Redator

The construction of RP Global’s first German solar PV park has begun on one of Germany’s oldest lignite mining areas. The 50MWp solar project is located in Harbke, an historic location on the former East-West border. In its first phase, the PV plant Harbke, located on the border between Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony, will reach a capacity of 50 MWp. This is the first German project by RP Global, developed in collaboration with EPC MaxSolar. Following completion of an extensive approval process, construction work has now begun on the former Wulfersdorf spoil tip in the district of Börde. The Harbke PV plant is one of the most significant energy projects in the area. The district of Börde actively promotes the expansion of solar power and has been included in the ‘Global Sustainable Municipality nationwide’ initiative as one of five model municipalities. The aim is to systematically integrate Agenda 2030 and its 17 global sustainability goals (SDGs) into administrative structures. The solar park Harbke is being built on an area that has been shaped by humans for a long time and is already crisscrossed by two existing power lines. Thanks to this infrastructure, the electricity generated in future can be fed into the grid efficiently and without the need for additional power lines. Harbke is of historical significance when it comes to energy production – lignite has been mined there for decades. After the Second World War, the open-cast mine was divided and used as an important source of energy on both sides of the border. Following a decision by the municipality of Harbke to repurpose the area, green electricity will now be generated there. A special circumstance is being considered in the construction: access to the project site runs along the former border, the so-called “death strip”. The border strip, left behind by the GDR border guards in 1989 and better known as the “Kolonnenweg”, is a listed historical monument. Rigorous precautions are therefore taken to preserve the historical elements when delivering the park components to the construction site, the company said, adding that an expansion of the project is in the works.

Solana (SOL) is once again testing a critical barrier at $205 after surging nearly 8% in the past 24 hours to $203.5. The move has triggered a renewed optimism among traders who see the ascending triangle pattern forming on the charts as a potential launchpad for a breakout toward $255. According to analyst Lark Davis, Solana has been rejected three times at the $205 mark, but higher lows and sustained buying pressure suggest that momentum is building. “If volume continues to rise into this test, the setup points clearly to $255 as the next target,” Davis explained. Trading activity supports that outlook, with more than $9 billion in daily volume underscoring strong market participation. Technical Indicators Signal Solana Stability Market data shows Solana is not yet in overbought territory, with its Relative Strength Index (RSI) sitting at 55.63. This gives the cryptocurrency room to climb further without triggering immediate selling pressure. The MACD indicator has also confirmed a bullish crossover, aligning with the positive momentum. On-chain signals strengthen the case for upside. Solana’s trading volume is steadily increasing, while its clean rebounds from the ascending trendline highlight active buying on every dip. Market analyst Alex Clay further pointed out a completed W-bottom pattern on the SOL/BTC chart, suggesting Solana may outperform Bitcoin in the short term, just as Ethereum recently did. Outlook: Path Toward $255 Breakout For traders, the $205 level has become the decisive battleground. A confirmed breakout above it, supported by strong volume and sentiment, could propel Solana to the $255 technical target. The broader crypto market backdrop also favors SOL, with Ethereum’s rally drawing attention to high-potential altcoins. Analysts caution that failure to hold above $205 could delay the move higher, leaving Solana stuck in its current consolidation zone. With institutional interest in Solana growing and network activity reaching record levels, the token remains one of the most closely watched assets in the market. For now, all eyes remain on $205, the resistance level that could define Solana’s next major leg upward. Cover image from ChatGPT, SOLUSD chart from Tradingview

Ethereum (ETH) staking levels continue to break records, with the latest snapshot of the blockchain showing nearly 36.1 million ETH staked on the network – the highest level in history. Ethereum Staking Hits New ATH, Will Price Follow? According to a CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor XWIN Research Japan, close to one-third of Ethereum’s circulating supply is now staked. This high proportion suggests that ETH may be on the verge of a structural supply shock. The following chart shared by the analyst shows that even during sharp corrections in 2022 and 2023, staking levels continued to climb. Unlike speculative flows, which often exit the market during downturns, staking activity has proven “sticky” – with investors choosing to lock ETH into the network rather than liquidate. Staking ETH carries several key implications. First, it compresses supply – as more ETH is staked, less liquid supply remains on exchanges, creating a natural “supply shock” that amplifies demand-driven price moves. Similarly, it shows the priorities of investors. By staking ETH, investors essentially work as long-term participants. In this way, they align their incentives with network security and yield instead of short-term trading. ETH’s recent rally to $4,500 also coincided with record staking levels, creating a feedback loop – higher prices attracted institutional inflows from custodians, exchange-traded funds (ETG), and whales, while reduced liquid supply added further upward pressure. ETH’s Transition Into An Institutional Asset ETH ETFs now hold more than $300 billion in reserves, while asset managers such as BlackRock are actively accumulating. This underscores Ethereum’s transition from a speculative asset to a yield-bearing, institutionally supported infrastructure layer. U.S.-based spot ETH ETFs also enjoyed a long streak of positive inflows, lasting from the week ending May 16 through the week ending August 15. Commenting on this shift, XWIN Research Japan noted: Ethereum’s all-time-high staking levels reveal its underlying strength: while Bitcoin faces selling dominance in taker metrics, ETH is experiencing structural supply reduction. This divergence highlights Ethereum’s growing role not just as a crypto asset, but as the backbone of tokenization, DeFi, and RWA adoption. Similar sentiments were recently echoed by Tom Lee, the co-founder of Fundstrat Global Advisors. Lee noted that ETH is getting closer to becoming the backbone of global markets. That said, some risks remain. For instance, ETH price is still lagging despite ATH in daily network transactions. At the time, the analyst said that ETH was likely still in the accumulation phase. Similarly, the recent price pullback in ETH after creating a new ATH over $4,900 shows how recurring liquidation cycles are shaping ETH’s price action every week. At press time, ETH trades at $4,606, up 2.5% in the past 24 hours.

Solana’s price action is showing fresh signs of strength as bulls reclaim key technical levels. With momentum building around critical support and resistance zones, traders appear to be positioning for the next leg higher. The chart setup suggests renewed upside potential, but overbought signals hint that caution may still be warranted. Solana Breaks Above 200 SMA, Extending Bullish Momentum Gemxbt, a crypto analyst on X, recently highlighted Solana’s strong bullish trend as the asset pushed above the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA). This key technical breakout signals renewed strength in SOL’s price action, placing the cryptocurrency in a favorable position to extend its upward momentum. The break above this long-term indicator often attracts bullish sentiment, as it suggests the broader trend is shifting toward recovery and growth. According to Gemxbt, Solana’s chart is now showing clear technical levels to watch, with immediate support around $195 and resistance forming at the $210 mark. These zones are crucial for traders, as they define the short-term battleground between buyers and sellers. A sustained hold above $195 would reinforce the bullish structure, while a decisive break above $210 could open the door for further gains. The analyst also pointed out that momentum indicators are aligning with the bullish case. SOL’s MACD has confirmed a bullish crossover, strengthening the outlook for continued upside. At the same time, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is approaching overbought levels, hinting that the market may be due for a temporary cooldown or pullback before the next move higher. Gemxbt further noted that trading volume has been rising alongside price action, a sign that market participants are actively positioning around Solana. This uptick in volume supports the bullish trend, as it reflects genuine buying interest rather than a weak rally. Pulls Back To Key Zone: Fresh Buying Opportunity Emerges According to CryptoPulse in a recent update, Solana has retraced back to the top of a key zone, creating what the analyst views as a fresh buying opportunity. This pullback brought SOL under the $200 level, an area highlighted as strong value for traders positioning ahead of the next potential move upward. CryptoPulse explained that this zone acts as a favorable entry point, offering a chance to average into positions before renewed momentum takes hold. By accumulating gradually at these levels, traders can mitigate risk while still being exposed to the upside potential when Solana regains strength. The update further emphasized that patience will be important, as market momentum is expected to kick back in once SOL stabilizes above this zone. With the broader trend leaning bullish, CryptoPulse suggests that buyers positioning now may be well-placed for the next leg higher in Solana’s rally.

Log in to today's North American session Market wrap for August 27 One of the main subjects around (muted) Markets in this end of August is the challenge of the FED's Independence, supporting metals and leaving a sense of uncertainty all around. I suggest you to read this very nice piece on the subject. Our most recent article on Silver and metals also explore these views in detail. Nvidia have released their earnings with a $1.05 EPS beating expectations, however Nasdaq futures have corrected further since the release – pretty surprising, Markets might have expected even more. Sell the news on earnings beats are not very good signs for future outlooks so keep an eye on this, Tech stocks are still seeing some relative outflows towards more defensive stocks. Nonetheless, Participants are still awaiting for September to move their pieces further and bring back some volatility to Markets – The biggest date to note in your calendars is September 5th, the next Non-Farm Payrolls report. Don't forget to log in to our monthly NFP previews. In other news, one of Donald Trump's companies is moving further with the idea to buy cryptocurrencies, leading to another decent rally in Altcoins (Solana just hit $210 but some profit taking is currently going on). Read More: Silver (XAG) and other metals in focus as the Federal Reserve independance gets challengedUS Dollar whipsaws and undecided Markets — North American Mid-Week Market UpdateCross-Assets Daily Performance Cross-Asset Daily Performance, August 27, 2025 – Source: TradingView Volatility is still very subdued with most of the most traded assets hanging around unchanged in today's session. Volatility should rise a bit towards the rest of the week with the upcoming data. A picture of today's performance for major currencies Currency Performance, August 27 – Source: OANDA Labs The US Dollar had started the day being the strongest of majors, but since reaching the highs of its ongoing consolidation (mentioned in our NA Mid-Week markets update), the Greenback shot back down. The Canadian Dollar however is shining bright today, and ironically enough, Sellers have brought back the pair below the 1.38130 level held by bulls – USDCAD is now back into its previous month's range (a detailed piece on the NA currency coming up tomorrow). A look at Economic data releasing in tomorrow's session For all market-moving economic releases and events, see the MarketPulse Economic Calendar. (Much awaited) volatility should make a slight comeback tomorrow with the Monthly GDP releases for both the US and Canada. Expectations are for a 3.1% Annualized US release. Also, don't forget the weekly Jobless claims. Elsewhere, this evening Australian Dollar traders will be awaiting Private Consumption Expenditure data, releasing at 21:30 and contributing to the RBA outlook for future cuts. The evening will see a few key events including a speech from FED's Waller (very influential) at 18:00 and the Japanese Tokyo CPI release (the most important of the 2 CPI releases) Safe Trades! Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2025 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Electric Metals’ (TSXV: EML) shares more than doubled on a new preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for its North Star manganese project in Emily, Minnesota, showing it’s among the strongest manganese projects outside China by capacity and economics. The study outlines an after-tax net present value (at a 10% discount) of $1.39 billion and a 43.5% after-tax internal rate of return (IRR). The project starts with a capital cost of $474.8 million for the mine and processing facilities. Then, there’s an additional $150 million for plant expansion and $276 million for sustaining and closure costs over 25 years. Overall, it has a 23-month payback period from start-up. “The results of this PEA confirm that the project has the potential to become the first fully domestic source of high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate in the US,” CEO Brian Savage said in a press release. “North Star represents a strategically significant opportunity not only for our shareholders, but also for the US as it seeks secure, low-carbon supplies of critical battery materials.” The development plan includes a flowsheet for making high-purity manganese sulphate. This is aimed at supporting US lithium-ion battery supply chains. Average yearly mined ore is 368,000 tonnes. This supports post-expansion output of around 180,000 tonnes per year of high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate. The base-case model assumes a flat $2,500 per tonne product price. Company shares achieved a fresh 12-month high at C$0.375 before settling back to C$0.35 by the late afternoon. It has a market capitalization of C$65 million. Top manganese players North Star’s post-expansion capacity of about 180,000 annual tonnes of manganese puts it on par with peers such as South32’s (LSE, ASX: S32) Hermosa project in Arizona, which could produce 185,000 tonnes of manganese per year. Its capacity is higher than Euro Manganese’s (TSXV, ASX: EMN) Chvaletice project in the Czech Republic, which has an estimated annual capacity of about 100,000 tonnes of manganese. By economics, North Star rivals its peer set. Giyani Metals’ (TSXV: EMM) K. Hill project in Botswana ranks second with a post-tax NPV of $984 million, and Manganese X’s (TSX: MN) Battery Hill project in New Brunswick is third with an NPV of $486 million. Comparing by its 43% post-tax IRR, North Star beats all peers, with K. Hill’s 29% IRR coming closest. Domestic supply Electric Metals pitches North Star as a mine-to-chemicals development, responding to a market still reliant on imports of manganese. It aligns with recent US executive actions on critical minerals. In April, the White House used Section 232 to examine national-security risks in critical mineral supply chains. Electric Metals noted that this move supports the case for domestic production. In July the company joined a new industry collaborative with US electric car maker Lucid Group (Nasdaq: LCID) to promote US sourcing. Economic resource The study cites a new resource estimate, at a 10% manganese cut-off, of 3.7 million indicated tonnes grading 17% manganese and 7.6 million inferred tonnes at 19.1% manganese. Underground mining is to use an underhand cut-and-fill technique. Management plans a two-year construction period followed by a three-year ramp-up to full mining and post-expansion plant rates. The plan is to move the PEA to a full feasibility study to include both the mine and an integrated production facility, but no timeline has been given for its publication.

Critical Metals Corp. (Nasdaq: CRML) has signed a ten-year offtake agreement to supply heavy rare earth concentrate Ucore Rare Metal’s US processing facility. Under the terms, Critical Metals expects to supply up to 10,000 metric tons of the concentrate annually from its Tanbreez project in Greenland, ranked one of the biggest rare earth projects in the world. The deal connects the massive rare earth project with Ucore’s Department of Defense (DoD) funded processing facility in Louisiana—a key step toward reducing US reliance on foreign sources for heavy rare earths. The concentrate, the company said, will be providing critical feedstock for high-purity rare earth oxides used in advanced tech and defense applications. After hydro-metallurgical processing, the concentrate will be used as feedstock for Ucore’s rare earth element processing facility, which broke ground in May, in Alexandria, Louisiana and at Ucore’s facility in Kingston, Ontario. The Louisiana facility will produce high-purity rare earth oxides from mixed rare earth carbonates or oxides, which Critical Metals expects to produce at Tanbreez. It aims to produce 2,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of high-purity rare earth oxides next year, with the capacity expected to be scaled up to 7,500 tpa in 2028, the company said. “Critical Metals Corp’s Tanbreez offers tremendous opportunities for Ucore given the significant concentration of heavy rare earths it contains, which are essential for our processing facility in Louisiana, and our downstream partners,” Ucore CEO Pat Ryan said in a statement. “Both Critical Metals Corp and Ucore share a vision to lessen China’s grip of the rare earth ecosystem in the West, and we look forward to our partnership, positioning us both to meet the growing demand for rare earths while addressing national security challenges.” “Securing this offtake provides Critical Metals Corp both with our first buyer and the flexibility to supply other US based rare earth facilities in the future, given the immense size of our Tanbreez deposit,” Critical Metals CEO Tony Sage added. The deal was brokered by GreenMet, a Washington-based advisory firm acting as a conduit between private capital, government and critical minerals industry. In an email to MINING.com, GreenMet CEO Drew Horn called the agreement “a landmark achievement and a powerful example of strategic partnerships building a resilient, domestic supply chain.”

The most recent moves in the US Dollar may have mean-reverted in Forex markets, but the same can't be said about precious metals. They had been subject to some selling pressure ahead of the Jackson Hole Symposium but a conjunction of a dovish interpretation of FED Chair Jerome Powell's speech and growing concerns about the Federal Reserve's independance have brought demand back. A former Board member of the FED (able to vote at every FOMC meeting), Lisa Cook has recently been fired by President Trump "For cause" – She had been appointed by President Biden in 2022 and has been dissenting for rate cuts; but the reasoning has been valid with the growing inflation concerns from tariffs. (PPI just came in at 0.9% vs 0.2% m/m for those who have forgot). A former FED governor Lael Brainard expressed her fears concerning this attack on the Federal Reserve's Independence. However, this has helped metals to come back on the front-scene: Since marking lows on the last trading day of July, Silver is up 6% and saw another leg higher after last Friday's speech. Since, the metal has been consolidating at its relative highs, a sign that usually helps for pursued upside. Let's take a look at the charts for Silver (XAG) to spot breakout points and key technical levels. Read More: US Dollar whipsaws and undecided Markets — North American Mid-Week Market UpdateMetals Daily performance A look at the daily performance in Metals, August 27, 2025 – Source: TradingView XAG = Silver, XAU = Gold, XCU = Copper, XPT = Platinum Metals aren't shining too bright in today's session, however they are holding strong. Most commonly traded Metals performance in August 2025 Metals comparative performance since the past month, August 2025 – Source: TradingView Silver Daily and intraday technical analysisSilver Daily Chart Silver Daily Chart, August 27, 2025 – Source: TradingView Since our last analysis for Silver which had noted the formation of a head and shoulders formation, bulls have broken its materialization for the current consolidation. Holding between the $38 to $38.50 Pivot Zone and the 2025 Resistance highs, Markets seem to be waiting for further news before moving XAG further. In technical analysis, consolidation at relative highs tend to be good signs for further continuation, particularly as Silver is still evolving within a longer-run upward channel. Do monitor US Dollar strength and rate expectations for fundamentals invalidating these technicals. Silver 4H Chart Silver 4H Chart, August 27, 2025 – Source: TradingView Coming back from overbought levels on the 4H timeframe, Silver is rebounding on both the Pivot Zone and key Moving Averages, which may lead to further upside. Tomorrow's US GDP and Friday's Core PCE will add to volatility quite largely, so keep an eye on these releases. Breaking the $39 relative highs should confirm further probabilities of new yearly highs being reached – the 2025 highs are at $39.50. On the other hand, breaching the Key MAs would show more balanced price action ahead. Levels to watch for Silver (XAG) trading: Resistance Levels: Friday Highs $392025 High resistance between $39 to $39.502011 resistance $40 to $41Support Levels: Immediate Pivot 38 to $38.54H MA 50 and 200 $38.152012 Highs Support around 37.50 Safe Trades! Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2025 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

XRP has been holding steady in recent days, even as Bitcoin dropped to $110,500 and has struggled to reclaim $112,700 in the past 24 hours. Unlike Bitcoin, XRP has avoided printing a new low and instead bounced around $2.90 to $2.91. According to crypto analyst Captain Redbeard, XRP’s price action is now breaking out of a massive multi-year triangle pattern, and it could be gearing up for another parabolic leg. XRP Breaks Out Of Multi-Year Triangle According to Captain Redbeard’s analysis, which was first posted on the social media platform X, XRP has completed a breakout from a triangle formation. This breakout is very notable, considering it’s a move above a multi-year consolidation structure that has been developing since the last bull cycle. As noted by Redbeard, “history doesn’t repeat, but it sure does rhyme.” Speaking of history, this exact setup appeared during 2017 before XRP surged to its previous all-time high of $3.4 in 2018. The breakout from such a long-term compression is particularly significant because it suggests that years of sideways movement have now built up enough energy for a strong directional move. The 2-week candlestick price chart he shared shows XRP’s breakout of the triangle in early 2025. However, XRP’s price action in the past few months has seen the crypto consolidating with a parallel channel just above the 1.0 Fib extension level, just like it did in the middle of 2017 after a similar breakout. However, the consolidation pattern is now coming to a close, and if history repeats itself, XRP could be on track for a similar breakout. In terms of a price target, the analyst’s chart projected a run to as high as $27. Golden Retrace Support At $2.90 Captain Redbeard’s analysis captures the macro breakout, and the price target could take years to manifest. However, a shorter analysis of the 4-hour candlestick timeframe shows that XRP must hold firm above $2.90. This context is based on an analysis by crypto analyst CasiTrades. Unlike Bitcoin, which recently dropped to $110,000 and is struggling to reclaim a 0.236 fib retrace at $112,700, XRP has shown greater resilience. The token has held firm around $2.90 to $2.91, which corresponds to the golden retracement level at 0.618 Fibonacci. In Elliott Wave theory, this is the area where a corrective Wave 2 typically finds support before a much stronger upward Wave 3 begins. CasiTrades identified $3.12 as the immediate confirmation point to watch. A clean break above this level would validate the bullish structure and set XRP on course for higher Fibonacci extensions. The projections highlight $4.48 as the next significant resistance zone and $5.40 as the ultimate Wave 3 price target. At the time of writing, XRP is trading at $3.02, up by 3.4% in the past 24 hours.

Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee laid out a forceful, policy-driven Ethereum bull thesis in an interview on August 26, arguing that a US regulatory pivot, Wall Street’s move to on-chain infrastructure, and institutional demand routed through public “crypto treasuries” set the stage for a sharp fourth-quarter repricing. “In the near term, you know, $5,500 should be happening in the next couple of weeks,” Lee said, adding that by year end ETH “should be closer to $10,000 to $12,000,” with the bulk of crypto’s yearly gains typically arriving in Q4. Ethereum’s ‘1971 Moment’ The brain behind BitMine’s ETH treasury strategy frames 2025 as a structural break comparable to the US dollar’s 1971 break from gold. In his view, Washington’s posture has shifted from seeing crypto as a threat to positioning it as an instrument of financial leadership. “In the last 12 months, there’s been a sea change, partly because of the election, where crypto is no longer considered an enemy… but really part of how the US financial system will get leadership,” Lee said. He pointed to stablecoins—“the breakout product, you know, the chat-GPT moment”—the proposed GENIUS Act and what he called the SEC’s “Project Crypto,” contending these signals show regulators want “Wall Street to use the blockchain to actually make America more innovative and actually spread America’s financial influence around the world.” From there, Lee’s thesis centers on Ethereum as the default institutional settlement layer. “Wall Street doesn’t want the fastest chain… They want a reliable chain that they can build upon. Ethereum has had zero downtime in its entire history. So to me, it’s the natural selection.” Calling Ethereum a “fat protocol,” he argued that value accrues at the base layer as tokenization and payment rails migrate on-chain. Citing work “from Mosaics and from Fundstrat,” Lee said that, if the network captures major payment and banking flows, “you get to a network value of $60,000 value per ETH” over a 10- to 15-year horizon. BitMine’s Strategy A substantial part of the conversation focused on the public-equity vehicle he chairs, Bitmine, which he described as an actively managed Ethereum treasury. Lee contrasted holding spot ETH with owning a company that uses capital markets to expand ETH per share. “When Bitmine started… there was only $4 worth of Ethereum held per share,” he said of a July 8 baseline. “As of August 24, we now have $39.84 worth of Ethereum held per share… So the reason we had a 10x in your holdings is because Bitmine is actively managing to grow your Ethereum held per share by using capital markets and attracting the interest of institutional investors.” He argued that this approach can be “anti-dilutive” when executed at an equity premium to net asset value: “If your ETH per share is going up, none of the capital markets is dilution.” Lee added that Bitmine has “a billion-dollar stock repurchase program in place because if the stock becomes too cheap relative to its ETH holdings, it would make more sense to actually buy back stock.” On strategy, Lee outlined an ambition to control roughly 5% of staked ETH, claiming a “power law” effect as network importance scales. “If you’re a staking entity that owns 5 percent, then you have a positive influence on future upgrades… [and] one of the most important vectors for when Wall Street wants to build on Ethereum,” he said. With Ethereum’s proof-of-stake mechanics, he asserted that current holdings could generate substantial income: “With the $9 billion worth of ETH held today, that’s about almost $300 million of net income.” Tom Lee’s Macro View Institutional demand, Lee maintained, is finally rotating toward ETH via regulated wrappers and equities, even as many large allocators still underweight it. “Ethereum is still generally not liked by institutions because most have bet on Bitcoin… that’s why Ethereum is probably falling into… the most hated rally,” he said, noting that year-to-date ETH gains of 35 percent have outpaced Bitcoin’s 17 percent.” Lee’s macro overlay extends beyond crypto. He reiterated a constructive equity view contingent on Federal Reserve easing and a cyclical upturn. “If the Fed follows through and begins to cut… and then we get a drop in mortgage rates and the ISM turning up and therefore financials really begin to participate, I think that’s why we get to 6,800 or so on the S&P,” he said. While acknowledging that “September is the month everyone’s going to be worried about,” he characterized any pullback as buyable: “Since 2022… that has always been a dip buying opportunity.” At press time, ETH traded at $4,614.

Newmont Corp. (NYSE: NEM) is preparing a major cost-reduction plan that could lead to thousands of job losses, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The world’s largest gold miner, which completed its $15 billion acquisition of Newcrest Mining in 2023, is targeting a reduction of as much as $300 per ounce in all-in sustaining costs (AISC). That would represent a cut of about 20% and bring Newmont closer in line with its lowest-cost peers. Rising costs after Newcrest deal Newmont’s costs have surged in recent years, climbing more than 50% over the past five years due to higher energy, labor, and material prices. The situation worsened following the Newcrest acquisition, which expanded the miner’s portfolio to about 20 operations, including copper assets. In the second quarter of 2025, Newmont reported an AISC of $1,593 per ounce, nearly 25% higher than Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd., one of the industry’s lowest-cost producers. The Lihir mine in Papua New Guinea and the Cadia operation in Australia, both legacy Newcrest assets, continue to struggle with cost overruns and underperformance. Job reductions and structural changes Bloomberg said Newmont has already begun notifying staff of redundancies, with executives and division managers holding calls to discuss job cuts and other measures. Alongside workforce reductions, the miner is considering scaling back long-term incentives as part of the restructuring. At the end of 2024, Newmont employed 22,200 people and had an additional 20,400 contractors. While the company has not disclosed how many positions may be eliminated, sources told Bloomberg the cuts could affect “thousands” of employees. The miner has hired Boston Consulting Group to assist with the cost-cutting plan, though no final decisions have been announced. A Newmont spokesperson told Bloomberg the company is executing on a cost and productivity program launched earlier this year. The cost-cutting push comes even as the gold sector is benefiting from record bullion prices. Gold reached an all-time high of $3,500 an ounce in April and has mostly traded above $3,300 since, lifting gold equities. Newmont’s stock has surged 95% year-to-date. “The bigger challenge for Newmont was that all the Newcrest assets were at a tough part of their life-cycle,” Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Grant Sporre said. “They were and are still under-producing versus their employee base and need a lot of sustaining capex to catch up.” “Moves to reshape our structure reflect one of several steps we are taking in 2025 to reduce our cost base and improve productivity — positioning Newmont to deliver on our commitments to shareholders and partners across a range of gold price environments, and for the long-term success of the business,” Newmont said in a statement. (With files from Bloomberg and Reuters)

Ethereum’s rise is accelerating, and the question of whether it will one day surpass Bitcoin in price no longer feels far-fetched but now feels inevitable. While Bitcoin remains the benchmark for digital gold, Ethereum is positioning itself as the backbone of the new digital economy. Why ETH Dominance Could Eclipse Bitcoin In This Cycle Bitcoin has long been referred to as digital gold, but Ethereum could overtake BTC in market capitalization and in price in the near future. An analyst known as Stitch on X has revealed that the key difference lies in Ethereum’s monetary policy. Related Reading: All-Time High For Crypto Market: Ethereum Leads The Charge Above $4,000 One of the reasons ETH could challenge BTC is the disparity in supply. Bitcoin has a fixed supply cap of 21 million coins, while Ethereum currently has around 120 million in circulation, and no fixed cap. However, the sole difference and advantage of Ethereum is the burn model, which is EIP-1559. ETH’s EIP-1559 burn mechanism was introduced with the London upgrade in 2021. This system permanently removes a portion of every transaction fee from circulation, effectively making ETH deflationary. The more activity on the Ethereum network, the more ETH is burned, creating a scenario where more ETH is destroyed than minted. Since the upgrade, 4.6 million ETH, worth about $13 billion, has already been burned. After the implementation of EIP-1559, the new ETH issuance dropped by 88%. For Ethereum to surpass Bitcoin in both price and market cap, several conditions need to align. The first factor highlighted by the expert is the massive institutional inflows, which can outpace supply because of the burn mechanism, thereby pushing prices and strong demand. Furthermore, high network activity is an increase in transactions that leads to more ETH being burned and a tightening in supply. The reduced circulating supply through ETH staking as a validator decreases the liquid supply on the market, creating upward price pressure. From May 2025 to now, Ethereum has been fully deflationary every single day, meaning more ETH is destroyed than issued. The Divergence Between Bitcoin and Ethereum History suggests Ethereum has a pattern of outperformance immediately following Bitcoin market tops. Mercury has pointed out that after Bitcoin peaked in 2017, it later fell nearly -47%, as Ethereum surged 100% higher over the next 30 days. Related Reading: ETF Mania: Bitcoin And Ethereum Funds Hit Record $40 Billion Week In 2021, Bitcoin also topped and dropped -27%, and Ethereum rallied 83% higher within just 30 days. Meanwhile, in 2025, Bitcoin is showing signs of structural weakness, losing Higher-Timeframe (HTF) trends and forming Lower Lows and Lower Highs. However, Ethereum remains strong, sustaining its HTF uptrend and consistently forming Higher Lows and Higher Highs on the daily chart. This divergence is crucial because it shows Ethereum is building strength even as Bitcoin struggles. The ETH/BTC pair reinforces this narrative. Just 17 days ago, Ethereum reclaimed a 944-day downtrend that had represented -75% of underperformance relative to Bitcoin. Reclaiming this trend is a strong indicator that ETH is regaining dominance in the crypto market.

Bitcoin is trading at a pivotal level where its previous all-time highs, set in January and May, are now being tested as support. This zone has become a critical battleground for bulls and bears, as fear spreads through market sentiment. Many investors are bracing for further declines, worried that a break below these levels could accelerate downside momentum. Fresh on-chain data adds weight to these concerns. According to CryptoOnchain, insights from CryptoQuant charts reveal a sharp decline in the 30-day moving average of the Taker Buy/Sell Ratio. This key metric, which tracks whether aggressive buyers or sellers dominate the order book, has fallen to its lowest point since May 2018. The drop signals that selling pressure is overwhelming buyers, even as Bitcoin holds above its former record highs. What makes this development even more striking is its comparison to November 2021, when Bitcoin last hit all-time highs before entering a brutal bear market. Back then, the ratio was notably higher than it is today, suggesting the market now faces even greater selling dominance. With sentiment fragile and pressure mounting, Bitcoin’s ability to hold these crucial levels may define the next phase of the cycle. Bitcoin Data Reveals Strong Sell Signal The latest CryptoOnchain report highlights concerning data from CryptoQuant’s chart, which tracks the 30-day moving average of Bitcoin’s Taker Buy/Sell Ratio. This metric is a reliable gauge of market balance, showing whether aggressive buyers or sellers dominate trading activity. Currently, the sharp decline in this moving average points to a clear weakening of buying pressure. More importantly, the ratio has now slipped below the critical 0.98 threshold — a level widely regarded as a strong sell-off signal. Falling under this line indicates that selling activity is decisively outpacing buying demand. In practical terms, it suggests that the market is leaning heavily toward distribution rather than accumulation, with investors more eager to offload positions than to build them. Historically, when the ratio has dipped to such levels, Bitcoin has struggled to maintain upward momentum and often faced steep retracements. While Bitcoin’s price has recently held near pivotal support zones, this imbalance between buyers and sellers raises doubts about the sustainability of current levels. The chart reflects an environment where optimism is fragile and downside risks are elevated. CryptoOnchain explains that the drop in the 30-day moving average of the Taker Buy/Sell Ratio serves as a clear warning. Unless this trend reverses quickly, Bitcoin may be vulnerable to a deeper short-term correction, and potentially the start of a more prolonged downward phase in the cycle. Bulls Hold Crucial Support After Sharp Pullback Bitcoin is currently trading near $111,000 after a volatile retracement from local highs above $123,000 earlier this month. The chart highlights a decisive shift in momentum: after repeatedly failing to break through the $124,000 resistance zone, BTC lost steam and rolled over, triggering a wave of selling pressure. Price action has since pushed Bitcoin below the 50-day and 100-day moving averages, both now trending downward and reinforcing a short-term bearish outlook. The 200-day moving average around $114,100 is also being tested from below, acting as resistance instead of support. This flip underscores the challenges facing bulls as they attempt to stabilize the market. For now, BTC is finding support in the $110,000–$111,000 range, a level that coincides with consolidation zones from earlier in the summer. If buyers can hold this line, a relief bounce toward $114,000–$116,000 is possible, though reclaiming those levels will be crucial to regaining momentum. Failure to defend current support, however, could expose Bitcoin to further downside risk, with the next major demand zone near $105,000. Market sentiment remains fragile, and the inability to clear resistance at $124,000 has shifted focus toward the resilience of support levels in the weeks ahead. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Most Read: NVIDIA (NVDA) Earnings: Navigating the Blackwell Supercycle Amid Geopolitical Crosscurrents EUR/USD continued its slide to trade below the 1.1600 handle as markets await key US data. The US Dollar has shrugged off concerns around FED independence after US President Trump announced his intention to fire Fed policymaker Lisa Cook. The question is whether or not the US Dollar will face another selloff if President Trump succeeds with his plan? Trump’s Move to Fire Fed Policymaker Cook First, Cook is fighting the decision, and it will likely end up in court. Second, her exit won’t have much effect on upcoming meetings. With Powell still leading, markets expect decisions to stay focused on data, and the small number of dovish voices isn’t enough to push for faster or bigger rate cuts. The real impact of politics on the Fed will likely show after Powell’s term ends in May 2026, unless Trump removes him earlier. By then, a new Fed chair with a preference for rate cuts would still need support from the committee, but that’s too far ahead for markets to predict. Plus, if Powell lowers rates by 100 basis points to around 3.5% as expected, the new chair would have less room to cut further. So far, the biggest market effect has been the poor performance of 30-year Treasuries. However, selloffs in long-term Treasuries are more likely to hurt the dollar when caused by fiscal worries rather than inflation. With short-term yields staying steady, it’s no surprise the dollar remains strong. German GfK Consumer Sentiment Falls Germany’s GfK Consumer Climate Indicator dropped to -23.6 for September 2025, down from -21.7 in August, missing predictions of -22.0. This is the lowest level since April. The income outlook fell sharply (4.1 vs 15.2 in August), ending five months of improvement and hitting its lowest point since March. This was due to growing fears of job losses, inflation uncertainty, and the effects of U.S. trade policies. Economic expectations also dropped (2.7 vs 10.1), marking the second monthly decline and the lowest level in six months, as hopes for a recovery this year faded after a rough start for the new federal government. Willingness to spend fell for the third month (-10.1 vs -9.2), reaching its lowest since February. Meanwhile, the tendency to save slightly decreased (15.8 vs 16.4), offering little relief. “With this third drop in a row, consumer sentiment is clearly stuck in a summer slump,” said Rolf Bürkl, Head of Consumer Climate at NIM. Euro Resilient in Face of Uncertainties in France Despite the drop in German consumer sentiment and the cloud hanging over France, the Euro has remained resilient. French Prime Minister François Bayrou has tied his €44 billion budget plan to an important confidence vote in parliament on September 8. This has sparked worries that the government could collapse or new elections might be called, creating uncertainty about political stability in the Eurozone's second-largest economy. The political instability and potential for snap elections in France continue to grow, but similar to the US markets, the Euro appears unfazed for now. Looking Ahead Market participants will now turn their attention to a slew of high impact data releases to end the week. Thursday’s schedule is important, featuring Eurozone confidence surveys and the ECB’s meeting notes, which could reveal more about their recent discussions on inflation and growth. In the U.S., Weekly Jobless Claims will give an early look at the job market, while Friday’s Core PCE Price Index, the Fed’s favorite inflation measure, will be the week’s main highlight. For all market-moving economic releases and events, see the MarketPulse Economic Calendar. Technical Analysis - EUR/USD EUR/USD has bounced off a key area of support today resting at 1.15800 which was the recent swing low on August 25. Having failed to record a four-hour candle close below this level, the recent change in character favoring bulls remains in play. Currently trading around the 1.1640, there is resistance ahead at the 1.1650 handle before the 1.1700 and 1.1750 areas come into focus. The period-14 RSI is just below overbought territory and may worth watching. There is alos the bull flag pattern which is in play with the top end of pattern resting around the 1.1740 area. A four-hour candle close above this level could set the stage for a 380 odd pip move to the upside. This would take EUR/USD beyond the 1.2000 handle. Support may be found at 1.1580, 1.1527 and of course the crucial 1.1450 handles. EUR/USD Four-Hour Chart, August 27, 2025 Source: TradingView.com (click to enlarge) Client Sentiment Data - EUR/USD Looking at OANDA client sentiment data and market participants are Long on EUR/USD with 61% of traders net-long. I prefer to take a contrarian view toward crowd sentiment and thus the fact that the majority of traders are net-long suggests that EUR/USD prices could continue to slide in the near-term. Follow Zain on Twitter/X for Additional Market News and Insights @zvawda Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2025 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Shiba Inu’s layer-2 network, Shibarium, has suffered a significant decline in its daily transaction metric, providing a bearish outlook for the top meme coin. This comes as the SHIB price looks to stage a rebound alongside the broader crypto market. Shiba Inu’s Shibarium Suffers Crash In Daily Transactions Shibariumscan data shows that daily transactions on Shiba Inu’s layer-2 network crashed from just over 4 million on August 23 to 1.09 million on August 24. The crash further extended on August 25 as the network recorded 624,140 transactions on the day, which represented a 2-month low for the layer-2 network. Meanwhile, Shiba Inu’s Shibarium recorded 1.76 million transactions on August 26, which is still significantly below the average of 4 million daily transactions it has maintained for some time. This development is typically bearish for the SHIB price, as a decrease in the network’s daily transactions leads to fewer token burns. The Shiba Inu team deploys some of the fees earned on Shibarium for SHIB burns, which helps reduce the token’s circulating supply and could serve as a catalyst for higher prices as demand increases. Notably, Shibburn data shows that the burn rate is down over 87% in the last seven days, with 8.8 million tokens burned during this period. However, a positive is that the Shiba Inu burns increased over 500% in the last 24 hours, with 1 million tokens burned during this period. This trend might not be sustainable if the daily transactions on Shibarium continue to drop. Meanwhile, other major metrics on the layer-2 network are also on a downtrend at the moment. This includes the number of active and new accounts, which highlight the network’s growth over a period of time. Bullish Case For The SHIB Price Amid the drop in these Shiba Inu’s Shibarium metrics, crypto analyst Javon Marks has made a bullish case for the SHIB price. In an X post, he stated that the structure of SHIB’s Inverse Head and Shoulders pattern remains intact and is currently in the final shoulder area of it. Based on this, he declared that the meme coin might be on the brink of a substantial surge. If the breakout occurs, Marks claimed that the target is over 540% away at $0.000081, which could pave the way into new all-time highs (ATHs) for Shiba Inu. The SHIB price’s current ATH is $0.00008845, which it reached in October 2021. Meanwhile, fundamentals like the Shib Alpha Layer may help contribute to any potential surge in the SHIB price. At the time of writing, the Shiba Inu price is trading at around $0.00001253, up over 2% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

KoBold Metals, the US-based explorer backed by billionaires including Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, has secured seven new permits to search for lithium and other critical minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The licenses were granted just weeks after the Berkeley, California–based company signed an exploration pact with the Congolese government, part of a broader push to attract American investment into the country’s mining sector. Congo is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, the second-largest source of copper, and hosts vast reserves of lithium and tantalum. Focus on Manono The newly awarded permits are located in southeastern Congo near the Manono lithium project, which KoBold has ambitions to develop into a major mine. The rights allow the company to prospect for lithium, manganese, tin, and tantalum in the region. KoBold has notified authorities in Kinshasa that it will first need to resolve a dispute with Australia’s AVZ Minerals Ltd., which has challenged Congo’s termination of its rights to Manono. AVZ has launched arbitration proceedings and is seeking an acceptable settlement or buyout. KoBold’s shareholders also include BHP Group, Andreesen Horowitz, and Equinor ASA. The company’s push into Congo comes as Washington works to reduce reliance on China for key minerals needed for clean energy and electric vehicles. KoBold says it plans to deploy its AI-driven exploration technology in Manono, funding digital geological mapping, hiring local staff, and supporting infrastructure improvements in host communities. (With files from Bloomberg)

US-backed mining investment firm TechMet is launching a new trading unit focused on critical minerals as part of an expanded partnership with Mercuria Energy Trading. On Wednesday, the privately-held TechMet announced that the Swiss trading house has agreed to make an additional investment to support this launch. The amount was not disclosed. The new trading arm, TechMet SCM, which will be wholly owned by TechMet and focus on specialty metals where it has unique expertise, a statement said. The companies are currently partnering on strategic initiatives designed to enhance Mercuria’s commitment to bulk metal trading, which are expected to continue. The new launch will build on the success of the joint venture and expand its global footprint with teams in South Korea, Western Europe and Washington DC to strengthen partnerships and secure new offtake agreements, TechMet said. Specifically, the trading unit will manage offtakes from TechMet’s portfolio of companies as well as third parties, leveraging its Western-aligned position and industry experience, it added. TechMet currently has stakes in 10 companies in the special minerals space, including Brazilian Nickel, Cornish Lithium and Rainbow Rare Earths (LON: RBW). “Mercuria’s backing adds to TechMet’s growth as we secure Western-aligned supply of the critical minerals that will drive the 21st century economy,” said Brian Menell, chairman and CEO of TechMet, in a press release. “TechMet SCM will be instrumental in achieving this objective, vital to both economic growth and national security.” Quentin Lamarche, who previously served as co-managing director of the Mercuria-TechMet joint venture, will lead TechMet SCM as CEO. “Our mission is to build a world-class trading platform that serves the rapidly growing demand for critical minerals across the energy, technology, aerospace and defence industries. With TechMet’s backing, and supported by our partnership with Mercuria, we are well positioned to deliver impact at scale,” Lamarche stated. The new initiative brings Mercuria’s total investment into the company this year to $68 million, enhancing its position as one of its largest shareholders. Other major shareholders include International Development Finance Corp and Qatar Investment Authority.

Log in to our mid-week North American Markets overview where we look at the NA Indices and currencies. This week has been a typical end-August trading week, with mostly rangebound markets and volumes subdued – As pointed in our previous day Market Wrap, the most influential participants tend to take the final weeks of August to take their breaks off Markets. Hence, the price action has been held in tight ranges for FX Markets. Equity Markets have seen some profit-taking since Friday's post-Powell rallies, with the S&P holding close to its previous highs (is the most recent double top going to get cancelled by hungry-for-cut bulls?), the Dow Jones still holding around/above its previous all-time highs, and the Nasdaq held at the lows of its ascending channel. You can observe all of the most recent technical updates for US Indices right here: Markets tread carefully as US indices consolidate after Powell's speech Markets have been holding around hopes of further US Dollar weakness around US Rate cuts and FED's Independence being constantly attacked by the Trump Administration – But one of the most important market developments is the failure for USD bears to push for further lows.. As it was marked in a July US Dollar analysis (a bit out-dated now but still valid), the longer-run selling trend for the Greenback may have just concluded, have we seen the bottom for the USD after a first-half of bloodshed for the Reserve currency? In the waiting for more data, FX majors have been mostly rangebound as seen in USDJPY for example. Read More: USDJPY rallies into its range amid a US Dollar rebound – Will the range break? Let's dive right into a few charts to get an overview on North American Markets, from US and Canadian equity Markets performance, USD and CAD performance to USDCAD and DXY charts. North-American Indices Performance North American Top Indices performance since last Monday – August 27, 2025 – Source: TradingView The TSX is back on top, with US Indices performing in a more rangebound fashion. Dollar Index 8H Chart US Dollar Index 8H Chart, August 27, 2025 – Source: TradingView The US Dollar is running to test the highs of its range – go check out the levels on our latest USD Index (DXY) analysis. Read More: What’s driving the US Dollar after Powell’s Friday remarks? Dollar Index (DXY) outlookUS Dollar Mid-Week Performance vs Majors USD vs other Majors, August 27, 2025 - Source: TradingView. The price action for the US Dollar has been seesawing all around, but the trajectory is still higher overall. There is ongoing selling happening right now as Markets are rejecting the higher bound of the range seen just above. CAD Mid-Week Performance vs Majors CAD vs other Majors, August 27, 2025 - Source: TradingView. The Loonie has stopped weakening against other majors but has still yet to mark a concrete return – The CAD is consolidating at the lows against its peers. Macklem did mention the 2% target not changing for the Bank of Canada in a Speech released yesterday. Upward inflation risks have been pointed, in a relatively hawkish tone which could support the Canadian Dollar. Participants are really waiting for better Canadian data to allow the Loonie to really make a comeback. In the meantime, it will be moving along with the USD in the pursued geographic trend in FX. Intraday Technical Levels for the USD/CAD USDCAD 4H Chart, August 27, 2025 – Source: TradingView USDCAD had retracted from its extremes and is now back into the higher part of its range. Still, buyers are stubborn at the 1.38130 support that acts as a key barometer for future price action. Selling might accelerate if the level is broken, but with the rangebound action in FX, it should be holding still – Tomorrow's GDP release for both the US and the Canada will have strong influence on future outcomes. Levels to place on your USDCAD charts: Resistance Levels: 1.3850 Main resistance (immediate resistance1.3925 Aug 22 highs last Friday highsMay Highs 1.40185Support Levels: Immediate support at May 30 highs - 1.38 HandleKey longer-term pivot 1.3750Main Support Zone 1.3675 to 1.3686US and Canada Economic Calendar for the Rest of the Week US and Canadian Data for the rest of the week, MarketPulse Economic Calendar The rest of the week should be a bit more exciting as it comes to US and Canadian data, with GDP expected to release for both countries tomorrow at 8:30 A.M. and the US Core PCE awaited for Friday. The Core PCE is obtained with the calculation of many already released data like CPI, PPI and others but some surprises can still happen. The Core y/y data is expected at 3.1% and is still very high to prompt further cuts – Let's see how markets interpret this. For lower-tier data, still consider the Jobless Claims (continuing claims have been trending higher, at November 2021 levels) and Friday's U-of-Mich Consumer sentiment data. Safe Trades! Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © 2025 OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Hochschild Mining (LSE: HOC.L) shares plunged on Wednesday after the company slashed its full-year production forecast from the Mara Rosa mine by more than half, only months after a temporary suspension at the site due to weak gold output. The company now expects 35,000-45,000 ounces of gold production from the Brazilian mine this year, down from its previous forecast of 94,000-104,000 ounces. Shares of Hochschild were down 13% in London afternoon trading, giving the company a market capitalization of £1.37 billion ($1.84 billion). Mara Rosa made its first pour in February 2024. The mine, located in the state of Goias, is the company’s first Brazilian operation. Mara Rosa became a part of Hochschild’s portfolio through its C$135 million deal to buy Amarillo Gold in late 2021. The mine experienced a challenging first half of the year, with operations impacted by heavier-than-usual seasonal rainfall and contractor performance issues, CEO Eduardo Landin said in a statement. “These conditions restricted access to higher-grade zones within the pit and further exacerbated existing issues with filtering processes and delaying efforts to recover from mine waste removal backlogs carried over from 2024,” he added. The company initiated and led a review of the operation, following the resignation of Chief Operating Officer Rodrigo Nunes in May. The review covered all aspects of mining, processing and permitting, and included a four-week suspension of the processing plant to perform essential maintenance and to allow the manufacturer to carry out mechanical filter repairs. Normal mining activities have continued throughout the period. Gold production for the first half at Mara Rosa totalled 28,416 ounces, up from 14,354 ounces in the same period last year. “Guidance at Mara Rosa has now been revised 60% lower, which is below our forecast of 56,000 ounces,” BMO said in a note. “Company-wide guidance has decreased 16% to 291,000–319,000 gold equivalent ounces from the original 350,000–378,000, slightly below our expectation of 320,000 ounces.” Production guidance at Inmaculada and San Jose remains unchanged.

Private firm Evolve Strategic Element Royalties is poised to acquire the Prairies- and copper-zinc-gold-focused Voyageur Mineral Explorers (CSE: VOY) in a reverse takeover valued at C$70.3 million ($50.9m). Voyageur is to acquire all of Evolve’s shares at C$0.80 apiece and will continue its exploration work as well as take on Evolve’s royalties activities, according to an agreement between the companies, they reported Wednesday. Voyageur holds several exploration projects in northwest Manitoba and southeast Saskatchewan, such as the Gold Rock and Hanson Lake sites. “This strategic business combination marks a transformative event for Voyageur, creating a stronger, more diversified emerging leader in copper mining royalties,” Voyageur President and CEO Fraser Laschinger said in a release. “Through this union, Evolve is poised to drive meaningful growth and deliver enhanced value to all shareholders.” Big name royalties Evolve has over the last year built up a copper-focused royalty portfolio based on Teck Resources’ (TSX: TECK.A, TECK.B; NYSE: TECK) Highland Valley Copper mine and Hudbay Minerals’ (TSX, NYSE: HBM) Copper Mountain mine, Evolve CEO Joseph de la Plante, said in the statement. The deal with Voyageur will also add exposure to Foran Mining’s (TSX: FOM) McIlvenna Bay project in Saskatchewan. “With immediate cash flow, a clear path to meaningful growth, and the benefits of a public listing, Evolve is well positioned to accelerate its acquisition strategy and deliver long-term value for shareholders,” De La Plante said. Once the deal closes, Voyageur’s name is to change to Evolve Royalties. Voyageur shares have been paused for trading on the CSE and will resume trading after the takeover closes. Before trading was halted, Voyageur shares traded for C$0.84 each, valuing the company at C$27.17 million ($19.7m). The stock traded in a 12-month range of C$0.44 to C$1. Evolve holds a 0.51% net profit interest in the Highland Valley mine and a 5% net smelter returns (NSR) royalty on copper and 2.5% NSR royalty on all other metals produced on claims at Copper Mountain. In addition to its British Columbia interests, Evolve also holds a 2% net smelter return royalty on Chinese miner Tibet Summit Resources’ Sal de Los Angeles lithium Brine project in Argentina.

Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) says the debottlenecking program at its Kipushi zinc mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo was recently completed both ahead of schedule and under budget, placing it on track to achieve its production guidance for the remaining of 2025. Kipushi, a joint venture between Ivanhoe (62%) and Congo’s state-owned miner Gécamines (38%), is the world’s highest-grade zinc mine. It first went into production over a century ago, until operations were placed on care and maintenance during the 1990s. The JV brought the mine back into production in June 2024, targeting 278,000 tonnes of production over its first five years. To achieve this target, it planned a nine-month debottlenecking program to increase the concentrator’s processing capacity by 20% from 800,000 to 960,000 tonnes per annum. Engineering work on the debottlenecking program began in September 2024. Construction works were completed earlier this month, following a second and final concentrator shutdown to commission the newly installed equipment. During this shutdown period, Ivanhoe’s team also made upgrades to the dense media separation (DMS) circuit to improve equipment availability. The company reported last year that excessive fine material in the ore feed was causing blockages in the DMS circuit, which led to frequent unscheduled shutdowns. With these new upgrades, Ivanhoe notes that the DMS circuit availability has increased notably from approximately 70% to 96%, boosting concentrator recoveries to over 90%. Further back-up electrical upgrades continue with the installation of an additional six megawatts in backup generator capacity, which is expected to be commissioned and available in the fourth quarter. Evident improvements Due to both improved concentrator throughput rates and DMS availability, multiple records have been achieved since the completion of the debottlenecking program, the company adds. In the seven days following the August shutdown, a record of 5,545 tonnes of zinc in concentrate were produced, equivalent to an annual production rate of approximately 290,000 tonnes. Sustaining this run rate, Ivanhoe says, would make Kipushi the world’s fourth-largest zinc mining operation. In addition, a record 1,052 tonnes of zinc concentrates were produced over 24 hours in mid-August, equivalent to an annual production rate of over 340,000 tonnes of zinc, after accounting for availability. Following the completion of the debottlenecking initiatives, Ivanhoe’s management is expecting a “significant” increase in the rate of zinc production for the remainder of the year, and is keeping Kipushi’s 2025 production guidance unchanged at between 180,000 and 240,000 tonnes. The company has already cut its 2025 copper production guidance after seismic activity in May caused severe flooding at its Kamoa-Kakula mine, also in the DRC. Offtakes in place Last month, the company signed a three-year offtake agreement with Mercuria for up to one-third of the remaining unallocated zinc concentrate produced at Kipushi. In addition to the offtake, the Swiss trading group also provided Ivanhoe a loan of $20 million. Offtake agreements for the other two-thirds are already in place with CITIC Metal (HK) Limited of Hong Kong and Trafigura Asia Trading of Singapore. Shares of Ivanhoe Mines traded 3% lower on Wednesday morning, giving it a market capitalization of C$15.8 billion ($11.4 billion).

Mihai Jacob, a well-known market watcher, says the Bitcoin price rally that followed Powell’s Friday speech may not be as strong as it first looked. The charts, he explains, continue to flash signs of weakness that should not be ignored. According to Jacob, the flagship cryptocurrency could still face another sharp decline, and a drop below $100,000 remains a real risk despite the short-term optimism. Powell’s Speech Gave Bitcoin Price A Lift, But Charts Tell A Different Story Jacob explains that in his earlier analysis, he noted the $110,000 zone as a key level for Bitcoin. As long as that level held, the broader bullish structure could technically stay intact. Powell’s speech gave a hint of a possible rate cut, and for a moment, the market reacted with excitement, and Bitcoin bounced just as traders wanted. But Jacob quickly asks the hard question: was that bounce real strength, or just wishful thinking? He advises trading what you see, not what you hope for. And what he sees now on the charts does not match the initial joy of the rally. Soon after the move, Bitcoin returned to the $ 112,000 support level, erasing most of the gains. For Jacob, this suggests that the market may have been reacting to temporary news rather than initiating a new wave of growth. He warns that the bounce looks more like a retest of broken levels than a fresh start to a bigger move. In other words, what seemed like a comeback may actually be a signal that Bitcoin remains weak. Instead of buyers taking control, the chart suggests sellers are still in charge, waiting to push the price lower again. Why A Drop Below $100,000 Remains Likely Looking at the bigger picture, Jacob points out that Bitcoin still trades below the trendline that has been in place since April, highlighting the shape of the price action, which suggests a possible head-and-shoulders pattern is forming around the $110,000 zone. While not perfectly shaped, it is still enough to make cautious traders uneasy about what may come next. For Jacob, the excitement that came from Powell’s speech was likely nothing more than “rate cut euphoria,” and he believes the market is sending a very different message from what headlines suggest. The idea that Bitcoin would simply return to the same support level, giving late buyers another easy opportunity, is, in his view, hard to believe. More likely, it was a “dead cat bounce,” a short-lived move before another fall. Jacob makes it clear that his current stance is neutral in terms of active positions, but his outlook leans bearish. Optimism may be tempting, but he insists that discipline requires traders to trust the charts, not their hopes. With Bitcoin still struggling under key levels, he sees the possibility of a decline below $100,000 as very real.

Vietnam, the third-largest importer of gold in Asia, issued a decree on Tuesday abolishing its 13-year-old state monopoly on gold trading, causing a spike in local prices even as the government aims to normalize the market in the longer term. Gold bars sold by Saigon Jewelry Co., Vietnam’s largest state-owned gold and jewelry enterprise and the benchmark for bullion trading in the country, climbed to 125.7 million Vietnamese dong per tael for sellers, or about $4,096 per ounce at an exchange rate of 25,450 dong per dollar and 1.2 oz. per tael. Buyers were paying $4,162 per oz., as the new measures introduced short-term volatility. The country, which imported 55 tonnes of gold bars, jewelry and coins last year, compared with 857 tonnes for China and 803 tonnes for India, is addressing market distortions. Sole control by the State Bank of Vietnam caused large price premiums and rampant black-market trading and smuggling. The new decree, licensing commercial banks and eligible businesses to produce, trade and manage gold bars, pivots towards liberalization, competition and greater oversight. It helps align Vietnam’s gold market with international norms. “This ends the long-running state monopoly over the sector, which has at times led to a disconnect between local and global gold prices,” BMO Capital Markets said on Wednesday. “The change should ultimately enable gold imports to move in closer tandem with domestic demand, hence we see this as a positive development for the global gold market.” Transparency The decree also tightens transaction transparency. Any purchase or sale over 20 million dong (about $760) per person per day must be conducted through bank accounts. Licensed entities must issue electronic invoices and share transaction data with the central bank. While ending the monopoly, the state bank will still manage imports through quotas tied to macroeconomic conditions, monetary policy and market fluctuations. A more competitive market is expected to narrow price differentials between brands, expand consumer choices and reduce gold smuggling by creating a more orderly market. The changes have come quickly. In May, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính called for revisions to reduce distortions and restore macroeconomic stability. The Vietnamese dong had weakened sharply, prompting a surge in gold demand as a safe-haven asset. As of early August, gold was trading at a 32% premium locally, fueled by cultural demand and currency instability. Like in India and China, gold is deeply embedded in Vietnamese culture as a store of wealth, with demand rising during festivals and weddings.

Donald Trump Jr. has joined the advisory board of Polymarket, a blockchain-powered prediction platform, following significant investment by his venture capital firm, 1789 Capital. According to the press release dated 27 August 2025, Trump Jr’s 1789 Capital committed “tens of millions of dollars” to Polymarket following 18 months of discussion. The investment in Polymarket reflects 1789 Capital’s broader mission to support technologies that embody what it calls “American dynamism”, a growing theme among conservative venture capitalists focused on domestic innovation and economic resilience. The very same day, Trump Jr. launched a Telegram channel called The DeFiant Ones to promote an upcoming family-backed crypto project. The channel, since then, has gained 13000 subscribers and has positioned itself as the only official source for updates. EXPLORE: Top 20 Crypto to Buy in 2025 Key Takeaways Trump Jr. granted an advisory seat after significant investment in Polymarket via his venture capital firm, 1879 Capital Polymarket is eyeing a US return after acquiring US-licensed derivatives firm, QCEX The investment in Polymarket followed after 18 months of deliberations The post Donald Trump Jr. Joins Polymarket Advisory Board Following 1789 Capital’s Major Investment appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Bitcoin is trading around $111,000 after several days of losing ground below its all-time high of $124,500. Bulls have managed to keep the price above the key $110,000 support, but momentum remains weak as attempts to push higher continue to fail. Some analysts warn of a deeper correction ahead if buyers cannot step in with stronger conviction. Top analyst Axel Adler shared new insights, pointing to the behavior of Bitcoin’s annual Adjusted MVRV. Currently, the metric has pressed against the 1.0 zone, meaning the short-term average (30-day) is almost identical to the longer-term average (365-day). In practice, this shows that the market is in a balancing phase: recent profit-taking and volatility are being absorbed by the longer-term growth trend, keeping the overall structure neutral. Historically, this 1.0 level has often represented a pause within bullish cycles rather than the end of them. It signals that the market is digesting recent gains as short-term holders hand coins to longer-term investors. Whether Bitcoin breaks down to test lower demand zones or stabilizes before another leg higher will likely be decided in the coming weeks, as traders closely watch this critical support zone. Bitcoin Adjusted MVRV Signals Pause, Not Reversal According to Adler, Bitcoin’s annual Adjusted MVRV is currently pressed right at the 1.0 zone, and the dynamics behind it tell an important story. The annual basis remains positive, and its curve looks largely horizontal because two opposing forces are offsetting each other. On the one hand, the 30-day metric has cooled significantly as volatility eased and profit-taking slowed after the latest push to all-time highs. On the other, the heavier 365-day average still reflects the gains of past months, holding up the broader trend. This synchronization between numerator and denominator compresses the difference, keeping the basis line steady rather than sliding downward or accelerating upward. In simple terms, the market is digesting the previous rally rather than breaking down. Adler stresses that this situation at the 1.0 zone should not be mistaken for the end of a cycle. Instead, it represents a pause within an ongoing bullish structure. As long as the annual basis does not reverse downward, the market is essentially redistributing coins from short-term speculators into the hands of more patient holders. There are no strong signs of capitulation, only consolidation. Over the next couple of weeks, the reaction at 1.0 will be critical. Whether Bitcoin holds firm and builds momentum or slips toward deeper corrections will define the next phase. For now, Adler sees this as more a matter of time and balance than a warning of a cycle-ending reversal. BTC Testing Support Around Pivotal Level Bitcoin continues to consolidate after a sharp retrace from its all-time high of $124K, now trading near $110,823. The daily chart shows BTC struggling to hold above the $110K support zone, which has become a key battleground for bulls and bears. The 50-day SMA is trending around $116,600, while the 100-day SMA is near $111,600—levels that are now acting as resistance. Meanwhile, the 200-day SMA sits lower at approximately $101,000, marking the deeper structural support. A decisive loss of the $110K zone could accelerate selling pressure, potentially leading Bitcoin to test the 100K–107K support range, a critical confluence highlighted by analysts due to the alignment with the STH Realized Price. On the upside, Bitcoin must reclaim the $115K–$117K region to shift momentum back in favor of bulls. Failure to do so risks further consolidation and market uncertainty. The rejection at the $123K level last week highlighted strong overhead resistance, with sellers stepping in aggressively. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView