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Everything Looks Fine… Until You See This Chart

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It’s Wednesday, and markets rose sharply as President Trump walked back his comments on removing Fed Chair Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Bessent admitted that the trade war with China may not be sustainable.

Like most investors, you’re probably wondering: Is the market chaos starting to settle down, or am I walking into the jaws of another bear trap?

Short of reliable fundamentals amid an onslaught of unpredictable geopolitical volleys, it’s probably best to examine the technical data. Turning to the Market Summary page, I scrolled down to the Breadth window to see which indices or markets are trading above their 20-day exponential moving average (EMA), as it might reveal which ones are recovering.

NOTE: All Market Summary screenshots were taken on Wednesday at the time of writing.

Breadth Snapshot: A Mixed Signal

FIGURE 1. MARKET SUMMARY BREADTH WINDOW. Are we seeing a recovery here?

You can see that over 45% of stocks in the S&P 500 ($SPX) and the NYSE Composite Index ($NYA) are trading above their 20-day EMA. The NASDAQ Composite ($COMPQ) has an even higher percentage, with over half of its stocks trading above that level.

As the color code indicates, this isn’t bullish. It’s neutral. But are we seeing early signs of a turnaround? If so, you, like most investors, probably want to catch it early. But it may also be a false signal. To get an additional breadth angle, look at the Bullish Percent Index (BPI) window to see how many stocks within the broader market and exchanges generate Point & Figure Buy Signals (see below).

Bullish Percent Index: The S&P 500 Leads the Pack

FIGURE 2. MARKET SUMMARY BPI. The S&P 500 is the most bullish among the indices and exchange groups.

The NASDAQ has the most bearish reading, but the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 is just a few points away from bullish. The S&P 500 is flashing the most bullish signal, with 60% of stocks in the index signaling P&F buy alerts.

So far, the outlook seems cautiously optimistic at best — we might be climbing out of the woods. But to get a fuller picture, it helps to examine another set of critical angles: market sentiment and money flows.

  • Can we get a data-driven measurement of investor bullishness vs. bearishness?
  • And just as important, how does that sentiment translate into actual money movement? Are investors, especially institutions, putting capital into the markets or pulling it out?

To answer these, let’s analyze the AAII Bulls – Bears sentiment indicator alongside a weekly chart of the S&P 500. Let’s also apply the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator to provide a longer-term view of buying and selling pressure in the market.

This chart is available on the Market Summary Sentiment window. However, I modified this weekly chart a bit, and you can see this below.

Sentiment Check: Bearish Underpinnings

FIGURE 3. WEEKLY CHART OF THE S&P FEATURING THE AAII BULLS – BEARS INDICATOR. Subtracting the bullish from bearish forecasts, you get net negative sentiment.

A couple of foreboding signs: the S&P is well below its 40-week simple moving average (the equivalent of a 200-day moving average), and the net AAII Bull-Bear sentiment (bottom end of the indicator pair) reads net bearish.

As for the first, you’re aware of the saying that nothing good happens under the 200-day moving average. Just look at the S&P 500’s price action in 2022. Is the current market about to undergo a similarly prolonged period of volatile declines?

As for the second sign, the AAII Bulls-Bears, it’s overwhelmingly bearish. Here’s something to think about: this indicator is based on a weekly sentiment survey of its members. While the group has around 160,000 member investors, the weekly responses usually fall between 100 and 350. It’s a voluntary survey, so the participation rate can vary quite a bit, often skewing the results. Still, it’s a closely watched barometer of retail sentiment.

Money Flow: Caution at the Zero Line

Aside from sentiment, what does the longer-term money flow picture look like?

Take a look at the CMF indicator plotted below the chart. The blue circle highlights the CMF hovering right at the zero line.

On a weekly scale, this suggests that buying pressure has cooled, but the CMF hasn’t crossed into clear-cut selling pressure territory yet. That raises the question: Is this a pause before a rebound, or a warning of more downside to come?

The CMF doesn’t distinguish retail from institutional capital. However, institutional investors operate on longer timeframes. Given the current geopolitical uncertainty, what we’re seeing may reflect a pause or outright indecision. Either way, it’s likely some catalyst will eventually trigger a move, and when it does, any institutional response could last for weeks, if not longer.

Euphoria or Exhaustion?

Despite the April rallies, markets seem to be reacting more to political theater than fundamentals. Vague remarks from officials like Treasury Secretary Bessent have fueled optimism, yet there’s little real progress on trade or economic policy to back it up. With corporate layoffs rising, port activity collapsing, and U.S. reliance on Chinese imports deepening, the structural cracks appear to be widening.

Meanwhile, markets dance to headlines — often without substance — as if investors are being nudged along by said headlines. Is this euphoria? If it is, this euphoria may not signal strength but rather a dangerous calm before a deeper decline. 

At the Close: Tread Carefully!

The Market Summary offers a clear starting point for gauging the surface and penetrating beyond it. By watching key indicators like breadth, sentiment, and money flow, you can better assess whether we’re seeing the start of a true recovery or just another bear trap. Stay cautious. Don’t trade on news, but analyze how markets react to news. In other words, follow the data and wait for real evidence before leaning into any rally.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

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Sentiment Signals Suggest Skepticism

Stocks

When I consider the equity markets from a macro perspective, I begin with the analysis of the price of the S&P 500.  Then I use breadth indicators to confirm what I’m seeing by analyzing price action. Finally, and still very importantly, I look at market sentiment indicators that speak to how investors are feeling about the markets at any given moment.

While we’ve experienced a significant rally off the early April lows, my review of key sentiment indicators will show that there is definitely not rampant optimism these days. To the contrary, most signals appear to be similar to early-stage bearish phases. Let’s review the evidence together.

AAII Survey Shows Notable Lack of Bulls

The American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) conducts a weekly survey of members, asking if they are bullish, bearish, or neutral about equities. The latest weekly data from this poll shows 22% bullish and 56% bearish, with a 34% spread between the two buckets.

In the weeks following the February 2024 market peak, the AAII bullish reading plunged from about 45% to 20% and has remained around that level ever since. Bearish readings have been in the 55-60% range during the last eight weeks, and the spread between bulls and bears has been fairly consistent.

Despite many calls for optimism on the recent bounce in our major equity benchmarks, the AAII survey is suggesting that individual investors remain quite skeptical about further upside at this point. And if you look back to 2022, you’ll see that this survey can remain in this general range for quite some time during protracted bear phases.

NAAIM Exposure Index Indicates Defensive Positioning

Now let’s look at two more sentiment indicators, starting with the NAAIM Exposure Index. As I discussed in a recent podcast interview with the President of NAAIM, the National Association of Active Investment Managers, this is an organization of money managers who are asked about their exposure to the equity markets every week.

The latest results of that survey show an average allocation around 41%, down from just over 90% at the February market peak. So while I’ve heard rumblings of institutional investors piling into risk assets off the April low, this survey would suggest that there is still plenty of capital patiently waiting on the sidelines. And while the current reading at 41% is well below average, we’ve seen the indicator reach down to single digits during previous bear market cycles.

Rydex Flows Not Yet at Extreme Levels

The bottom panel in that previous chart shows the Rydex fund flows, showing how investors in the Rydex fund family are rotating between offensive and defensive positioning. This week, we observed a new log for 2025, showing the Rydex fund investors have continued to rotate to more defensive positions off the February market high. Look further to the left and you’ll see that in 2022, 2020, and late 2018, this indicator reached much deeper levels before a major market bottom was finally achieved. So while the recent rotation confirms a more cautious outlook for investors, it has not yet reached extreme enough readings to be giving a clear signal of downside capitulation.

In the order of importance, I would put price at the top of the list. Should the S&P 500 regains its 200-day moving average, I will find it much more difficult to remain bearish about market conditions. But based on my latest analysis of key market sentiment indicators, the bears may have more time in the sun before this pullback phase is over.

RR#6,

Dave

P.S. Ready to upgrade your investment process? Check out my free behavioral investing course!

David Keller, CMT

President and Chief Strategist

Sierra Alpha Research LLC

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

The author does not have a position in mentioned securities at the time of publication. Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.

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13 Canadian Crypto ETFs in 2025

Investing

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum offer an alternative route for building and storing wealth. While directly holding these digital assets is a popular option, investors are also clamoring for financial products such as crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Canada first launched Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in 2021. These Canadian Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs allow investors to place returns in tax-sheltered accounts like tax-free savings accounts or registered retirement savings plans.

“There is a high demand for a Bitcoin product that has all the features that people love about ETFs — that they trade on an exchange, that they’re liquid,” Ross Mayfield, investment strategy analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co., told Bloomberg in mid-2021.

Interest has only increased since then. In the US, Bitcoin ETFs’ net assets surpassed US$100 billion in November 2024, gaining ground on US gold ETFs. Sean Farrell, head of digital asset strategy at Fundstrat, wrote in mid-2023 that the Bitcoin ETF category at large has the potential to surpass the precious metals ETF market in terms of asset value. ‘Bitcoin ETF eventually could become >$300 billion category,’ he stated in the note.

Ethereum ETFs have also become a major talking point. Ethereum is the most widely used blockchain technology, and Ether, the digital currency of this platform, is the second largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin.

With that in mind, it’s worth taking a look at the currently available Canadian cryptocurrency ETFs. The list below includes 13 Ether and Bitcoin ETFs available on the Canadian market sorted by assets under management, and all data presented is current as of April 17, 2025.

1. Purpose Bitcoin ETF (TSX:BTCC)

Assets under management: C$2.6 billion

Billed as the world’s first physically settled Bitcoin ETF, the Purpose Bitcoin ETF launched in February 2021 and is backed by Bitcoin in cold storage. This means the fund allows investors to add and sell Bitcoin with no digital wallet required.

Hosted by Canadian investment company Purpose Investments, the Purpose Bitcoin ETF is backed by 22001.42 Bitcoins and has a management expense ratio of 1.5 percent.

2. CI Galaxy Bitcoin ETF (TSX:BTCX.B)

Assets under management: C$1.07 billion

Launched in March 2021, the CI Galaxy Bitcoin ETF was born out of a partnership between cryptocurrency leaders Galaxy Fund Management and CI Global Asset Management. Galaxy Fund Management is part of Galaxy Digital, a diversified financial services firm with a focus on digital assets and the blockchain technology sector.

The ETF’s objective is to give investors exposure to Bitcoin via an institutional-quality fund platform, as its holdings are wholly Bitcoin and are kept in cold storage. At 0.4 percent, this fund boasts one of the lowest management fees of all the crypto funds on the market.

3. Fidelity Advantage Bitcoin ETF (TSX:FBTC)

Assets under management: C$931.07 million

The newest Bitcoin fund on this list, the Fidelity Advantage Bitcoin ETF, launched in November 2021. It offers the security of Fidelity’s in-house cold storage services for its holdings.

While it previously had a management fee of 0.39 percent, the Fidelity Advantage Bitcoin ETF lowered it in January 2025 to an ultra-low management fee of 0.32 percent.

4. 3iQ CoinShares Bitcoin ETF (TSX:BTCQ)

Net asset value: C$285.91 million

Launched in March 2021, the 3iQ CoinShares Bitcoin ETF offers exposure to the price movement of Bitcoin in US dollar terms. The company holds its Bitcoin assets in cold storage. This ETF has a management fee of 1 percent.

5. CI Galaxy Ethereum ETF (TSX:ETHX.B)

Assets under management: C$284.3 million

The CI Galaxy Ethereum ETF, another collaboration between CI and Galaxy, offers investors exposure to the spot Ethereum price through Ether holdings in cold storage. The fund launched on April 20, 2021, the same day as two of the other Ether ETFs on this list.

At the time, CI Global Asset Management suggested that “owning Ether is similar to owning a basket of early-stage, high-growth technology stocks.”

The CI Galaxy Ethereum ETF also has notably low management fees of just 0.4 percent.

6. Evolve Bitcoin ETF (TSX:EBIT)

Assets under management: C$229.8 million

Evolve ETFs partnered with cryptocurrency experts, including Gemini Trust Company, CF Benchmarks, Cidel Bank & Trust and CIBC Mellon Global Services, to launch the Evolve Bitcoin ETF. The fund, which holds its own Bitcoin, has a management fee of 0.75 percent.

Launched a week after the Purpose Bitcoin ETF, its holdings of Bitcoin are priced based on the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate, a once-a-day benchmark index price for Bitcoin denominated in US dollars.

7. Purpose Ether ETF (TSX:ETHH)

Assets under management: C$215.8 million

The Purpose Ether ETF is a direct-custody Ether ETF that launched on April 20, 2021. This fund holds 97598.07 Ether, which it stores in cold storage.

The Purpose Ether ETF offers investors exposure to the daily price movements of physically settled Ether tokens with a management fee of 1 percent.

8. Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF (TSX:BTCY)

Assets under management: C$140 million

The Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF uses a covered call strategy to generate yield for investors, which involves writing call options on Bitcoin. Call options give the buyer an option to purchase an asset at a specific price on or before a specific date.

Its structure allows the fund to earn income from option premiums while providing investors with exposure to Bitcoin’s price movements. Its distributions are paid monthly.

9. Evolve Cryptocurrencies ETF (TSX:ETC)

Assets under management: C$61.35 million

The Evolve Cryptocurrencies ETF launched in September 2021 as the first multi-cryptocurrency ETF, providing combined exposure to both Bitcoin and Ether.

This product from Evolve ETFs allows investors to diversify their crypto portfolios and provides indirect exposure to the two coins, weighing them by market capitalization and rebalancing its holdings on a monthly basis. Bitcoin makes up the majority of its portfolio.

While this ETF has no management fee, the underlying funds that hold both Bitcoin and Ether have management fees of 0.75 percent plus applicable taxes.

10. 3iQ CoinShares Ether Staking ETF (TSX:ETHQ)

Net asset value: C$‪49.6 million

Following the success of its Bitcoin ETF, 3iQ Digital Asset Management launched its CoinShares Ether Staking ETF in April 2021. This fund has a similar objective, offering exposure to Ether and its daily US dollar price movements. It also has a management fee of 1 percent.

11. Purpose Ether Yield ETF (TSX:ETHY)

Assets under management: C$44.5 million

Like the Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF, the Purpose Ether Yield ETF offers investors an opportunity to invest in Ether while also generating yield. Purpose Investments lends a portion of its Ether holdings to institutional borrowers and earns interest on those loans.

Investors who purchase shares of this ETF receive a portion of the interest earned in monthly distributions.

12. Evolve Ether ETF (TSX:ETHR)

Assets under management: C$40.52 million

The Evolve Ether ETF offers investors an easier route to investing directly in Ether. The fund’s holdings of Ether are priced based on the CME CF Ether-Dollar Reference Rate, a once-a-day benchmark index price for Ether denominated in US dollars. As with the Evolve Bitcoin ETF, the Evolve Ether ETF has a management fee of 0.75 percent.

13. Fidelity Advantage Ether ETF (TSX:FETH)

Assets under management: C$24.2 million

Following the successful launch of its Bitcoin fund, Fidelity brought its Advantage Ether ETF to market in September 2022, making this the newest Ether ETF in Canada. Its holdings are stored in Fidelity’s in-house cold storage.

The Fidelity Advantage Ether ETF has a management fee of 0.4 percent.

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

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7 Biggest Lithium-mining Companies in 2025

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For a long time, most of the world’s lithium was produced by an oligopoly of US-listed producers. However, the sector has transformed significantly in recent years.

Interested investors should cast a wider net to look at global companies — in particular those listed in Australia and China, as companies in both countries have become major players in the industry.

While Australia has long been a top-producing country when it comes to lithium, China has risen quickly to become not only the top lithium processor and refiner, but also a major miner of the commodity. In fact, China was the third largest lithium-producing country in 2024 in terms of mine production, behind Australia and Chile.

Chinese companies are mining in other countries as well, including top producer Australia, where a few are part of major lithium joint ventures. For example, Australia’s largest lithium mine, Greenbushes, is owned and operated by Talison Lithium, which is 51 percent controlled by Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia, a joint venture between China’s Tianqi Lithium (SZSE:002466,HKEX:9696) and Australia’s IGO (ASX:IGO,OTC Pink:IPDGF). The remaining 49 percent stake in Talison is owned by Albemarle (NYSE:ALB). Joint ventures can offer investors different ways to get exposure to mines and jurisdictions.

Mergers and acquisitions are common in the lithium space, with the biggest news in the industry recently being Rio Tinto’s (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) acquisition of Arcadium Lithium for US$6.7 billion in March of this year. The acquisition transforms Rio Tinto into a global leader in lithium production with one of the world’s largest lithium resource bases.

As for Chile, the country’s lithium landscape is changing following the December 2024 announcement that as a part of its National Lithium Strategy toward public-private partnerships, the government opened up the process of assigning special lithium operation contracts to a total of 12 priority areas.

All in all, lithium investors have a lot to keep an eye on as the space continues to shift. Read on for an overview of the current top lithium-producing firms by market cap. Data was current as of April 4, 2025.

Biggest lithium-mining stocks

1. Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO)

Market cap: US$99.83 billion
Share price: AU$112.70

Rio Tinto, a global powerhouse in the resource sector for decades, is mostly known for its iron and copper production. However, in recent years, the mining giant has been expanding its position in the world’s lithium market.

In March 2025, the company cemented its position as one of the biggest lithium-producing companies in the world with the US$6.7 billion all-cash acquisition of Arcadium Lithium, the lithium giant formed after the US$10.6 billion merger of lithium majors Allkem and Livent.

Following the acquisition, Rio Tinto is consolidating Arcadium’s portfolio with its own lithium projects under the name Rio Tinto Lithium. Arcadium’s portfolio includes the Salar del Hombre Muerto and Olaroz lithium brine operations in Argentina, as well as the Mount Cattlin hard-rock mine in Western Australia, which is entering care and maintenance in the second half of this year. It also has lithium hydroxide production capacity in the US, Japan and China.

At the time, Rio Tinto said it will increase its lithium carbonate equivalent production capacity to over 200,000 metric tons (MT) annually by 2028.

Lithium acquisitions are not new to Rio Tinto. In 2022, it acquired the Rincon project in Argentina from Rincon Mining. Rincon has an expected annual capacity of 53,000 MT of battery-grade lithium carbonate over a 40 year mine life, although Rio Tinto plans to expand production at the site to 60,000 MT per year. A pilot battery-grade lithium carbonate plant is scheduled for completion in H1 2025.

As of March 2025, Rio Tinto is also reportedly in talks to develop the Roche Dure lithium deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world’s largest hard-rock lithium deposits.

2. SQM (NYSE:SQM)

Market cap: US$10.93 billion
Share price: US$37.05

SQM has five business areas, ranging from lithium to potassium to specialty plant nutrition. Its primary lithium operations are in Chile, where it is a longtime producer, and it is also working to bring production online in Australia.

In Chile, SQM sources brine from the Salar de Atacama; it then processes lithium chloride from the brine into lithium carbonate and hydroxide at its Salar del Carmen lithium plants located near Antofagasta.

Chile’s aforementioned National Lithium Strategy has created some uncertainty for SQM, but the government has stated that it will respect its current contracts, which run through 2030. In May 2024, the state-owned mining company Codelco and SQM formed a joint venture in which Codelco will hold a 50 percent stake plus one share to give it majority control. As of 2031, the state will begin receiving 85 percent of the operating margin of the new production from SQM’s operations.

Outside of South America, SQM owns and operates the Mount Holland lithium mine and concentrator in Australia; the mine hosts one of the world’s largest hard-rock deposits. Mount Holland is a joint venture with Wesfarmers (ASX:WES,OTC Pink:WFAFF), which took over Australian lithium-mining company Kidman Resources in 2019.

Overall, the company sees its total sales volumes from all its lithium operations increasing by 15 percent this year.

SQM has a long-term supply deal with Hyundai (KRX:005380) and Kia (KRX:000270) to provide lithium hydroxide for electric vehicle batteries from its future lithium hydroxide supply. SQM also has supply agreements with Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) and LG Energy (KRX:373220).

3. Ganfeng Lithium (OTC Pink:GNENF,SZSE:002460,HKEX:1772)

Market cap: US$7.5 billion
Share price: US$2.51

Founded in 2000 and listed in 2010, Ganfeng Lithium has operations across the entire electric vehicle battery supply chain. Even though it is relatively new compared to some companies on the list, Ganfeng has become one of the world’s largest producers of both lithium metals and lithium hydroxide. This is due to its strategy of investing heavily in overseas projects to secure long-term lithium resources, with its first such investment in 2014.

Ganfeng has interests in lithium resources around the world, from Australia to Argentina, China and Ireland; its operations include a 50/50 joint venture with Mineral Resources for the Mount Marion mine in Western Australia. In Argentina, the company has 51 percent stake in Lithium Americas’ (TSX:LAC,NYSE:LAC) Caucharí-Olaroz lithium brine project.

Ganfeng has a controlling interest in Mexico-focused Bacanora Lithium and its Sonora lithium project; it also has a 50 percent stake in a lithium mine in Mali, as well as a 49 percent stake in a salt lake project in China owned by China Minmetals. It owns the private company LitheA, which holds the rights to two lithium salt lakes in Argentina’s Salta province.

Ganfeng purchased Leo Lithium’s (ASX:LLL,OTC Pink:LLLAF) Goulamina project in Mali in May 2024 and brought it into production in December. Goulamina has a mine capacity of 506,000 MT of spodumene per year. The company’s goal is to double that capacity to 1 million MT per year.

In February 2025, Ganfeng brought its US$790 million Mariana project in Argentina into production. The Mariana mine is situated on the Llullaillaco salt flat, and has the capacity to produce 20,000 MT of lithium chloride per year.

Ganfeng has supply deals with companies such as Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), BMW (OTC Pink:BMWYY,ETR:BMW), Korean battery maker LG Chem (KRX:051910), Volkswagen (OTC Pink:VLKAF,FWB:VOW) and Hyundai.

4. Albemarle (NYSE:ALB)

Market cap: US$6.92 billion
Share price: US$58.88

North Carolina-based Albemarle is dividing into two primary business units, one of which — the Albemarle Energy Storage unit — is focused wholly on the lithium-ion battery and energy transition markets. It includes the firm’s lithium carbonate, hydroxide and metal production.

Albemarle has a broad portfolio of lithium mines and facilities, with extraction in Chile, Australia, China and the US. Looking first at Chile, Albemarle produces lithium carbonate at its La Negra lithium conversion plants, which process brine from the Salar de Atacama, the country’s largest salt flat. Albemarle is aiming to implement direct lithium extraction technology at the salt flat to reduce water usage.

Albemarle’s Australian assets includes the MARBL joint venture with Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN,OTC Pink:MALRF). The 50/50 JV owns and operates the Wodgina hard-rock lithium mine in Western Australia. Albemarle wholly owns the on-site Kemerton lithium hydroxide facility. The company’s other Australian joint venture is the aforementioned Greenbushes mine, in which it holds a 49 percent interest alongside Tianqi and IGO.

As for the US, Albemarle owns the Silver Peak lithium brine operations in Nevada’s Clayton Valley, which is currently the country’s only source of lithium production. In its home state of North Carolina, Albemarle is planning to bring its past-producing Kings Mountain lithium mine back online, subject to permitting approval and a final investment decision. The mine is expected to produce around 420,000 MT of lithium-bearing spodumene concentrate annually.

Albemarle has received US$150 million in funding from the US government to support the building of a commercial-scale lithium concentrator facility on site. The US Department of Defense has given the company a US$90 million critical materials award to boost its domestic lithium production and support the country’s burgeoning EV battery supply chain.

5. Tianqi Lithium (SZSE:002466,HKEX:9696)

Market cap: US$6.61 billion
Share price: 30.26 Chinese yuan

Tianqi Lithium, a subsidiary of Chengdu Tianqi Industry Group, is the world’s largest hard-rock lithium producer. The company has assets in Australia, Chile and China. It holds a significant stake in SQM.

In Australia, Tianqi, as mentioned, has a significant position in the Greenbushes mine and Kwinana lithium hydroxide plant through the Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia JV with IGO. The hydroxide plant, which is one of the world’s largest fully automated battery-grade lithium hydroxide facilities, processes feedstock from Greenbushes with a capacity of 24,000 MT per year.

Construction work for the Phase 2 expansion at Kwinana, which would have doubled its capacity, was terminated in January 2025 due to the current low-price environment for lithium making it economically unviable.

Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia updated the total mineral resources at Greenbushes in February 2025 to 440 million MT at an average grade of 1.5 percent lithium oxide, and its total ore reserve estimate to 172 million MT grading 1.9 percent lithium oxide.

In March 2025, Tianqi Lithium announced collaborations with a number of academic research institutions including the Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology of the University of Science and Technology Beijing on the research and development of next-generation solid-state battery materials and technology.

6. PLS (ASX:PLS,OTC Pink:PILBF)

Market cap: US$2.92 billion
Share price: AU$2.92

PLS, formerly named Pilbara Minerals, operates its 100 percent owned Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum asset in Western Australia. The operation entered commercial production in 2019 and consists of two processing plants: the Pilgan plant, located on the northern side of the Pilgangoora area, which produces a spodumene concentrate and a tantalite concentrate; and the Ngungaju plant, located to the south, which produces a spodumene concentrate.

PLS has recently completed a few critical expansion projects at Pilgangoora. Its P680 expansion, for a primary rejection facility and a crushing and ore-sorting facility, was completed in August 2024. The P1000 expansion, targeting a spodumene production increase at the site to 1 million MT per year, was completed in January 2025 ahead of schedule and within budget. The company says the ramp-up to full capacity is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025.

PLS and its joint venture partner Calix are developing a midstream demonstration plant at Pilgangoora using Calix’s electric kiln technology to reduce the carbon footprint of spodumene processing, decreasing transport volumes and improving value-add processing at the mine. After garnering a AU$15 million grant from the Western Australian Government, construction of the project is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The company made a move to expand its footprint in Brazil in August 2024 with the acquisition of Latin Resources (ASX:LRS,OTC Pink:LRSRF) and its Salinas lithium project. The project’s resource estimate, which covers the Colina and Fog’s Block deposits, stands at 77.7 million MT at 1.24 percent lithium oxide. The AU$560 million deal was approved by the Western Australia Government in January 2025.

PLS and joint venture partner POSCO (NYSE:PKX) launched South Korea’s first lithium hydroxide processing plant in late 2024, which will be supplied with spodumene from Pilgangoora. PLS also has offtake agreements with companies such as Ganfeng, Chengxin Lithium Group, and Yibin Tianyi Lithium Industry.

7. Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN,OTC Pink:MALRF)

Market cap: US$2.59 billion
Share price: AU$18.95

Australia-based Mineral Resources (MinRes) is a commodities company that mines lithium and iron ore in the country. As mentioned, both of MinRes’ lithium mines are joint ventures with other companies on this list. In addition to the Wodgina mine in Western Australia, which is operated under the MARBL joint venture with Albemarle, MinRes holds a 50 percent stake in Albemarle’s Qinzhou and Meishan plants in China.

MinRes owns 50 percent of the Mount Marion lithium operation, which is a joint venture with Ganfeng Lithium. Production of lithium concentrate began at Mount Marion in 2017, and all mining is managed by MinRes, which also has a 51 percent share of the output from the spodumene concentrator at the site. MinRes completed the expansion of Mount Marion’s spodumene processing plant in 2023. Currently, the plant has an annual production capacity of 600,000 MT spodumene concentrate equivalent.

However, in late August 2024, in light of lithium’s low demand environment, MinRes decided to reduce its operations at Mount Marion to between 150,000 and 170,000 MT of spodumene production in its financial year 2025 compared to the 218,000 metric tons of output achieved in its financial year 2024.

MinRes acquired the Bald Hill lithium mine, which is also located in Western Australia, in 2023. The company released an updated mineral resource estimate in November 2024 of 58.1 MT at 0.94 percent lithium oxide, up 168 percent from the prior June 2018 estimate. In the same news release, MinRes announced that it would have to place the mine on care and maintenance until global lithium prices improve. The final shipment of Bald Hill spodumene concentrate was made in December 2024.

Other lithium companies

Aside from the world’s top lithium producers, a number of other large lithium companies are producing this key electric vehicle raw material. These include Sigma Lithium (TSXV:SGML,NASDAQ:SGML), Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR,OTC Pink:LINRF), Jiangxi Special Electric Motor (SZSE:002176), Yongxing Special Materials Technology (SZSE:002756), Sinomine Resource (SZSE:002738) and Youngy (SZSE:002192).

FAQs for investing in lithium

Is lithium a metal?

Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal used in pharmaceuticals, ceramics, grease, lubricants and heat-resistant glass. It’s also used in lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from cell phones to laptops to electric vehicles.

How much lithium is there on Earth?

Lithium is the 33rd most abundant element in nature. According to the US Geological Survey, due to continuing exploration, identified lithium resources have increased to about 115 million metric tons worldwide. Global lithium reserves stand at 30 million MT, with production reaching 240,000 MT in 2024.

How is lithium produced?

Lithium is found in hard-rock deposits, evaporated brines and clay deposits. The largest hard-rock mine is Greenbushes in Australia, and most lithium brine output comes from salars in Chile and Argentina.

There are various types of lithium products, and many different applications for the mineral. After lithium is extracted from a deposit, it is often processed into lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide or lithium metal. Battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide can be used to make cathode material for lithium-ion batteries.

What country produces the most lithium?

The latest data from the US Geological Survey shows that the world’s top lithium-producing countries are Australia, Chile and China, with production reaching 88,000 metric tons, 49,000 metric tons and 41,000 metric tons, respectively.

Global lithium production reached 240,000 metric tons of lithium in 2024, up from 204,000 MT in 2023, according to the US Geological Survey. About 87 percent of the lithium produced currently goes toward battery production, but other industries also consume the metal. For example, 5 percent is used in ceramics and glass, while 2 percent goes to lubricating greases.

Who is the largest miner of lithium?

The world’s largest lithium-producing mine is Talison Lithium and Albemarle’s Greenbushes hard-rock mine in Australia, which put out 1.38 million MT of spodumene concentrate in the fiscal year 2024. The top-producing lithium brine operation was SQM’s Salar de Atacama operations in Chile, with 2023 production of 166,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate.

Who are the top lithium consumers?

The top lithium-importing country is China by a long shot, and second place South Korea is another significant importer. China is also the top country for lithium processing, and both are home to many companies producing lithium-ion batteries.

Why is lithium so hard to mine?

The different types of lithium deposits come with their own challenges.

For example, mining pegmatite lithium from hard-rock ore is known for being expensive, while extracting lithium from brines requires vast amounts of water and processing times that can sometimes be as long as 12 months. Lithium mining also comes with the difficulties associated with mining other minerals, such as long exploration and permitting periods.

What are the negative effects of lithium?

Both major forms of lithium mining can have negative effects on the environment. When it comes to hard-rock lithium mining, there have been incidents of chemicals leaking into the water supply and damaging the local ecosystems; in addition, these operations tend to have a large environmental footprint.

As mentioned, lithium brine extraction requires a lot of water for the evaporation process, but it’s hard to understand the scope without numbers. It’s estimated that approximately 2.2 million liters of water are required to produce 1 metric ton of lithium, and that can sometimes mean diverting water from communities that are experiencing drought conditions. This form of lithium extraction also affects the condition of the soil and air.

Will lithium run out?

Although future demand for lithium is expected to keep rising due to its role in green energy, the metal shouldn’t run out any time soon, as companies are continuing to discover new lithium reserves and are developing more advanced extraction technologies. Additionally, there are companies working on technology to recycle battery metals, which will eventually allow lithium from lithium-ion batteries to re-enter the supply chain.

What technology will replace lithium?

Researchers have been working on developing and testing a variety of lithium alternatives for batteries. Some of these options include hydrogen batteries, liquid batteries that could be pumped into vehicles, batteries that replace lithium with sodium or magnesium and even batteries powered by sea water. While nothing looks ready to replace lithium-ion batteries right now, there is potential for more efficient or more environmentally friendly options to grow in popularity in the future.

How to buy a lithium stock?

Investors are starting to pay attention to the green energy transition and the raw materials that will enable it.

When it comes to choosing a stock to invest in, understanding lithium supply and demand dynamics is key, as there are unique factors to watch for in lithium stocks. The main demand driver for lithium is what happens in the electric vehicle industry, which is expected to keep growing, and also the energy storage space. Analysts remain optimistic about the future of lithium, with many predicting the market will be tight for some time.

Investors interested in lithium stocks could consider companies listed on US, Canadian and Australian stock exchanges. They can also check out our guide on what to look for in lithium stocks today.

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

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

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Brunswick Continues to Intersect Lithium Mineralization on Globex’s Lac Escale Royalty Property

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GLOBEX MINING ENTERPRISES INC. (GMX Toronto Stock Exchange, G1MN Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Berlin, Munich, Tradegate, Lang & Schwarz, LS Exchange, TTMzero, Düsseldorf and Quotrix Düsseldorf Stock Exch anges and GLBXF OTCQX International in the US) is pleased to report that Brunswick Exploration Inc. (BRW-TSXV, BRWXF-OTCQB) in a press release today, announced additional wide intersections of lithium mineralization on Globex’s Lac Escale royalty claims, a part of Brunswick’s Mirage property.

Intersections include 36 meters grading 1.51% Li 2 O in Hole MR-24-102 and 1.32% Li 2 O over 28 metres in Hole MR-24-101. A total of 24 drill holes were completed in the winter drill program. Please access Brunswick’s press release of today’s date for further details.

Globex retains a 3% Gross Metal Royalty on the Lac Escale claims .

Central Zone of the Mirage Project – Brunswick Exploration

This press release was written by Jack Stoch, P. Geo., President and CEO of Globex in his capacity as a Qualified Person (Q.P.) under NI 43-101.

We Seek Safe Harbour. Foreign Private Issuer 12g3 – 2(b)
CUSIP Number 379900 50 9
LEI 529900XYUKGG3LF9PY95
For further information, contact:
Jack Stoch, P.Geo., Acc.Dir.
President & CEO
Globex Mining Enterprises Inc.
86, 14 th Street
Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec Canada J9X 2J1 		Tel.: 819.797.5242
Fax: 819.797.1470
info@globexmining.com
www.globexmining.com

Forward-Looking Statements: Except for historical information, this news release may contain certain ‘forward-looking statements’.  These statements may involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity and performance to be materially different from the expectations and projections of Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. (‘Globex’).  No assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits Globex will derive therefrom.  A more detailed discussion of the risks is available in the ‘Annual Information Form’ filed by Globex on SEDARplus.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/11965f38-444e-49a4-bb84-97e881cb1dec

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

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CoTec Holdings Corp. To Commence Expansion Drilling Program And Secure A Salter Techology Bulk Sample At The Lac Jeannine Property

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CoTec Holdings Corp. (TSXV:CTH)(OTCQB:CTHCF) (‘CoTec’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce it has appointed ‘403 Drilling Limited’ to complete its 2025 drilling program to support the expansion of the previously announced PEA mineral resource estimate (the ‘MRE’) at the Lac Jeannine Property in Québec (the ‘Project’). As part of this program, the company will also secure bulk material for further testing of the potential incorporation of the Multi-Gravity Separators Salter technology (‘MGS’) into the Project’s recovery circuiti.

The program will consist of 12 to 13 holes, totaling approximately 680 meters of sonic core samples. Four of the holes will be allocated to infill drilling in relation to the 2023 program with the remaining holes being step-out drilling to cover the adjacent tailings not included in the 2023 program. Sample material from this drilling program, together with material collected in the 2023 sampling program, will further validate our MGS results which we believe could lead to the technology being incorporated into the current recovery circuit for additional recovery of iron from ultra fines.

In August 2024ii, CoTec filed an independent National Instrument 43-101 technical report in relation to the Project indicating a pre-tax NPV7% of US$93.6 million, and an IRR of 38%, and an after tax NPV7% of US$59.5 million based on approximately 73 million tonnes (Mt) at 6.7% total Fe for 4.9 Mt of contained total Fe. The Project’s current business case is based on a 66.8% FeT concentrate produced from approximately half the historic estimated volume of tailings, excluding an MGS circuit. If results are in line with previous tests, we believe this program will enable the inclusion of the additional tailings adding further upside to the project and support its progress to the feasibility study stage.

In November 2024 the company received the approval of the Québec Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (the ‘MNRF’) for its closure plan in connection with the Company’s targeted 2025 exploration drilling campaign.

In parallel, the Company is continuing its advanced discussions with various stakeholders, including the Government of Québec, First Nations and other interested parties, to secure support for the exploration, construction and operation of the Project.

Julian Treger, CoTec CEO commented; ‘This sampling program will not only target adding tonnes to the current 73Mt of resource, but also has the potential to increase production through the incorporation of the MGS technology into the current flowsheet, which could allow the recovery of iron from ultra-fine material’.

‘We believe the Project is very promising and can demonstrate how historic mine sites can be rehabilitated in accordance with best practices while creating jobs and economic opportunities for local and Indigenous communities.’

Qualified Person

The Independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 for the Lac Jeannine Mineral Resource, Mr. Christian Beaulieu, P.Geo., is a member of l’Ordre des géologues du Québec (#1072). The Qualified Person has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this news release relating to the Lac Jeannine Mineral Resource.

About CoTec

CoTec is a publicly traded investment issuer listed on the Toronto Venture Stock Exchange (‘TSX-V’) and the OTCQB and trades under the symbols CTH and CTHCF respectively. CoTec Holdings Corp. is a forward-thinking resource extraction company committed to revolutionizing the global metals and minerals industry through innovative, environmentally sustainable technologies and strategic asset acquisitions. With a mission to drive the sector toward a low-carbon future, CoTec employs a dual approach: investing in disruptive mineral extraction technologies that enhance efficiency and sustainability while applying these technologies to undervalued mining assets to unlock their full potential. By focusing on recycling, waste mining, and scalable solutions, the Company accelerates the production of critical minerals, shortens development timelines, and reduces environmental impact. CoTec’s strategic model delivers low capital requirements, rapid revenue generation, and high barriers to entry, positioning it as a leading mid-tier disruptor in the commodities sector.

Please visit www.cotec.ca.

For further information, please contact:

Braam Jonker – (604) 992-5600

Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement

Statements in this news release regarding the Company and its investments which are not historical facts are ‘forward-looking statements’ which involve risks and uncertainties, including statements relating to the PEA and the intended 2025 drilling program and the expected results thereof, transition to a lower carbon future and the Company’s participation therein and contribution thereto, as well as management’s expectations with respect to the Lac Jeannine investment and other current and potential future investments and the benefits to the Company which may be implied from such statements. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements due to known and unknown risks and uncertainties affecting the Company, including, but not limited to: resource and reserve risks; environmental risks and costs; labor costs and shortages; uncertain supply and price fluctuations in materials; increases in energy costs; labor disputes and work stoppages; leasing costs and the availability of equipment; heavy equipment demand and availability; contractor and subcontractor performance issues; worksite safety issues; project delays and cost overruns; extreme weather conditions; and social and transport disruptions. For further details regarding risks and uncertainties facing the Company, please refer to ‘Risk Factors’ in the Company’s filing statement dated April 6, 2022, a copy of which may be found under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com. The Company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements in this news release except as required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release and are encouraged to read the Company’s continuous disclosure documents which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release

Source

Click here to connect with CoTec Holdings Corp. (TSXV:CTH)(OTCQB:CTHCF) to receive an Investor Presentation

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Crypto Market Recap: Swiss Central Bank Dismisses Bitcoin as Reserve Asset

Investing

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (April 23) 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$93,529.14 as markets closed for the day, up 2.2 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range has seen a low of US$92,078.75 and a high of US$94,122.31.

Bitcoin performance, April 23, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Fueledby the re-entry of institutional investment, the crypto markets appear to be headed towards a robust recovery; however, the long-term trajectory remains to be seen.

Ethereum (ETH) ended the day at US$1,785.14, a 5.2 percent increase over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$1,767.67 and a high of US$1,815.24.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) ended the day valued at US$150.05, up four percent over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$149.31 and peaked at $153.47.
  • XRP traded at US$2.22, reflecting a three percent increase over 24 hours. The cryptocurrency recorded an intraday low of US$2.20 and reached its highest point at US$2.29.
  • Sui (SUI) was priced at US$2.98, showing an increaseof 21 percent over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$2.89 and a high of US$3.06.
  • Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.6981, up 6.3 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price on Wednesday was US$0.6873, with a high of US$0.7138.

Today’s crypto news to know

Riot Platforms secures US$100 million credit facility backed by Bitcoin

Riot Platforms (NASDAQ:RIOT) secured a US$100 million credit facility from Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) on Wednesday (April 23), using a massive Bitcoin stockpile as collateral.

Data from Bitcoin Treasuries indicates that Riot holds 19,223 BTC valued at approximately US$1.8 billion, making the company the third-largest corporate Bitcoin treasury behind Michael Saylor’s Strategy and MARA Holdings.

“Riot has entered into its first bitcoin-backed facility, which provides us with non-dilutive funding at an attractive cost of financing,” said Jason Les, CEO of Riot, in a press release. “This credit facility is a key part of our efforts to diversify sources of financing to support our operations and strategic growth initiatives, with a view towards long-term stockholder value creation.”

Brandon Lutnick forms new Bitcoin investment vehicle

Brandon Lutnick, son of US Commerce Secretary and former Cantor Fitzgerald Chairman Howard Lutnick, will launch a listed Bitcoin investment vehicle through a reverse merger with Cantor Equity Partners, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). This is according to a Tuesday (April 22) report by the Financial Times (FT).

The newly-established entity, purportedly named Twenty One Capital, will be led by co-founder Jack Mallers, the CEO of Bitcoin-focused payments app Strike, and majority owned by Tether (USDT) and cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex. SoftBank (TSE:9984, OTCPINK:SOBKY) will also own a ‘significant minority’ stake. Sources for FT say Tether will contribute at least US$1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin.

The company will also raise US$385 million through a convertible bond and US$200 million via a private equity placement, which will be used to acquire more Bitcoin. Eventually, SoftBank, Tether and Bitfinex’s investments will be converted from Bitcoin into shares in Twenty One Capital, with a price of US$13 per share for the private placement and US$10 per share for the convertible bond.

According to the report, Twenty One Capital will launch with 42,000 BTC, making it the world’s third-largest Bitcoin reserve. “With a visionary leader at the helm and backing from two renowned industry leaders, Twenty One is designed to help investors capture value from Bitcoin’s growing global demand and increasing institutional adoption,” Lutnick said in a press release on Wednesday. The deal values the new company at US$3.6 billion based on an approximate US$85,000 Bitcoin valuation. As of writing, Bitcoin is valued at US$93,808.31.

Trump to Host Exclusive Dinner for $TRUMP Token Holders

Lauded as “the most exclusive invitation in the world”, US President Donald Trump will host a dinner for the top 220 holders of his $TRUMP token in Washington, D.C. on May 22. News of the event, which was announced on the memecoin’s official website, sent $TRUMP’s valuation up by over 55 percent in under an hour. $TRUMP reached US$14.44 at around midday on April 23, its highest valuation since mid-February. As of writing, $TRUMP is valued at US$13.46.

Top token holders are required to link their wallets for holding verification. The top 25 holders will gather for a private reception with the President before dinner.

Around 40 million $TRUMP tokens, or roughly 20 percent of the tokens’ circulating supply, were unlocked on April 17, valued slightly above US$300 million at the time. $TRUMP reached an all-time high of US$75.35 on January 19, according to data from CoinMarket Cap. This was followed by an abrupt reversal and steady decline in Q1 to valuations between US$9 – US$7 in April.

Bitcoin ETFs see US$936 million in daily inflows

US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded their strongest day of inflows since January, pulling in a combined US$936 million on Tuesday (April 22) across 10 issuers.

Leading the charge were Ark & 21Shares with US$267.1 million, Fidelity’s FBTC with US$253.8 million and BlackRock’s IBIT, which added US$193.5 million.

Over the past three days, total net inflows into Bitcoin ETFs have surpassed $1.4 billion, signaling renewed institutional confidence in crypto markets. Analysts attribute the momentum to persistent inflation, a weakening US dollar and growing fears over geopolitical instability, prompting investors to turn to Bitcoin as a hedge.

While still volatile, Bitcoin is increasingly being framed as “digital gold,” with ETF flows suggesting it’s becoming a staple in diversified portfolios. This week’s influx also reflects optimism that regulatory conditions are maturing, particularly in the US, where ETFs are rapidly gaining legitimacy among mainstream investors.

Bitcoin becomes fifth largest global asset, overtakes Google

Bitcoin has climbed to a market capitalization of US$1.86 trillion, overtaking Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) to become the world’s fifth-largest asset by market value. The price of Bitcoin surged past US$94,000, helped by easing trade tensions between the US and China and renewed bullish sentiment across tech and risk-on assets.

This marks a symbolic milestone for the cryptocurrency, which has now outpaced several of the world’s most valuable tech giants. Analysts point to Bitcoin’s increasing correlation with macroeconomic tailwinds — such as falling bond yields and speculative interest in risk assets — as drivers of the recent price action.

Its breakout relative to the Nasdaq also suggests growing investor confidence in crypto as a parallel to tech. If Bitcoin maintains this trajectory, some believe it could soon challenge silver’s position as the fourth-largest global asset.

Trump backs crypto regulation, Trump Media eyes retail crypto products

During a public appearance, US President Donald Trump called for regulatory certainty in the crypto industry and vowed to provide ‘clear rules of the road’ for digital asset innovation.

His statement coincided with Trump Media & Technology Group’s announcement that it will partner with Crypto.com and Yorkville America Digital to launch retail investment products, including crypto-focused ETFs aligned with Trump’s “America First” platform. The planned offerings aim to capitalize on the president’s growing presence in the digital asset space following prior ventures like Trump NFTs and crypto-affiliated partnerships.

While no official ETF filings have been submitted yet, the initiative signals Trump’s commitment to making crypto a policy priority as part of his economic strategy.

Tesla reports US$951 million in Bitcoin holdings despite earnings miss

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) revealed it continues to hold $951 million worth of Bitcoin on its balance sheet, despite posting weaker-than-expected quarterly revenue of US$19.34 billion.

The automaker’s Bitcoin holdings, totaling 11,509 BTC, remained unchanged during the quarter, with no buy or sell activity recorded. This comes as Bitcoin’s price dipped from late December highs, impacting Tesla’s valuation of its digital asset portfolio under the new Financial Accounting Standards Board rules.

These rules now require corporations to mark digital assets to market on a quarterly basis, increasing transparency but also exposing earnings to crypto market volatility. Tesla’s crypto exposure, while relatively small compared to its core business, still makes it one of the top public holders of Bitcoin globally.

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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Amazon and Nvidia say AI data center demand is not slowing down

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OKLAHOMA CITY — Amazon and Nvidia executives said Thursday that the construction of artificial intelligence data centers is not slowing down, as recession fears have some investors questioning whether tech companies will pull back on some of their plans.

“There’s been really no significant change,” Kevin Miller, Amazon’s vice president of global data centers, said at a conference organized by the Hamm Institute for American Energy. “We continue to see very strong demand, and we’re looking both in the next couple years as well as long term and seeing the numbers only going up.”

The comments run contrary to worrying buzz building on Wall Street about tech companies changing data center buildout plans. Wells Fargo analysts said Monday that Amazon Web Services is pausing some leases on data center commitments, citing industry sources. The magnitude of the pause was unclear, the analysts said, but the comments raised fears that Amazon was doing something similar to Microsoft’s recent move to pull back on some early stage projects.

Miller said “there’s been little tea leaf reading and extrapolating to strange results” about Amazon’s plans.

Nvidia is also not seeing signs of a slowdown, said Josh Parker, the chipmaker’s senior director of corporate sustainability.

“We haven’t seen a pullback,” Parker said. China’s artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek sparked a sell-off in power stocks earlier this year as investors worried that its artificial intelligence model is more efficient and data centers might need as much energy as originally anticipated.

But Parker said Nvidia sees compute and energy demand only rising due to AI, describing the reaction to DeepSeek as “kneejerk.” Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark said 50 gigawatts of new power capacity will be needed by 2027 to support AI. That is the equivalent of about 50 new nuclear plants.

“Anthropic and the other AI companies, what we’re seeing is tremendous growth in the need for new baseload power. We’re seeing unprecedented growth,” Clark said.

The executives were speaking at a gathering of tech and energy companies at a conference in Oklahoma City organized by the Hamm Institute to discuss how the U.S. can address the growing energy needs for AI. There is a growing consensus in both industries that natural gas will be needed to meet the power needs.

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Amazon and Nvidia say AI data center demand isn’t slowing

Business

OKLAHOMA CITY — Amazon and Nvidia executives said Thursday that the construction of artificial intelligence data centers is not slowing down, as recession fears have some investors questioning whether tech companies will pull back on some of their plans.

“There’s been really no significant change,” Kevin Miller, Amazon’s vice president of global data centers, said at a conference organized by the Hamm Institute for American Energy. “We continue to see very strong demand, and we’re looking both in the next couple years as well as long term and seeing the numbers only going up.”

The comments run contrary to worrying buzz building on Wall Street about tech companies changing data center buildout plans. Wells Fargo analysts said Monday that Amazon Web Services is pausing some leases on data center commitments, citing industry sources. The magnitude of the pause was unclear, the analysts said, but the comments raised fears that Amazon was doing something similar to Microsoft’s recent move to pull back on some early stage projects.

Miller said “there’s been little tea leaf reading and extrapolating to strange results” about Amazon’s plans.

Nvidia is also not seeing signs of a slowdown, said Josh Parker, the chipmaker’s senior director of corporate sustainability.

“We haven’t seen a pullback,” Parker said. China’s artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek sparked a sell-off in power stocks earlier this year as investors worried that its artificial intelligence model is more efficient and data centers might need as much energy as originally anticipated.

But Parker said Nvidia sees computer and energy demand only rising due to AI, describing the reaction to DeepSeek as “kneejerk.” Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark said 50 gigawatts of new power capacity will be needed by 2027 to support AI. That is the equivalent of about 50 new nuclear plants.

“Anthropic and the other AI companies, what we’re seeing is tremendous growth in the need for new baseload power. We’re seeing unprecedented growth,” Clark said.

The executives were speaking at a gathering of tech and energy companies at a conference in Oklahoma City organized by the Hamm Institute to discuss how the U.S. can address the growing energy needs for AI. There is a growing consensus in both industries that natural gas will be needed to meet the power needs.

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American liquor exports hit record high in 2024, driven by tariffs

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U.S. spirit exports reached a record $2.4 billion in 2024, driven in large part by tariff concerns and ongoing global trade disputes.

That is according to the American Spirits Exports report published by trade association the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States on Thursday.

“U.S. spirits exports hit a new high in 2024, recapturing lost market share since the UK and EU lifted retaliatory tariffs that were applied between 2018-2021,” said DISCUS President and CEO Chris Swonger. “Unfortunately, ongoing trade disputes unrelated to our sector have caused uncertainty, keeping many U.S. distillers on the sidelines and curtailing sales growth.”

U.S. spirits exports to the EU surged by 39%, fueled by concerns over the potential return of a 50% tariff on American whiskey imports in 2025, which was suspended in 2022.

In March, Trump threatened to put 200% tariffs on French Champagne and other EU spirits, which led European world leaders — specifically from Ireland, France and Italy — to advocate for bourbon tariffs not to return as part of retaliatory measures.

The threat of that specific tariff has faded somewhat as the U.S. and EU continue trade negotiations.

Approximately 50% of U.S. spirits were exported to the EU — totaling $1.2 billion — making it the largest export market.

Exports to the rest of the world, however, declined by nearly 10%, the report found, which reflects the broader softening alcohol category.

Suntory Beam, the Japanese maker of Jim Beam bourbon whiskey, said in December it was preparing for tariffs by stockpiling supply in Europe. The company is already heavily reliant on France and the United Kingdom, which make up over 50% of its global exports market over the last eight years, according to global trade data from Panjiva.

Several of the top states for exports in 2024 are significant bourbon economies, according to the report.

Still, American whiskey exports, which accounted for 54% of all U.S. spirits exports, dipped 5.4% to $1.3 billion.

Swonger said that while outlook for spirits remains highly unpredictable with ongoing trade disputes, one fact rings true in the data: Exports go to countries that have eliminated tariffs.

“We are thankful for President Trump’s early success in securing India’s reduction of its tariff on Bourbon from 150% to 100%,” Swonger said. “It’s our hope that the administration builds on this positive momentum by securing additional tariff reductions in India and reducing trade barriers in other countries.”

Headwinds remain for the industry. Canada, the second largest market for U.S. spirits exports, imposed a 25% tariff in on alcohol coming over the border in March, and several provinces have removed product from shelves.

Distiller and brewers also face steel and aluminum tariffs that impact materials costs for brewers like Constellation Brands, which lowered long-term 2027 and 2028 guidance significantly around “the anticipated impact of tariffs.”

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