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A provocative claim by crypto researcher “Darkhorse” has reignited debate over whether Ripple Labs is quietly sidestepping a federal court injunction through a newly disclosed $300 million XRP treasury vehicle involving Asia-based mobility firm Webus International Ltd. “This new treasury setup allows @Ripple to bypass the injunction legally and cleanly,” Darkhorse declared in a post on X dated June 4. He contends that Ripple has found “the only route left by the Judge” by using an institutional structure that moves XRP through regulated intermediaries instead of selling it directly to investors. “It’s not just clever,” he wrote. “It’s compliant by design.” The setup in question was revealed in a recent Form 6-K filing by Webus, which outlined the creation of an XRP Treasury to be managed by Samara Alpha, an SEC-registered investment adviser. The program delegates full control of up to $300 million in XRP to Samara under a phased, regulated structure. While the filing stops short of stating where the XRP will come from, Darkhorse argues the intent is clear: Ripple can legally sell XRP to an SEC-facing intermediary like Samara, which then allocates it to a corporate client like Webus — all without violating the standing injunction. “Ripple is enjoined from direct institutional sales without SEC clearance,” Darkhorse explained. “The workaround? Sell to regulated intermediaries (like Samara on behalf of Webus) with treasury agreements that are SEC-transparent and non-retail facing. It’s structured — not casual.” Is Ripple Bypassing The XRP Injunction? Veteran XRP commentator Jay Nisbett pushed back. “I just don’t see any of this as clever or bypassing anything — it’s just adoption,” he replied. Nisbett asserted that Ripple and Webus are not partners, that Webus is simply acquiring XRP like any other participant on the secondary market, and that the asset itself “has been ruled to be not a security in this context.” He added that holding XRP on a balance sheet isn’t the same as triggering a securities transaction. Darkhorse issued a sharp rebuttal. “You’re missing the mechanism,” he told Nisbett, laying out his argument in four parts. First, he emphasized that Webus did not just announce an intent to buy on the open market. “Webus filed via Form 6-K to publicly document a $300M XRP Treasury but not to simply buy on open markets. They delegated management to ‘Samara Alpha,’ an SEC-registered investment adviser, under a phased, regulated structure.” Second, he argued that the core issue is Ripple’s inability to sell directly to institutions, which is where the intermediary comes in. “This structure is about creating compliant distance,” he wrote. “It’s not Ripple handing XRP to an investor — it’s routing via an SEC-registered manager who takes custody and executes under regulatory supervision.” Third, Darkhorse disputed Nisbett’s assertion that there’s no relationship between Ripple and Webus. “Check RippleNet corridors and prior Asia-Pacific mobility pilot cases,” he wrote. “Their ties to Ripple’s network and XRPL liquidity routes go back years. Just because it wasn’t front-page news doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.” Finally, he challenged the notion that Webus’s XRP holdings are merely passive. “ ‘Just holding on balance sheet’ is not automatic exemption,” he argued. “This is treasury deployment, not idle custody. The fact that Webus structured this through a delegated SEC-facing manager says they do consider XRP institutional risk a legal factor.” He concluded bluntly: “This isn’t Ripple dumping tokens on exchanges. It’s creating institutional conduits that comply while navigating around the injunction bottleneck.” Despite the detailed structure and SEC-facing components, Nisbett remained unmoved. “No I get what you’re saying… I just disagree in that mechanism being an unexpected event,” he wrote. “It’s just a natural maturation of the market and the market reacting to legislation hurdles as the market always has and will.” With Ripple still bound by Judge Torres’s 2024 permanent injunction — which prohibits direct institutional XRP sales unless registered — the debate hinges on whether the Webus structure constitutes indirect circumvention or lawful evolution. The SEC has yet to comment, and the court recently denied the parties’ request to vacate the injunction, calling it “procedurally improper.” At press time, XRP traded at $2.1989.

XRP price started a fresh decline below the $2.20 zone. The price is now consolidating and might aim for a recovery wave above the $2.120 resistance. XRP price started a fresh decline below the $2.20 zone. The price is now trading above $2.150 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There was a break below a key bullish trend line with support at $2.192 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair might start another increase if it clears the $2.120 resistance zone. XRP Price Dips To Support XRP price failed to gain pace for a move above the $2.220 level and started a fresh decline, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. There was a move below the $0.2150 and $0.2120 levels. Besides, there was a break below a key bullish trend line with support at $2.192 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. Finally, the price tested the $2.050 zone. It is now consolidating losses below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $2.281 swing high to the $2.056 low. The price is now trading below $2.120 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price might face resistance near the $2.120 level. The first major resistance is near the $2.150 level. The next resistance is $2.1750. It is near the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $2.281 swing high to the $2.056 low. A clear move above the $2.1750 resistance might send the price toward the $2.20 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $2.220 resistance or even $2.2420 in the near term. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be $2.250. More Losses? If XRP fails to clear the $2.15 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2.050 level. The next major support is near the $2.020 level. If there is a downside break and a close below the $2.020 level, the price might continue to decline toward the $2.00 support. The next major support sits near the $1.920 zone. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $2.050 and $2.020. Major Resistance Levels – $2.120 and $2.150.

On-chain data shows the Solana network has just seen a large movement of dormant coins. Here’s what this could mean for the cryptocurrency. Solana Coin Days Destroyed Has Witnessed A Huge Spike In a new post on X, the on-chain analytics firm Glassnode has talked about the latest trend in the “Coin Days Destroyed” (CDD) indicator for Solana. A ‘coin day’ is a quantity that one token of the asset accumulates after having stayed dormant (that is, not being involved in any transaction activity) for one day. When a token carrying some number of coin days is moved, its coin days counter resets back to zero, and the coin days that it was carrying are said to be ‘destroyed.’ The CDD measures the total number of coin days being reset in this manner across the network. When the value of this indicator registers a spike, it means dormant coins are potentially on the move. Generally, this kind of trend is a sign of transaction activity from the long-term holders (LTHs). The LTHs are resolute entities who tend to hold for long periods, so they naturally hold a large number of coin days. As such, transfers from them usually result in the destruction of a significant number of coin days. Now, here is the chart for the Solana CDD shared by the analytics firm that shows the trend in its value during the past few months: As displayed in the above graph, the Solana CDD has observed a large spike recently, suggesting the LTHs have made some transactions. In total, this spike involved the destruction of a massive 3.55 billion coin days. From the chart, it’s visible that the indicator has seen only two spikes of a greater scale in 2025 so far. February 26th recorded a CDD value of 5.53 billion, while March 3rd saw a value of 4.64 billion. The LTHs usually only break their silence when they want to participate in selling, so movements from them can sometimes spell trouble for the cryptocurrency’s price. Large spikes like these can especially be worth taking note of, as they can point toward a possible shift in holder conviction . The aforementioned two larger spikes occurred one after the other, with a third, slightly smaller-scale spike following later in March. Therefore, it’s possible that more than a couple of diamond hands lost their belief during that period. It now remains to be seen whether the latest Solana CDD spike would also be followed up by another, or if this was just a one-off event. SOL Price At the time of writing, Solana is trading around $153.9, down more than 10% in the last week.

Ethereum price started a fresh decline below the $2,550 zone. ETH is now showing a few bearish signs below the $2,500 pivot level. Ethereum started a fresh decline below the $2,550 level. The price is trading above $2,500 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There was a break below a key rising channel with support at $2,610 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could extend losses if it trades below the $2,400 support zone in the near term. Ethereum Price Consolidates Losses Ethereum price started a fresh decline after it failed to surpass $2,650, like Bitcoin. ETH price declined below the $2,565 and $2,550 support levels. Besides, there was a break below a key rising channel with support at $2,610 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. The pair even dipped below the $2,500 support level. A low was formed at $2,394 and the price is now consolidating losses. Ethereum price is now trading below $2,500 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price could face resistance near the $2,460 level. It is close to the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $2,680 swing high to the $2,394 low. The next key resistance is near the $2,500 level. The first major resistance is near the $2,540 level. It is close to the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $2,680 swing high to the $2,394 low. A clear move above the $2,540 resistance might send the price toward the $2,600 resistance. An upside break above the $2,600 resistance might call for more gains in the coming sessions. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $2,650 resistance zone or even $2,720 in the near term. More Losses In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $2,500 resistance, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,400 level. The first major support sits near the $2,380 zone. A clear move below the $2,380 support might push the price toward the $2,350 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,320 support level in the near term. The next key support sits at $2,250. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now below the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $2,320 Major Resistance Level – $2,500

Bitcoin price started a fresh decline and tested the $100,500 zone. BTC is now consolidating and might extend losses below the $100,000 level. Bitcoin started a fresh decline below the $104,000 zone. The price is trading below $104,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. There was a break below a key bullish trend line with support at $104,600 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair could start a fresh decline if it breaks the $100,500 support zone. Bitcoin Price Dips Further Bitcoin price started a fresh decline and traded below the $104,500 support zone. BTC even settled below the $104,200 level to enter a short-term bearish zone. Besides, there was a break below a key bullish trend line with support at $104,600 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. Finally, the pair tested the $100,500 support zone. A low was formed at $100,400 and the price is now consolidating losses. There was a move above the $101,500 level. BTC tested the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $106,820 swing high to the $100,400 low. Bitcoin is now trading below $103,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. On the upside, immediate resistance is near the $102,000 level. The first key resistance is near the $103,200 level. The next key resistance could be $103,600. It is close to the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $106,820 swing high to the $100,400 low. A close above the $103,600 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $104,200 resistance level. Any more gains might send the price toward the $105,000 level. More Losses In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $103,200 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $101,200 level and the trend line. The first major support is near the $100,500 level. The next support is now near the $100,000 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $98,500 support in the near term. The main support sits at $97,200, below which BTC might gain bearish momentum. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $101,200, followed by $100,500. Major Resistance Levels – $102,000 and $103,600.

Russia’s main exchange. the Moscow Exchange, has started offering Bitcoin futures contracts. This is one of the biggest moves yet in the country’s slow but steady opening to cryptocurrencies. According to market insiders, these new contracts track the price of the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF, which has gathered over $72 billion in assets. Trades will be priced in US dollars per lot, while settlements will happen in Russian rubles. This setup lets local traders tap into Bitcoin’s price swings without touching foreign crypto platforms. Quarterly Contracts Linked To IBIT These Bitcoin futures will come out every three months, with the first batch due to expire in September 2025. Based on reports, only qualified investors will be allowed to trade on the MOEX. That means big banks, funds, and other approved financial groups can take part. Ordinary investors won’t get in on these deals. The Bank of Russia gave the green light in May 2025 for such products, but it still warns most firms to steer clear of direct crypto deals. The idea seems to be to let big players handle the risk in a controlled way. Local Settlements Keep Risk In Rubles Moscow Exchange decided to price the contracts in US dollars. However, when it’s time to settle, everything happens in rubles. This approach protects Russia from sudden swings in foreign markets. A trader can lock in a deal based on Bitcoin’s value in dollars, yet get paid in their home currency. It’s a setup that keeps money inside Russia even as it ties to a global crypto product. Some analysts see this as a smart middle ground. It lets Russia join the international cryptocurrency scene but without depending on overseas platforms. Bank Of Russia’s Cautious Stance Behind the scenes, the central bank is still cautious. It approved crypto-linked derivatives for qualified investors, but it hasn’t opened the door for everyone. Most banks and investment firms are told not to put their clients into direct Bitcoin trades. Instead, they can offer tools like these futures if they qualify. This reflects a watchful stance on digital assets. Authorities acknowledge the lure of big profits, but they also want to avoid big losses. By keeping access limited, they hope to keep any trouble contained. Sberbank’s New Bitcoin-Linked Bonds Meanwhile, Sberbank, the country’s biggest bank, is working on its own crypto-based product. Soon, select clients will be able to buy structured bonds tied to Bitcoin’s price. These bonds will also trade in rubles and won’t require a crypto wallet. That way, people can bet on Bitcoin without opening accounts on foreign sites. Featured image from Lonely Planet, chart from TradingView

XRP’s price action is currently exhibiting a back-and-forth pattern around $2.20, but an interesting technical analysis suggests it may soon leave this price level. A chart analysis posted by a crypto analyst on the social media platform X has given an interesting projection about XRP’s next move. By overlaying XRP’s current weekly chart with its explosive 2017 fractal, the analyst hints that the altcoin might be on the verge of a repeat performance that sends it far beyond its current price range. 2017 XRP Fractal Overlaid Technical analysis of XRP price action on the weekly timeframe reveals an interesting pattern that has been unfolding over multiple weeks. This interesting pattern began with the intense XRP price rally in Q4 2024, which eventually ended in a consolidation around $2, as seen in the current price action. This, in turn, has led to the formation of a flag pattern that is still playing out. The core of the analyst’s technical analysis lies in the uncanny resemblance between XRP’s present market structure and the bullish pattern that preceded the historic 2017 rally. As such, the analyst overlaid the 2017 fractal onto the current price action, revealing a formation that mirrors a giant bull flag, which is often interpreted as a technical continuation pattern. The analysis also places into focus XRP’s ongoing interaction with the 50-week exponential moving average (EMA) on the weekly candlestick timeframe. Back in 2017, this level acted as a support base for XRP’s vertical breakout. Now, the current pattern shows the cryptocurrency is once again consolidating directly above this moving average, which the analyst describes as the foundation of a giga bull flag. The resemblance doesn’t stop at price structure. The analyst also draws attention to the RSI behavior. Back in 2017, the RSI entered a flat compressed zone between two spikes on the weekly timeframe, a pattern that appears to be repeating today. The first RSI peak has already formed, and the current flattening phase suggests a possible second spike may soon follow, which could correlate with a breakout in price if the fractal stays valid. What To Expect If 2017 Fractal Plays Out Again? The implications are exciting if XRP follows the same trajectory as it did in 2017. The overlay suggests a price rally beyond $20, which would represent the biggest rally so far in XRP’s price history. The projected move would take XRP far beyond its 2018 all-time high of $3.40 and establish a new price floor above double digits for the cryptocurrency. This projection aligns with other projections in similar technical analyses from other cryptocurrency analysts. At the time of writing, XRP is trading at $2.2, down by 2,3% in the past 24 hours. Whether or not XRP follows the 2017 pattern exactly remains to be seen, but the similarities in price behavior, RSI compression, and EMA support are difficult to dismiss.

Bitcoin’s price continues to show signs of consolidation following its all-time high of over $111,000 recorded in May. At the time of writing, the asset is trading at $104,851, down 0.3% in the past 24 hours and roughly 6.3% below its recent peak. This period of relative price stability comes amid cautious sentiment across the broader crypto market, as analysts examine whether the current bull cycle is beginning to shift gears or simply experiencing a temporary pause. CryptoQuant contributor Crypto Dan has released a comparative analysis of current and past market cycles, noting several distinct behaviors in Bitcoin’s recent price action. Drawing parallels to the bull runs of 2017 and 2021, Dan suggests that while similarities exist, the current cycle has developed unique characteristics. These changes could signal a different structure in how the market plays out, particularly in terms of timing and investor participation. Comparing Bitcoin Cycles: 2024–2025 Diverges from Historical Patterns According to Dan, previous cycles saw more predictable corrections and rallies. In 2017, Bitcoin experienced relatively short corrections before entering a prolonged rally that concluded in late December of that year. The 2021 cycle, affected early on by the COVID-19 pandemic, featured a longer initial correction before a strong upward surge. In both cases, once Bitcoin gained momentum, corrections became less frequent and shorter in duration. The current cycle, spanning 2024–2025, has so far been marked by alternating strong rallies and sudden declines, often occurring over short timeframes. These patterns have dampened broader market sentiment, particularly during periods when altcoins significantly underperformed Bitcoin. Dan posits that these repeated pullbacks may not be purely organic. Instead, they could indicate intentional suppression by large players aiming to extend the cycle’s duration and prevent overheating. If this interpretation holds, the bull cycle could end not with a gradual fade, but a sharp spike driven by euphoric buying behavior. Retail Activity Declines as Institutions Drive Market Structure A separate analysis by CryptoQuant’s Burak Kesmeci focuses on the behavior of retail investors since Bitcoin hit its $111,000 high in late May. Data shows that retail transfer volumes, transactions valued between $0 and $10,000, have decreased from $423 million to $408 million. Additionally, the 30-day change in retail demand has slipped into negative territory, shifting from +5 points to -0.11 points. This reduction in retail activity suggests that smaller investors remain sensitive to short-term volatility, stepping back in response to recent price corrections. Kesmeci argues that for the bull cycle to sustain momentum, consistent participation from retail segments is crucial. At present, institutional interest appears to be the primary source of demand. The divergence between these two investor classes may shape how the next leg of Bitcoin’s market cycle develops. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView

Namib Minerals will make its debut on the Nasdaq exchange this Friday, June 6, following the completion of its merger with US-based blank check company Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. VI. (HCVI). As previously disclosed, it will trade under the ticker symbol “NAMM”. In June 2024, HCVI announced its plans to acquire Namib and create an established gold producer based in Africa. The purchase consideration comprised 50 million Namib ordinary shares, with a pre-money enterprise value of $500 million. An additional 30 million shares valued at $300 million are issuable once certain milestones are achieved. With an implied pro forma combined enterprise value of $609 million, the proposed transaction represents the largest SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) deal involving an African company. The deal has since received all necessary approvals, including those by shareholders of HCVI as well as Greenstone Corp., an affiliate of Namib and its co-registrant with the SEC. Moving forward, Namib’s management team will lead the combined business, which has three gold mining assets located along the Bulawayo greenstone belt of southern Zimbabwe. The How mine is currently the only one in operation. According to the company, How represents a high-grade, cash-generating gold asset that has been in production since the early 1940s. Proceeds of the transaction are expected to fund upgrades at the mine, as well as the proposed restart of the Mazowe and Redwing mines. In addition to the Zimbabwe mine assets, the company also holds exploration permits in the Democratic Republic of Congo, targeting copper and cobalt resources.

Bitcoin (BTC) remains range-bound in the mid-$100,000s, showing no clear directional bias. However, the Hash Ribbons indicator is now flashing a fresh buy signal, suggesting that the top cryptocurrency may be gearing up for its next upward move. Bitcoin Hash Ribbons Flash Buy Signal According to a recent CryptoQuant Quicktake post by contributor Darkfost, Bitcoin’s Hash Ribbons are signalling a potential prime buying opportunity for the leading digital asset. This signal coincides with Bitcoin’s hashrate reaching new all-time highs (ATH). For the uninitiated, Bitcoin Hash Ribbons is an on-chain indicator that analyzes miner stress by comparing the 30-day and 60-day moving averages of Bitcoin’s hashrate. When the short-term average crosses above the long-term average after a period of decline, it signals that miner capitulation is ending – often marking a strong long-term buying opportunity. Such signals can emerge when mining becomes unprofitable for certain miners, forcing them to sell their BTC holdings to stay afloat. These sell-offs may temporarily pressure the price, but historically they have created attractive long-term buying opportunities. In their analysis, Darkfost notes that while the current signal is bullish from a long-term perspective, it could lead to a short-term pullback in BTC price. However, he emphasizes that any dip should be viewed as a chance to accumulate. Darkfost also pointed out that the Hash Ribbons indicator has historically been reliable, with the exception of 2021 during the China mining ban. They shared the following chart illustrating how the indicator is currently showing a strong buy signal. Is BTC Headed For A Crash? While the Hash Ribbons suggest a favorable long-term setup, some analysts warn that the short-term correction could be deeper than expected. For instance, crypto analyst Xanrox used the Fibonacci levels to forecast that BTC may tumble as low as $98,000. Similarly, analyst Jelle noted that Bitcoin may face “one last speed bump” before launching a major rally to $140,000. Meanwhile, more pessimistic voices continue to warn of a dramatic crash, with some speculating that BTC could fall below $10,000 – a view seen as increasingly unlikely by most market participants. Despite the varying predictions, fresh on-chain data points to a healthy BTC market in the near to medium term. For instance, CryptoQuant contributor Amr Taha recently highlighted that the derivatives market has undergone a reset, with funding rates stabilizing around neutral levels. Similarly, Fundstrat’s Head of Research, Tom Lee foresees BTC surging to as high as $250,000 by the end of the year. At press time, BTC trades at $105,367, up 0.5% in the past 24 hours.

Maxus Mining (CSE: MAXM | FRA: R7V), announced Thursday it has entered into a Property Option Agreement to acquire a 100% interest in one tungsten & three antimony exploration properties in British Columbia which cover 4,122 hectares. The antimony projects, Quarry, Hurley and Altura cover approximately 3,700 hectares of terrain and the Lotto tungsten project covers 422 hectares. The Quarry property is exposed in a limestone rock quarry located on the north side of Osilinka River, about 46 kilometres northwest of the community of Germansen Landing. The Quarry showing is exposed in a limestone rock quarry and consists of the minerals sphalerite, galena, cerussite, chalcopyrite, boulangerite, malachite, azurite, and stibnite. One sample in 1991 assayed 20% Sb, 0.89 gram/tonne Ag, 3.8% Cu, 42.5% lPb, and 0.65 gram/tonne Au. Grab samples retrieved in 1954 yielded assays which averaged 83.5% Pb and 1576 g/t Ag. The site offers reliable, year-round access providing support for ongoing exploration initiatives, the company said. The Lotto tungsten project lies within the Kootenay region and Trail Creek Mining Division of British Columbia, a prolific mineral district known for its resource potential and well-developed infrastructure that support sustained exploration activity. Lotto contains the Lotto 3 showing which consists of scheelite (tungsten mineral) mineralization within a 9-meter-wide quartz vein exposed along a highway roadcut. A selected grab sample taken in 1980 from a quartz vein with scheelite assayed 10.97% Wo3, according to the company. The Hurley antimony project is 10 kilometres east of the historic Bralorne-Pioneer Gold Mining Camp which has produced over 4 million ounces of gold, Maxus said. The adjacent Reliance gold project reported intervals that include 19.2% Sb and 2.16 g/t Au over 0.5m encountered during the 2024 drilling campaign. The Altura antimony project is positioned on the western area of Dolly Varden Mountain, roughly 29 kilometres northeast of New Denver, British Columbia – an area recognized for its strong antimony mineral potential. The property consists of a persistent quartz vein carrying disseminated pyrite and argentiferous tetrahedrite and minor stibnite and chalcopyrite. “By diversifying our portfolio to include minerals essential for emerging technologies and the future of energy, we are uniquely positioned to capitalize on these evolving markets,” CEO Scott Walters said in a news release.

Log in to today's North American session recap - June 5, 2025 Today's session was marked by volatile reactions from the Trump and Xi Jinping discussions as stock indices went from green to red. The Nasdaq which was leading on the way up (+0.76% around 11:00) is now leading on the way down - the index is down 1.10%, with Equity markets selling the news. It seems that traders expected more from the anticipated Trump-Xi call, as the positive mood built up towards these headlines. There was also some much expected profit taking before tomorrow's key data releases. The European Central Bank also cut rates by 25 bps to 2% on their Deposit Rate, with Christine Lagarde implying that the ECB's cut cycle is close to its end. For Economic Data release, US Jobless Claims are above expectations for the second straight week coming at 245K vs 235K expected - something to keep in check for the upcoming weeks. 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.

Three publicly traded companies are moving to hold XRP as part of their cash stash, putting real money behind their crypto bets. Webus International wants to set aside $300 million in XRP. VivoPower plans to use roughly $121 million. Wellgistics Health has earmarked $50 million. This marks a shift in how some firms think about keeping reserves, and it could change how they handle payments down the road. Webus International Plans Huge Reserve According to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Webus International aims to raise $300 million through non-equity funding. The company will tap its existing cash, credit lines backed by institutions, and support from shareholders. Once the money is in hand, Webus intends to buy XRP and hold it as part of its treasury. The plan comes with a partner: Samara Alpha Management. Webus says the altcoin will help the firm with global payment services. They think it can move value quickly across borders, and this treasury could back that. VivoPower’s XRP Ambition Based on reports, VivoPower is setting aside about $121 million to build its own XRP stash. The public announcement highlights a recent private placement led by Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. Most of the $121 million raised will go straight into the coin. VivoPower even wants to rebrand itself as the world’s first company focused on XRP. That’s a bold goal for a firm listed on Nasdaq. If everything goes to plan, XRP would play a big role in how VivoPower manages money and transactions. Wellgistics Health Joins Trend Wellgistics Health, a healthcare company you might not expect to dive into cryptocurrency, has its own $50 million set aside for XRP. The cash came in last month and is meant for PX (purchase and hold XRP) and to use XRP for real-time payments. Wellgistics says it wants to cut out delays and fees that come with old‐school payment methods. By sending and receiving XRP, the company believes it can move money faster when it pays vendors or gets paid by customers. It’s a sign that even outside tech or finance, firms see value in holding crypto. Growing Interest Among Firms This trio isn’t alone. In December, Worksport said it would buy both XRP and Bitcoin, using 10% of its operating cash to build reserves. More recently, Ault Capital Group pledged $10 million to XRP this year to boost its move into financial services. On top of that, the US government mentioned XRP as one of the assets it might add to a digital asset stockpile. That’s a signal to private companies that holding XRP is worth a look. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Dogecoin’s open interest is in focus, with this crucial metric highlighting the amount of interest that the top meme coin is getting at the moment. This comes as DOGE continues to struggle below the psychological $0.2 level, providing a bearish outlook for the meme coin. Dogecoin Open Interest Averages $2 Billion In June Coinglass data shows that Dogecoin open interest (OI) has been hovering around $2 billion since the start of this month. This represents a drop from the open interest recorded in May. DOGE’s OI had climbed to as high as $3.07 billion on May 11 as the meme coin’s price surged to $0.25. This drop in Dogecoin open interest can be attributed to the drop in DOGE’s price since then. The meme coin began the month below the psychological $0.2 level, which has sparked bearish sentiments. Open interest refers to the amount of interest in the derivatives market for a particular asset. As such, a drop in this metric is usually bearish. However, it is worth mentioning that the Dogecoin open interest is still above the monthly average recorded in March and April, during the period when the Trump tariffs caused crypto assets to tumble. Back then, DOGE dropped to as low as $0.14 and was at risk of losing its bull market structure. Crypto analyst BitMonty expects DOGE to bounce back amid this drop in the Dogecoin open interest. In an X post, he said the meme coin is testing the 0.618 Fib retracement and the lower boundary of a falling wedge. He added that this is a high confluence bounce zone, and reversal signs could spark a breakout move soon. BitMonty predicts that DOGE could rally to as high as $0.26420 on this bounce. DOGE Setting Up For A Bullish Reversal In an X post, crypto analyst Trader Tardigrade indicated that the Dogecoin price may be setting up for a bullish reversal. He revealed that DOGE is returning to the previous swing low, while the RSI shows a higher low. The analyst noted that this could lead to a bullish divergence, indicating weakened selling momentum and early signs of a potential reversal to the upside. In another X post, Trader Tardigrade stated that Dogecoin is expected to experience a significant surge before entering a prolonged falling wedge pullback. Interestingly, his accompanying chart showed that the meme coin could rally to as high as $30. However, this price surge isn’t expected to happen in just this market cycle alone, with the chart highlighting 2029 as the target year to reach this price level. At the time of writing, the Dogecoin price is trading at around $0.18, down over 3% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Ethereum had a rough beginning of 2025—failing to reach new all-time highs, while Bitcoin smashed through its own ATH multiple times. Solana, providing a cheaper alternative to ETH services, also held stronger than the Ether throughout the latter part of 2024 and beginning 2025. ETH performance is key to the overall crypto market performance; the past Altcoin cycles have always been led by ETH performance over BTC. ETH/BTC is a great cryptocurrency spread for a crypto trader to spot relative performance, provide a direction for which crypto to choose, and track the appetite for altcoins. Through this Crypto Market Update, you will see how ETH/BTC rising helped altcoin bull-runs in the past cycle, something that many crypto traders have been awaiting and is yet to materialize again. 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.

“PEPE is showing strength after a clean breakout above the key resistance zone,” UniChartz shared in a recent post on X, highlighting a decisive shift in the meme coin’s short-term momentum. The breakout reflects renewed buying pressure as the price pushed beyond a major barrier that had previously capped upside moves. PEPE Finds Its Footing at Strong Confluence Zone The analyst further noted that PEPE is now “in the process of retesting that breakout level,” calling it “a classic bullish confirmation if the zone holds.” This retest phase is a critical moment; if bulls successfully defend the newly formed support zone, it could open the door for another leg higher. Overall, the price action suggests that bullish momentum is building, with the current consolidation acting as a potential launchpad for the next move upward. According to UniChartz, PEPE’s price action continues to respect a well-established rising trendline, which has acted as reliable dynamic support over the past few months. This trendline has been tested on multiple occasions, each time resulting in a bullish reaction, a strong indication that buyers are stepping in during these retests. Furthermore, this diagonal support aligns closely with a key horizontal demand zone, forming a critical confluence that strengthens the overall bullish structure. As long as PEPE stays above these intersecting support levels, the market structure remains tilted in favor of the bulls. The price consolidating in this region suggests a potential accumulation phase, where market participants are preparing for the next move. Should PEPE bounce strongly from this confluence area, it could mark the beginning of a renewed upward leg, potentially attracting fresh buying interest and reinforcing positive sentiment. Such a move would confirm the trendline’s significance and validate PEPE’s ability to maintain its medium-term uptrend amid broader market uncertainty. Volume Supporting The Bullish Shift According to Whales_Crypto_Trading, PEPE has broken out of its descending channel with impressive volume, signaling a potential shift in momentum for the meme coin. PEPE’s breakout was backed by a notable surge in trading activity, indicating strong interest from market participants and potentially the involvement of larger players. The analyst emphasized that if the current retest of the breakout zone holds, it may act as a launchpad for further upside in the upcoming weeks. This kind of technical retest, when supported by volume, often serves as a validation of trend reversal and reinforces bullish sentiment.

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)