Markets and commodities react

Canadian equity markets were in retreat to end the week.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) lost 3.4 percent over the week to close Friday at 31,923.52, while the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) fared worse, shedding 8.15 percent to 1,051.08. The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) dropped 9.54 percent to 169.92.

The gold price saw significant declines from mid-week highs, losing 9.76 percent during Friday’s trading day. However, it fell just 1.76 percent from the week’s start to close at US$4,840.76 per ounce on Friday at 4:00 p.m. EST.

The silver price fared even worse, plummeting 28.17 percent on Friday, and closing the week 13.62 percent lower overall at US$83.43 on Friday.

In base metals, the Comex copper price recorded a 1.32 percent drop this week to US$5.98.

On the other hand, the S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) was up 4.24 percent to end Friday at 598.20.

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 2:00 p.m. EST 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. Vanguard Mining (CSE:UUU)

Weekly gain: 141.18 percent
Market cap: C$29.82 million
Share price: C$0.41

Vanguard Mining is an exploration company working to advance a portfolio of uranium, copper and nickel assets in Canada and Paraguay. Its flagship project is the Yuty Prometeo uranium project in Paraguay.

Among its properties is the Redonda copper and molybdenum project near Campbell River, British Columbia. The site consists of nine mineral claims covering 2,746 hectares and hosts porphyry-style mineralization.

On Tuesday (January 27), Vanguard announced plans for its phase 2 drill program at Redonda, comprising up to 7 holes totaling 2,800 meters, targeting areas in the southeast portion of the property between historic drill holes.

The company also said it would conduct detailed mapping and prospecting in the northern and western portions of Redonda to identify additional priority drill targets and would use phase 1 results to refine targeting.

The program is being advanced quickly to build on drilling results that “confirmed a significantly expanded copper-molybdenum mineralized system at Redonda,” the company said.

2. San Lorenzo Gold (TSXV:SLG)

Weekly gain: 85.6 percent
Market cap: C$185.63 million
Share price: C$2.32

San Lorenzo Gold is an exploration company working to advance its Salvadora project in the Chañaral province of Chile.

The property consists of 25 exploration and nine exploitation concessions covering an area of 8,796 hectares. It hosts a large copper and gold porphyry system with several significant targets. According to the project page, the site geology resembles that of the nearby Codelco-owned Salvador copper mine, which has operated since the early 1950s and is expected to continue until the mid-2060s following an expansion.

On January 26, San Lorenzo provided assay results from the first hole of a drilling program at the Cerro Blanco target at Salvadora. The hole was drilled to a depth of 472 meters, of which it encountered 222.4 meters of mineralization across five sections. The widest interval graded 1.09 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold over 132.2 meters from a depth of 201.5 meters.

The company said it believes the mineralization represents the upper level of a porphyry system and that it suggests a continuation of the system encountered during drilling at the site in 2025.

3. Ameriwest Critical Metals (CSE:AWCM)

Weekly gain: 75.76 percent
Market cap: C$14.69 million
Share price: C$0.58

Ameriwest Critical Minerals is an exploration company with a portfolio of assets in British Columbia, Canada, as well as the US states of Nevada, Oregon and Arizona.

The company announced in August that it was changing its name from Ameriwest Lithium to better reflect a portfolio diversifying into copper and rare earth minerals.

In October 2025, Ameriwest entered into a definitive agreement for the option and potential purchase of the Xeno RAR rare earth mineral claims in British Columbia. Under the terms of the deal, Ameriwest will pay C$55,000 in cash considerations, C$125,000 in exploration expenses over 18 months, a 2 percent net smelter return royalty and 2 million shares.

Then, in November, the company completed the acquisition of 34 unpatented mineral claims in Oregon that form the Bornite copper project in exchange for US$100,000 and a 2 percent net smelter return royalty.

Previous exploration of the Bornite property by Plexus in the 1990s identified a historic resource of 138.5 million pounds of copper, 54,000 ounces of gold and 1.7 million ounces of silver from 3.2 million metric tons of ore. Ameriwest’s current CEO was part of the Plexus team who explored Bornite.

In addition to its recently acquired properties, Ameriwest also owns the Thompson Valley lithium project in Arizona and the Railroad Valley lithium project in Nevada.

The most recent news from the company came on January 20, when it upsized a non-brokered private placement from C$2 million to C$3 million. The company said proceeds would be used to accelerate exploration efforts at its Bornite project.

In the release, Ameriwest says its long-term goal at the project, if results, financing and permitting are successful, is “evaluating the development of an approximately 1,000-tonne-per-day underground copper mining operation.”

4. Tectonic Metals (TSXV:TECT)

Weekly gain: 61.78 percent
Market cap: C$217.87 million
Share price: C$2.54

Tectonic Metals is a gold exploration company working to advance the Flat project in Alaska, US.

The project covers 98,840 acres in Western Alaska and hosts a reduced intrusion-related gold system and six district-scale targets. According to Tectonic, the mineralization is analogous to Kinross Gold’s (TSX:K,NYSE:KGC) Fort Knox mine in Eastern Alaska.

Among the targets is the Chicken Mountain intrusion, where exploration has identified 3 kilometers of mineral strike that remains open in all directions. Each of the 87 holes drilled at Chicken Mountain have intercepted gold.

The most recent update from the Flat project came on Thursday, when Tectonic announced results from 20 drill holes across four target areas.

Most significantly, its first drilling at the Black Creek intrusion, located 6 kilometers north of Chicken Mountain, discovered a new gold zone. The discovery hole, which started from surface, returned grades of 4.5 g/t gold over 48.77 meters. This included a core interval of 7.79 g/t over 24.38 meters, inside of which was a 6.1 meter interval grading 15.19 g/t.

The company said drilling has now confirmed gold mineralization across five intrusion targets: Chicken Mountain, Alpha Bowl, Golden Apex, Black Creek and Jam. It also said that results from 14 other holes are still pending.

5. Golden Lake Exploration (CSE:GLM)

Weekly gain: 60 percent
Market cap: C$12.48 million
Share price: C$0.12

Golden Lake Exploration is a gold exploration company that owns the Jewel Ridge gold project in Nevada, United States.

The project sits along the prolific Battle Mountain–Eureka Gold trend, which has produced more than 40 million ounces to date and hosts operations from McEwen Mining (TSX:MUX,NYSE:MUX) and North Peak Resources.

More than 700 meters of strike have been identified on the property across three primary targets: Eureka Tunnel, Jewel Ridge and Hamburg.

On Wednesday, Golden Lake announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to be wholly acquired by McEwen Mining and become its subsidiary. Among the highlights of the deal is the ability for Jewel Ridge to be integrated into McEwen’s neighboring Gold Bar mine complex, providing access to infrastructure and funding.

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.

Investor Insight

ILC Critical Minerals, formerly known as International Lithium Corp., offers investors exposure to the growing critical metals sector through its advanced-stage Raleigh Lake lithium-rubidium project in Ontario, early-stage copper-cobalt exploration at Firesteel in Ontario, and strategic focus on Southern Africa, all supported by strong infrastructure and a seasoned leadership team.

With strategic divestments, a robust financial position, and a focused growth strategy, ILC Critical Minerals is well-positioned to meet the rising demand for lithium and other critical metals

Overview

ILC Critical Minerals, (TSXV:ILC,OTC:ILHMF,FRA:IAH,OTCQB:ILHMF) is a Canada-based mineral exploration company focused on the discovery and development of lithium and other critical metals essential for the transition to a cleaner, greener planet. With a portfolio of projects located in mining-friendly jurisdictions, the company’s primary objective is to build shareholder value by advancing its key assets towards production while expanding its presence in emerging critical metals regions.

ILC Critical Minerals’ flagship asset is the 100 percent owned Raleigh Lake lithium and rubidium project in Ontario. A preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for the Raleigh Lake project, completed in December 2023, demonstrated strong project economics and significant resource growth potential, including an annual after-tax cash flow of C$634 million, NPV of C$342.9 million and IRR of 44.3 percent, with a nine-year mine life and project duration of 11 years. This assessment did not yet include rubidium, which represents significant additional potential pending further market analysis.

Complementing its lithium focus, the company is advancing the Firesteel copper-cobalt project in northwestern Ontario, targeting high-grade base metal mineralization to further diversify its critical metals exposure.

In addition to its Canadian projects, ILC is positioning for further international growth with a strategic focus on Southern Africa. It has applied for exclusive prospecting orders (EPOs) in Zimbabwe, one of the world’s most prospective regions for hard rock lithium exploration.

Recent strategic divestments, including the sale of the Avalonia project stake, have strengthened ILC’s financial position, enabling focused investment in its core projects.

In 2025, ILC Critical Minerals acquired an option from Lepidico (Canada) Inc. to purchase 100 percent of Lepidico (Mauritius) for C$975,000. Lepidico Mauritius holds an 80 percent stake in Lepidico Chemicals Namibia (Pty) Ltd., which owns the Karibib Lithium, Rubidium and Cesium Project in Namibia.

The project comprises two areas with fully permitted mining licences, known as Rubicon and Helikon. It also hosts one of the largest disclosed rubidium resources in Africa, along with significant lithium and cesium mineralization.

Exercising the Karibib option would enable International Lithium to tap into the lithium market’s growth while solidifying its position as a leading rubidium producer. The project would also add major cesium resources outside China, strengthening the company’s role in three critical minerals vital to global supply chains.

As of October 2025, ILC Critical Minerals confirmed that Lepidico had met all loan drawdown conditions. The option, expiring after the pending Singapore arbitration between Lepidico Chemicals Namibia and Jiangxi Jinhui Lithium, remains dependent on the arbitration’s outcome and will guide International Lithium’s decision on proceeding with the acquisition.

The company is led by an experienced management team with a strong technical background in mineral exploration, project development and corporate finance. Supported by access to established infrastructure, a commitment to sustainable development practices, and a clear strategic focus, International Lithium is well-positioned to capitalize on the increasing global demand for lithium and other essential materials critical to the clean energy transition.

Company Highlights

• ILC Critical Minerals is focused on developing lithium and critical metals projects in Canada and Southern Africa, aiming to deliver shareholder value through project development, strategic partnerships and project sales.
• Raleigh Lake is ILC’s wholly owned flagship lithium-rubidium project in Ontario, Canada, with a positive PEA completed in December 2023.
• ILC holds a 90 percent interest in the Firesteel copper and cobalt project in Northwestern Ontario, with exploration permits filed and drilling programs planned.
• The company has applied for exclusive prospecting orders (EPOs) in Zimbabwe and is continuing to review further exploration opportunities in Southern Africa.
• ILC is debt-free with a robust financial position. It has monetized its non-core assets, including the sale of its stake in the Avalonia project in Ireland, resulting in a C$2.5 million payment and a 2 percent net smelter royalty.
• ILC secured an option to acquire 100 percent of Lepidico (Mauritius), which owns an 80 percent interest in Lepidico Chemicals Namibia, the owner of the Karibib Lithium, Rubidium and Cesium Project in Namibia.
• The company is led by an experienced management team with a proven track record in advancing mineral exploration projects.

Key Projects

Raleigh Lake

The Raleigh Lake project is ILC’s flagship asset, located approximately 25 kilometres west of Ignace, Ontario. The project covers a contiguous land package of 32,900 hectares and is 100 percent owned by the company. Raleigh Lake benefits from excellent infrastructure access, situated near the Trans-Canada Highway, a Canadian Pacific Railway line, and existing natural gas and hydroelectric infrastructure.

Major public infrastructure relative to the Raleigh Lake project

Raleigh Lake is notable for its dual potential to host both lithium and rubidium mineralization. The lithium is found primarily in spodumene-bearing pegmatites, while rubidium is associated with microcline-rich zones of the same lithium-cesium-tantalum pegmatite system. In 2023, International Lithium published a maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) that delineated significant resources for both lithium and rubidium using separate cutoff criteria.

For lithium (Li₂O), the project hosts a measured and indicated resource of 5.88 Mt grading 0.79 percent Li₂O, and an inferred resource of 2.07 Mt grading 0.77 percent Li₂O, primarily within pegmatite #1. This lithium resource forms the basis of the company’s PEA, which demonstrated robust project economics with an after-tax NPV (8 percent) of C$342.9 million and an IRR of 44.3 percent.

The rubidium component, though not included in the PEA due to current market constraints, represents an additional potential value stream. The company has reported a measured and indicated resource of 133,000 tons at 6,163 ppm rubidium (0.67 percent Rb₂O) and an inferred resource of 123,000 tons at 4,224 ppm rubidium (0.46 percent Rb₂O), using a 4,000 ppm cutoff. The rubidium zones are found in association with potassic feldspar, offering a potentially recoverable byproduct pending further market and technical evaluation.

Given the project’s strong infrastructure position, mineral endowment, and defined development path, Raleigh Lake represents a compelling advanced-stage opportunity in North America’s lithium supply chain. International Lithium is continuing infill and expansion drilling, environmental baseline studies, and metallurgical testing to support project advancement toward pre-feasibility.

Firesteel Project

The Firesteel project is an early-stage copper-cobalt exploration property located in northwestern Ontario, approximately 10 km west of Upsala along Highway 17. Spanning a 16-km corridor to the Firesteel River, the property lies within a geologically favorable region characterized by Archean metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks, which are prospective for volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) and sedimentary copper systems.

ILC Critical Minerals completed the acquisition of a 90 percent interest in the Firesteel project in May 2024, aiming to diversify its critical metals portfolio beyond lithium. Historical sampling on the property has returned encouraging results, including copper assays up to 2.6 percent and cobalt values reaching 309 ppm. Notably, the ‘Roadside 1’ occurrence features semi-massive sulphide mineralization comprising pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and bornite. These findings suggest the presence of a highly metamorphosed VMS or sedimentary copper system, potentially up to 20 meters wide and extending over a kilometer in length.

The project’s proximity to major infrastructure, including highways and railways, coupled with its strategic location near the company’s Raleigh Lake project, enhances its development potential. International Lithium plans to conduct systematic exploration, including geochemical sampling and geophysical surveys, to refine targets for future drilling campaigns.

Wolf Ridge Project

Wolf Ridge is a 5,700-hectare grassroots lithium project located 20 km southwest of Upsala and near ILC’s Firesteel copper claims. The area benefits from excellent infrastructure, including proximity to Highway 17, power, and road access.

The project was highlighted by the Ontario Geological Survey (2021–2022) for its standout lake sediment anomalies – among the highest lithium values in the region – indicating strong potential for LCT pegmatite mineralization.

Read more on page 54 of the report here.

Southern Africa Exploration Initiative

Southern Africa is recognized as a prospective region for hard rock lithium, and International Lithium’s strategic focus reflects a proactive move to establish a presence in this emerging jurisdiction.

As part of its strategy to expand its critical metals footprint, International Lithium has applied for Exclusive Prospecting Orders (EPOs) over several prospective areas in Zimbabwe. The targeted regions are known for hosting spodumene, lepidolite and petalite-bearing pegmatites, indicating potential for significant lithium resources.

Although the EPO applications are still pending approval, the company has already conducted initial due diligence, including geological reviews and desktop studies, to prioritize exploration targets once access is granted. Zimbabwe’s growing importance as a global lithium supplier, combined with favorable mining policies, offers a compelling backdrop for the company’s expansion efforts. International Lithium intends to leverage its technical expertise and exploration experience to quickly evaluate and develop these opportunities upon receiving the necessary permits

Management Team

John Wisbey – Chairman and CEO

John Wisbey joined International Lithium in 2017, initially serving as deputy chairman before being appointed chairman and CEO in March 2018. Under his leadership, the company has undergone a significant transformation, including achieving 100 percent ownership of the Raleigh Lake project, divesting non-core assets, and expanding into new jurisdictions such as Zimbabwe. He founded two London AIM-listed companies: IDOX, which provides software for the UK local government; and Lombard Risk Management, which specializes in software for bank risk management and regulation. He also established CONVENDIA, a private company that specializes in software for cash flow forecasting, project valuation and M&A financial analysis. With a background in banking and financial technology entrepreneurship, Wisbey brings extensive experience in corporate leadership and strategic development. He is also the company’s largest shareholder.

Maurice Brooks – Director and CFO

Maurice Brooks joined the board of ILC in 2017. He is a licensed senior statutory auditor in the UK. Since 2000, he has been a senior partner at Johnson Smith & Co. in Staines, Surrey. Before that, Brooks was a senior partner in Johnsons Chartered Accountants in the London Borough of Ealing. His commercial and investment experience includes executive directorships in manufacturing and an investment accountant role in the superannuation fund of the Western Australian state government. His early professional employment includes Ball Baker Leake LLP and LLC and Price Waterhouse Coopers-UK.

Anthony Kovacs – Director and COO

Anthony Kovacs joined the board of ILC in 2018 and has worked with the company since 2012. He has over 25 years of experience in mineral exploration and development. Before joining ILC, he held senior management roles in which he sourced and advanced iron ore and industrial minerals projects. Kovacs was involved in early-stage work at the Lac Otelnuk Iron Ore project in Quebec, Canada and the Mustavaara Vanadium Mine in Finland. Before that, Kovacs worked for Anglo American where he focused on Ni-Cu-PGE and IOCG projects. At Anglo-American, Kovacs was directly involved in several discoveries internationally. Kovacs has significant experience with industrial minerals, ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals and precious metals projects throughout the Americas, Europe and Africa.

Ross Thompson – Non-executive Director

Ross Thompson joined the board of ILC in 2017 and is the chair of the audit and remuneration committees. He is a speaker and expert in marketing behavioral science. In 1995, he founded Giftpoint Ltd. which is now one of the largest specialist promotional merchandise businesses in the UK. with offices in London and Shanghai. Giftpoint Ltd.’s clients include L’Oreal, Oracle, Ocado and Pernod Ricard among others. Thompson was president of IGC Global Promotions, one of the world’s oldest and largest global networks of premium resellers, for seven years. He is an active investor with a special interest and understanding of natural resources businesses.

Geoffrey Baker – Non-executive Director

Geoff Baker joined the board of ILC at the end of 2022 and is a member of the audit committee. He has a career in the natural resource and finance industries. He is a director of Tim Trading, a company offering consultancy services in the oil and gas industry. During his tenure as manager of Insch Black Gold Funds, Baker received the Investors’ Choice Swiss Fund Manager of the Year Award. He is a co-founder of a digital collectible non fungible token CryptoChronic and of Cannastore, a pilot e-commerce website. Baker holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Windsor in Ontario.

Muhammad Memon – Corporate Secretary and Financial Controller

Muhammad Memon became corporate secretary of ILC in 2021. He has over 10 years of experience in managing finance and compliance functions of public companies in various sectors including mining exploration, investment management, real estate and technology. He assists companies with debt and equity financings, cash flow management and forecasting, legal and regulatory compliance, investor communications, stakeholder engagement and risk management. He is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, United Kingdom.

1. Payments expansion and invisible settlement

Stablecoins are evolving from a gray-zone asset into an invisible, programmable global settlement infrastructure, integrated into cross-border and local instant payment systems and card networks. Wallets function as multi-currency routing hubs, handling conversions and optimizing paths, increasingly using ‘PayFi’ models where held capital automatically earns on-chain yield during payment cycles.

2. The rise of agentic commerce

The artificial intelligence (AI) economy is moving toward machines as autonomous economic actors. Protocols like x402 enable AI agents to transact automatically for data and services by embedding stablecoin payments in HTTP requests.

As this shifts the security focus from know your customer to know your agent (KYA), wallets are becoming unified funding, risk control and KYA enforcement hubs for both people and their authorized agents.

3. Privacy as core infrastructure

Privacy is now essential for scalable on-chain finance. With the Ethereum Foundation prioritizing it, privacy must be built into the infrastructure. Wallets are emerging as the main privacy boundary, managing transactions and on-chain data access to balance trust, usability and compliance without revealing full balances or behaviors.

4. On-chain credit evolves from collateral to reputation

DeFi is shifting from overcollateralized lending to models based on behavioral trust. Continuous on-chain activity, including recurring payments and cash management, generates behavioral signals for dynamic risk assessment. Wallets can aggregate these cross-chain, time-based behaviors to create a behavioral credit layer, translating consistent activity into better permissions and reduced friction, thus building durable financial relationships.

5. Market rebalancing and RWA derivatives

Real-world assets (RWAs) are evolving past simple tokenization toward perpetual and synthetic exposure.

With regulatory clarity and a sizeable increase in tokenized RWA value, reaching US$37.7 billion in 2025, attention is shifting to trading. Synthetic RWA derivatives and perpetual decentralized exchanges (Perp DEXs) are emerging, facilitating price exposure to nearly any asset with a reliable feed, and turning wallets into cross-market portfolio allocation gateways.

6. Perp DEXs and wallet-native trading

Decentralized perpetual markets grew significantly in 2025, with monthly turnover surpassing US$1 trillion at times. This brought on-chain perpetuals close to 20 percent of centralized derivatives volume.

Wallets are increasingly becoming the main trading platform, integrating execution, context and portfolio management, replacing standalone trading venues.

7. Prediction markets as tradable information

Prediction markets have become key financial infrastructure, with annual volumes over US$40 billion.

They now convert real-world events, like sports or elections, into tradable probability signals containing asymmetric information. Wallets are transforming into event-driven financial interfaces, making it easier for users to express views and manage risk based on these outcomes.

8. Memecoins as an onboarding vector

Memecoins, despite driving new wallet downloads and trading, offer inconsistent liquidity.

As the market matures, wallets are adding advanced tools like address clustering and relationship analysis to help users better understand the emotion, momentum and capital flows of meme trading, aiming to convert speculative activity into sustainable financial behavior.

Investor takeaway

“Crypto is increasingly being used for everyday financial activity,” said Bitget Wallet CMO Jamie Elkaleh.

Elkaleh also noted that Bitget Wallet has embraced this shift, strategically aligning its product architecture around payments and cash management with its unified Pay hub that combines crypto cards, QR payments and bank transfers alongside yield and trading features.

Asset allocations: Cash reigns, crypto cowers

This emotional undercurrent is manifesting starkly in portfolios, where safety trumps speculation.

The MarketWise survey shows that cash still dominates, with 86 percent of investors participating with an average US$626 monthly allocation. Fifty-five percent deem it the safest asset overall.

In stark contrast, crypto attracts just 35 percent participation at a meager US$92 monthly average.

“Crypto is no longer the ‘Wild West,’ but investor confidence hasn’t caught up to regulatory clarity. Fifty-four percent of investors say crypto is the asset class they’re most cautious about, and 56 percent see it as the most volatile despite reporting rules and oversight expanding,” said Royal.

Gold and commodities drew optimism from 44 percent overall, with that amount rising to 47 percent among Millennials. This sentiment aligns with the metal’s recent record surge past US$5,500 per ounce on safe-haven bids.

Stocks remain broad at 69 percent participation with an average monthly contribution of US$320; however, caution prevails for 46 percent of those surveyed, who said they feel “fearful” about stocks in 2026, mirroring 47 percent real estate wariness, despite a 23 percent holding.

Generational anxiety divide

Recession fears loom large, with three-quarters of respondents anticipating a 2026 downturn — yet 46 percent admit financial unreadiness. This number rises to 54 percent for those earning under US$75,000.

“Investor sentiment explains why panic-driven behavior persists, such as 18 percent of investors reporting that doomscrolling has already pushed them into a rushed investment decision,” Royal noted.

Forty-three percent of respondents predict emotional investing will harm their performance, while 45 percent have paused markets for mental health and 46 percent let economic and geopolitical headlines sway feelings.

“The mental tax of investing is becoming tough to ignore,” Royal added.

“Half of American investors check their portfolios at least once a day (with 9 percent doing so five or more times per day), and 51 percent feel investment stress at least monthly.”

This intensifies among youth. Sixty-one percent of Gen Z report acute investment stress, and 36 percent feel it daily or weekly, far above the average. Fear of missing out, or ‘FOMO,’ drives 17 percent of Gen Z decisions, with 42 percent overall somewhat or often impacted, highlighting impulsive trends among youth.

Meanwhile, 36 percent of Gen Z plan safety shifts versus 29 percent broadly. Millennials show parallel vulnerabilities: 21 percent admit doomscrolling panic, and 11 percent check portfolios frequently.

“Even solid fundamentals can get drowned out by headlines when investors are this emotionally fatigued. Of course, that’s when discipline matters most,” explained Royal.

Coping strategies lean toward rationality: 34 percent remind themselves markets move in cycles, and 20 percent research more to regain control. Older generations appear to show more restraint. Baby Boomers and Gen X report lower stress, with 49 percent overall “rarely” or “never” stressed versus Gen Z’s 61 percent. This generational divide — youth FOMO versus elder discipline — underscores the emotional paralysis among younger investors.

Market behavior mirrors this anxiety: 2025 Google searches for “stock market crash” hit 1.72 million, far outpacing “bull market” searches at 262,000. “Crypto crash” drew 392,000 hits, reinforcing the survey’s fear-driven sentiment.

Investor takeaway

As the gold price hits record highs and the cryptocurrency sector lags, MarketWise’s survey proves the real 2026 battle isn’t markets — it’s mastering the emotions driving them.

Investor Insight

Homeland Nickel combines a consolidated portfolio of nine at-surface nickel laterite projects in Southern Oregon with a strategic portfolio of mining equities, offering investors leveraged exposure to domestic US nickel development alongside balance-sheet flexibility and reduced dilution risk.

Overview

Homeland Nickel (TSXV:SHL,OTC:SRCGF) is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on critical metals, with a primary emphasis on nickel laterite projects in Southern Oregon, USA. Nickel has been designated a critical mineral by the US government, and Homeland Nickel is advancing assets in what it considers the only region in the United States with the geological scale and characteristics required to support a meaningful domestic nickel supply.

The company has assembled a portfolio of nine nickel laterite projects that were originally identified during exploration campaigns conducted from the 1950s through the 1970s. These deposits occur as at-surface laterite lenses formed by the weathering of ultramafic rocks, enabling the use of surface sampling and auger drilling to rapidly define mineral resources. This geological setting allows Homeland Nickel to advance multiple projects efficiently while managing exploration costs.

In parallel with asset consolidation and exploration, Homeland Nickel maintains a portfolio of mining equities in publicly traded companies. Management views this portfolio as a strategic asset that provides additional financial flexibility and potential non-dilutive funding options, supporting a disciplined capital allocation strategy as the company advances its nickel projects through resource definition and technical studies.

Company Highlights

• Controls nine nickel laterite projects in Southern Oregon — Cleopatra, Red Flat, Eight Dollar Mountain, Woodcock Mountain, Josephine Creek, Iron Mountain, Peavine Mountain, Rough & Ready and Free & Easy — representing the most comprehensive consolidation of historically identified US nickel laterite occurrences
• Historic resources at Cleopatra (39.5 Mt @ 0.93 percent nickel) and Red Flat (18.8 Mt @ 0.84 percent nickel) provide an advanced starting point with significant expansion potential
• At-surface nickel laterite mineralization supports rapid, low-cost exploration and resource definition compared to underground nickel sulfide projects
• Strategic partnerships with Patriot Nickel (property option) and Brazilian Nickel (ore processing) support advancement toward development while limiting shareholder dilution
• Maintains a portfolio of publicly traded mining equities, providing financial flexibility and optionality to support exploration and development programs

Key Projects

Cleopatra Project

The Cleopatra project is Homeland Nickel’s flagship asset and hosts a historical mineral resource of 39.5 Mt grading 0.93 percent nickel. Mineralization occurs at surface and has historically only been explored to shallow depths (about 12 feet), leaving the deposit open at depth and along strike.

Location map of the Cleopatra Nickel property

Cleopatra is one of two projects optioned to Patriot Nickel under a staged earn-in agreement that includes cash payments, exploration expenditures and advancement to pre-feasibility. Homeland Nickel remains the operator during the exploration phase, retains a 20 percent interest in the Cleopatra project and receives a 20 percent equity interest in Patriot.

Red Flat Project

The Red Flat project is located approximately 12 kilometres inland from Gold Beach, Oregon, and hosts a historical resource of 18.8 Mt grading 0.84 percent nickel. Historical trenching and drilling indicate thick laterite horizons with consistent nickel grades.

Red Flat is accessible via gravel road.

The project has received a Surface Use Determination from the US Forest Service approving a proposed sonic drilling program, subject to a National Environmental Policy Act review. Homeland Nickel plans to update the historical resource and evaluate potential expansion through additional drilling and sampling.

Eight Dollar Mountain Project

The Eight Dollar Mountain project lies within the same ultramafic geological belt as Cleopatra and Red Flat. Surface sampling has returned nickel values of up to 2.2 percent nickel, highlighting the project’s high-grade potential. The property consists of 115 mining claims covering an area of 2,376 acres.

Eight Dollar Mountain is included in the option agreement with Patriot Nickel, with work planned to support an initial mineral resource estimate.

Woodcock Mountain Project

The Woodcock Mountain project covers more than 900 acres and has been identified by the United States Geological Survey as hosting significant nickel laterite mineralization. Historical work has reported grades up to 1.5 percent nickel over 15 feet and values as high as 2.13 percent nickel along a three-kilometre trend.

The project is located outside withdrawn land areas, and Homeland Nickel plans to advance surface sampling and auger drilling to define an initial mineral resource.

Josephine Creek Project

The Josephine Creek project, adjacent to Woodcock Mountain, was staked based on historic nickel laterite exposures. Sampling completed in 2025 returned an average grade of 0.73 percent nickel, with 10 of 82 samples grading 1 percent nickel or higher. The property consists of 174 lode mining claims covering an area of 1,455 acres.

Josephine Creek was sampled by the company in 2025 with 74 samples over 22 individual mining claims returning an average of 0.75 percent nickel with 10 samples grading over 1 percent nickel. The property benefits from proximity to infrastructure and further work is planned in 2026 to support an initial resource estimate.

Rough and Ready

The most recently acquired property, Rough and Ready, has seen extensive surface sampling, auger hole drilling and pit excavations to expose good grade nickel laterite over a wide area. Homeland Nickel will review the extensive data acquired with this project and will sample all claims for nickel during a summer 2026 exploration program.

Iron Mountain, Peavine Mountain and Free & Easy Projects

Homeland Nickel has also staked nickel laterite claims at Iron Mountain, Peavine Mountain and Free & Easy, expanding its portfolio to a total of eight projects. These earlier-stage assets provide additional pipeline depth and optionality as the company advances its more mature projects.

Mining Equities Portfolio

In addition to its wholly owned exploration assets, Homeland Nickel holds a portfolio of publicly traded mining equities, including positions in Canada Nickel Company, Noble Mineral Exploration, Benton Resources, Vinland Lithium and Magna Terra Minerals. This portfolio provides financial flexibility and potential non-dilutive funding options, supporting the company’s exploration strategy while offering exposure to value creation beyond its own project pipeline.

Management Team

Stephen Balch — President, CEO and Director

Stephen Balch is an Ontario-registered geoscientist with over 40 years of experience in mineral exploration, including nearly three decades focused on nickel. His background spans nickel, copper and platinum-group element exploration across major mining jurisdictions, including experience with Inco Limited, FNX Mining, Noront and Voiseys Bay Nickel. He has more than 20 years of public company leadership experience as a CEO, president, technical consultant and director. In 2001, he joined Aeroquest Limited and helped develop the AeroTEM airborne geophysical system, and in 2019 co-founded Canada Nickel Company, where he currently serves as VP Exploration.

Ashley Nadon — Chief Financial Officer

Ashley Nadon is a chartered professional accountant with a BA in Economics and an MBA. She provides consulting and accounting services to private and public companies as the managing director of a chartered professional accounting firm. Nadon brings experience as a CFO of several reporting issuers and currently serves as CFO for Kermode Resources.

Errol Farr — Corporate Secretary

Errol Farr is a seasoned financial professional with more than 35 years of experience in financial management, reporting, business optimization and strategy development. He previously served as CFO of Anaconda Mining, and currently holds senior executive roles including CFO, COO and corporate secretary of Zonetail, CFO of Big Tree Carbon and CFO/corporate secretary of AFR NuVenture Resources, a mining exploration company with US projects.

Vance White — Director

Vance White has over five decades of experience in guiding mineral exploration companies. He has served as president, CEO and director of Noble Mineral Exploration since 2003 and has held director and officer positions with multiple public companies in the mining sector.

Michael Dehn — Director

Michael Dehn is a partner at Avanti Management and Consulting with more than 21 years in the mining industry. He has served as a director of publicly listed and private junior mining companies and is currently president and CEO of Temas Resources and United Lithium. He has been a director of the company’s predecessor since December 2020.

Birks Bovaird — Director

Birks Bovaird is chair of the board of Energy Fuels, a uranium and vanadium mining and development company, and serves as a director of Noble Mineral Exploration. His career has focused on corporate financial consulting and strategic planning, including serving as vice-president of corporate finance at a major Canadian accounting firm. He holds an ICD.D designation and is a graduate of the Canadian Director Education Program.

Homeland Nickel (TSXV:SHL,OTC: SRCGF) is a Canada-based mineral exploration company targeting critical metals, with a strategic focus on nickel laterite projects in southern Oregon, USA. Recognized as a critical mineral by the US government, nickel underpins Homeland Nickel’s strategy as the company advances assets in what it views as the only US region with the scale and geology capable of supporting a significant domestic nickel supply.

The company has built a portfolio of nine nickel laterite projects originally identified during exploration programs carried out between the 1950s and 1970s. The deposits occur as near-surface laterite lenses formed through the weathering of ultramafic rocks, allowing for efficient surface sampling and auger drilling to quickly delineate mineral resources. This geological setting enables Homeland Nickel to advance multiple projects in parallel while maintaining a cost-effective exploration approach.

Alongside project consolidation and exploration, Homeland Nickel also holds a portfolio of mining equities in publicly listed companies. Management considers this portfolio a strategic asset that enhances financial flexibility and offers potential non-dilutive funding opportunities, supporting a disciplined capital allocation strategy as the company progresses its nickel assets through resource definition and technical evaluation.

Company Highlights

• Controls nine nickel laterite projects in Southern Oregon — Cleopatra, Red Flat, Eight Dollar Mountain, Woodcock Mountain, Josephine Creek, Iron Mountain, Peavine Mountain, Rough & Ready and Free & Easy — representing the most comprehensive consolidation of historically identified US nickel laterite occurrences
• Historic resources at Cleopatra (39.5 Mt @ 0.93 percent nickel) and Red Flat (18.8 Mt @ 0.84 percent nickel) provide an advanced starting point with significant expansion potential
• At-surface nickel laterite mineralization supports rapid, low-cost exploration and resource definition compared to underground nickel sulfide projects
• Strategic partnerships with Patriot Nickel (property option) and Brazilian Nickel (ore processing) support advancement toward development while limiting shareholder dilution
• Maintains a portfolio of publicly traded mining equities, providing financial flexibility and optionality to support exploration and development programs

This Homeland Nickel profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

Click here to connect with Homeland Nickel (TSXV:SHL) to receive an Investor Presentation

Mayfair Gold (TSXV: MFG,NYSE American: MINE) is a development-stage company focused on advancing the Fenn-Gib gold project, a large, bulk-tonnage open-pit deposit situated in one of Canada’s most prolific gold districts. The company’s technical team is actively progressing provincial permitting, engaging in Indigenous consultation, advancing engineering, and conducting ongoing exploration to expand the deposit beyond its current pit boundaries.

The Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS), prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 standards and filed in January 2026, outlines a base-case economic model with an after-tax NPV (5 percent) of C$652 million and an IRR of 24 percent, based on conservative gold prices, demonstrating rapid payback potential. Under a spot price scenario, project economics improve markedly, highlighting the asset’s strong leverage to higher gold prices. Once in operation, the project is expected to generate over $200 million in annual free cash flow, providing a robust source of capital to fund growth initiatives.

Fenn-Gib is Mayfair’s flagship asset, encompassing a significant indicated mineral resource of 181.3 million tonnes grading 0.74 g/t gold for 4.3 million contained ounces, and additional inferred ounces. The project benefits from excellent access via Highway 101 and proximity to regional mining services.

Company Highlights

• Robust Pre-feasibility Study: The 2026 PFS highlights compelling returns on a modest initial throughput design while leveraging a large resource base.
• High-grade Early Focus: The staged plan targets higher-grade, near-surface material to optimize permitting timelines, construction risk, financing, and ultimately accelerate value capture.
• Strategic Location: Fenn-Gib sits on the highly prospective Timmins Gold District, Ontario — a tier-one mining jurisdiction with established infrastructure and a long history of mining-related activity and supportive communities.
• Strong Financial Backing: The company has a committed shareholder base, including Muddy Waters, Heeney Capital, Oaktree and Vestcor. With a tight share structure and strong Insider ownership of 35% there is clear alignment for long-term shareholder value creation.
• Exploration Optionality: Mineralization at Fenn-Gib remains open at depth and along strike, with multiple underexplored targets identified across the property. This includes a Southern Block that has not been explored but sits directly on the prolific Porcupine-Destor fault.
• Long-term optionality: With a truncated timeline to production the company will be in an advantageous spot for growth initiatives that can be funded with free cash flow.
• CEO Nick Campbell, heads a technically strong and capital-markets-savvy team with a demonstrated ability to unlock value from high-quality gold assets (previously at Artemis Gold and Silvercrest Metals) and position projects for long-term growth.
• COO Drew Anwyll is an experienced mine builder; he successfully permitted the Marathon PGM project in Ontario and was a senior executive during the construction, commissioning and start-up of Detour Lake, Canada’s largest gold mine.

This Mayfair Gold profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

Click here to connect with Mayfair Gold (TSXV:MFG) to receive an Investor Presentation