Microsoft has unveiled its first quantum computing chip, Majorana 1, which could bring the tech industry closer to the era of quantum computers.
What is a Quantum Computing Chip?
A quantum chip is a small hardware component that processes information and performs calculations using quantum mechanics principles. This makes it significantly faster and more powerful than traditional chips.
This breakthrough comes after nearly two decades of research, as Microsoft revealed that creating Majorana 1 required the formation of an entirely new state of matter, called a “topological state.”
A New State of Matter: Topological State
A topological state is a unique material property that depends on the structure or shape of the material rather than its individual components.
It is a characteristic that remains unchanged despite certain transformations, similar to a knot in a rope that stays intact no matter how the rope is twisted or turned.
Microsoft’s quantum chip uses “topological qubits”, which are the fundamental units of quantum computing. It is made using indium arsenide (a semiconductor) and aluminum (a superconductor).
The company explained in a blog post, “Developing the right materials to create exotic particles and their associated topological state of matter is a significant challenge, which is why most quantum research focuses on other types of qubits.”
Quantum Computer vs. Classic Computer
Technologists believe that quantum computers are the future, as they can solve complex problems much more efficiently than classical computers.
Traditional computers use “bits” that can be either on or off (0 or 1), whereas quantum computers use “qubits”, which can exist in both states simultaneously, exponentially increasing processing power.
Majorana 1 Not Yet Available to Public
Microsoft has clarified that Majorana 1 will not be available to customers for now, as its production is still in the early stages. The company is manufacturing the chip components in the U.S. rather than outsourcing them.
According to Microsoft Executive Vice President Jason Zander, “We need a few hundred qubits before we can discuss commercial reliability.”
Meanwhile, Microsoft will collaborate with universities and national research institutions to advance research using Majorana 1.
Impact of Majorana 1 on Stock Market
In 2024, shares of quantum computing companies IonQ and Rigetti skyrocketed, with IonQ gaining 237% and Rigetti surging nearly 1,500%, generating a total revenue of $14.8 million in Q3.
Microsoft’s Azure Quantum cloud service, which allows developers to experiment with quantum algorithms and programming, already provides access to chips from IonQ and Rigetti.
Microsoft executives hinted that Azure could gain access to Microsoft’s quantum chip before 2030.
Earlier, in January 2025, Microsoft declared 2025 as “the year to become quantum-ready.”
