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Walker Lane Resources Ltd. Receives TSX Approval for the Acquisition of Three Mineral Properties in the Walker Lane Gold Trend in Nevada from Silver Range Resources Ltd. and Auburn Gold

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Walker Lane Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: WLR, ‘Walker Lane’) announces that it has received approval from the TSX Venture Exchange on its option agreements on three mineral properties (i.e., Tule Canyon, Cambridge and Silver Mountain see location map Figure 1) located in the prolific Walker Lane Gold Trend of western Nevada.

The original property agreements in the form of letters of intent (‘LOI’), were signed with CMC Metals Ltd. now operating as Walker Lane Resources Ltd. and trading under the symbol ‘WLR’ on the TSX Venture Exchange. The LOI’s were restated on May 12, 2025 by WLR, Silver Range Resources and in the instance of the Cambridge Property LOI also including Auburn Mining and supersede the previous agreements of March 8, 2025 for Tule canyon LOI and March 10, 2025 for the Cambridge and Silver Mountain LOI’s. The parties intend for the May 12, 2025 Restated Letters of Intent to be replaced by Definitive Agreements formalizing the option arrangements on or before June 30, 2025, with the effective date of such Definitive Agreements being the date of the respective LOI.

Tule Canyon Property

The Tule Canyon Property consists of sixty (60) federal lode mining claims, located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, United States of America. Tule Canyon is a mesothermal high- grade gold and silver target with two former mines and numerous showings and old workings along a 5km structural corridor.

Silver Range and WLR have executed a Letter of Intent (‘LOI’) granting WLR the option to acquire 100% of the Tule Canyon Property (‘Tule Canyon’). WLR has a first option to acquire 80% of Tule Canyon by paying Silver Range an aggregate $480,000 over four years (all amounts in United States currency) and completing 1,500 meters of diamond drilling by March 8, 2028. A second option to acquire the remaining 20% of Tule Canyon may be exercised by WLR identifying a National Instrument 43-101 compliant measured or indicated resource at Tule Canyon (the ‘Tule Resource’) by the end of 2033.

The specific terms of the transaction are as follows:

Subject to the Royalty (as defined below), Silver Range hereby grants Walker Lane an irrevocable option to acquire an eighty percent (80%) interest in the Tule Canyon Property (the ‘Option’) to be exercisable by Walker Lane through periodic payments of $480,000 in the aggregate, as set out below:

First Option

Cash Securities, Exploration, and/ or Other Work Commitments

  • Signing of the LOI $20,000
  • Signing of the Definitive Agreement $20,000
  • Year 1 anniversary $40,000
  • Year 2 anniversary $75,000 (1)
  • Year 3 anniversary $100,000 (1)
  • Completing not less than an aggregate 1,500 metres of diamond drilling on the Tule Canyon Property on or before the 3rd anniversary.
  • Year 4 anniversary $225,000 (1)

(1) Up to half of the cash payments may be satisfied through the issuance of common shares of Walker Lane and the price shall be issued at the greater of:
(i) $0.21;
(ii) the volume weighted average trading price of the Walker Lane shares for the twenty trading days immediately prior to the earlier of the date of which any such shares are issued to Silver Range;
(iii) if the price of the Walker Lane shares is less than $0.21 at the time the payment is due and owing to Silver Range, the full amount of such payment shall be satisfied by way of a cash payment. For greater certainty, if the price of Walker Lane shares is less than $0.21 at the time the payment is due and owing to Silver Range, the full amount of such payment shall be satisfied by way of cash payment;
(iv) Notwithstanding the aforementioned sections hereof, Walker Lane shall not be entitled to issue Walker Lane shares to Silver Range as partial payment where the issuance of such shares will result in Silver Range holding an aggregate of greater than 19.9% of the issued share capital of Walker Lane as a result of such share issuance; and,
(v) The balance of any payment owing to Silver Range shall be made in cash where the provisions of Section (v) become operative.

(2) the anniversary date to be applied is May 12 of each applicable year.

The cash payment of $20,000 due at signing of the LOI has been issued to Walker Lane Resources Ltd.

Second Option

(i) Upon the exercise of the First Option, Silver Range, shall grant to Walker Lane an irrevocable option to obtain an additional twenty percent (20%) interest in the Tule Canyon Property (the ‘Second Option’). In order to exercise the Second Option, Walker Lane shall be required to complete a National Instrument 43-101 compliant report identifying a measured or indicated resource on the Tule Canyon Property (the ‘Resource Report’) at any time on or before December 31, 2033.
(ii) For greater certainty, the measured or indicated resource as contained in the Resource Report shall be calculated in accordance with the definitions for mineral resources, mineral reserves, and mining studies used by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.

Royalty and Buy-Back Option

(i) At the time the Second Option is exercised, Silver Range shall be deemed to have retained a two and one-half percent (2.5%) net smelter return royalty interest in any and all future proceeds from commercial production of all commodities from the Tule Canyon Property (the ‘Royalty’).
(ii) At any time after the exercise of the Second Option and prior to the commencement of commercial production from any mine on the Tule Canyon Property, Walker Lane shall have the irrevocable right to purchase up to sixty percent (60%) of the Royalty. Walker Lane shall have the right to purchase up to sixty percent (60%) in a single transaction or in a number of transactions of not less than twenty percent (20%) of the Royalty in each transaction.
(iii) The purchase price to be paid to Silver Range for the purchase of each twenty percent (20%) interest in the Royalty pursuant to paragraph (ii) above shall be $500,000. For greater certainty, sixty percent (60%) of the Royalty as set out in paragraph (ii), represents a one and one-half percent (1.5%) interest in net smelter returns from commercial production on the Tule Canyon Property and will have an aggregate purchase price of $1,500,000.

Milestone Payment

(i) In addition to the Royalty, Silver Range shall be entitled to a one-time cash payment of $10.00 per ounce of gold (or the equivalent value in other metals and minerals) contained in any measured or indicated mineral resource identified on the Tule Canyon Property as contained in the Resource Report (the ‘Milestone Payment’).
(ii) The Milestone Payment shall be paid to Silver Range within six months of the completion date of the Resource Report.

Cambridge Property

The Cambridge Property is comprised of an aggregate 51 federal lode claims, consisting of three adjoining blocks of mining claims, all located in Lyon County, Nevada, United States of America. The three claim blocks comprising the property are: (i) the Cambridge claims; (ii) the JC claims; and (iii) the Enigma claims.

Silver Range, Auburn Gold Mining LLC (‘Auburn’) and WLR have executed a LOI granting WLR the option to acquire 100% of the Cambridge Property (‘Cambridge’). WLR has a first option to acquire 75% of Cambridge for total consideration of $460,000 over four years, incurring $1,500,000 in exploration expenditures and completing 1,500 meters of diamond drilling on the property. A second option to acquire the remaining 25% of the property can be exercised by WLR making an additional aggregate $75,000 to Silver Range and Auburn and by identifying a National Instrument 43-101 compliant measured or indicated resource at Cambridge (the ‘Cambridge Resource’) by the end of 2033.

The specific terms of the transaction are as follows:

First Option

Cash Securities (on the basis of 50% – Silver Range 50% – Auburn Exploration) and/or Other Work Commitments

  • Upon TSX Venture Exchange approval of the LOI $10,000* to both Silver Range and Auburn;
  • Signing of the Definitive Agreement $10,000 to both Silver Range and Auburn;
  • Year 1 anniversary $10,000 payment to both Silver Range and Auburn
  • Year 2 anniversary $40,000 (1) payment to both Silver Range and Auburn
  • Year 3 anniversary $50,000 (1) to both Silver Range and Auburn
  • Year 4 anniversary $110,000 (1) to both Silver Range and Auburn
  • Incurring an aggregate of $1,500,000 in exploration expenditures on the Cambridge Property, including the completion of not less than an aggregate 1,500 metres of diamond drilling on the Property.

    (1) One-half of the cash payments may be satisfied through the issuance of Walker Lane shares to Silver Range and Auburn. The price of which any Walker Lane shares issued to Silver Range and Auburn shall be issued at the greater of:
    (i) $0.21;
    (ii) the volume weighted average trading price of the Walker Lane shares for the twenty trading days immediately prior to the earlier of the date of which any such shares are issued to Silver Range and Auburn;
    (iii) if the price of the Walker Lane shares is less than $0.21 at the time the payment is due and owing to Silver Range and Auburn, the full amount of such payment shall be satisfied by way of a cash payment. For greater certainty, if the price of Walker Lane shares is less than $0.21 at the time the payment is due and owing to Silver Range, the full amount of such payment shall be satisfied by way of cash payment;
    (iv) Notwithstanding the aforementioned sections hereof, Walker Lane shall not be entitled to issue Walker Lane shares to Silver Range as partial payment where the issuance of such shares will result in Silver Range holding an aggregate of greater than 19.9% of the issued share capital of Walker Lane as a result of such share issuance; and,
    (v) The balance of any payment owing to Silver Range shall be made in cash where the provisions of Section (v) become operative.

    (2) the anniversary date to be applied is May 12 of each applicable year.

The cash payments of $10,000 to Silver Range Resources and Auburn Mining due at approval of the LOI by the TSX Venture Exchange are now being issued.

Second Option

Second Option Upon the exercise of the First Option, Silver Range and Auburn shall grant to Walker Lane an irrevocable option, but not an obligation, to acquire an additional twenty-five percent (25%) interest in the Cambridge Property (the ‘Second Option’), to be exercisable by Walker Lane as follows:

(i) Completing a National Instrument 43-101 compliant report identifying a measured or indicated resource on the Cambridge Property (the ‘Resource Report’) at any time on or before December 31, 2033;
(ii) Paying each of Silver Range and Auburn $75,000 within ten (10) days of the completion of the Resource Report; and
(iii) The measured or indicated resource as contained in the Resource Report shall be calculated in accordance with the definitions for mineral resources, mineral reserves, and mining studies used by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.

Royalty and Buy-Back Option

(i) At the time the Second Option is exercised, Silver Range shall be deemed to have retained a one and one-half percent (1.5%) net smelter return royalty interest in any and all future proceeds from commercial production from the Cambridge Property (the ‘Silver Range Royalty’).
(ii) At the time the Second Option is exercised, Auburn shall be deemed to have retained a one percent (1.0%) net smelter return royalty interest in any and all future proceeds from commercial production from the Cambridge Property (the ‘Auburn Royalty’).
(iii) At any time prior to the commencement of commercial production from a mine on the Cambridge Property, Walker Lane shall have the irrevocable right to purchase up to two-thirds (66.67%) of the Silver Range Royalty. For greater certainty, two-thirds (66.67%) of the Silver Range Royalty represents a one percent (1.0%) interest in net smelter returns from commercial production on the Cambridge Property.
(iv) At any time prior to the commencement of commercial production from a mine on the Cambridge Property, Walker Lane shall have the irrevocable right to purchase up to one-half (50%) of the Auburn Royalty. For greater certainty, one-half (50%) of the Auburn Royalty represents a one-half percent (0.5%) interest in net smelter returns from commercial production on the Property.
(v) The purchase price to be paid as follows: a. To Silver Range for the purchase of two-thirds interest in the Silver Range Royalty pursuant to paragraph (iii) above shall be $750,000; and b. To Auburn for the purchase of one-half interest in the Auburn Royalty shall be $500,000. (vi) Section (iii) and (iv) royalty purchase rights must be fully exercised by Walker Lane and may not be exercised individually or in part without the prior written agreement of all parties to the Cambridge Property LOI.

Milestone Payment

(i) In addition to the Silver Range Royalty, Silver Range shall be entitled to a one-time cash payment of $6.00 per ounce of gold (or the equivalent value in other metals and minerals) contained in any measured or indicated mineral resource identified on the Cambridge Property as contained in the Resource Report (the ‘Silver Range Milestone Payment’), up to a maximum of $300,000.
(ii) In addition to the Auburn Royalty, Auburn shall be entitled to a one-time cash payment of $4.00 per ounce of gold (or the equivalent value in other metals and minerals) contained in any measured or indicated mineral resource identified on the Cambridge Property as contained in the Resource Report (the ‘Silver Range Milestone Payment’), up to a maximum of $200,000.

Silver Mountain Property

The Silver Mountain Property consists of eight (8) federal lode mining claims, located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, United States of America within the Walker Lane Gold Trend Area.

Silver Range and CMC have executed a LOI granting WLR the option to acquire 100% of the Silver Mountain Property (‘Silver Mountain’) for total consideration of $200,000, payable in installments of $5,000 per year until 2034 with a final payment of $150,000 by August 1, 2035. Up to half of the final payment may be made in WLR shares. In addition, WLR would be required to complete 1,000 meters of drilling during the term of the option.

The specific terms of the transaction are as follows:

Subject to the Royalty and Milestone Payment (as each is defined below), Silver Range hereby grants Walker Lane an irrevocable option to acquire one hundred percent (100%) interest in the Silver Mountain Property (the ‘Option’) to be exercisable by Walker Lane through the payment of any aggregate $200,000, as set out below:

First Option

Cash Securities, Exploration and/or Other Work Commitments

  • On or before August 1, 2025 a payment of $5,000
  • On or before August 1 of each of the calendar years 2026 through 2034, a payment of $5,000
  • On or before August 1, 2035 $150,000 (1)
  • Completing not less than an aggregate 1,000 metres of diamond drilling on the Silver Mountain Property on or before August 1, 2035.

Walker Lane may accelerate the exercise of the Option by making all of the payments and completing the drilling requirement set out above under the Option, at any time prior to August 1, 2035.

(1) Up to one-half (50%) of the cash payment may be satisfied through the issuance of common shares of Walker Lane.

The price at which the Walker Lane shares shall be issued shall be the greater of:
(i) $0.21;
(ii) the volume weighted average trading price of the Walker Lane shares for the twenty trading days immediately prior to date on which any such shares are issued to Silver Range;
(iii) if the price of Walker Lane shares is less than $0.21 at the time the payment is due and owing to Silver Range, the full amount of such payment shall be satisfied by way of a cash payment. For greater certainty, if the price of Walker Lane shares is less than $0.21 at the time the payment is due and owing to Silver Range, the full amount of such payment shall be satisfied by way of cash payment.
(iv) Notwithstanding the aforementioned sections hereof, Walker Lane shall not be to issue Walker Lane shares to Silver Range as partial payment where the issuance of such shares will result in Silver Range holding an aggregate of greater than 19.9% of the issued share capital of Walker Lane as a result of such share issuance.
(v) The balance of any payment owing to Silver Range shall be made in cash where the provisions of Section (v) become operative.

Royalty and Buy-Back Option

(i) At the time the Option is exercised, Silver Range shall be deemed to have retained a two and one-half percent (2.5%) net smelter return royalty interest in any and all future proceeds from commercial production of all commodities from the Silver Mountain Property (the ‘Royalty’).
(ii) At any time after the exercise of the Option and prior to the commencement of commercial production from any mine on the Silver Mountain Property, Walker Lane shall have the irrevocable right to purchase up to sixty percent (60%) of the Royalty. Walker Lane shall have the right to purchase up to sixty percent (60%) in a single transaction or in a number of transactions of not less than twenty percent (20%) of the Royalty in each transaction.
(iii) The purchase price to be paid to Silver Range for the purchase of each twenty percent (20%) interest in the Royalty pursuant to paragraph (ii) above shall be $500,000. For greater certainty, sixty percent (60%) of the royalty as set out in paragraph (ii), represents a one and one-half percent (1.5%) interest in net smelter returns from commercial production on the Silver Mountain Property and will have an aggregate purchase price of $1,500,000.

Milestone Payment

(i) In addition to the Royalty, Silver Range shall be entitled to a one-time cash payment of $10.00 per ounce of gold (or the equivalent value in other metals and minerals) contained in National Instrument 43-101 compliant report identifying a measured or indicated resource on the Silver Mountain Property (the ‘Resources Report’) at any time on or before or after the option has been exercise (the ‘Milestone Payment’); and,
(ii) For greater certainty, the measured or indicated resource as contained in the Resource Report shall be calculated in accordance with the definitions for mineral resources, mineral reserves, and mining studies used by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum; and (iii) The Milestone Payment shall be paid to Silver Range within six months of the completion date of the Resource Report.

Walker Lane Gold Trend Area

Walker Lane has established a solid position in the Walker Lane Gold Trend Area which has a rich history of mining and exploration and remains vastly underexposed to modern exploration methods, offering substantial upside potential. The Walker Lane area is host to notable precious metal deposits such as the Comstock Lode, Round Mountain (Kinross), Silicon and Merlin (AngloGold Ashanti), Mesquite and Castle (Equinox Gold) and many other significant deposits. This popular and emerging district offers junior exploration companies exploration targets at manageable costs. These targets are also attractive in that they are associated with high-grade gold, silver and base metal mineralization, have nearby excellent infrastructure, considerable road accessibility, a local, qualified and competent labor force, a diverse range of supply companies, and are located within one of the best permitting and policy regimes in the world. The 2023 Fraser Institute Mining Industry Survey ranked Nevada second in the world in terms of investment attractiveness index.

Summary

Walker Lane Resources Ltd. has optioned three highly prospective gold and silver projects in the Walker Lane Area. Our company intends to pursue exploration of these properties in 2025 which may also include an initial drill program at Tule Canyon.

Qualified Person

Qualified Person Kevin Brewer, a registered professional geoscientist, is the Company’s President and CEO, and Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101). He has given his approval of the technical information pertaining reported herein. The Company is committed to meeting the highest standards of integrity, transparency and consistency in reporting technical content, including geological reporting, geophysical investigations, environmental and baseline studies, engineering studies, metallurgical testing, assaying and all other technical data.

About Walker Lane Resources Ltd.

Walker Lane Resources Ltd. is a growth-stage exploration company focused on the exploration of high-grade gold, silver and polymetallic deposits in the Walker Lane Gold Trend District in Nevada and the Rancheria Silver District in Yukon/B.C. and other property assets in Yukon and Newfoundland and Labrador. The Company initially intends to initiate a comprehensive exploration program to advance the Tule Canyon (Walker Lane, Nevada) and Amy (Rancheria Silver, B.C.) projects with expectations of a multi-year exploration efforts with initial exploration success.

On behalf of Walker Lane Resources Ltd.:
‘Kevin Brewer’
Kevin Brewer, President, CEO and Director
Walker Lane Resources Ltd.

For Further Information and Investor Inquiries:

Kevin Brewer,
P.Geo., MBA, B.Sc. (Hons), Dip. Mine Eng.
President, CEO and Director
Tel: (709) 327 8013 kbrewer80@hotmail.com
Suite 1600-409 Granville St., Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2

Cautionary and Forward Looking Statements

This press release and related figures, contain certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively referred to as forward-looking statements). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words ‘anticipate’, ‘plans’, ‘continue’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘project’, ‘predict’, ‘potential’, ‘should’, ‘believe’ ‘targeted’, ‘can’, ‘anticipates’, ‘intends’, ‘likely’, ‘should’, ‘could’ or grammatical variations thereof and similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this presentation. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning: our strategy and priorities including certain statements included in this presentation are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding the Tule Canyon, Cambridge, Silver Mountain, and Shamrock Properties in Nevada (USA), and its properties including Silverknife and Amy properties in British Columbia, the Silver Hart, Blue Heaven and Logjam properties in Yukon and the Bridal Veil property in Newfoundland and Labrador all of which now comprise the mineral property assets of WLR. WLR has assumed other assets of CMC Metals Ltd. including common share holdings of North Bay Resources Inc. and all conditions and agreements pertaining to the sale of the Bishop mill gold processing facility and remain subject to the condition of the option of the Silverknife property with Coeur Mining Inc. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to the Company and assumptions the Company believes are reasonable. The Company has made various assumptions, including, among others, that: the historical information related to the Company’s properties is reliable; the Company’s operations are not disrupted or delayed by unusual geological or technical problems; the Company has the ability to explore the Company’s properties; the Company will be able to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to execute its business plan; the Company’s current corporate activities will proceed as expected; general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; and budgeted costs and expenditures are and will continue to be accurate.

Actual results and developments may differ materially from results and developments discussed in the forward-looking statements as they are subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties, including: public health threats; fluctuations in metals prices, price of consumed commodities and currency markets; future profitability of mining operations; access to personnel; results of exploration and development activities, accuracy of technical information; risks related to ownership of properties; risks related to mining operations; risks related to mineral resource figures being estimates based on interpretations and assumptions which may result in less mineral production under actual conditions than is currently anticipated; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; changes in operating expenses; changes in general market and industry conditions; changes in legal or regulatory requirements; other risk factors set out in this presentation; and other risk factors set out in the Company’s public disclosure documents. Although the Company has attempted to identify significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other risks that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are beyond the Company’s control. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurances that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences or benefits to, or effect on, the Company.

The information contained in this presentation is derived from management of the Company and otherwise from publicly available information and does not purport to contain all of the information that an investor may desire to have in evaluating the Company. The information has not been independently verified, may prove to be imprecise, and is subject to material updating, revision and further amendment. While management is not aware of any misstatements regarding any industry data presented herein, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made or given by or on behalf of the Company as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions contained in this presentation and no responsibility or liability is accepted by any person for such information or opinions. The forward-looking statements and information in this presentation speak only as of the date of this presentation and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable law. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, prospective investors should not read forward-looking information as guarantees of future performance or results and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Nothing in this presentation is, or should be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the future. To the extent any forward-looking statement in this presentation constitutes ‘future-oriented financial information’ or ‘financial outlooks’ within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, such information is being provided to demonstrate the anticipated market penetration and the reader is cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose and the reader should not place undue reliance on such future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks. Future-oriented financial information and financial outlooks, as with forward-looking statements generally, are, without limitation, based on the assumptions and subject to the risks set out above. The Company’s actual financial position and results of operations may differ materially from management’s current expectations and, as a result, the Company’s revenue and expenses. The Company’s financial projections were not prepared with a view toward compliance with published guidelines of International Financial Reporting Standards and have not been examined, reviewed or compiled by the Company’s accountants or auditors. The Company’s financial projections represent management’s estimates as of the dates indicated thereon.

Project Locations in Nevada

Figure 1: Project Locations in Nevada

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dde0eb28-834d-4587-9aac-67dd99dbca18

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Tech 5: CoreWeave and Applied Digital Strike Deal, Startup Anduril Raises US$2.5 Billion

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This week’s developments across the tech sector underscored the deepening connection between advanced computing, capital flows and geopolitical dynamics.

Applied Digital (NASDAQ:APLD) secured a landmark agreement with CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV), while Broadcom’s (NASDAQ:AVGO) newest high-performance chip hit the market. Meanwhile, Canada’s Cohere is reportedly seeking fresh funding as it builds momentum in the enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) space.

In the defense sector, Anduril Industries secured a new round of funding, and elsewhere geopolitical tensions made their mark on Apple’s (NASDAQ:APPL) AI rollout in China.

Read on to dive deeper into this week’s top tech stories.

1. Applied Digital and CoreWeave strike major deal

Applied Digital was the top performer on the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) on Monday (June 2) after the company announced two long-term lease agreements with cloud infrastructure company CoreWeave.

Under the terms of the agreements, Applied Digital will deliver 250 megawatts of IT load to host CoreWeave’s AI and high-performance computing infrastructure at its Ellendale, North Dakota, data center campus. The arrangements are expected to generate approximately US$7 billion in total revenue for Applied Digital.

News of the deal sent shares of Applied Digital up by over 22 percent to close at US$10.14 on Monday afternoon. CoreWeave’s share price saw an increase of 3.35 percent, closing at US$118.24.

The companies finished the week up 67 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

2. Broadcom shares slip post-earnings

Broadcom shares rose 3.2 percent on Tuesday (June 5), hitting a record high of US$264.89 after the company announced that it began shipping its latest networking chip, the Tomahawk 6.

However, enthusiasm faded after Broadcom reported its earnings after the markets closed.

Despite beating estimates on both earnings and revenue, the chip supplier’s forecast for the third quarter wasn’t enough to impress investors, who sent its share price down in after-hours trading.

The company is calling for Q3 revenue of US$15.8 billion, below analysts’ forecasts of US$15.71 billion.

“High expectations drove a bit of downside,” Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said in a note.

Despite this, Broadcom ended the week priced at US$246.93, 1.5 percent above Monday’s opening price.

3. Cohere targets new funding round

Canadian AI company Cohere is seeking US$500 million in new funding, targeting a valuation of US$5.5 billion to US$6.5 billion, according to a Financial Times report released on Sunday (June 3).

The outlet cites three sources with inside knowledge of ongoing discussions that are still in early stages.

The company was founded by former Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) researchers; it prioritizes enterprise users and specializes in privacy solutions. Cohere has not released any consumer apps, but has debuted a family of open-source models: Aya, as well as North, a platform available to limited users that allows businesses to develop customized AI agents. According to the sources, Cohere doubled its annual recurring revenue to more than US$100 million in May.

Apple, Broadcom, Applied Digital and CoreWeave performance, June 2 to 6, 2025.

Apple, Broadcom, Applied Digital and CoreWeave performance, June 2 to 6, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

4. Delays and court rulings challenge Apple’s strategies

The Financial Times reported on Monday that Apple’s rollout of AI services in China is being delayed by Beijing regulators due to the ongoing trade war between China and US President Donald Trump’s administration.

In February, Apple made a deal with Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) to power Apple Intelligence using Alibaba’s proprietary Qwen large-language models. However, the rollout has been stalled, potentially due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, although Chinese regulators have not confirmed any particular reasons for the delay.

In other news, a federal appeals court denied Apple’s request for a stay of a court order that forbids the company from collecting commission on external payment links, a result of its legal battle with Epic Games.

Apple “bears the burden of showing that the circumstances justify an exercise of (our) discretion,” according to the order. “After reviewing the relevant factors, we are not persuaded that a stay is appropriate.”

The rejection by the appellate court forces Apple to adhere to the original ruling, which aims to increase competition and offer users diverse payment choices. The decision’s consequences are substantial, potentially impacting Apple’s existing revenue structure. Additionally, it could reshape the overall landscape of the mobile app market.

5. Anduril valuation soars after latest funding round

Defense startup Anduril Industries, known for supplying weapons to the US government, has secured US$2.5 billion in a new funding round led by Founders Fund, Peter Thiel’s venture capital firm. The firm contributed US$1 billion, according to Anduril Executive Chairman Trae Stephens, who spoke to Bloomberg Television on Thursday (June 5).

The newest round has more than doubled the company’s valuation, bringing it to US$30.5 billion.

Anduril has become a key player in modern defense tech with its autonomous drones, surveillance towers and AI-driven systems, part of a broader shift toward software-defined warfare.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Crypto Market Recap: Bitcoin Funds Hit US$7 Billion, Saylor Shrugs Off Quantum Risk

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Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (June 9) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$105,464 as markets opened for the week, up 1.9 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range for the cryptocurrency brought a low of US$105,426 and a high of US$107,826.

Bitcoin price performance, June 9, 2025.

Bitcoin price performance, June 9, 2025.

Chart via TradingView

Rising institutional enthusiasm countered cautious macro sentiment over the weekend propping up Bitcoin’s value. A standout factor was Circle’s (NYSE:CRCL) June 5 IPO, shares surged 70 percent (US$117.53) following its debut debut and reinforced growing investor confidence in digital-assets infrastructure.

Meanwhile, markets have remained wary ahead of US–China trade talks in London.

Ethereum (ETH) began the day at US$2,518.20, a .13 percent increase over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$2,482.70 and saw a daily high of US$2,544.95.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) opened at US$152.10, up 3.9 percent over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$149.53 and reached a high of US$156.16 on Monday.
  • XRP is trading at US$2.21, trading flat over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached a daily low of US$2.23 and a high of US$2.29.
  • Sui (SUI) peaked at US$3.22, showing an increaseof 3.9 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Monday was US$3.19, and its highest was US$3.34.
  • Cardano (ADA) is trading at US$0.6651, up 0.9 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$0.6586, and it reached a high of US$0.6777.

Today’s crypto news to know

Crypto funds hit record high in May

Crypto investment funds saw their assets surge to a record US$167 billion in May, driven by a growing appetite for risk and shifting investor strategies amid global market uncertainty.

According to data from Morningstar, nearly US$7.1 billion flowed into 294 tracked crypto funds last month—the largest inflow since December.

Analysts say the trend reflects a dual motivation: investors hedging against potential US market downturns and diversifying their portfolios beyond equities and gold.

Bitcoin, which rose over 15 percent since the start of the year (US$94,393 – US$107,761), has outpaced both the MSCI World Index and gold, reinforcing its appeal as a “new age” store of value.

Bitcoin and ether ETFs in the US are also driving institutional inflows, while gold and equity funds saw significant outflows last month.

Michael Saylor dismisses quantum threat to Bitcoin

Despite warnings from researchers and even BlackRock that quantum computing could break crypto’s encryption, Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) chairman Michael Saylor isn’t sweating it.

Speaking on CNBC, Saylor waved off the existential threat narrative, comparing it to marketing hype from those pushing “quantum tokens.”

He argued that any true quantum threat would be neutralized through a software upgrade to the Bitcoin protocol as major companies continue to patch security holes.

Behind the scenes, crypto developers are already drafting proposals to transition Bitcoin to quantum-resistant systems, including potential hard forks.

For now, the market remains unfazed—Bitcoin continues to trade above US$100K, with no sign of quantum fear priced in.

Bitcoin enters Kibera, Africa’s largest slum

Through a nonprofit initiative by fintech firm AfriBit Africa, roughly 200 residents in Soweto West now use Bitcoin to pay for goods and services, including vegetables and motorcycle rides.

Most of the crypto circulation stems from a local garbage collection program, where youth are paid in small Bitcoin grants after weekend cleanups.

Advocates say the effort provides financial access to the undocumented and unbanked, bypassing high fees from Kenya’s dominant M-PESA mobile system.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Empire Metals Limited Announces Exceptional High-Purity TiO2 Product Achieved

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Empire Metals Limited, the AIM-quoted and OTCQB-traded resource exploration and development company, is pleased to announce the results from its most recent titanium dioxide (‘TiO2‘) product development testwork programme, carried out on mineral flotation concentrates produced from the in-situ mineralised weathered cap that extends across the giant Pitfield Project (‘Pitfield’), located in Western Australia.

Highlights

  • A very high-purity TiO2 product, assaying at 99.25% TiO2 has been achieved through conventional beneficiation, leaching and refining processes.
  • The TiO2 product contains non-detectable, or extremely low levels of deleterious impurities and is expected to be suitable for high-quality titanium sponge metal or high-grade titanium dioxide pigment production.
  • Bulk samples collected from the weathered cap (announced 17 February 2025) have been delivered to the metallurgical laboratory and these will be utilised to produce multiple, finished product samples for marketing purposes.

Shaun Bunn, Managing Director, said: ‘We have achieved an extraordinary outcome from our most recent product development testwork, which has delivered an exceptional high-grade, high-purity TiO2 product that should be ideal for either titanium sponge metal or high-quality TiO2 pigment production.

‘It is remarkable that our technical team has so rapidly produced a high-purity TiO₂ product. We believe this not only highlights the effectiveness of our processing approach but also underscores the potential value of our product. Metallurgical testing and process optimisation continues, and with the availability of the 70 tonnes of bulk sample collected in February we will now be able to significantly scale up the testwork and produce a variety of final product samples to share with prospective downstream end-users.’

Product Development Testwork

An acid bake-water leach process using sulphuric acid was applied, with parameters similar to that tested during the initial product development test programme (announced 10 March 2025). The TiO2 product purification and product finishing stages were tested at ALS Metallurgy laboratories, located in Perth, Western Australia. All assays were conducted at ALS Metallurgy by their in-house metallurgy-specific assay lab.

The most recent product development metallurgical test work was undertaken on flotation concentrates recovered from the near surface, highly weathered in-situ saprolitic zone. Diamond drill core collected from two holes, DD24TOM004 and DD24TOM005, formed the feed composite (refer Figure 1). The composite sample was passed through a wet scrubber to break up the clays and attrition the ore prior to desliming the resulting slurry over a 38µm screen. The coarse material was fed to a gravity test circuit and the finer fraction (-38µm) was processed via froth flotation. The rougher (first stage) flotation concentrate generated from multiple, repetitive flotation tests were then blended to form the feedstock for a subsequent acid leach stage (refer Figure 2).

Two subsamples of flotation concentrate were leached under the following different conditions:

1. Direct acid bake followed by hot water leach

2. Dilute acid pre-leach followed by direct acid bake and hot water leach.

For both tests iron filings were added to the hot water wash phase to reduce the iron in the ferric (Fe3+) state to the ferrous (Fe2+) state, thus removing the iron from the solution. In this acid leach stage the titanium is recovered from the mineral concentrates into the liquor as titanyl sulphate (TiSO4) and the residue solids and liquor are then separated after the water leach step, using filtration, with the liquor moving forward for purification and product finishing testwork.

The next step in the purification process is the hydrolysis stage, which involves the heating of the liquor, thus breaking down the titanyl sulphate and resulting in the production of hydrated TiO2 and the recovery of H2SO4. This step was carried out in two stages without seed TiO2 material, an improvement from previous work. The solution was heated to 106 degrees C and held at temperature whilst being stirred for 2 hours. The resulting slurry was then centrifuged to separate the liquor from the precipitated solids. Finally, as part of the product finishing stage, the hydrated TiO2 was separated from the liquor using a centrifuge, and the solids were then calcined to remove water and produce a high-purity TiO2 compound (see figure 3).

The final chemical analysis of the TiO2 product indicates a very high purity of 99.25% TiO2 by mass with non-detectable or extremely low amounts of deleterious impurities (see table 1).

Figure 1. Saprolite composite sample before scrubbing/attritioning

.

Figure 2. Flotation test on the saprolite composite slimes fraction

Table 1. Finished Product Analysis

Product Analysis (XRF)

% by mass

TiO2

99.25

Al

0.16

Ca

0.01

Fe

0.09

La

<0.01

Nd

0.01

Pb

0.004

P

0.23

Si

0.03

Th

<0.001

U

<0.001

V

0.01

Figure 3. Purification and product finishing testwork, photos from left to right: titanyl sulphate solution from leaching stage, hydrated TiO2 produced from hydrolysis, and the calcined TiO2 product.

The Pitfield Titanium Project

Located within the Mid-West region of Western Australia, near the northern wheatbelt town of Three Springs, the Pitfield titanium project lies 313km north of Perth and 156km southeast of Geraldton, the Mid West region’s capital and major port. Western Australia is ranked as one of the top mining jurisdictions in the world according to the Fraser Institute’s Investment Attractiveness Index published in 2023, and has mining-friendly policies, stable government, transparency, and advanced technology expertise. Pitfield has existing connections to port (both road & rail), HV power substations, and is nearby to natural gas pipelines as well as a green energy hydrogen fuel hub, which is under planning and development (refer Figure 4).

Figure 4. Pitfield Project Location showing theMid-West Region Infrastructure and Services.

Competent Person Statement

The scientific and technical information in this report that relates to process metallurgy is based on information reviewed by Ms Narelle Marriott, an employee of Empire Metals Australia Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Empire. Ms Marriott is a member of the AusIMM and has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012. Ms. Marriott consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.

The technical information in this report that relates to the geology and exploration of the Pitfield Project has been compiled by Mr Andrew Faragher, an employee of Empire Metals Australia Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Empire. Mr. Faragher is a member of the AusIMM and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012. Mr Faragher consents to the inclusion in this release of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, as incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, until the release of this announcement.

**ENDS**

For further information please visit www.empiremetals.co.uk or contact:

Empire Metals Ltd

Shaun Bunn / Greg Kuenzel / Arabella Burwell

Tel: 020 4583 1440

S. P. Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Nomad & Broker)

Ewan Leggat / Adam Cowl

Tel: 020 3470 0470

Shard Capital Partners LLP (Joint Broker)

Damon Heath

Tel: 020 7186 9950

St Brides Partners Ltd (Financial PR)

Susie Geliher / Charlotte Page

Tel: 020 7236 1177

About Empire Metals Limited

Empire Metals is an AIM-listed and OTCQB-traded exploration and resource development company (LON:EEE)(OTCQB:EPMLF) with a primary focus on developing Pitfield, an emerging giant titanium project in Western Australia.

The high-grade titanium discovery at Pitfield is of unprecedented scale, with airborne surveys identifying a massive, coincident gravity and magnetics anomaly extending over 40km by 8km by 5km deep. Drill results have indicated excellent continuity in grades and consistency of the in-situ mineralised beds and confirm that the sandstone beds hold the higher-grade titanium dioxide (TiO₂) values within the interbedded succession of sandstones, siltstones and conglomerates. The Company is focused on two key prospects (Cosgrove and Thomas), which have been identified as having thick, high-grade, near-surface, in-situ bedded TiO₂ mineralisation, each being over 7km in strike length.

An Exploration Target* for Pitfield was declared in 2024, covering the Thomas and Cosgrove mineral prospects, and was estimated to contain between 26.4 to 32.2 billion tonnes with a grade range of 4.5 to 5.5% TiO2. Included within the total Exploration Target* is a subset that covers the in-situ weathered sandstone zone, which extends from surface to an average vertical depth of 30m to 40m and is estimated to contain between 4.0 to 4.9 billion tonnes with a grade range of 4.8 to 5.9% TiO2.

The Exploration Target* covers an area less than 20% of the overall mineral system at Pitfield which demonstrates the potential for significant further upside.

Empire is now accelerating the economic development of Pitfield, with a vision to produce a high-value titanium metal or pigment quality product at Pitfield, to realise the full value potential of this exceptional deposit.

The Company also has two further exploration projects in Australia; the Eclipse Project and the Walton Project in Western Australia, in addition to three precious metals projects located in a historically high-grade gold producing region of Austria.

*The potential quantity and grade of the Exploration Target is conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource. See RNS dated 12 June 2024 for full details.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

Click here to connect with Empire Metals (OTCQB:EPMLF, AIM:EEE) to receive an Investor Presentation

Source

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Crypto Market Recap: Bitcoin Funds See US$7 Billion Inflows, Saylor Shrugs Off Quantum Risk

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Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (June 6) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$104,245 as markets closed for the week, up 2 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range for the cryptocurrency brought a low of US$104,006 and a high of US$105,201.

Bitcoin price performance, June 6, 2025.

Bitcoin price performance, June 6, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

After dipping below US$101,000 during the dispute between US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Bitcoin recovered to around US$105,000 early in the trading day, influenced by a strong US labor report.

Despite the rebound, analysts are wary due to technical indicators like a weakening relative strength index, suggesting potential downside. A possible rate cut from the US Federal Reserve on June 18 could push Bitcoin to US$112,000, but the outlook is uncertain. Order book data indicates a liquidity trap, and limited short interest points to a fragile recovery.

Additional selling pressure and investor distrust are contributing to shaky market sentiment.

Ethereum (ETH) finished the trading day at US$2,490.63, a 2 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$2,482.52 and saw a daily high of US$2,519.25.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) closed at US$149.26, trading flat over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$148.86 and reached a high of US$151.79 on Friday.
  • XRP is trading at US$2.17, reflecting a 1.6 percent increase over 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached a daily low of US$2.16 and a high of US$2.18.
  • Sui (SUI) peaked at US$3.18, showing an increaseof 5.7 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$3.16, and its highest was US$3.19.
  • Cardano (ADA) is trading at US$0.663, up 2.8 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$0.6604, and it reached a high of US$0.6693.

Today’s crypto news to know

Uber considers stablecoins for cost reduction

On stage at the San Francisco-based Bloomberg Tech Summit on Thursday (June 5), Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the company is “definitely going to take a look” at using stablecoins to help reduce the cost of moving money around the world.

“We’re still in the study phase, I’d say, but stablecoin is one of the, for me, more interesting instantiations of crypto that has a practical benefit other than crypto as a store of value,” he said. “Obviously, you can have your opinions on Bitcoin, but it’s a proven commodity, and you know, people have different opinions on where it’s going,” he added.

UK set to lift ban on retail access to crypto ETNs

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced plans to lift its ban on retail investors buying crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs), a major shift from its earlier risk-averse stance.

Initially barred due to concerns over volatility and investor protection, the FCA now says consumers should have the right to choose whether these high-risk assets fit their portfolios. David Geale, the FCA’s digital assets chief, said the move is part of a broader push to ‘rebalance’ the regulator’s approach to financial risk. The proposal, which would allow ETNs to be sold on FCA-registered investment exchanges, will now enter a public consultation phase.

This regulatory pivot follows the UK’s introduction of draft laws in April aimed at integrating crypto into the formal financial system. The FCA emphasized that its separate ban on crypto derivatives for retail traders will remain in place.

Switzerland adopts crypto information exchange bill

The government of Switzerland has adopted a bill to enable the automatic exchange of information (AEOI) on crypto with 74 partner countries, including the UK, all EU member states and most G20 countries.

The measure excludes the US, Saudi Arabia and China. The bill is currently under discussion in parliament and, if approved, the AEOI framework for crypto assets will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

Switzerland will only engage in AEOI with partner states that also desire information exchange with Switzerland.

Strategy to raise nearly US$1 billion to buy more Bitcoin

Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR), the company known for its aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy, is launching a nearly US$1 billion capital raise through its new 10 percent Series A STRD preferred stock. The offering includes over 11 million shares and promises a high fixed yield, making it attractive to yield-hungry investors in a low-rate environment.

Unlike other Strategy offerings like STRK (convertible) and STRF (senior status), STRD offers the highest payout at 10 percent, but comes with more risk due to its non-cumulative dividend and junior status. Dividends are only issued when declared, and the shares cannot be called under normal market conditions.

Proceeds will go toward “general corporate purposes,” which notably include expanding its Bitcoin holdings.

Metaplanet plans US$5.3 billion warrant offering to scale Bitcoin treasury

Tokyo-based Metaplanet (OTCQX:MTPLF,TSE:3350) is taking its Bitcoin commitment to the next level with a massive US$5.3 billion stock warrant issuance, the largest of its kind in Japan.

The company is offering 555 million shares through stock acquisition rights, using a novel moving-strike pricing model that adjusts with market value — a first in the Japanese market.

This 555 Million Plan follows an earlier US$600 million raise and is part of Metaplanet’s goal to hold over 210,000 BTC by 2027, approximately 1 percent of total Bitcoin supply.

The vast majority of the proceeds — around 96 percent — will go toward direct Bitcoin purchases, while a small fraction will support debt management and derivative strategies like selling puts.

Maple Finance expands syrupUSD to Solana

Lending platform Maple Finance announced on Thursday that it has expanded user access by deploying its syrupUSD yield-bearing stablecoin to Solana-based platforms Kamino and Orca.

Previously, it had only been available on the Ethereum blockchain.

According to the announcement, Solana integration is launching with US$30 million in liquidity, which will establish “a deep and stable foundation for lending, trading, and collateral provisioning.’

This new system was made possible by using Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), which started operating on the Solana main network on May 19. CCIP lets different blockchain systems, specifically those using Ethereum Virtual Machine and Solana Virtual Machine technology, share information.

The ability to transfer data between these distinct blockchain environments is expected to significantly boost efficient and affordable growth within the digital ecosystem.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Blue Lagoon Resources to Present at 121 Mining Investment Conference in New York

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Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (CSE: BLLG) (OTCQB: BLAGF) (FSE: 7BL) (the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that President & CEO Rana Vig will be attending and presenting at the upcoming 121 Mining Investment Conference in New York, June 9-10, 2025.

As Blue Lagoon advances toward production at its fully permitted high-grade Dome Mountain Gold Project–featuring an average grade of 9 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and one of only nine mining permits granted in British Columbia since 2015-the Company continues to engage with institutional and retail investors globally. Mr. Vig will meet with leading resource investors to discuss the Company’s near-term production plans, expected cash flow growth, and the significant exploration upside across Dome Mountain’s highly prospective 22,000-hectare land package.

‘With gold prices on the rise and our project fully funded for production starting this summer, now is the right moment to elevate Dome Mountain’s profile with a broader investor base,’ said Rana Vig, President & CEO of Blue Lagoon Resources. ‘As one of the few junior companies nearing high-grade gold production, we’re uniquely positioned to deliver near-term cash flow alongside substantial exploration upside.’

Participation in the 121 New York event aligns with Blue Lagoon’s strategy to build shareholder value by actively marketing its project to global capital markets ahead of its transition to production. The conference will host a select group of mining companies and qualified investors for a series of scheduled, in-person meetings focused on project fundamentals, market strategy, and growth outlook.

About Blue Lagoon Resources Inc.

Blue Lagoon Resources is a Canadian based publicly listed mining company (CSE: BLLG) (FSE: 7BL) (OTCQB: BLAGF) focused on building shareholder value through the aggressive development of its 100% owned Dome Mountain Gold project. The Company is run by professionals with significant finance and mining experience and operates within a prime mining jurisdiction in British Columbia, Canada. With the granting of a full mining permit, a key milestone achieved in February 2025 – one of only nine such permits issued in British Columbia since 2015 – Blue Lagoon is now focused on last preparatory activities and tasks related to the safe and secure opening of the Dome Mountain Gold Mine, targeting Q3 2025 as the start of gold production. The Company’s primary objective has always been to become a cash-flowing mining company, to ultimately deliver tangible monetary value to shareholders, state, and local communities.

The Company is not basing its production decision at Dome Mountain on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. The production decision is based on having existing mining infrastructure, past bulk sampling and processing activity, and the established mineral resource. The Company understands that there is increased uncertainty, and consequently a higher risk of failure, when production is undertaken in advance of a feasibility study.

For further information, please contact:

Rana Vig
President and CEO
Telephone: 604-218-4766
Email: ranavig@bluelagoonresources.com

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information: This release includes certain statements that may be deemed ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (the ‘Company’) expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘targets’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘potential’, ‘mine’, ‘production’ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration activities may not show quality and quantity necessary for further exploration or future exploitation of minerals deposits, volatility of gold and silver prices, delays in mine development activities, future cash flow expectations and continued availability of capital and financing, permitting and other approvals, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management, contractors and consultants on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s, contractor’s and consultants’ beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254700

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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Editor’s Picks: Marathon Project Gets Nod, Rio Tinto Opens Western Range, Indonesia Probes Nickel Mining

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Here’s a quick recap of some of the most impactful resource sector news items for the week.

The period saw the Ontario government back the Marathon copper-palladium project, while Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) opened up a US$2 billion iron ore mine. Elsewhere, Indonesia suspended nickel mining in a protected region, and Chile debuted a solar-powered model to cut water-pumping energy use in mining.

Marathon project gets shovel-ready nod from Ontario

Ontario has designated Generation Mining’s (TSX:GENM,OTCQB:GENMF) Marathon project as a shovel-ready strategic minerals project, urging the federal government to invest in its development.

The project, located in Northwestern Ontario, is fully permitted for construction and is expected to produce significant quantities of copper, palladium, platinum, gold and silver over its anticipated 13 year mine life.

The announcement comes after the release of an open letter to Tim Hodgson, Canada’s minister of energy and natural resources. It identifies priority projects for Ontario and was penned by provincial ministers Stephen Lecce, Mike Harris and Greg Rickford, as well as associate ministers Kevin Holland and Sam Oosterhoff.

“Building on the investments in the Ring of Fire and the critical minerals supply chain we urge the federal government to invest in shovel-ready strategic mineral projects that are critical to building a secure, domestic supply chain including…Generation Mining’s Marathon project,” the Thursday (June 5) letter reads.

The Ontario government is facing mounting backlash over the recent passage of Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act. It grants the province authority to bypass certain provincial and municipal laws for projects deemed economically significant, aiming to expedite developments like mining operations.

However, Indigenous leaders and environmental groups have criticized the bill, arguing that it undermines treaty rights and environmental protections.

Rio Tinto and Baowu open US$2 billion iron ore mine

Rio Tinto and China Baowu Steel Group have opened the Western Range iron ore mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, marking a significant milestone in both resource development and Indigenous collaboration.

The US$2 billion joint venture, owned 54 percent by Rio Tinto and 46 percent by Baowu, is projected to produce up to 25 million metric tons of iron ore annually, sustaining the Paraburdoo mining hub for approximately 20 years.

Western Range is the first Rio Tinto project to implement a co-designed social, cultural and heritage management plan (SCHMP) with the Yinhawangka Traditional Owners.

Established in 2022, the SCHMP aims to protect significant cultural and heritage values in the area.

Robyn Hayden, Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation board chairwoman, emphasized the importance of this collaboration. “The opening of the Western Range mine represents a shift in how our heritage is being recognised and respected,” she is quoted as saying in Rio Tinto’s Friday (June 6) press release.

Alongside the Western Range opening, Rio Tinto announced that development is moving forward at its Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine in Mongolia under an alternative mine plan.

While ramp up remains on track, with output from Panel 0 and Panel 2 expected in 2025 and 2026, the company has paused development in the Entrée Resources (TSX:ETG,OTCQB:ERLFF) joint venture area.

The pause will remain in place until the Mongolian government completes a necessary license transfer. Rio Tinto is instead accelerating work in Panel 2 South, which lies outside the Entrée joint venture zone. Copper guidance for 2025 remains unchanged at 780,000 to 850,000 metric tons.

Indonesia reviews nickel mining in biodiversity hotspot

Indonesia’s government has initiated a review of nickel-mining activities in the Raja Ampat archipelago, a region renowned for its rich biodiversity and often referred to as the ‘last paradise.’

The decision follows public outcry and Greenpeace Indonesia’s release of videos highlighting environmental degradation caused by nickel-mining operations on the islands of Gag, Kawe and Manuran

Greenpeace’s analysis indicates that over 500 hectares of forest and native vegetation have been cleared for nickel mining in these areas, leading to soil runoff and sedimentation that threaten coral reefs and marine ecosystems. These islands are classified as small islands under Indonesian law, which prohibits mining activities in such regions.

Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Indonesia’s environment minister, announced plans to visit the affected areas and stated that the government will take legal action against mining firms operating there after conducting thorough studies.

The energy ministry also suspended operations at Gag Nikel’s operations in Raja Ampat pending an inspection.

The nation is the world’s top producer of nickel, outputting 2.2 million metric tons in 2024. Indonesia’s nickel sector has undergone major shifts in 2025, with the government slashing mining quotas in response to falling prices and pledging to implement stricter ESG standards across its resource industries.

Nickel prices have been turbulent this year, opening the 12 month period at US$15,010 per metric ton and rising to a year-to-date high of US$16,440 in mid-March. Supply saturation weighed on the market through to April, when values sank to a year-to-date low of US$13,805. Prices have since rebounded and are sitting at the US$15,285 level.

Chile unveils model to reduce energy footprint for seawater use in mining

According to a recently published study, Chilean researchers at the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Concepción have developed a real-time energy management model that uses predictive economic control to optimize power use in large-scale water-pumping stations.

The model was tested on a system supplying a reverse osmosis plant in Northern Chile, and integrates solar photovoltaic energy and battery storage to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

The site features seven 1,343 kilowatt pumps that transport water 120 kilometers uphill over a 1,000 meter elevation gain. Simulations compared conventional operation with hybrid setups using solar and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) Megapack batteries, showing the potential for more sustainable and cost-effective water transport.

‘The study was motivated by the sustained increase in electricity consumption associated with pumping seawater for mineral concentration processes, an increasingly common practice in areas with water scarcity,” said Daniel Sbarbaro, a researcher at SERC Chile and author of the paper.

This development is significant for lithium miners in Chile’s Atacama Desert, where freshwater resources are scarce and the mining industry increasingly relies on seawater desalination for operations.

Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Africa Energy Jumps 275 Percent

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Statistics Canada released its May Labour Force Survey on Friday (June 6). The data showed that nearly 9,000 new jobs were added to the workforce during the month. The news surprised analysts who were expecting losses of 12,500 as the effects of US trade tariffs began to be felt in the Canadian economy.

The biggest contributors to the gains were 43,000 new workers added in wholesale and retail trade; 19,000 new jobs in the information, culture and recreation category; and 12,000 new employees within the real estate and finance sector.

While these additions were significant, they were offset by the loss of 32,000 jobs in the public administration sector, as well as a decline of 16,000 workers in both the accommodation and food services sector and the transportation and warehousing sector. Additionally, 15,000 jobs were lost in the business, building and support services sector.

Despite the net job gains, unemployment registered a 0.1 percent gain to 7 percent, while the employment rate was stable at 60.8 percent.

Also this week, StatsCan released the Annual Mineral Production Survey for 2023 on Wednesday (June 4). The report showed that total revenues for metal ore mining and non-metallic mineral mining and quarrying industry groups in 2023 decreased by 9.3 percent to C$59.7 billion year-over-year. Meanwhile, expenses rose by 8.6 percent to C$43.2 billion during the same period.

South of the border, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released May’s Employment Situation Summary on Friday. The report showed that the US labor market remained stable for the month, adding 139,000 nonfarm workers. The report also indicated that unemployment remained unchanged at 4.2 percent, while the participation rate decreased by 0.2 percent to 62.4 percent.

The largest gains were felt in the healthcare sector, which accounted for roughly half of the new jobs at 62,000, while the hospitality sector came in second with 48,000 new jobs. However, the economy was impacted by the loss of an additional 22,000 federal government employees, bringing the total number of federal job losses for the year to 59,000.

Human resources company ADP (NASDAQ:ADP) reported that US private sector employers added 37,000 new jobs in May, the lowest level since March 2023. This growth was wholly concentrated in mid-sized companies, with small and large establishments losing jobs. The natural resources and mining industry lost 5,000 jobs over the period.

Additionally, platinum prices have been on the rise over the last two weeks, highlighted by a nearly 10 percent surge during the past five days to US$1,160.79 per ounce on Friday. The gains may be related to the cancellation of EV tax credits proposed in the US tax bill working its way through Congress, as well as infighting between Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump following Musk’s departure from the Trump administration.

The threat has sent ripples through the automotive sector and may cause increased demand on an already stressed platinum market.

Markets and commodities react

In Canada, major indexes were mixed at the end of the week.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) climbed 0.93 percent during the week to close at 26,429.13 on Friday. The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) had a larger gain of 3.06 percent to 721.60 and the CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) rose 1.7 percent to 117.55.

US equities were in positive territory this week, with the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:INX) gaining 1.76 percent to close at 6,000.37, the Nasdaq-100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) rising 2.31 percent to 21,761.79 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) adding 1.33 percent to 42,762.88.

The gold price was up this week, gaining 1.02 percent, to close Friday at US$3,322.73. The silver price saw more significant gains, surging 8.92 percent during the period to US$35.91, their highest since 2012.

In base metals, the COMEX copper price rose 4.78 percent over the week to US$4.86 per pound. Meanwhile, the S&P GSCI (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) posted a gain of 3.87 percent to close at 545.00.

Top Canadian mining stocks this week

How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?

Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

Stock data for this article was retrieved at 4 p.m. EDT on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market capitalizations greater than C$10 million are included. Companies within the non-energy minerals and energy minerals sectors were considered.

1. Africa Energy (TSXV:AFE)

Weekly gain: 275 percent
Market cap: C$71.87
Share price: C$0.15

Africa Energy is a South Africa-focused oil and gas exploration and development company.

Its flagship asset is Block 11B/12B located approximately 175 kilometers off the south coast of South Africa. The block covers an area of 18,734 square kilometers and depths between 200 meters and 1,800 meters.

Africa Energy previously held a 4.9 percent stake in the project through its 49/51 joint venture with Arostyle Investments named Main Street 1549, which owned 10 percent of the asset. The remaining partners were project operator TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) at 45 percent, Qatar Petroleum at 25 percent and CNR International (TSX:CNQ,NYSE:CNQ) at 20 percent.

Main Street 1549’s three partners announced plans to withdraw from the Block 11B/12B joint venture in July 2024, and discussions on restructuring the ownership had been underway since.

Shares in Africa Energy began surging May 29 after Africa Energy announced a definitive agreement for the new ownership structure of the Block 11B/12B asset.

Under the terms of the definitive agreement between Africa Energy and Arostyle Investments, Africa Energy will increase its ownership of Main Street from a 49 percent to 100 percent stake. Additionally, the withdrawing parties assigned 65 percent of their participating interest in Block 11B/12B to Main Street and 25 percent to Arostyle.

The result will see Africa Energy increase its stake in the asset from 4.9 percent to 75 percent.

2. Allegiant Gold (TSXV:AUAU)

Weekly gain: 95 percent
Market cap: C$17.24
Share price: C$0.39

Allegiant Gold is a gold exploration company working to advance several projects in Nevada, United States.

Its flagship project is Eastside, located in Esmeralda County, consists of 973 unpatented lode mining claims covering 8,289 hectares. Nearly 70,000 meters of drilling has been carried out at the property since 2011.

A July 2021 mineral resource estimate showed inferred quantities at the site of 1.09 million ounces of gold with an average grade of 0.55 g/t and 8.7 million ounces of silver with an average grade of 4.4 g/t from 61.73 million tons of ore.

The most recent news from the company was announced on May 29, when it stated that its previously announced one-for-two share consolidation would take effect on Monday, June 2.

3. LaFleur Minerals (CSE:LFLR)

Weekly gain: 89.66 percent
Market cap: C$37.46
Share price: C$0.275

LaFleur Minerals is an exploration and development company working to advance a pair of projects in Quebec, Canada.

Its Swanson Gold project consists of a 15,290 hectare land package in the southern portion of Quebec’s Abitibi gold belt. Historic drilling at the site has uncovered 958 holes, revealing broad mineralization with widths of up to 40 meters. Additionally, the site has also had underground workings to a vertical depth of 80 meters to carry out bulk sampling.

A September 2024 mineral resource estimate suggested total indicated resources of 123,400 ounces of gold from 2.11 million metric tons of ore with an average grade of 1.8 grams per metric ton (g/t) along with additional inferred quantities of 64,500 g/t from 872,000 metric tons with an average grade of 2.3 g/t.

The company’s other property, the Beacon Mill and Mine, is a past-producing mine, also located in the Abitibi gold belt. LaFleur acquired the mine in September 2024 as part of a receivership sale. Monarch Mining previously owned the mine, which has been on care and maintenance since 2022.

Most recently, the mine underwent a C$20 million refurbishment in 2022 and is capable of processing 750 metric tons of ore per day.

Shares in LaFleur gained this week after it announced updates for both properties on Wednesday.

At Swanson, it stated that it was planning a 5,000-meter drilling program, set to begin in June, with more than 50 targets having been identified. Additionally, the company announced that it is targeting early 2026 for the restart.

4. Eastern Platinum (TSX:ELR)

Weekly gain: 84.85 percent
Market cap: C$37.46
Share price: C$0.305

Eastern Platinum, also known as Eastplats, is a platinum group metal (PGM) and chrome mining, development and exploration company working to advance assets in South Africa.

Its most advanced asset is the Crocodile River mine, located northwest of Johannesburg. The mine began operating in 1987, but production was suspended in the early 1990s due to falling PGM prices. Since then, the mine saw some limited production in the early 2000s before once again being suspended.

After significant rehabilitation, chrome and PGM production from site tailings was restarted at the site in 2018 and 2020 respectively, and underground operations at the Zandfontein mine restarted in October 2023. In October of last year, Eastplats began commissioning a PGM processing plant that will process ore from Zandfontein.

A technical report from May 2022 demonstrated a proven and probable resource of 1.72 million ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, with an average grade of 3.68 g/t from 14.58 million metric tons of ore.

Although the company did not release news this week, shares in Eastplats gained alongside a surging platinum price.

5. TNR Gold (TSXV:TNR)

Weekly gain: 58.33 percent
Market cap: C$15.06
Share price: C$0.095

TNR Gold is an exploration and royalty company with a focus on the acquisition of green energy and gold assets.

The company owns the Shotgun Gold project in Alaska’s Kuskokwim Gold Belt. The property consists of 108 claims covering an area of 6,993 hectares. A 2013 technical report showed inferred quantities of 705,960 ounces of gold from 20.73 million metric tons of gold with an average grade of 1.06 g/t with a cutoff of 0.5 g/t.

Its royalty investments include a 1.5 percent net smelter royalty from Ganfeng Lithium’s (OTC Pink:GNENF) Marina Lithium project in Argentina. It also holds a 0.4 percent net smelter royalty in McEwen Mining’s (NYSE:MUX,TSX:MUX) Los Azules Copper, Gold and Silver Project, also in Argentina.

The latest news from TNR came on May 14 when it released a corporate update. In the release the company highlighted its success from the royalty portion of its business, and provided updates from its key investments.

It also said it was looking to attract a partnership with a major gold mining company to help advance its Alaskan Shotgun project.

FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?

The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.

How many mining companies are listed on the TSX and TSXV?

As of February 2025, there were 1,572 companies listed on the TSXV, 905 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,859 companies, with 181 of those being mining companies.

Together the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.

How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.

The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.

These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.

How do you trade on the TSXV?

Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.

Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.

Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Crypto Market Recap: Strategy Eyes US$1 Billion Capital Raise, Uber Considers Stablecoin Usage

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Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (June 6) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$104,245 as markets closed for the week, up 2 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range for the cryptocurrency brought a low of US$104,006 and a high of US$105,201.

Bitcoin price performance, June 6, 2025.

Bitcoin price performance, June 6, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

After dipping below US$101,000 during the dispute between US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Bitcoin recovered to around US$105,000 early in the trading day, influenced by a strong US labor report.

Despite the rebound, analysts are wary due to technical indicators like a weakening relative strength index, suggesting potential downside. A possible rate cut from the US Federal Reserve on June 18 could push Bitcoin to US$112,000, but the outlook is uncertain. Order book data indicates a liquidity trap, and limited short interest points to a fragile recovery.

Additional selling pressure and investor distrust are contributing to shaky market sentiment.

Ethereum (ETH) finished the trading day at US$2,490.63, a 2 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$2,482.52 and saw a daily high of US$2,519.25.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) closed at US$149.26, trading flat over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$148.86 and reached a high of US$151.79 on Friday.
  • XRP is trading at US$2.17, reflecting a 1.6 percent increase over 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached a daily low of US$2.16 and a high of US$2.18.
  • Sui (SUI) peaked at US$3.18, showing an increaseof 5.7 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$3.16, and its highest was US$3.19.
  • Cardano (ADA) is trading at US$0.663, up 2.8 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$0.6604, and it reached a high of US$0.6693.

Today’s crypto news to know

Uber considers stablecoins for cost reduction

On stage at the San Francisco-based Bloomberg Tech Summit on Thursday (June 5), Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the company is “definitely going to take a look” at using stablecoins to help reduce the cost of moving money around the world.

“We’re still in the study phase, I’d say, but stablecoin is one of the, for me, more interesting instantiations of crypto that has a practical benefit other than crypto as a store of value,” he said. “Obviously, you can have your opinions on Bitcoin, but it’s a proven commodity, and you know, people have different opinions on where it’s going,” he added.

UK set to lift ban on retail access to crypto ETNs

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced plans to lift its ban on retail investors buying crypto exchange-traded notes (ETNs), a major shift from its earlier risk-averse stance.

Initially barred due to concerns over volatility and investor protection, the FCA now says consumers should have the right to choose whether these high-risk assets fit their portfolios. David Geale, the FCA’s digital assets chief, said the move is part of a broader push to ‘rebalance’ the regulator’s approach to financial risk. The proposal, which would allow ETNs to be sold on FCA-registered investment exchanges, will now enter a public consultation phase.

This regulatory pivot follows the UK’s introduction of draft laws in April aimed at integrating crypto into the formal financial system. The FCA emphasized that its separate ban on crypto derivatives for retail traders will remain in place.

Switzerland adopts crypto information exchange bill

The government of Switzerland has adopted a bill to enable the automatic exchange of information (AEOI) on crypto with 74 partner countries, including the UK, all EU member states and most G20 countries.

The measure excludes the US, Saudi Arabia and China. The bill is currently under discussion in parliament and, if approved, the AEOI framework for crypto assets will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

Switzerland will only engage in AEOI with partner states that also desire information exchange with Switzerland.

Strategy to raise nearly US$1 billion to buy more Bitcoin

Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR), the company known for its aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy, is launching a nearly US$1 billion capital raise through its new 10 percent Series A STRD preferred stock. The offering includes over 11 million shares and promises a high fixed yield, making it attractive to yield-hungry investors in a low-rate environment.

Unlike other Strategy offerings like STRK (convertible) and STRF (senior status), STRD offers the highest payout at 10 percent, but comes with more risk due to its non-cumulative dividend and junior status. Dividends are only issued when declared, and the shares cannot be called under normal market conditions.

Proceeds will go toward “general corporate purposes,” which notably include expanding its Bitcoin holdings.

Metaplanet plans US$5.3 billion warrant offering to scale Bitcoin treasury

Tokyo-based Metaplanet (OTCQX:MTPLF,TSE:3350) is taking its Bitcoin commitment to the next level with a massive US$5.3 billion stock warrant issuance, the largest of its kind in Japan.

The company is offering 555 million shares through stock acquisition rights, using a novel moving-strike pricing model that adjusts with market value — a first in the Japanese market.

This 555 Million Plan follows an earlier US$600 million raise and is part of Metaplanet’s goal to hold over 210,000 BTC by 2027, approximately 1 percent of total Bitcoin supply.

The vast majority of the proceeds — around 96 percent — will go toward direct Bitcoin purchases, while a small fraction will support debt management and derivative strategies like selling puts.

Maple Finance expands syrupUSD to Solana

Lending platform Maple Finance announced on Thursday that it has expanded user access by deploying its syrupUSD yield-bearing stablecoin to Solana-based platforms Kamino and Orca.

Previously, it had only been available on the Ethereum blockchain.

According to the announcement, Solana integration is launching with US$30 million in liquidity, which will establish “a deep and stable foundation for lending, trading, and collateral provisioning.’

This new system was made possible by using Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), which started operating on the Solana main network on May 19. CCIP lets different blockchain systems, specifically those using Ethereum Virtual Machine and Solana Virtual Machine technology, share information.

The ability to transfer data between these distinct blockchain environments is expected to significantly boost efficient and affordable growth within the digital ecosystem.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Ford Government Pushes Bill 5 Through Legislature, Sparking First Nations Outcry

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In a move that has ignited a storm of opposition from Indigenous communities and environmental groups, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government passed Bill 5 on Wednesday (June 4).

Formally titled the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, the legislation grants the province unprecedented authority to override provincial and municipal laws in favor of economic development.

Specifically, Bill 5 allows the government to establish ‘special economic zones’ where environmental protections, labor regulations and other statutes can be suspended for projects led by ‘trusted proponents.’

Premier Doug Ford’s government argues that the bill is critical for expediting development in the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region and countering global economic threats, including US tariffs.

But the bill’s passage, by a vote of 71 to 44, has drawn fierce backlash from First Nations leaders who say they were not consulted, in violation of treaty rights enshrined in the Canadian constitution.

Speaking to reporters, Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations in Northern Ontario, warned that protests and blockades — reminiscent of the Idle No More movement — are likely.

‘I think after today we need to look at every option that is at our disposal, including legal, political, economic, everything – including taking direct action,’ he said, adding, ‘Everything is on the table.’

Ford was not present in the legislature for the vote, drawing condemnation from Indigenous leaders and opposition politicians. He reportedly missed the vote due to an overrun in an online meeting with a US congressman.

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles stood alongside First Nations representatives to denounce the premier’s absence and vowed to continue resisting the legislation, which she predicted will end up in court.

Public gallery benches erupted during the vote with shouts of ‘Shame on you!’ and ‘Where’s the premier?’ Security escorted several individuals out, including one man who yelled, ‘Our land is not for sale!’

Opposition parties attempted to stall the bill with thousands of proposed amendments, but the Progressive Conservative majority pushed it through after using time allocation to cut short debate.

Legal experts warn that Bill 5 could significantly alter the legal and environmental landscape in Ontario. The legislation includes Henry VIII-style provisions — named after the 16th-century monarch notorious for consolidating executive power — which allow the provincial cabinet to override laws without legislative scrutiny.

Laura Bowman, a lawyer with Ecojustice, said, ‘This is not just undemocratic; it’s anti-democratic.’

Environmental advocates have also raised alarm about Bill 5’s implications for conservation. It rewrites Ontario’s endangered species law by giving the cabinet, not scientists, final authority on which species merit protection.

Additionally, it eases rules on preserving Indigenous archaeological sites.

The government has floated the possibility of Indigenous-led economic zones as part of the regulations it must still draft, but details remain scarce, and First Nations groups say the damage has already been done.

Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict, who previously met with Ford in a tense private session, said the discussions were necessary, but insufficient. “Our Chiefs have made it clear that they fully reject Bill 5, and the Chiefs of Ontario stand by and defend the position of the Chiefs,” Benedict maintained in a statement. “First Nations rights holders must be at the table, and the Government must fulfill its constitutional and treaty obligations.”

The Ring of Fire region, located in the James Bay lowlands, is at the center of the controversy.

While some First Nations near the area support road construction projects, others oppose the rush to mine in the region without thorough consultation and environmental safeguards. The Ford government has touted the area’s reserves of critical minerals — such as nickel and lithium — as essential for Ontario’s economic future.

While some industry stakeholders have cautiously welcomed provisions in Bill 5 that streamline mining approvals under a “one project, one process” regime, critics and civil liberties advocates say its rhetoric risks escalating tensions.

Among them is the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, which has condemned Bill 5 as a dangerous overreach that could hollow out legal safeguards without meaningful public oversight.

Legal scholars say the government’s interpretation of its duty to consult remains contested. While a 2018 Supreme Court ruling (Mikisew Cree) found that governments are not constitutionally required to consult Indigenous groups during the drafting of legislation, it emphasizes that such consultation is often politically and morally necessary.

Moreover, many Indigenous leaders say consultation is no longer enough. Invoking the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, they are calling for ‘free, prior and informed consent’ as the new standard.

In the coming weeks, the Ford government must draft the regulations that will define how Bill 5 is implemented. These rules, it insists, will be subject to consultation. But with Indigenous leaders threatening direct action and legal battles on the horizon, Ontario may be on the brink of a new phase in its fraught relationship with First Nations.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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