $150 million in earnouts tied to Elisity's performance.

### What does Elisity do and why is IonQ acquiring it?

Elisity provides Zero Trust network security software. IonQ plans to combine Elisity's network security platform with its own quantum cryptography products to sell to enterprise and government customers.

### When is the IonQ and Elisity acquisition expected to close?

The transaction is projected to close in the fourth quarter, subject to regulatory approval.