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EarthLabs (TSXV: SPOT, OTCQX: SPOFF) has released a new episode of its flagship series EarthLabs Expeditions, offering an up-close look at West Red Lake Gold Mines (TSXV: WRLG, OTCQB: WRLGF) at a pivotal moment in the company’s growth. Titled “Pouring Gold at Record Prices”, the episode marks a return to Red Lake, Ontario, where EarthLabs host Jonathan Brazeau reconnects with CEO Shane Williams and the team to witness the culmination of their bulk sample program—and the first gold pour from the revitalized Madsen mine. With gold having surged to $3,500 an ounce for the first time in history, the moment is more than symbolic—it’s a powerful signal of where the company is heading and the broader market tailwinds at its back. Over the past six months, West Red Lake Gold has made dramatic progress: completing the critical underground connection drift, finishing upgrades to the primary crusher and mill, and achieving an impressive 95% recovery rate during bulk sample processing. The new camp infrastructure and expanded workforce reflect the company’s aggressive ramp-up toward full-scale production in the second half of 2025. The episode also features exclusive underground footage, showcasing modern mining operations and remote-controlled ore extraction from freshly blasted stopes. Viewers are taken deep inside the mine’s workings, through the connection drift linking the east and west portals—an infrastructure project CEO Shane Williams says could pay for itself in just three months. In one standout sequence, Brazeau joins mine operations supervisor JP Tetreault on a guided underground tour, observing how teams drill, blast, and muck out ore with precision. Remote-control loaders, strategic stope planning, and safety-first protocols reveal how the mine is leveraging modern technology to reduce risk while boosting efficiency. The crew also heads to the assay lab to track how ore is sampled and tested in real time. From core logging to recovery metrics, the process underscores how data is driving smarter decisions at every level—from geology to processing to the final pour. These behind-the-scenes moments offer a rare, unfiltered glimpse into what it takes to bring a historic asset back to life in one of Canada’s richest gold districts. With full production on the horizon and gold prices sitting at historic highs, EarthLabs Expeditions captures a turning point for West Red Lake Gold and the broader Red Lake district, where legacy assets are being brought back to life with modern technology and strategic vision. Watch the full episode here.

Look—I’ve seen markets rise, I’ve seen them crash, and I’ll tell you this right now: Gold is a tremendous investment. Maybe the best. It always has been. People often ask, “Where do I invest my money?” and I say: Buy gold. It’s real. It’s powerful. It’s beautiful. And it has been winning for thousand of years. You can even put gold in your IRA. The Dollar Is Being Destroyed—Gold Isn’t Our country is printing money like it’s Monopoly. Trillions and trillions. What do you think happens next? Inflation. Collapse. Weakness. But gold? It’s not backed by politics. It’s not backed by fake news or failed banks. It’s backed by history, by scarcity, and by value that has lasted for thousands of years. Gold doesn’t go bankrupt. Gold doesn’t need a bailout. Gold is solid. Just like Fort Knox. When the Market Falls, Gold Rises When everything else goes down—gold holds strong. Stocks go up and down like a rollercoaster. But gold? Gold is consistent. It’s trustworthy. Gold is the ultimate hedge. You want protection from Wall Street corruption and Washington dysfunction? You buy gold. You don’t wait. You don’t ask. You do it. If Central Banks Are Buying Gold. Shouldn’t You? Let me ask you a very simple question: If gold is such a bad investment, why are central banks buying it by the ton? Think about it. Russia, China, Europe—they’re loading up on gold like it’s 24-karat candy. Why? Because they know what’s coming. They know what real value looks like. So unless you want to be the last person holding worthless paper, you better get smart, get ahead, and get gold. Gold Means Power, Privacy, and Protection Gold doesn’t need permission from the Fed. It doesn’t care about interest rates. It can’t be hacked, frozen, or erased. When you hold gold, you hold freedom. You hold power. You hold something that says: “I play by my rules. I win my way.” And you love winning. Don’t you? The Smartest People Own Gold Smart investors don’t mess around with risky, trendy nonsense. They stick with real assets. Assets you can touch. Assets with weight. Gold. So if you want to keep losing, go buy crypto with no backing. If you want to win? Talk to American Bullion and buy gold. Gold is simple. Gold is smart. The post Why Winners Are Buying Gold first appeared on American Bullion.

Solana (SOL) is currently navigating a challenging environment as the broader crypto market experiences a cooldown. After an impressive run earlier this year, momentum has slowed significantly, and SOL is struggling to reclaim the $160 level with conviction. The lack of strong demand has been evident in recent sessions, as buying pressure fades and volume remains low across major altcoins. Despite this cooling phase, many investors remain optimistic. A growing number of market participants believe Solana could lead the next altseason once conditions stabilize and liquidity returns to the market. Historically, SOL has shown the ability to recover rapidly and outperform in bullish phases, making it one of the top contenders for explosive upside when sentiment shifts. However, in the short term, caution prevails. Top analyst Carl Runefelt has highlighted a key technical development, noting that Solana might be on the verge of breaking a horizontal support zone. This event could trigger further downside in the near term. If this support fails, traders should prepare for increased volatility. Still, the broader consensus remains that SOL’s structural strength and ecosystem development position it well for long-term upside once macro conditions align. Solana Faces Bear Flag Breakdown Risk As Uncertainty Grows Solana has been locked in a tight range just below the $160 mark, struggling to reclaim key levels despite multiple attempts. For several days, momentum has faded, and with global markets under pressure, traders are bracing for increased volatility. The broader crypto market is losing steam as Bitcoin and Ethereum fail to sustain upward moves, which puts added pressure on altcoins like Solana. Geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China continue to weigh on investor sentiment, with ongoing tariff disputes and rising bond yields fueling macroeconomic uncertainty. The US bond market, in particular, is flashing signs of stress, adding to the caution in risk-on assets. If these conditions persist, altcoins may face a challenging period as capital retreats to more stable assets like Bitcoin or exits the market altogether. Runefelt recently highlighted a key technical pattern on Solana’s chart—a bear flag forming around horizontal support. According to his analysis, this structure could break down any hour now, which would confirm the bearish setup and potentially send SOL down toward the $142 level. This target aligns with previous support zones and could act as a temporary bottom if the broader market stabilizes. Despite the short-term risks, long-term sentiment around Solana remains cautiously optimistic. The network’s continued development and strong DeFi presence could fuel a recovery once market conditions improve. For now, however, traders are closely watching the $160 resistance and the $150–$152 support area, which could determine the next directional move. A clean break below support would likely trigger a wave of selling, while a reclaim of the $160 level could invalidate the bearish setup and open the door for a bullish reversal. SOL Tests Key Support As Bearish Momentum Builds Solana (SOL) is currently trading at $152.62 on the 4-hour chart, testing a critical horizontal support zone as bearish momentum continues. The recent price action shows a clear downtrend, with lower highs and lower lows forming since the rejection from the $176–$180 area in late May. All key moving averages—34 EMA, 50 SMA, 100 SMA, and 200 SMA—are positioned above the current price, signaling short-term weakness and a lack of bullish momentum. Volume has picked up slightly as price nears support, suggesting increasing market interest at this level. However, the failure to break above the 34 EMA (currently at $157.70) reinforces the view that sellers are still in control. The flattening 200 SMA at $165.31 and declining 50 SMA around $159.82 indicate that SOL must reclaim the $160–$165 zone to regain strength. If the $150–$152 support range fails to hold, Solana could break down and target the next key support area around $142, in line with the projected move of the bear flag pattern identified by analysts. For now, bulls must defend this level to prevent deeper losses and keep hopes of a recovery alive in the near term. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

US-China trade tensions keep abating as the leaders from the two most powerful nations conclude their talk. Both expressed positive comments on their own media outlets as Xi Jinping and Donald Trump hang up after a 1 and a half hour long call. Donald Trump expressed on his Truth Social media that the call "resulted in a very positive conclusion for both countries. [...] The conversation was focused almost entirely on trade". You can access the full post here. Xi Jinping expressed on the CCTV that they agreed to start a new round of talks and that both the US and China should increase cooperation on their economy, reduce misunderstandings. 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. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Trading some ~12.80% higher than 24-month lows made courtesy of Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’, WTI crude and Brent crude currently trade at ~$63.90 and ~$66.01, respectively. WTI Crude & Brent Crude: Key Takeaways Upside for crude oil is likely to remain limited while OPEC+ maintains a trajectory of production hikes, seemingly aiming for more market share and to apply pressure to North American productionAccording to yesterday’s report, U.S. crude oil inventories were shown to be falling faster than expected, down by around 1%. Although this would typically be bullish for pricing, momentum was tempered by substantial gains in gasoline and distillate inventoriesQuestions on global demand remain, with global manufacturing PMIs, especially out of China, remaining somewhat mixedDisrupting 7% of oil production according to Reuters, wildfires in Alberta, Canada, have supported oil pricing in the short term, raising questions on supply 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. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Australia’s South32 (ASX: S32) has exercised its top-up right to maintain a 19.9% interest in American Eagle Gold (TSXV: AE) (OTCQB: AMEGF) with the purchase of an additional 1.16 million shares. The exercise follows American Eagle’s recent issuance of 1 million shares to complete its option to acquire 100% of the NAK copper-gold project in central British Columbia. The stocks purchased by South32 were initially issued as charity flow-through shares priced at C$0.71 each, which the Australian miner will then buy off the subscriber at a discount, as per an investor rights agreement when it first invested in American Eagle last November. American Eagle’s stock was trading at C$0.48 as of 11:25 a.m. ET, at the lower end of its 52-week range of C$0.38-C$1.07. The Toronto-based junior has a market capitalization of C$82.7 million. “South32’s continued support speaks to the quality of the NAK project and the work our team has done,” commented Anthony Moreau, CEO of American Eagle, in a press release Thursday. The now fully-owned project, situated within the Babine copper-gold porphyry district, has been explored by the American Eagle team for over three years, during which its drilling campaigns have resulted in significant high-grade mineralization. Before that, the property has only been explored to shallow depths during the 1960s. The historic work revealed a large near-surface copper-gold system that measured 1.5 km x 1.5 km, serving as the foundation for American Eagle’s subsequent exploration. Drilling is expected to continue this year to grow the size and grade of the NAK deposit, the company said.

What does crypto want to be when it grows up? Centralized exchanges like Coinbase have long marketed themselves as crypto’s answer to convenience. User-friendly, regulated, and custodial. Just give them the keys and let them drive. They’ll handle all the boring details – like on/off ramps, UI, integrated swapping, and little things like taking control of your crypto. And in return, all you need to do is trust. But increasingly, that deal sounds like a bad one. The trade-off between trust and control is no longer worth it. Trust Coinbase and other custodial platforms too much, and what do you get? Hacks and data breaches, among other things. There’s a better path forward – and more and more crypto users are looking for it. A Better Custody Deal So, what should the future of crypto be? Crypto should still be easy. It should still be intuitive. But it should also be private, safe, secure, and truly self-custodial. After all, the old adage of ‘not your keys, not your crypto’ shouldn’t just be a slogan – it is, and should be, the foundation of decentralized finance. That’s where wallets like Best Wallet come in. Unlike centralized platforms, self-custody crypto wallets like Best Wallet don’t hold your private keys. You have complete control of your assets at all times. There are no middlemen, no single points of failure, and no need to put your trust in third parties. But what about the convenience of swapping crypto, sending crypto, and exploring new crypto opportunities all from one app? Bridging the Gap: Self-Custody Meets Convenience The future of crypto points to tools that combine the convenience of centralized exchanges like Coinbase, including KYC and AML requirements, with the security of self-custody, without sacrificing usability. We’ve already seen this with tools like Railgun, which complies with KYC while enabling private transactions on DeFi platforms, and which Vitalik Buterin just used to transfer $2.6M in crypto. While transactions of that size may well be just another day in the office for the Ethereum founder, it demonstrates how increasingly important privacy, control, and functionality are in the developing crypto economy. This is nothing new; it’s often the people most deeply involved in tech who understand just how important it is to control your own data (and your own crypto). Remember Zuckerberg’s camera? That was the time he was promoting Meta, and everyone realized he’d taped across his laptop’s microphone and camera. Was that paranoia or an understanding of just how vulnerable our data is? That’s the balance that Best Wallet wants to deliver, beating MetaMask at its own game and dominating the Web3 self-custody wallet market. Best Wallet Token ($BEST) – The Self-Custody Crypto Wallet Presale Token Crypto wallets aren’t just handy places to stash some spare Bitcoin, at least not anymore. The best crypto wallets – like Best Wallet – serve as all-in-one control hubs for crypto investors, whether you’re operating multiple wallets, swapping tokens, ot investing in crypto presales. And that’s not all. The Best Wallet ecosystem is supercharged by its own token, $BEST. Best Wallet Token holders get: Lower transaction fees Higher staking rewards Earlier presale access Eligibility for bonus crypto airdrops (such as BTC Bull Token’s Bitcoin airdrop) Best Wallet and the $BEST token are building the crypto future that Buterin and others are looking for: interconnected, seamless, and self-custodial. It’s everything you could want or ever need from a crypto wallet. You can manage your portfolio, browse upcoming token launches (including the best new meme coins), and spend your crypto in real life with the upcoming Best Card. Buying, selling, and swapping are as easy as tapping a few buttons. And all this is secured with multi-party computation (MPC) and biometric authentication to keep your crypto safe without sacrificing ease of use. The Best Wallet Token presale has raised over $13.1M, with tokens currently priced at $0.025135. That could rise to $0.035215 by the end of the year, according to our $BEST price prediction, delivering gains of 40% to current presale investors. Learn more about how to buy Best Wallet Token with our guide. Best Wallet: Building the Self-Custodial Future of Crypto No longer does crypto have to choose between usability and control. Tools like Best Wallet are showing that self-custody platforms can match – or even beat – the convenience that centralized exchanges offer while staying true to the core values of crypto. As more self-custodial models appear in a post-Coinbase world, Best Wallet wants to lead the charge and dominate this $11B sector. If it succeeds, it will be by delivering a product that is convenient and completely crypto-native. Always do your own research before investing in crypto; this isn’t financial advice. Crypto self-custody is the future. Best Wallet is helping to build that future.

Silver prices soared to their highest in more than 13 years on Thursday following a technical breakout, as investors look to broaden their exposure to safe-haven assets beyond gold. Spot gold touched $36.07 an ounce in the early morning trading, the highest since February 2012, before pulling back to about $35.90 for a 2.6% daily gain. Meanwhile, the most actively traded silver contracts saw a larger jump at 4%, treading just above the $36-per-ounce level. The rally, according to analysts, was likely driven by a combination of technical momentum, improving fundamentals and broader investor interest. “After lagging behind gold for several weeks, silver is now catching up,” Alexander Zumpfe, a senior trader at German gold refiner Heraeus Group, told Bloomberg on Thursday. That suggests “renewed interest from momentum-driven investors who are rotating into silver,” he added. Silver-backed exchange-traded funds have seen significant inflows recently, with holdings up by 2.2 million oz. on Wednesday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Lagging gold Despite being one of the top-performing assets in 2025, silver still trails its sister metal gold in terms year-to-date gains, at 25% versus 30%. The two precious metals often move in tandem when geopolitical uncertainty rises, as investors seek more holdings in safe-haven assets. Silver also benefits from industrial demand for applications such as solar panels. A recent survey from the Silver Institute estimated the metal’s supply was 15% below demand in 2024 and is projected to see another deficit in 2025. Meanwhile, gold prices were relatively subdued on Thursday, up about 0.1% to $3,381.25 an ounce. Gold/silver ratio Thursday’s movements took the gold/silver ratio down to about 94 — the lowest since April 2, the day US President Donald Trump unleashed market chaos with his “Liberation Day” tariffs. Bullion market specialist Rhona O’Connell at brokerage StoneX said there is “no specific reason” for the spike in silver relative to gold. “But given its recent underperformance against gold (because of economic concerns…) it looks to me that there could be some ratio trading going on now that it’s dipped below the 100 level,” O’Connell wrote in a note Thursday. For the last 12 months, gold has risen by 44% as an expanding US-led tariff war bolstered its appeal and central banks maintained elevated levels of buying. During that time, silver gained only half of that percentage point. (With files from Bloomberg)

Shares of Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC) soared 11.8% to A$9.20 ($6) on Thursday, reaching their highest level since February 2023, amid escalating concerns over China’s tightened export controls on rare earth elements. As the largest rare earth producer outside China, Lynas is poised to benefit from the global scramble for alternative suppliers. China’s decision in April to impose export restrictions on rare earth magnets and related materials has disrupted supply chains worldwide. Major automakers, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Ford, have reported production challenges due to the shortages. Earlier on Wednesday, Mercedes-Benz production chief Joerg Burzer said he was talking to top suppliers about building “buffers” such as stockpiles to protect against potential threats to supply. Mercedes was currently not affected by the shortage. BMW said that part of its supplier network was disrupted but its own plants were running as normal. Some European auto parts plants have suspended output, and industry groups warn of further disruptions if the situation persists. The export curbs are part of China’s broader strategy amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States. Currently, China produces around 90% of the world’s rare earths, and auto industry representatives have warned of increasing threats to production due to their dependency on it for those parts. (With Files from Reuters)

The Bitcoin price is falling fast, and with bears currently taking control, a crypto analyst has forecasted an impending crash below $100,000. While this potential downturn may sound alarming, the analyst has also revealed that after the pullback, Bitcoin (BTC) is expected to undergo a significant price rally to new all-time highs. Bitcoin Price Faces Immediate Crash Risk Bitcoin appears to be entering a cooling phase after experiencing a significant bullish run that spanned several weeks and led to its current all-time high of almost $112,000. ‘MelikaTrader94’, the TradingView crypto analyst responsible for this new technical analysis, predicts that during this cooling period, bears could take over and send the Bitcoin price crashing down to former lows under $100,000. On a 4-hour chart presented by the analyst, Bitcoin has consistently respected a descending trendline acting as a strong resistance threshold. This line, which formed after the recent peak, has now rejected price action multiple times, preventing further upward movement and hinting at growing bearish pressure in the short term. At the time of the analysis, Bitcoin was trading at $106,432, attempting to test the descending trendline once again. However, the chart shows that BTC lacks strong momentum, suggesting that another rejection is likely. If this rejection occurs, BTC’s price action is expected to correct downward toward the $99,000 region, marked on the chart as a key horizontal support zone. Bitcoin’s projected pullback is consistent with typical market behavior, especially after an extended bullish phase. Based on the TradingView expert’s analysis, a drop to the $99,000 support level could shake out weak hands and provide fresh buy-dip opportunities for traders. While the structure of the projected downward move is not entirely bearish, it suggests a necessary retest of lower support areas before any sustainable rally can resume. Bullish Continuation Expected After Pullback MelikaTrader94 has suggested that correcting down to the $99,000 support zone is critical for determining Bitcoin’s next rally. If this crash successfully occurs and buyers step in to defend the support, BTC could begin forming a strong bullish continuation structure. The TradingView analyst’s chart outlines a possible rebound from the support area, which could trigger a breakout above the descending trendline. A sustained move above this trendline would potentially invalidate the short-term bearish structure and set the stage for a new all-time high, with price targets extending beyond $114,000. Notably, Bitcoin’s consolidation around its current price of $104,500, followed by a possible dip to the well-established support zone, fits the analyst’s narrative that the market is preparing for a big move. The TradingView expert has urged investors and traders to keep an eye out for a strong bounce, as this projected pullback could be a healthy one that comes just before a bullish leg up.

Premier American Uranium (TSXV: PUR) agreed to buy Nuclear Fuels Inc. (CSE: NF) to create one of the largest US uranium explorers. Shares of both companies climbed. Nuclear Fuels shareholders will receive 0.33 of a common share of Premier American for each share held, the companies said Thursday in a joint statement. This implies a payment of about C$0.43 per share, which would value Nuclear Fuels at about C$42 million ($31 million). The implied equity value of the combined company is estimated at about C$102 million, Premier American said. Adding Nuclear Fuels, which is advancing the pre-resource Kaycee uranium project in Wyoming’s Powder River basin, would help Toronto-based Premier American expand its exploration portfolio to 12 properties in several key US uranium districts. “Kaycee is an exciting in-situ recovery prospect that, in combination with our own Cyclone project, is expected to position Premier American as one of the most active uranium explorers in Wyoming,” CEO Colin Healey said. Healy will remain as head of the company once the deal has been completed, Premier American said. Backed by founding shareholders Sachem Cove Partners and IsoEnergy (TSX: ISO), as well as enCore Energy (TSXV, NASDAQ: EU) and Mega Uranium (TSX: MGA), Premier American will have “a clear mandate for US uranium consolidation,” the company said. Nuclear Fuels surged 16% to C$0.325 in Toronto Thursday morning, giving the company a market capitalization of about C$32 million. Premier American rose 3.1% to C$1.35 for a market capitalization of about C$47 million. Third-quarter close Closing of the proposed transaction is expected in the third quarter, Premier American said. It will require approval by at least two-thirds of the votes cast by Nuclear Fuels shareholders. The deal represents a premium of 54% to Nuclear Fuels’ Wednesday closing price on the Canadian Securities Exchange and a 46% premium to the 20-day trading average of the stock, Premier American said. Nuclear Fuels has about 97.88 million shares outstanding, according to data compiled by TSX Group. Existing Premier American Uranium shareholders will own about 59% of the company once the deal has closed, compared with 41% for Nuclear Fuels shareholders. Assuming the deal is completed, Premier American’s combined project portfolio will span more than 420.8 sq. km and include projects from near-term development to early-stage exploration. Additional assets in Colorado, Utah, and Arizona provide further growth potential. M&A appetite With C$14 million in cash, Premier American said it expects to have the financial flexibility to “aggressively advance” the combined portfolio and evaluate further acquisition opportunities. The company plans to release a mineral resource update and preliminary economic assessment for its Cebolleta project in New Mexico’s Grants mineral belt this summer, with potential expansion drilling to follow. Kaycee spans a 35-mile trend of altered and mineralized sandstones, supported by over 4,200 drill holes. Nuclear Fuels also holds five exploration-stage projects across key uranium districts in Wyoming, Utah, and Arizona. Nuclear Fuels, which acquired Kaycee from enCore in 2022, has completed 411 exploration drill holes covering 68,659 metres in the past two years. EnCore retains a buyback option to acquire 51% of the project.

A Malian court has once again postponed a ruling on whether to place Barrick Mining’s (TSX: ABX; NYSE: B) Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex under provisional administration, delaying the hearing until June 12. This marks the fourth adjournment in the ongoing legal battle between the Canadian mining giant and Mali’s military-led government, centering on disputes over taxation and control of the mine. Background of the dispute The conflict began in 2023 when Mali introduced a new mining code that increased taxes and expanded the government’s stake in mining operations. Barrick has resisted transitioning to this new code, arguing that its existing agreements should remain legally binding. In November 2024, Malian authorities blocked Barrick’s gold exports and seized approximately three tonnes of gold, citing alleged unpaid taxes. The situation escalated further with the detention of four Barrick employees and the issuance of an arrest warrant for CEO Mark Bristow on charges including money laundering and financing of terrorism. The company rejects all allegations. In response to the Malian government’s actions, Barrick has sought intervention from the World Bank’s arbitration tribunal, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The company has requested “provisional measures” to halt Mali’s efforts to place the mine under provisional administration while arbitration is ongoing. Barrick maintains that the government’s actions are without legal basis and undermine the principles of due process and mutual respect that should govern partnerships between sovereign states and long-term investors. Talks are stymied by the regime’s lack of mining expertise, CEO Mark Bristow told The Northern Miner in a recent interview. The suspension of operations at Loulo-Gounkoto since January 2025 has had significant financial repercussions for Barrick. The company is incurring approximately $15 million per month in maintenance and salaries while losing an estimated $1.24 billion annually in revenue due to the halt in production. Consequently, Barrick has removed Loulo-Gounkoto from its production forecasts until at least 2028. Following the news of the latest postponement, shares of Barrick were up 0.6% in New York, giving the company a market capitalization of approximately $34.9 billion.

The Euro is rallying despite the 25bps cut from the European Central Bank from this morning. The ECB Deposit Rate is now at 2% from 2.25%. The fact that the markets had the cut priced in (well-expected) led to prices were broadly unchanged - markets seesawed but came right back to their level from the beginning of the session. As I am writing this, markets are rallying on the "We are well positioned" comments from Christine Lagarde, speaking right now. Christine Lagarde is speaking on the ongoing press conference mentioned that Inflation (core inflation) is targeted to be on target towards 2027, therefore there is still need for some change. She also mentioned how a strong Euro will hurt exports as things have already been slowing down going into the meeting. These two lines are contradicting - my base case is a pause for next meeting in the waiting for September ECB Projections. 2% is also the longer-run targeted interest rate for the ECB but they still mention that they are in a good position and will take things meeting-by-meeting. 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. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Ethereum is trading at critical levels after breaking past the $2,500 mark earlier this quarter, now attempting to reclaim momentum and push into higher resistance. Despite global macroeconomic pressures—including rising US Treasury yields and persistent trade tensions between the US and China—ETH continues to show resilience. Market analysts believe that Ethereum could be leading the charge into a long-anticipated altseason, provided it holds key levels and breaks above current supply. Top analyst Ted Pillows recently pointed to a compelling technical pattern: Ethereum has now posted four consecutive two-week green candles, a formation that mirrors Bitcoin’s price structure in early 2020 following the March crash. That period marked the beginning of Bitcoin’s legendary bull run to $69,000. According to Pillows, the similarities between BTC in 2020 and ETH in 2025 are “just mind blowing,” sparking renewed interest from traders who see Ethereum’s current consolidation as a bullish continuation. With investor sentiment slowly recovering and technicals turning favorable, the market is watching ETH closely. If history is any guide, this consolidation could mark the calm before Ethereum’s next major leg higher. However, macro risks still linger, and timing will be critical. Ethereum Resilience Sparks Hopes Of 2020-Like Rally Ethereum is holding strong above the $2,600 level, showing resilience amid global macro uncertainty and volatile market conditions. This consolidation around key support has many investors and analysts anticipating a breakout that could lead Ethereum into a new rally phase, potentially triggering a broader altseason. Despite growing concerns around systemic risk in the bond market and geopolitical tensions between the US and China, Ethereum continues to attract buyers, signaling confidence in its long-term strength. Analysts are watching this range closely. Many believe that if Ethereum can maintain support and break above near-term resistance, it could gain serious momentum. One of the more compelling arguments for a bullish outlook comes from Ted Pillows, who highlights a striking similarity between Ethereum’s current structure and Bitcoin’s behavior in 2020. According to Pillows, Ethereum has now printed four consecutive two-week green candles since bottoming, just as Bitcoin did after the March 2020 crash. That pattern marked the start of BTC’s legendary run to $69,000. The comparison has sparked optimism that ETH may be preparing for a similar breakout, especially if it clears resistance near $2,700–$2,800. While the macro environment remains tense, this technical structure—paired with rising confidence in ETH’s strength—keeps bulls hopeful that a major move is on the horizon. ETH Price Analysis: Consolidation Above Support Ethereum (ETH) is holding steady around $2,607, consolidating just above the 34-period EMA on the 4-hour chart, which currently sits near $2,594. After the strong surge in early May that saw ETH rally from under $2,000 to highs near $2,850, the price has moved into a tight consolidation range. This sideways action reflects market indecision as buyers and sellers battle for control. Despite the recent volatility, ETH has continued to post higher lows, indicating ongoing bullish pressure. The 50, 100, and 200-period SMAs are aligned below the current price, all trending upward, signaling that the broader trend remains intact. The price is finding consistent support from the 50-period SMA around the $2,590–$2,600 zone, which is a key level to watch. A decisive break above the short-term resistance near $2,680 would be needed to confirm continuation toward $2,800 and potentially retest previous highs. On the downside, a break below $2,590 could trigger a pullback toward $2,500 or lower, especially if BTC shows weakness. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Facebook owner Meta’s 20-year deal with Constellation Energy (Nasdaq: CEG) to buy output from its Clinton nuclear plant in central Illinois bolsters the long-term case for uranium producers, analysts said. Starting in June 2027, Meta is to receive about 1.12 gigawatts from Constellation, which represents the entire output from Clinton’s reactor, the companies said late Tuesday in separate statements. Future modifications will boost Clinton’s output by 30 megawatts, they also said. The plant’s current capacity is enough to power about 1 million homes. Meta’s decision to sign with Constellation “is indicative of not only the need for power, but the desire of these hyperscalers to get that power from renewable sources,” GLJ Research founder and CEO Gordon Johnson said Wednesday in a telephone interview from New York. “The demand for nuclear is real, evidenced by Meta, the lack of supply is real, and the shortage of supply is going to get worse as these data centres start to ramp up and need power.” Tech companies such as Meta need vast amounts of energy to operate their data centres and artificial intelligence applications. Nuclear energy is especially prized because it’s available around the clock and doesn’t emit planet-warming air pollution, Red Cloud Securities analysts said Wednesday in a note. Hyperscaler support The announcement represents “another supportive move from the hyperscalers for nuclear generation in the US,” BMO Capital Markets mining analysts Helen Amos and George Heppel wrote in a note. Meta is buying the energy as part of a commitment to source all of its electricity from clean and renewable power. After announcing last year that it would seek proposals for up to 4 gigawatts of US nuclear capacity, the company said Tuesday it’s in final discussions with a shortlist of potential projects to meet its target. Demand, price trends Tech companies’ drive to build additional data centres intersects with a few inter-industry trends. For one, demand for uranium is projected to triple by 2040, underscoring the urgent need to develop mines. Uranium demand already outstrips production by 50 million to 60 million lb. a year, according to World Nuclear Association data. “There is a new industrial revolution going on right now,” Johnson said. “There’s an explosion in energy demand associated with data centres that people think are going to be needed to power AI. You need real solutions, and the only real solution in renewables is nuclear. If you’re a nuclear bull, the set-up couldn’t be better.” Another trend is spot uranium prices, which for now remain relatively low by historical standards. Spot uranium has dropped about 20% in the past year to $71.90 per lb. as of Wednesday afternoon, well below the all-time high of $136 per lb. in 2007, but still higher than it was in the decade after the Fukushima disaster. Lower prices for the nuclear metal discourage investment and make mining less profitable. Building domestic supply To be sure, several uranium mine projects in the US are already in the works. Australia’s Laramide Resources (TSX: LAM) said this week that its Crownpoint-Churchrock and La Jara Mesa uranium projects have been granted FAST-41 Covered project status by the US Permitting Council. This clears the way for faster permitting and increased government support. Last month, the United States Department of the Interior approved Anfield Energy’s (TSXV: AEC; US-OTC: ANLDF) Velvet-Wood uranium and vanadium mine in Utah, making it the first project to be greenlit under a compressed 14-day environmental review timeline. Now that the final environmental assessment has been completed by the Bureau of Land Management, Anfield Energy has the necessary approval to restart the old Velvet mine and develop the nearby Wood deposit, the Department of the Interior said May 23. But while the US works to secure domestic supplies of uranium, the reality is it depends on imports for most of its uranium needs, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Of the uranium oxide the US purchases, 57% comes from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Australia and Russia, and 27% comes from Canada, EIA data shows. Nuclear leveling up In the meantime, several nuclear reactor operators are trying to boost capacity. With the guarantee that Clinton can run for two more decades, Constellation said it’s evaluating strategies to extend the plant’s existing early site permit or seek a new construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to pursue development of an advanced nuclear reactor or small modular reactor at the site. Known as the Clinton Clean Energy Center, the facility was initially slated for closure in 2017 after years of financial losses. Illinois lawmakers prevented the retirement by setting up a Zero Emission Credit program that supports the plant through mid-2027. “Securing clean, reliable energy is necessary to continue advancing our AI ambitions,” Urvi Parekh, Meta’s head of global energy, said in the statement. “We are proud to help keep the Clinton plant operating for years to come and demonstrate that this plant is an important piece to strengthening American leadership in energy.” Quick advance As it seeks additional power, Meta said it’s prioritizing sites “where nuclear development can be advanced quickly with high degrees of certainty on execution and timeline.” Existing nuclear plants “will not be able to stay online indefinitely without partners and investments that help extend existing operating licenses and increase generation capacity,” the tech company added. Long-term support is needed for many nuclear plants in the US to ensure electricity grids remain reliable while energy needs grow, it said. “Keeping an existing plant operating will have the same positive effect as adding new clean energy to the grid, and avoid the disruption that has occurred when other nuclear units have retired prematurely.”

Hong Kong has been ramping up efforts to strengthen its position as a digital asset hub. Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) plans to introduce virtual asset derivatives trading for professional investors. According to a 4 June 2025 China Daily report, Christopher Hui Ching-yu, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, said the move is part of the city’s push to bolster its global digital asset market competitiveness. The SFC said robust risk management measures will be prioritized in line with the move. This will ensure trades are conducted “in an orderly, transparent and secure manner.” According to the SFC, the proposed product will facilitate efficient risk transfers, boost liquidity in the underlying spot markets — where cryptocurrencies are traded for immediate payment and delivery — and support experienced investors in engaging in hedging and leveraging strategies. Furthermore, Hui said that the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau is preparing to issue the second policy statement on virtual assets, laying out future policy directions. DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in June 2025 Active Virtual Asset Development Since October 2022 This follows the release of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s first policy statement on virtual asset development in October 2022, which set out its stance and strategy to build a vibrant crypto ecosystem in the city. Earlier this year, the SFC outlined plans to broaden the range of virtual asset products and services available to different types of investors. As part of its efforts, the SFC permitted staking services for virtual assets, enabling investors to earn additional returns. In April, the SFC approved two licensed virtual asset trading platforms to offer staking services under specific conditions. This was followed by two SFC-authorized virtual asset spot exchange traded funds (ETFs) revising their documentation to engage in staking activities. Explore: Hong Kong SFC Greenlights Staking Services For Licensed Crypto Platforms Hong Kong SFC Greenlights Staking Services For Licensed Crypto Platforms In April 2025, Hong Kong’s SFC officially authorized licensed virtual asset trading platforms to offer staking services. This move was aimed to reinforce the city’s status as a leading hub for digital assets in the Asia-Pacific region. The announcement was made in tandem with a keynote speech by SFC Executive Director Christina Choi at the 2025 Hong Kong Web3 Festival. Choi talked about how blockchain has the potential to reshape finance. Furthermore, Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange HashKey received regulatory approval to offer staking services. This move was meant to expand the appeal of proof-of-stake (PoS) investments like spot Ether ETFs among institutional investors. EXPLORE: 10 Best AI Crypto Coins to Invest in 2025 Key Takeaways Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) plans to introduce virtual asset derivatives trading for professional investors. Hong Kong has been ramping up efforts to strengthen its position as a digital asset hub. The post Hong Kong Plans To Introduce Crypto Derivatives Trading Soon appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Dogecoin’s six-month slide may be about to reach its moment of truth, according to independent market commentator VisionPulsed, who told followers on June 4 that the memecoin must vault the long-standing ceiling at roughly $0.40 “either this week or next” if the broader bullish structure is to survive the summer. In a video analysis, the analyst pointed to a second consecutive “blue bar” flashing on Ethereum’s momentum oscillator, a signal he treats as a reliable harbinger of imminent, high-magnitude moves across the digital-asset complex. “The last time we had two blue bars on Ethereum was way back when we were still young and optimistic,” he said, invoking memories of August 2023. “We printed five that time and the market moved sixteen percent. We’re at two now; by Sunday we’ll probably have four, which tells me the move should come next week.” Dogecoin Needs June Rally To Avert Summer Slump Although the blue-bar framework is native to Ethereum, VisionPulsed argued that its read-through for Bitcoin and, by correlation, Dogecoin is more important than ever. He noted that Bitcoin’s own hash-ribbon metric—formed when the network’s 30-day and 60-day hash-rate moving averages compress—has followed a strictly “sell for two weeks, then rally” pattern through the current cycle. “We’ve already been selling off for two weeks,” he said. “Historically in this bull market, that’s when Bitcoin resets and moves higher. If that plays out again, Dogecoin should finally get the lift it’s been denied since February.” The crux of his thesis sits on a 70-day timing model derived from Dogecoin’s prior impulse lows. Measuring from the most recent trough, the 70-day mark falls on 14 June. “Every major upswing in Dogecoin during this cycle has come 60 to 80 days after a bottom,” he explained, scrolling through historical candles on screen. “We’re right on that window—if we’re going to break higher, it almost has to be now.” VisionPulsed acknowledged his own track record of slipping deadlines—“one for five hundred,” he joked—but insisted the structure remains statistically sound. “If we don’t rally next week, I’m never putting dates on anything again,” he told viewers, before adding a caveat that has become the headline takeaway. “Dogecoin has to clear $0.40. If we can’t do that, the bear case strengthens dramatically: June down, July probably down, September seasonally weak, and suddenly you’re talking eight red months out of nine.” Pressed by commenters about the depth of a potential downside scenario, the analyst pointed to Ethereum for context. A bullish resolution, he said, could lift ETH to roughly $3,200 before a summer consolidation and possibly $4,200 by early autumn, a path that in his view would drag Dogecoin well north of the $0.40 trigger. Failure, however, “sets up a very large move down, maybe sub-$2,000 on ETH,” a slide that would likely leave Dogecoin retesting multi-month lows. “Whichever way we go,” he concluded, “is going to determine the rest of the summer.” The urgency is aggravated by Dogecoin’s mounting sequence of monthly losses: five red candles since January, with only a brief reprieve in April. “Six red months out of seven is staring us in the face,” VisionPulsed said. “June doesn’t have to be a vertical move, but it does have to be green—or at least show a decisive breakout—because otherwise, where is the bull run?” Market structure rather than sentiment, he stressed, underpins the call. Bitcoin already sits near cycle highs while Dogecoin still trades markedly below its own year-to-date peak, a divergence he interprets as latent leverage. “If Bitcoin punches through its local top, it typically drags Doge,” he said, referencing earlier intervals in 2024 when BTC strength eventually translated into delayed but exaggerated moves in the memecoin. Whether that historical choreography can repeat depends, in his framework, on the next few daily closes. “We’re definitely getting more energy built up,” he said, pointing to narrowing Bollinger Bands and declining on-chain activity. “I don’t think the large move is here yet, but by late this week—or early next week at the latest—you should get your answer.” For traders who still believe the four-year cycle remains intact, the analyst’s $0.40 line in the sand arrives almost exactly one calendar year before the next projected Bitcoin top in October 2026. “If Doge can’t start moving now, the entire timing model gets pushed off course,” he warned. “I genuinely think June is a make-or-break month.” At press time, DOGE traded at $0.189.

Singapore-based WazirX is shifting its base to Panama after local courts ruled against its restructuring plan. The crypto exchange announced the court’s decision via a post on X on 4 June 2025. In an email shared with its user base, WazirX detailed recently redacted documents revealing Zettai, WazirX’s parent company, will move to Panama and rebrand itself in the region. The document read, “Zettai has taken steps to incorporate a subsidiary, Zensui Corporation, in the Republic of Panama, and has been preparing for the transfer of the operations of the Platform’s cryptocurrency-related services to Zensui.” This news comes in the wake of Singapore’s central bank mandating local crypto service providers stop offering digital token services to overseas markets. The deadline for this mandate is 30 June 2025. The court’s decision has caused payment rollouts to hit a major snag and will most likely cause a delay in reimbursement to those affected by the hack. In an email to their creditors, WazirX said, “The Honourable Singapore High Court issued an order declining to approve our proposed restructuring plan.” Interestingly, the courts had initially approved WazirX’s plan in January, as the company sought protection from liquidation following a $230 million hack by the North Korean Lazarus Group. WazirX’s plan had outlined a process where creditors could vote on whether to accept the terms, with payments guaranteed within 10 business days from activation. Now, with the timeline for creditor repayment again thrown into uncertainty, if the restructuring fails, WaxirX could face liquidation under Section 301 of the Singapore Companies Act, resulting in the sale of the company’s remaining assets. Explore: The 12+ Hottest Crypto Presales to Buy Right Now Zensui Will Issue WazirX Recovery Tokens Zettai incorporated Zensui, its subsidiary, in Panama on 10 March 2025 and will have it take over operations going forward. They have already finalised the agreement to transfer Zettai’s operations to the new subsidiary, and once they execute it, Zensui will receive its cryptocurrency services within two to three business days. Additionally, Zensui will oversee the issuance of WazirX’s recovery tokens as part of the company’s compensation strategy for those affected by the hack. Also, the company has stated that it does not seek a licence to continue its operations in Singapore or register with India’s Financial Intelligence Unit. The recovery tokens issued by Zensui will most likely function as an on-chain IOU (I owe you). It is designed to be minted for each creditor of the exchange and represents the outstanding claims not covered by the initial distribution. Additionally, it also serves as a means to track users’ remaining balances. The token holders will receive a periodic distribution, funded by WazirX’s profits and recovered assets. Moreover, creditors largely favoured WazirX’s post-hack restricting plan, with more than 90% of the voting creditors supporting the scheme. WazirX has previously stated that the tokens could potentially restore 75% to 80% of users’ account balances at the time of the hack. Explore: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in June 2025 Explore Best Crypto To Buy! As one of the biggest altcoin markets in the world, South Korea is pumping everything that lands on its horizon. Another altcoin is rising: SOLAXY. It is the first-ever Layer 2 build on the Solana network created solely to improve the weak points of Solana. Right now, it is on presale, and the timer is counting down, with 11 days left before it drops online. So far, the project has raised over $44 million. That is a lot of resources to push it on different exchanges or even the South Korean market, which we know is capable of. If you want to join the fun, now is the perfect moment at the best price per token: only $0.001746 per coin. Further, you can improve your bag holding my staking your coins with an amazing 91% APY. SOLAXY combines not only a fundamentally strong side but also a fun aspect. Meme culture is one of the biggest in the crypto community, and this will help, most definitely. With the current world situation and crypto market position, this is a perfect place to join. For the latest updates on the project, connect with the SOLX community on X and Telegram. VISIT SOLX HERE DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways WazirX’s parent company Zettai is shifting base from Singapore to Panama Local courts declining WazirX’s restructuring plan will likely cause payment rollout delays Zensui will issue recovery tokens as a part of the company’s compensation strategy for those affected by the hack The post WazirX Relocates to Panama Following Court Rejection of Restructuring Plan: Explore Best Crypto to Buy! appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Zora is reinventing NFTs by pivoting to an on-chain social network that rewards content creators. The native token is up 30% from May 2025 lows, and might spike to April highs. In the crypto world, projects must innovate, release new features, and consistently meet the demands of their user base. Uniswap demonstrated how innovation can pay off. After introducing decentralized liquidity pools and enabling non-custodial token swapping, DeFi exploded, now commanding billions. Surprisingly, while DeFi reached new heights and secured its place in history, NFTs, despite introducing groundbreaking ideas and features that could revolutionize gaming and the creative space, were decimated by the crypto winter of 2022 and have yet to recover. Mega NFT projects that processed billions weekly during the last crypto boom are now shadows of their former selves. OpenSea, Rarible, and thousands of NFT products generate only a fraction of their peak volumes. Some NFT-focused projects have faded and are nowhere near the top 100. (Source) EXPLORE: 10 Best AI Crypto Coins to Invest in 2025 Zora Is Evolving, Changing Tact Zora rose to prominence in January 2021, aiming to empower creators through NFTs. Now, the project is reinventing itself, acknowledging that while NFTs have potential, following trends can be strategic. Zora is introduced tradable “coins” and evolving from an NFT marketplace into an on-chain social network. The ZORA token, surprisingly running on Base rather than its Ethereum layer-2, is among the top gainers, outperforming even some of the best Solana meme coins. As interest in content coins grows, ZORA could extend gains. From the daily chart, ZORA is up 30% from May lows. The rapid expansion on June 4 could lay the foundation for prices to break above $0.014, confirming early May gains. Per MEXC data, the token spiked to $0.041556 on April 23 before cooling to $0.008916 and recovering to spot rates. (Source) Technically, the uptrend remains. If yesterday’s demand spills over, ZORA could break above local resistance, increasing its already high odds of becoming one of the best cryptos to buy in June. Will Focus on Content Creation Drive Demand and Pay Off? The pace of this growth depends on whether the trading and crypto communities embrace Zora’s reinvention and focus on rewarding creators. In February 2025, Zora expanded to become an on-chain social media network on Base, emphasizing content monetization and community engagement to capture a share of the burgeoning attention economy. On May 25, Balaji Srinivasan tokenized the cover of his book, The Network State, on Zora. DISCOVER: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025 – Top New Crypto Coins Zora NFT Reinvention: Will Prices Spike To April Highs? Zora is evolving, pivoting to creator coins Zora first launched to serve the NFT community in 2021 before going on to release an Ethereum layer-2 The token is up 30% from May 2025 lows As Zora gains traction, breaking into the top 100 social apps on AppStore, will bulls press on? 2025 The post Zora Takes Off, Up 30% In 3 Days: Will Their Pivot To Creator Coins Pay Off? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

The Canadian province of Ontario has passed a sweeping and contentious new mining law aimed at accelerating major development projects, despite sharp criticism from Indigenous leaders, environmental advocates, and opposition parties. Bill 5, or or the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, gives Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government broad powers to create “special economic zones.” Within these areas, selected projects and proponents can be exempted from provincial laws, regulations and local bylaws. While federal legislation still applies, critics argue the bill guts provincial safeguards without sufficient public debate. The legislation also includes a provision to replace Ontario’s Endangered Species Act with a new Species Conservation Act, at a future date determined by cabinet. Environmental groups warn the change will erode protections for threatened wildlife. Opposition parties and civil society organizations have condemned the bill as rushed and undemocratic. They argue it undermines environmental regulations, weakens labour standards, threatens treaty rights, and is likely to trigger a wave of legal challenges that could stall the very developments the law is meant to accelerate. First Nations leaders have been especially vocal. “Our diplomacy ends today … we need to look at every option at our disposal,” Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation said during a protest outside Queen’s Park. In response to mounting backlash, Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford and Mining Minister Stephen Lecce pledged last month to amend the bill to explicitly require consultation with Indigenous communities. That modification, however, was ultimately excluded, with Ford’s government blaming Liberal committee tactics for its failure to pass. To soften opposition, the Ford government has promised C$3 billion (about $2.2bn) to help Indigenous communities become equity partners in mining ventures, along with C$70 million ($51m) for training and C$10 million ($7.3m) for scholarships. Ontario accounts for nearly a quarter of Canada’s total mineral production value. In 2023, the province’s mining sector generated C$15.7 billion ($11.5bn), led by gold at C$6.5 billion ($4.8bn) and nickel at C$2.5 billion ($1.8bn).

Bitcoin’s available coins for trading have dropped sharply. That change could push prices higher if demand holds up. According to Sygnum Bank’s June 2025 Monthly Investment Outlook, the liquid supply of Bitcoin fell by about 30% over the last 18 months. In that time, nearly 1 million BTC left exchanges. That means fewer coins are ready to move at a moment’s notice. Liquid Supply Tightens Based on reports from Sygnum Bank, exchange balances dropped by around 1 million BTC since late 2023. That amount equals roughly 5% of Bitcoin’s total supply. When coins leave exchanges, they often go into cold storage or long-term funds. Some of these funds include new exchange-traded funds and corporate buyers issuing equity or debt to buy Bitcoin. If coins are locked away, traders have to compete for a smaller pool of available coins. That gap between supply and demand can cause bigger price swings on the upside. Institutions And State Moves Three US states have now passed laws to hold Bitcoin as part of their reserves. New Hampshire already signed its bill into law. Texas is expected to follow soon. A third state is also moving forward, though details are still pending. In addition, governments abroad are paying attention. Pakistan’s government has said it will look into Bitcoin reserves. In the UK, the Reform Party—currently leading in election polls—plans to study something similar. When a state or country actually buys Bitcoin for its coffers, it can spark more buying. That act has a double effect: it creates immediate demand and it signals that public institutions see Bitcoin as a store of value. Safe-Haven Status Strengthens Rising uncertainty over the US dollar and US debt worries have driven some investors toward Bitcoin. In May, as US Treasury prices slid on concerns about rising debt levels, digital gold and physical gold saw higher interest. Bitcoin is being viewed more like a hedge against dollar weakness. On days when Treasuries wobble, some cash moves into crypto markets. Larger swings on the upside than on the downside also hint that institutions may be soaking up dips more quickly. Sygnum’s data shows that since June 2022, Bitcoin’s upward moves have been larger than its downward moves. That may be a sign that big players have become more confident in holding through small sell-offs. Ethereum’s Comeback Ethereum is also stirring after a period of sluggish performance. The recent Pectra upgrade on Ethereum has spurred more fees and drawing fresh interest. Several big banks and financial firms are now exploring tokenization platforms built on Ethereum and its layer-2 networks. When more institutions issue tokenized assets, the whole crypto space could benefit. Renewed activity on Ethereum often spills back into Bitcoin. That could add to overall demand for top coins. Featured image from Imagen, chart from TradingView

Anglo American (LON: AAL) is edging closer to launching a formal sale process for De Beers after reportedly receiving expressions of interest from several potential buyers, including two former chief executives of the diamond miner. De Beers, the world’s leading diamond producer by value, has been on the chopping block since May 2024, when Anglo announced plans to either sell the unit or launch an initial public offering (IPO). This decision came as part of a corporate overhaul triggered by Anglo’s successful defence against a £39 billion ($49 billion) takeover bid by Australian rival BHP (ASX: BHP). Former De Beers bosses Gareth Penny and Bruce Cleaver are both leading groups that are potential buyers, as is Australian mining veteran Michael O’Keeffe, according to anonymous sources quoted by Bloomberg. Penny is chair of Ninety One, an investment firm with over $175 billion of assets under management. Cleaver has served for nearly a year as chair and independent non-executive director at Gemfields (LON: GEM) (JSE: GML), which mines emeralds and rubies. O’Keeffe, who orchestrated the $3.7-billion sale of Riversdale Mining to Rio Tinto in 2011, currently sits on several mining boards, including Burgundy Diamond Mines (ASX: BDM), which operates Canada’s Ekati mine. Anglo American declined MINING.COM’s request for comments. Penny, Cleaver and O’Keeffe could not be reached. Cracking under pressure The sale of De Beers comes amid unfavourable market conditions. Prices have fallen amid rising competition from lab-grown precious stones and weakening demand in China. In February, Anglo slashed the unit’s valuation for a second time, bringing it down to $4.1 billion. CEO Duncan Wanblad said at the time that De Beers might remain under Anglo’s ownership into 2026, depending on market conditions. Recent figures highlight the severity of the crisis. De Beers reported a 44% revenue drop in the first quarter of the year and is sitting on $2 billion worth of unsold stock. The company also plans to cut more than 1,000 jobs at its Debswana joint venture, according to the mine workers union, even though the operation is the backbone of Botswana’s economy.

Mastercard has revealed that almost half of its e-commerce transactions in Europe are now tokenised. In its 3 June 2025 press release, the company said that its goal is to support 100% tokenised e-commerce transactions by 2030. Brice van de Walle, Executive Vice President, Core Payments Europe Mastercard, said, “One year into our 100% tokenisation and authentication journey, Europe is gaining strong momentum. We’re working with partners to make digital payments more secure and seamless, through Click to Pay, passkeys, and tokens.” Notably, 50% of Mastercard e-commerce transactions tokenised in Europe include Secure Card on File (SCOF), Click to Pay, and digital wallets, have increased by over one third in the past year. Mastercard’s’ Merchant tokenisation, known as SCOF, is available in 45 European countries and territories. The move comes after Mastercard through its research found that 54% of Europeans feel irritated when asked to create an account at checkout, and 82% report some level of frustration navigating friction-heavy processes. DISCOVER: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025 Critical Partners For tokenisation, Mastercard has partnered with Checkout.com, Delivery Hero (eFood, Foody, Foodora, and Glovo), Global Collect (Worldline), Monext, and Santander. Matias Sanchez, Global Head of Cards and Digital Solutions at Santander said, “With tokenisation, their card details are better protected, making checkout easier, faster, and more secure. Partnering with Mastercard allows us to bring this extra layer of safety, therefore Click to Pay is one of our top priorities.” Meanwhile for Click to Pay, Mastercard partnered with Autopay, Consors Finanz BNP Paribas, Fiserv, ICA Banken, Lendable, Nickel, N26, Ogone (Worldline), PayU, SaferPay (Worldline), SIX, and tPay For payment passkeys, Mastercard partnered with Dintero, Netopia, Solidgate. As the first European processor to combine this with Click to Pay, we’re proud to offer a faster, safer, password-free experience, setting a new standard for digital commerce and building on our strong partnership with Mastercard.” said Marius Costin, Netopia CEO. DISCOVER: 9+ Best High-Risk, High-Reward Crypto to Buy in May 2025 Recent Crypto Expansion Moves By Mastercard Just last month, MoonPay teamed up with Mastercard to launch a new suite of stablecoin payment cards. This move enables seamless digital asset spending at over 150 million merchants worldwide. The MoonPay Mastercard global stablecoin payment card will allow users to pay with stablecoins such as USDC, USDT, DAI. For Mastercard, this is another move in crypto expansion. Recently Mastercard also announced that it will provide a “360-degree approach where consumers can spend stablecoins and merchants can receive them.” This approach included partnerships with crypto wallets like MetaMask, Kraken, Gemini, Bybit, Crypto.com, Binance, Monavate, and Bleap to allow consumers to buy stablecoins easily with their credit/debit cards, as well as withdraw them into their bank accounts easily. Kraken and Mastercard have also announced a new partnership. It focuses on digital assets in everyday transactions across the UK and Europe. At the core of the Kraken-Mastercard partnership was a simple goal: to make crypto spending as seamless as using traditional currency. In January 2025, the company launched Crypto Credential solution for the people of UAE and Kazakhstan in the EMEA region. DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025 Key Takeaways Mastercard said that its goal is to support 100% tokenised e-commerce transactions in Europe by 2030. 50% of its e-commerce transactions in Europe are already tokenised. To focus on crypto expansion, the company is focusing on many new partnerships. Recently, it partnered with MoonPay, Kraken and more. The post Mastercard Ready To Abandon Manual Card Transactions For Tokenized Transactions By 2030 appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Overview: The dollar is mostly softer today in narrow trading ranges, though it is firmer against the yen and Swiss franc. The weakness of US data (ADP, ISM services, and anecdotal Beige Book) lifted the market confidence of at least two Fed cuts this year. Most emerging market currencies are also trading higher against the dollar today. Still, overall, the foreign exchange market is relatively calm, and ranges are mostly narrow. The outcome of ECB meeting today (rate cut and reductions in this year's growth and inflation forecasts are likely) and tomorrow's US employment report are awaited. Equities are generally firmer. Among the large markets in the Asia Pacific region, Japan and Australia did not participate in today's advance. Europe's Stoxx 600 is rising for the third consecutive session. US index futures are firm. Bond markets are also bid. Japan's 30-year bond auction was alright. The bid-cover of 2.92 though is not regarded as inspiring. Still, the 10-year yield fell almost four basis points to 1.45%. European benchmark yields are mostly 3-4 bp lower. The 10-year Treasury yield is slightly softer near 4.34%. Gold is firm in the upper end of this week's range, which is a little below $3400. July WTI is trading quietly in a $62.50-$63.15 range. It has been capped this week below $64. Last month's high was closer to $64.20. USD: The dollar traded poorly yesterday. Weighed down by a surprisingly poor ADP private sector jobs estimate (37k vs. 114k expected), a softer than expected ISM services (the first sub-50 reading since June 2024), and a Beige Book that underscored drag of the economic and policy uncertainty, the Dollar Index trended lower in North America. Tuesday's low was slightly below 98.60 and this was approached yesterday. The more important level is 97.90-98.00, the three-year low set last month. It is trading quietly today in a narrow range below 99.00. We already know that the US April goods deficit narrowed dramatically to $87.6 bln from the rush to get ahead of the tariffs that ballooned the deficit to $162.3 bln in March. Goods imports in April tumbled by almost 20%, a record. Exports rose 3.4%. The overall April trade balance will be reported today an dis is seen narrowing to around $66 bln from $140.50 bln. The US reports Q1 productivity and unit labor costs. These are among the economic phenomena that are not observed directly but deduced from the GDP data. Productivity contracted (-0.8%) after growing by an average of 2.1% in 2024 and 3.1% in 2023. Unit labor costs are a mirror image. They rose by an average of slightly less than 2% last year and a little more than 2% in 2023. They jumped 5.7% in Q1 25, pending today's revision. Weekly jobless claims may draw some attention after last week's report (week through May 23) showed a 14k job to 240k, the first increase in four weeks, and the second highest since early last October. Still, the national jobs report tomorrow is more important. Slower nonfarm payroll growth is expected (~130k vs 177k) but the key may be the unemployment rate. It was at 4.2% in March and April, matching last year's high. The Atlanta Fed's GDP tracker will be updated later today. On Monday, it was raised to 4.6% from 3.8%. EURO: The euro settled firmly yesterday and above $1.14. Options for 2.4 bln euros struck there expire today. It is holding above $1.1400 so far today and has been unable to rise above $1.1435. A move above $1.1455 re-targets the 3 1/2-year high set last month near $1.1575. Above there, the initial scope may extend another cent. There is practically no doubt that the ECB will deliver another quarter-point cut today. The sub-2% aggregate May CPI removes whatever lingering doubt there may have been. There seems to be two issues. First are the updated forecasts. It is reasonable to expect growth and inflation forecasts to be trimmed. In March, the ECB saw the economy expanding by 0.9% this year, 1.2% next, and 1.3% in 2027. It had CPI at 2.3% this year, 1.9% in 2026, and 2.0% in 2027. For comparison purposes, note that the IMF's updated forecasts are for 0.8% growth this year and shares the ECB's outlook for the next two year. Its CPI projection is 2.1% this year and again converges with the ECB for 2026 and 2027. The second issue is forward guidance. We suspect ECB President Lagarde to be circumspect and non-committal. Barring a new shock, a pause seems to be in order. So, no cut in July, while September, which sees new forecasts, may be a closer call. CNY: The greenback's broad weakness saw it fall for the second consecutive session against the Chinese yuan. The dollar was sold to an eight-day low near CNH7.1700. It is holding today, and the dollar has pushed up to about CNH7.1820. Last week's low, the lowest since last November, was near CNH7.1615. The PBOC lowered the dollar's reference rate after increasing it for the past two sessions (CNY7.1865 vs. CNY7.1886). Caixin's services PMI ticked up to 51.1 from 50.7 but the much weaker than expected manufacturing PMI (48.3 vs 50.4 in April) was sufficient to drag the composite PMI lower to 49.6 from 51.1. It is the first break of 50 since the end of 2022. The headwinds from the trade dispute with the US appear to be growing again as container shipment to the US have fallen again. The facture of the agreement struck in Geneva seems to be over chips and critical minerals and magnets. Yet, it seems that China is progressing with its largely domestic chip industry, which is being forced to innovate somewhat differently. At the same time, the replacement of China's capacity in critical minerals (and their processing) and magnets seems more challenging for the US to replace in the short- to medium-term. JPY: The dollar initially rose to a three-day high yesterday near JPY144.40 but the softer US data and the 10 bp pullback in the US 10-year yield provided too much, even if the correlation has slackened lately. The dollar was sold to almost JPY142.60. It made a marginal new low today near JPY142.50 before recovering to JPY143.40. Tuesday's low was closer to JPY142.40. The JPY142 area offers support. Labor cash earnings were steady at 2.3% year-over-year in April. Consider that in April 2024, they had risen by 1.6% year-over-year. Yet, adjusted for inflation, real cash earnings continue to fall. They fell 1.8% in the year through April. In April 2024, they had fallen by 1.2% on a year-over-year basis, and in April 2023, they were off 3.2%. This is likely one of the factors that constrain household spending, which will be reported tomorrow. It is seen slowing to 1.5% in April from 2.1% in March. GBP: Sterling rose to $1.3580 on the back of the weaker dollar. It is trading in a narrow range slightly below there today (~GBP1.3540-$1.3575). The high in late May was near $1.3595. Above $1.3600, the next highs from March 2022 come into view near $1.3645. The upper Bollinger Band is slightly above there today. The 2022 high was recorded in January (~$1.3750). The UK reported a small increase in auto registrations (a proxy for auto sales) and the third consecutive rise in the construction PMI, which remains below 50 as it has since the end of last year. CAD: The Bank of Canada held policy steady yesterday, but it seems clear that the easing cycle is not over. Still, in the face of the greenback's heavier today, the Canadian dollar rose to its best level since last October. The US dollar approached CAD1.3650. It has held today but looks vulnerable as the upside has been capped near CAD1.3685. The lower Bollinger Band is near CAD1.3625 today. From a technical perspective, there is little to hang one's hat on until closer to CAD1.3600, and even then, the "support" does not look particularly strong. Canada reports its April merchandise trade balance today. Although it reported a nearly C$2 bln trade deficit in February and March combined, the nearly $3.1 bln surplus in January offset it in full. The means in Q1 25, Canada recorded slightly more than a C$1 bln goods surplus. In Q1 24, a small deficit was reported. Canada's IVEY PMI is also due. It typically is more volatile and runs hotter than the PMI composite. It was at 47.9 in April, down from 51.30 in March, which was the first back-to-back decline since July-August 2024. AUD: The Australian dollar pushed above $0.6500 in North America yesterday and again failed to close above it. It is trying again today and is bid around $0.6515 in late European morning turnover. Last week's high was slightly above $0.6535, a little shy of the $0.6550 area we targeted, which corresponds to the (61.8%) retracement of the losses from last October (~$0.6940) to the April low (~$0.5915). Australia reported its goods trade surplus earlier today. It narrowed from March's A$6.9 bln, which was the largest since January 2024 to A$5.4 bln. That is still above last year's average (~A$5.7 bln). Exports slowed. They slipped by about 2.4% after jumping 7.2% in March (the largest gain since April 2022). Imports rose by 1.1% after tumbling 2.4% in March. Separately, household spending rose by 0.1% in April after falling 0.3% in March. At an annualized rate, it is rising at a 2.4% pace. In the first four months of 2024, household spending rose at an annualized rate of around 3.3%. MXN: The weaker greenback, lower US rates, and equity gains helped underpin the peso yesterday. The peso rose to its best level since last October. The US dollar approached MXN19.1625 before stabilizing. It is in a narrow range between MXN19.1895 and MXN19.2135. It has been a slow but steady grind lower from May's high set on May 6 near MXN19.7820. We continue to see potential toward the MXN19.00 area initially. Yesterday, Mexico reported a dramatic 10.8% surge in May auto sales. The reality may not be as impressive. The report is not seasonally adjusted, and auto sales have risen every May beginning in 2006. It was the sixth time that May auto sales rose by more than 10%. May auto sales were about 0.4% lower than sales in May 2024. Separately, Brazil's composite PMI slipped lower and remained under 50 for the second consecutive month. Disappointing real sector data and the recent softer PMI print may give the market reason to re-think the likelihood of a rate hike at the June 18 central bank meeting. The dollar approached BRL5.61 yesterday, with BRL5.60 offering important support. It has been frayed on an intraday basis a few times here in Q2 but has not settled below it once. Disclaimer

Bitcoin is drifting just above $105,000 on June 5, its lowest realized volatility in almost two years, yet Swan, the Los-Angeles-based “Bitcoin-only” financial services firm, contends the market is on the verge of its most radical re-pricing ever. The Last Chance To Buy? In a X thread on Wednesday night, the company argued that the familiar four-year boom-and-bust cadence is giving way to “the last rotation”—a silent transfer of coins from retail speculators to institutions whose investment horizons stretch decades. “People less committed to the long term are exiting […] and a whole new class of investors is entering,” Swan is quoting Michael Saylor, framing the hand-off from retail traders to corporate treasuries, ETFs and multinationals such as BlackRock and Fidelity. So far, 2025 has defied the script. The third calendar year of every prior cycle—2013, 2017 and 2021—delivered the vertical moves that defined those eras. This year has offered “big moves, but also shallower corrections and longer periods of sideways chop,” Swan writes, conceding that the price action “is boring people.” The firm’s thesis is that boredom masks an invisible supply squeeze: long-time holders taking profits above $100,000 while “long-only buyers,” in Swan’s words, methodically absorb the float. “These corporations, they’re long-only buyers. Not traders of Bitcoin,” Swan argues, underscoring the firm’s view that coins migrating into corporate vaults are effectively removed from circulation. The thread portrays three intertwined rotations: Between entities – Trustees, lawyers and early adopters are exiting; ETFs, corporations and “sovereign-grade balance sheets” are stepping in. Between intentions – Speculation gives way to allocation. “This new wave of buyers isn’t speculating,” Swan writes. “They’re allocating.” Between generations. The Silent Generation hoarded gold; Boomers compounded in equities; Gen X surfed tech; now Millennials, “entering their peak accumulation years,” are “inheriting trillions—and they’re choosing Bitcoin.” Supply dynamics, Swan contends, make those rotations irreversible. “When long-term capital meets inelastic supply, the float starts vanishing,” the firm warns. “That’s when things get explosive.” The macro backdrop adds pressure: Swan points to a “rare and dangerous split” in which the US dollar is weakening even as bond yields surge—an environment, it says, that could funnel excess capital toward a neutral store of value. “This isn’t just the next cycle. It’s the end of an era,” Swan concludes. “If you’re selling now, understand you’re likely handing your Bitcoin to an institution that plans to hold it indefinitely. Once it’s gone, you’re probably never getting it back.” For Swan, the implication is stark. The apparent tranquility near $105,000 is less a sign of exhaustion than the quiet before a permanent liquidity event—one in which the marginal seller disappears, the marginal buyer never sells, and price must eventually mark higher to find equilibrium. “Think twice,” Swan advises would-be profit-takers. “The float is drying up. The buyers are built different. This is the last Bitcoin rotation.” If the firm is right, history is not repeating so much as culminating, and the market’s current stillness may soon be remembered as the eye of a generational storm. At press time, BTC traded at $104,605.