Nasdaq Composite, NVIDIA and Dell Technologies performance, August 26 to 29, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

However, it wasn’t enough to reassure the public, and NVIDIA’s share price fell over 4 percent between Wednesday (August 27) and Friday (August 29). As investors analyzed new inflation data that indicates tariffs are impacting prices, other AI-related stocks saw losses too, pulling the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) from its recent record highs.

With that, here’s a look at some of the other drivers that shaped the tech sector this week.

1. Intel warns of adverse reactions to government equity stake

In a US Securities and Exchange Commission Form 8-K filing dated August 22, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) warns that the federal government’s 10 percent stake in its business could cause “adverse reactions,” including litigation from investors, employees, customers, suppliers, partners and foreign governments.

The company also discloses a clause in the agreement that would raise the government’s stake to 15 percent if the company fails to meet set manufacturing thresholds.

Moreover, the filing states that, if this agreement prompts other government bodies to seek similar stakes, the varied agendas could diminish the voting power of other shareholders.

The comments come after the White House announced last week that it would take a 10 percent stake in the company in a deal worth around US$8.9 billion. On Monday, (August 25), President Donald Trump suggested he might pursue similar agreements with other American companies, posting on Truth Social:

“I will also help those companies that make such lucrative deals with the United States. I love seeing their stock price go up, making the USA RICHER, AND RICHER.”

Meanwhile, White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett told CNBC that the deal is part of a broader strategy to create a sovereign wealth fund that may include additional companies.

Later, during an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box on Tuesday, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said Pentagon officials are considering acquiring equity stakes in leading defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT).

2. Apple sets date to reveal fall product lineup

On Tuesday, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) invited media members and analysts to its next launch event, which is scheduled for September 9 at 10:00 a.m. PST.

The event, which will be live streamed from the iPhone maker’s campus, is expected to be the venue for the introduction of the new iPhone 17 lineup and updated Apple Watch models.

The new iPhone series is rumored to include four models:

• iPhone 17
• iPhone 17 Pro
• iPhone 17 Pro Max
• A new iPhone 17 Air that will reportedly replace the iPhone 16 Plus. This new model is rumored to be exceptionally thin, potentially as slim as 5.5 millimeters, a major new design direction for Apple.

The new iPhones are also expected to feature a new ‘Liquid Glass’-based interface as part of iOS 26.

According to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, who has a reputation for being one of the most accurate and prolific sources of leaks about Apple’s future products, the company is planning three years of major iPhone redesigns, starting with the September release. Apple’s first foldable iPhone, code-named V68, is slated to arrive in 2026, according to Gurman. Apple’s 2027 ‘iPhone 20’ will feature curved glass edges to complement the upcoming Liquid Glass-based interface for iOS and other operating systems.

3. IBM, AMD to partner on quantum supercomputer

IBM (NYSE:IBM) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) (NASDAQ:AMD) said on Tuesday that they plan to collaborate to develop quantum-centric supercomputing.

The two companies, which have each fundamentally advanced the frontiers of quantum hardware and software, AI accelerators, CPUs and GPUs, said they will work together to “develop scalable, open-source platforms that could redefine the future of computing” by combining their strengths in quantum and high-performance computing.

“Quantum computing will simulate the natural world and represent information in an entirely new way,” said Arvind Krishna, chairman and CEO of IBM, adding that the firms’ collaborative efforts will “build a powerful hybrid model that pushes past the limits of traditional computing.”

“We see tremendous opportunities to accelerate discovery and innovation,” said Dr. Lisa Su, chair and CEO of AMD.

In an interview with Axios, Jay Gambetta, IBM’s quantum vice president, said he aims to get fault-tolerant quantum computers, a set of techniques and architectural designs that ensure a computation can proceed accurately even in the presence of errors, “by the end of this decade.”

4. Cost of Meta data center to exceed original estimate

During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump told reporters that Meta Platforms’ (NASDAQ:META) Louisiana data center will cost the company around US$50 billion to build.

That’s over 70 percent of the company’s projected CAPEX spending in its latest quarterly report.

“When they said US$50 billion for a plant, I said, ‘What the hell kind of plant is that?’” said Trump, revealing a photo of the proposed data center, Hyperion, superimposed over the island of Manhattan.

“When you look at this, you understand why it’s US$50 billion,” he added.

When the data center was announced, officials in Louisiana estimated the project would cost around US$10 billion. Meta has not confirmed this new estimate and declined to comment on Trump’s remarks.

5. Fusion developer raises US$863 million for energy development

On Thursday (August 28), Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a leading nuclear fusion developer in the US, announced it has secured US$863 million in an oversubscribed Series B2 funding round.

Investors including Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) and NVIDIA contributed to this capital raise, which will facilitate the completion of Commonwealth’s Spac fusion demonstration machine, as well as the commencement of construction on a new ARC power plant in Virginia.

“Investors recognize that CFS is making fusion power a reality. They see that we are executing and delivering on our objectives,” said the company’s CEO and co-founder, Bob Mumgaard. “This funding recognizes CFS’ leadership role in developing a new technology that promises to be a reliable source of clean, almost limitless energy — and will enable investors to have the opportunity to capitalize on the birth of a new global industry.”

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$108,292, a 3.2 percent decrease in 24 hours. It opened at its highest valuation of the day, US$110,473. Its lowest valuation today was US$108,107.

Bitcoin price performance, August 29, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Bitcoin’s slip below the US$110,000 threshold stoked fears of a broader crypto market correction on Friday as liquidations doubled, the US Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge showed persistent price pressures, and Bitcoin flashed a potential risk pattern. Analysts warned the token could be edging toward bear market territory.

According to analyst Rekt Capital, BTC needs to regain US$114,000 as support to prevent an extended correction period.

Adding to volatility, a long-dormant Bitcoin whale that resurfaced this month — after buying US$2.5 billion in Ethereum — shifted another US$1.1 billion on Friday.

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$4,345.17, down by 2.3 percent over the past 24 hours. Its highest valuation today was US$4,389.08, and its lowest was US$4,279.96.

Altcoin price update

• Solana (SOL) was priced at US$203.21, down by 3.5 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$201.61, and its highest valuation was US$211.02.

• XRP was trading for US$2.82, down by 4.4 percent in the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$2.80, and its highest was US$2.87.

• SUI (Sui) was trading for US$3.26, down by 4.8 percent in the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.22, and its highest level of the day was US$3.35.

• Cardano (ADA) was priced at US$0.8204, down by 3.1 percent. Its lowest valuation for Friday was US$0.8131, and its highest valuation was US$0.8314.

Today’s crypto news to know

Stablecoins cross US$283 billion threshold record

The stablecoin market reached a new milestone on Friday as total supply climbing to $282.8 billion, according to data from DefiLlama. That marks a 128 percent increase since January, driven by stronger demand for dollar-pegged tokens and fresh regulatory clarity in the US. The surge also follows passage of the GENIUS Act, which sets out federal guidelines for stablecoin issuers and has been billed as a growth catalyst within the sector.

Analysts say stablecoins now serve as a “distribution channel” for US dollars, powering cross-border payments and on-chain settlement systems.

Trump-linked miner American Bitcoin targets September Nasdaq listing

American Bitcoin, a mining company backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., is preparing to list on Nasdaq in September following its merger with Gryphon Digital Mining, Reuters reported.

The firm is majority owned by Hut 8 Mining (TSX:HUT,NASAQ:HUT), which controls 80 percent of the business, while the Trump brothers are expected to collectively hold about 19 percent. The company has already raised $220 million to expand its operations and accumulate Bitcoin, adding 215 BTC to its balance sheet as of June.

With Bitcoin trading near US$112,000 this week, that stash is valued at roughly US$24 million.

CEO Asher Genoot said American Bitcoin aims to become one of the largest US mining firms, with backing from high-profile investors including Gemini founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.

Hut 8’s own share price has rallied 29 percent this year. If listed today, American Bitcoin would rank among the top 30 public companies holding Bitcoin in the US.

Eric Trump hails US-China leadership in Bitcoin

Speaking at the BTC Asia conference in Hong Kong, Eric Trump praised China’s influence on the digital asset industry and said the US and Beijing were “leading the way” in shaping Bitcoin’s future.

He credited the Middle East as another fast-moving hub for crypto adoption, while stressing Bitcoin’s ability to unite people across borders and cultures.

The younger Trump also added that his father’s administration had accelerated digital asset policy faster in seven months than the prior decade managed. He described America as “winning the digital revolution” with support from Wall Street institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and retirement investors.

Asked whether Bitcoin would be on the agenda in an upcoming US-China trade meeting, he suggested broader topics would dominate but said he “would certainly love to talk about bitcoin.”

21Shares files for SEI-tracking ETF

Crypto asset manager 21Shares has submitted an S-1 registration statement to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that would track the price of SEI.

The proposed ETF would utilize CF Benchmarks, a crypto price index provider, to track SEI’s price using data from multiple crypto exchanges. Coinbase Custody Trust Company is slated to act as the SEI custodian.

SEI is the native token of the SEI network, a layer-1 blockchain launched in 2023. The network specializes in trading infrastructure for decentralized exchanges and marketplaces, using the SEI token for network gas fees and governance participation. 21Shares is also exploring the possibility of staking SEI to generate additional returns, though the firm noted in its filing that it is still investigating potential ‘undue legal, regulatory or tax risk’ associated with this practice.

In an X post, 21Shares said the ETF filing is a “key milestone in our vision to expand exchange-traded access to the SEI Network.” US digital asset investment firm Canary Capital also applied for an SEI ETF in April.

Bloomberg’s James Seyffart has listed all 92 crypto ETPs filings and applications awaiting SEC decisions.

US Department of Commerce to publish economic data onchain

The US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced on Wednesday (August 27) that it will begin publishing official economic data on at least nine public blockchains.

Its stated goal is to make vital information immutable and tamper-proof.

In a significant move for the industry that further underscores the potential of decentralized technology to improve governmental operations, the department is collaborating with blockchain data providers Chainlink and Pyth Network to serve as a bridge across various networks, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Avalanche.

Chainlink will supply data feeds from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, while Pyth will publish GDP data. The DOC will also publish the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index and Real Final Sales to Private Domestic Purchasers.

Reports also indicate that exchanges like Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN), Gemini and Kraken helped facilitate the process by assisting with the transactions required to publish the data on-chain.

Aave protocol’s total value locked surges past US$40 billion

While the DOC’s announcement is a major positive for the entire crypto space, the Aave protocol has seen a remarkable surge in its total value locked, exceeding US$40 billion. This comes after the lending platform launched the Horizon RWA Market on Tuesday (August 26), the first real-world application of its ongoing V4 upgrade strategy.

Crypto intelligence platform Nansen also noted the surge in transaction volume on Avalanche this week, with over 11.9 million transactions recorded across over 181,300 active addresses, an increase of 66 percent.

Markets and commodities react

Canadian equity markets were largely unfazed by Canada’s weak GDP data. In fact, the S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) set a new record on Friday, closing the week up 1.73 percent to 28,564.45. The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) did even better, climbing 5.36 percent to finish Friday at 829.57. The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) fell 0.45 percent on Friday following the StatsCan release, but gained 4.17 percent overall during the week to 166.9.

US equity markets also posted gains this week, but fell from record highs on Friday following a selloff of tech stocks. The S&P 500 (INDEXSP:INX) was up 1.19 percent to 6,460.25, while the Nasdaq 100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) rose 0.99 percent to 23,415.42. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) gained 1.32 percent on the week to 45,631.73.

The gold price gained 3.19 percent this week on expectations of a September rate cut by the Federal Reserve, reaching US$3,448.15 per ounce by 4:00 p.m. EDT on Friday. Silver ended the week with a larger gain of 4.2 percent, nearly crossing the US$40 per ounce mark in morning trading before settling at US$39.74 per ounce.

Copper also saw some upward movement, gaining 1.1 percent to US$4.59 per pound. The S&P GSCI (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) commodities index posted an increase of 1.3 percent by close on Friday, finishing at 549.70.

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.

Stocks data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. EDT on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market caps greater than C$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.

1. Trifecta Gold (TSXV:TG)

Weekly gain: 117.24 percent
Market cap: C$23.77 million
Share price: C$0.63

Trifecta Gold is a gold exploration company focused on a portfolio of 11 properties in the Tombstone gold belt in the Yukon, Canada.

Its most advanced is its flagship Mt. Hinton gold-silver project, located near Hecla Mining’s (NYSE:HL) Keno Hill silver mine. The company’s project page indicates that vein float samples collected in January 2023 show grades of up to 273 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold.

The company has also been advancing exploration work at its Rye property, which hosts a gold-bismuth soil anomaly, as well as several gold-rich veins.

Shares in Trifecta rose this week alongside news on Thursday that the company had commenced its inaugural drill program at Rye, completing 970 meters across three holes. The announcement reported that the first hole intersected a high density of sheeted quartz veins.

The company said preliminary rock samples collected from the site earlier in 2025 returned multiple assays with greater than 5 g/t gold, including one highlight with 21.1 g/t gold and 8,550 parts per million (ppm) bismuth.

2. Consolidated Lithium Metals (TSXV:CLM)

Weekly gain: 100 percent
Market cap: C$13.98 million
Share price: C$0.04

Consolidated Lithium is an exploration and development company working to advance a portfolio of hard rock lithium projects in Quebéc, Canada.

Its most advanced asset is the Vallée lithium project, a 75/25 joint venture between Consolidated and Sayona Mining (ASX:SAY,OTCQB:SYAXF). The project is located in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt adjacent to and along strike of Sayona’s and Piedmont Lithium (NASDAQ:PLL) North American Lithium mining operation. According to the company’s project page, the Vallée property hosts multiple lithium-bearing pegmatites over a 1 kilometer strike length.

Consolidated announced on Wednesday (August 27) that it signed a letter of intent with the Government of Quebéc-owned Soquem to earn an 80 percent interest in the Kwyjibo rare earth project, located in the Côte-Nord region of the province.

Under the terms of the letter, Consolidated can earn up to an 80 percent interest in the project through two phases, in return for a combination of cash payments, shares in Consolidated and project investments.

A 2017 preliminary economic assessment for Kwyjibo reports project economics including an after-tax net present value of C$373.9 million and an internal rate of return of 17.8 percent, with a payback period of 3.6 years.

3. Electric Metals (TSXV:EML)

Weekly gain: 68.75 percent
Market cap: C$44.34 million
Share price: C$0.27

Electric Metals is a mineral development company focused on advancing its flagship North Star manganese project in Minnesota, US. According to the company, the asset is North America’s highest-grade manganese resource. It plans to produce high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate for lithium-ion batteries.

The most recent news from Electric Metals was released on Tuesday, when it announced a preliminary economic assessment for the project. The assessment demonstrated a base-case after-tax net present value of US$1.39 billion, with an internal rate of return of 43.5 percent and a payback period of 23 months. and suggested an average annual after-tax cash flow of US$249.6 million.

The report also included an updated mineral resource estimate with an indicated resource of 7.6 million metric tons of ore grading 19.07 percent manganese, 22.33 percent iron and 30.94 percent silicon, and an inferred resource of 3.73 million metric tons of ore grading 17.04 percent manganese, 19.04 percent iron and 30.03 percent silicon.

4. Sage Potash (TSXV:SAGE)

Weekly gain: 58.33 percent
Market cap: C$31.93 million
Share price: C$0.38

Sage Potash is a potash exploration company currently working to advance its portfolio of mineral holdings in Utah’s Paradox Basin in the US.

Historic oil and gas exploration in the basin dating back a century discovered the potential for the potash beds, but they were too deep for mining methods at the time. Sage has since confirmed their presence through its own exploration.

In a revised technical report from February 2023, the company reported an inferred mineral resource estimate of up to 159.3 million metric tons of in-place sylvinite from the upper potash bed and up to 120.2 million metric tons of sylvinite from the lower potash bed.

On August 14, Sage announced that Stockwell Day had joined the company board. Day served several ministerial roles for the Canadian government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, including as President of the Treasury Board and Minister of International Trade.

This was followed by news on Wednesday that Day had been granted 600,000 stock options at an exercise price of C$0.30 per share and would remain valid for a period of five years.

Sage’s share price spiked earlier this week after the US Government added potash in its draft of an updated list of critical minerals.

5. Kincora Copper (TSXV:KCC)

Weekly gain: 58.33 percent
Market cap: C$24.8 million
Share price: C$0.095

Kincora Copper is an exploration company operating under a project generator model and partnering with other companies to advance its portfolio, including copper-gold projects in the Macquarie Arc of New South Wales, Australia.

Among them is the Northern Junee-Narromine Belt (NJNB) land package, which is covered by a May 2024 earn-in agreement that could see AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU,JSE:ANG) earn up to an 80 percent interest in the Nyngan and Nevertire licenses through AU$50 million in exploration expenditures or AU$25 million for exploration and the completion of a pre-feasibility study.

Kincora secured a second agreement with AngloGold Ashanti in April for the Nyngan South, Nevertire South and Mulla licenses with similar terms, bringing the total exploration funding to AU$100 million.

On Monday (August 25), Kincora announced results from the first drilling program at the Nyngan project, noting that assays support the potential for porphyry copper and epithermal gold, and that it saw ‘encouraging results at particularly shallow depths’ from drill targets identified by a ground gravity survey earlier this year.

Additionally, Kincora said that drilling is ongoing at the Nevertire South and Nevertire projects, with the initial program planned for seven holes and 2,150 meters.

FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

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.

Bullet briefing — US drafts new critical minerals list, uranium miners make cuts

US drafts new critical minerals list

The US Department of the Interior has released a new draft critical minerals list, and the recommended additions include silver, as well as potash, silicon, copper, rhenium and lead.

Silver’s potential inclusion is turning heads in the mining community as market participants assess the potential impact for the metal. The critical minerals list is designed to guide federal strategy, investment and permitting deals as the US works to lock down supply of key commodities, meaning that silver-focused companies could see benefits such as tax breaks and faster timelines.

In total, the draft list has 54 minerals, with 50 included based on results from an economic effects assessment. Three were selected on the back of a qualitative evaluation, and zirconium is there because of the potential for a single point of failure in the US supply chain.

The list was set up after a 2017 executive order from Trump and is updated every three years.

It’s worth noting that silver and the other recommended additions aren’t officially critical minerals yet — the draft critical minerals list was posted for public comment on Tuesday (August 26), and feedback will be accepted for 30 days. It’s also worth noting that two commodities may be stripped of their critical mineral status — arsenic and tellurium have been recommended for removal.

Critical minerals lists vary from country to country based on individual needs, although in many cases they have similarities. In January 2024, a group of silver industry participants, including many major miners, sent a letter to Canada’s energy and natural resources minister proposing that silver be included in the nation’s critical minerals list; to date, it has not been added.

Uranium miners cut production guidance

Sweden’s government has proposed the removal of the country’s ban on uranium mining as it looks to reduce its reliance on imports of the energy fuel.

Uranium mining has been banned in Sweden since 2018, but the country has six operating reactors and generates around one-third of its power from nuclear energy.

The ban is set to be removed on January 1, 2026, and comes as nations increasingly look to nuclear power to fill their energy needs. It also comes amid supply questions — although demand is rising and prices are out of a years-long slump, miners have been slow to ramp back up post-Fukushima.

Just last week, Kazatomprom said it was lowering its 2026 production target compared to earlier estimates, cutting about 8 million pounds. Although the company sees stability in long-term uranium prices and strong sector fundamentals, it isn’t prepared to return to 100 percent levels.

Cameco (TSX:CCO,NYSE:CCJ) made a similar statement this week, saying its 2025 output will be impacted by delays in transitioning the Saskatchewan-based McArthur River mine to new mining areas. Production will be 4 million to 5 million pounds lower, although there is a chance for Cigar Lake to partially offset that loss.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$112,039, a 1 percent increase in 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$111,198 and its highest price on Wednesday was US$112,555.

Bitcoin price performance, August 27, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Bitcoin has come under pressure in recent days, briefly sliding below US$110,000 amid a broader crypto sector selloff and macroeconomic uncertainty. Trading at its lowest level in seven weeks, the drop has sparked debate among investors over whether the pullback presents a buying opportunity.

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$4,569.50, down by 0.5 percent over the past 24 hours to its lowest valuation of the day. Its highest was US$4,657.28.

Altcoin price update

• Solana (SOL) was priced at US$26.86, up by 5 percent. Its lowest valuation on Wednesday was US$203.35, and its highest valuation was US$211.54.

• XRP was trading for US$3, down by 1.6 percent in the past 24 hours, and at its lowest valuation of the day. Its highest valuation on Wednesday was US$3.04.

• SUI (Sui) was trading for US$3.47, down by 0.1 percent in the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.44, and its highest level of the day was US$3.51.

• Cardano (ADA) was priced at US$0.8629, down by 1.1 percent. Its lowest valuation for Wednesday was US$0.8571, and its highest valuation was US$0.8751.

Today’s crypto news to know

ETH inflows hit US$1.3 billion following Powell’s policy hints

ETH funds have seen a massive US$1.3 billion worth of inflows over the past week as traders respond to dovish signals from US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Data from SoSoValue shows ETH-based exchange-traded products have absorbed US$3.7 billion since June, compared with US$900 million in outflows from Bitcoin funds.

The surge also coincides with ETH hitting a new all-time high of US$4,955 on Sunday (August 24).

Publicly listed companies joined the rush too, adding ETH to their corporate treasuries and pushing collective holdings to nearly 5 percent of total supply. That accumulation rate is running at more than twice the fastest quarterly pace Bitcoin has ever seen, according to Standard Chartered’s (LSE:STAN) Geoffrey Kendrick via DLNews.

Trump Media, Crypto.com seal US$6.4 billion CRO treasury deal

Trump Media & Technology Group shares climbed 5 percent on Tuesday (August 26) after the company confirmed a US$6.42 billion partnership with Crypto.com to launch a CRO-focused treasury vehicle.

Dubbed the Trump Media Group CRO Strategy, the new entity will be seeded with US$1 billion in CRO and its balance will be structured as an equity line for future token purchases. As part of the agreement, the company will operate a validator node on the Cronos blockchain, staking all its tokens to earn network rewards. CRO prices soared 30 percent in a single day after the announcement, even as most of the crypto market lagged.

Still, the deal has stirred controversy among token holders, as it requires reissuing 70 billion CRO previously “burned” to reduce supply, effectively inflating circulation by more than 200 percent.

CRO jumped 40 percent on the announcement and was up by over 25 percent over 24 hours at the time of writing.

Canary Capital files for first spot ETF tracking Trump meme coin

Crypto fund manager Canary Capital has submitted paperwork to launch the first spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) tied directly to US President Donald Trump’s meme coin, $TRUMP, according to a Reuters report.

Unlike earlier applications filed under the 1940 Investment Company Act, Canary’s proposal was lodged under the 1933 Securities Act, meaning the ETF would hold $TRUMP tokens outright rather than use offshore subsidiaries or cash equivalents. The application comes despite skepticism from analysts, who note that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) typically requires a futures ETF to trade for six months before approving a spot product.

The filing follows the SEC’s February announcement that meme coins fall outside its securities jurisdiction, a decision seen as aligning with the president’s pro-crypto stance.

The $TRUMP token has lost more than 70 percent of its value since launching in January. Analysts expect the SEC to rule on several meme coin ETF applications later this year.

DeFi industry coalition advocates for developer protections

The DeFi Education Fund and a coalition of more than 110 crypto companies, investors and advocacy groups sent a letter to the Senate Banking and Agriculture Committees on Wednesday, urging lawmakers to update financial rules to ensure developers and non-custodial actors are not misclassified as intermediaries. The signatories include major players in the DeFi space, such as Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN), Kraken, Ripple, a16z and Uniswap Labs.

“Provide robust, nationwide protections for software developers and non-custodial service providers in market structure legislation,” the letter reads. “Without such protections, we cannot support a market structure bill.”

CFTC to integrate Nasdaq Market Surveillance platform

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced on Wednesday that it plans to integrate Nasdaq’s Market Surveillance platform, a financial surveillance tool developed by Nasdaq.

“As our markets continue to evolve and integrate new technology, it’s critical that the CFTC stays ahead of the curve,” acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham said in a press release. “Nasdaq Market Surveillance will, for the first time, provide the CFTC with automated alerts and cross-market analytics that will benefit each of the CFTC’s operating divisions and better protect our markets from fraud, manipulation and abuse.”

The CFTC asserts that using the platform will allow the agency to more efficiently analyze market trends and spot unusual trading activity, enabling staff to take quicker action against bad actors.

Investor Insight

Corazon Mining Ltd presents a compelling investment case driven by a strategic pivot to WA gold exploration, capitalising on its recent acquisition of the Two Pools gold project. This acquisition offers significant near-term exploration upside, while the company retains a high-quality portfolio of base and battery metals projects, providing long-term optionality and leverage to the evolving critical minerals market. This strategy positions Corazon to deliver shareholder value through potential high-impact discovery and future project development.

Overview

Corazon Mining Ltd (ASX:CZN) is an Australian junior exploration company focused on high-quality gold and critical minerals projects in Australia and Canada.

Company Highlights

• Two Pools Gold Project: The company’s primary focus is the newly acquired Two Pools Gold Project in Western Australia’s highly productive Plutonic Greenstone Belt. This underexplored tenure contains a recently identified 20km-long greenstone belt that was previously misclassified as granite.
• Confirmed High-Grade Mineralisation: Historical drilling at Two Pools has delivered standout intercepts, including 12m @ 8.89 g/t Au (incl. 3m @ 34.25 g/t Au) and 18m @ 3.89 g/t Au (incl. 4m @ 15.96 g/t Au).
• Trident-style Analogy: Drilling has confirmed mineralisation extends beneath overthrust granite, a key geological setting similar to Catalyst Metals’ nearby Trident Deposit, highlighting the potential for significant blind discoveries.
• Strategic Location: Two Pools is located just 60km from Catalyst Metals’ Plutonic Processing Plant, offering strong future development synergies
• Strategic Battery and Base Metals Portfolio: Corazon retains ownership of key projects in Canada and Australia including the MacBride Copper-Zinc-Gold Project and the historic Lynn Nickel-Copper-Cobalt sulphide camp in Manitoba, and the Mt Gilmore Copper-Cobalt-Gold project in NSW. These assets provide long-term exposure to critical metals.
• Compelling Value Proposition: Corazon offers a unique investment opportunity with a small market capitalisation but large, high-quality assets.

Key Projects

Two Pools Gold Project (Western Australia)

Project Highlights:

• A new, highly-prospective gold exploration project in the proven Plutonic-Marymia Greenstone Belt.
• The project covers 193km2 of underexplored tenure containing a newly identified 20km-long greenstone belt
• Historical Drilling and surface sampling have confirmed high-grade gold mineralisation, with a compelling geological setting analogous to other major deposits in the region.

Lynn Lake Base & Precious Metals (Manitoba, Canada)

Project Highlights:

• High-quality base and precious metals asset, offering strategic, long-term value.
• MacBride Copper-Zinc-Gold Project: High-grade, near-surface mineralisation and significant exploration upside for VMS-style deposits.

Other Projects

• Mt Gilmore Copper-Cobalt-Gold (NSW, Australia): An emerging porphyry play with potential for a significant potential copper-gold system.

Management Team

Simon Coyle – Managing Director

Simon Coyle is a mining executive with over 20 years’ experience in the resources sector, spanning across gold, iron ore, manganese and lithium. He is a graduate of the Western Australian School of Mines and has held a number of senior operational leadership roles across both private and publicly listed companies.

Most recently, Coyle served as CEO and president of TSXV-listed Velox Energy Materials. Prior to this, he held senior roles at Pilbara Minerals, including general manager – operations, where he was instrumental in the development and expansion of its flagship lithium project, establishing it as one of the world’s leading spodumene concentrate producers. Coyle currently serves as non-executive director of Kali Metals.

Kristie Young – Non-executive Chair

Kristie Young is a professional Board Director who began her career as a mining engineer in the mid 90’s across both underground and open cut operations (incl. Hamersley Iron, Mt Isa Mines, Plutonic Gold, New Hampton Goldfields, Surpac), feasibility studies and project evaluation. She holds a BEng(Mining) Hons from the University of Queensland.

Over 25 years’ industry experience, including business development director roles with both EY and PwC. She brings more than 15 years’ experience on boards and committees and currently serves as a non-executive director of Brazilian Rare Earths (ASX:BRE), Livium (ASX:LIT), Tasmea Ltd (ASX:TEA), and MinEx CRC.

She is a Fellow of the AusIMM and a graduate and Fellow of the AICD.

Scott Williamson – Non-executive Director

Scott Williamson is a highly experienced mining engineer with an Engineering and Commerce degree from the West Australian School of Mines and Curtin University. With more than 20 years of experience spanning technical and corporate roles in the mining and finance sectors, he brings a wealth of industry expertise and strategic insight. A proven leader in business development, Scott has extensive experience in equity capital markets, complementing his strong technical skill set.

Currently, he serves as managing director of Blackstone Minerals and non-executive Director of Leeuwin Metals.

Scott also holds a WA First Class Mine Manager’s Certificate and is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Robert Orr – Company Secretary and Chief Financial Officer

Robert Orr manages Corazon’s financial operations and corporate governance, ensuring compliance and effective financial management.