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Bragason has held senior leadership roles in 650 mW+ of Geothermal Energy Infrastructure Deployment Totalling ~$3.3b, Including the World’s Largest Geothermal Power Plant, Hellisheidi in Iceland.

Syntholene Energy CORP (TSXV: ESAF,OTC:SYNTF) (FSE: 3DD0) (OTCQB: SYNTF) (‘Syntholene’), announces the appointment of Eirikur Bragason as Lead Project Manager for Syntholene’s planned synthetic fuel demonstration facility and future commercial scale-up at its cornerstone production footprint in Iceland. Mr. Bragason will support Syntholene’s infrastructure development strategy, project governance, technical risk management, and expansion efforts.

Mr. Bragason brings more than 25 years of experience in geothermal energy development, large-scale power infrastructure, and complex project execution across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, strengthening the Company’s depth in geothermal energy, power plant construction, and large-scale energy infrastructure delivery.

Mr. Bragason has acted as Chief Project Manager or Senior Technical Lead on some of the world’s most significant geothermal and renewable energy projects. These include the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant in Iceland, a combined 300 megawatt electric and 400 megawatt thermal facility recognized as the largest geothermal power plant on Earth. He also served as the Deputy General Manager of Sinopec Green Energy, overseeing a total of 4.2 gigawatts of thermal energy in operation encompassing a total investment of approximately $6 billion. Mr. Bragarson has further overseen major geothermal project development across Indonesia, the Philippines, Hungary, China, and Central Europe.

‘Syntholene is pursuing a technically rigorous and commercially disciplined approach to synthetic fuel production, differentiated by its unique integration of geothermal energy,’ commented Mr. Bragason. ‘I look forward to supporting the company as it transitions from demonstration facility to commercial scale, showcasing its potential to materially improve the economics of clean fuels.’

‘Eirikur is one of the most experienced geothermal project leaders in the world,’ said Dan Sutton, CEO of Syntholene. ‘His direct experience delivering utility-scale geothermal infrastructure, managing multinational development teams, and executing complex energy projects is aligned with Syntholene’s commercial scale-up strategy. As we advance our thermal hybrid power-to-liquids platform and deploy geothermal-anchored synthetic fuel production, his insight and operational discipline will be invaluable.’

Mr. Bragason is a globally recognized expert in geothermal power plant project management. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Arctic Green Energy, where he oversaw international geothermal platform development and operational execution. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive Officer and Chief Project Manager of KS Orka Renewables and Orka Energy in Singapore, leading the development and delivery of geothermal assets across multiple jurisdictions.

About Geothermal Energy in Iceland

Iceland’s unique geological position atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge provides exceptional access to high-temperature geothermal energy, which today serves as a cornerstone of its 100% renewable electricity grid, as well as providing over 90% of the nation’s district heating. This baseload power is characterized by its high capacity factors, often exceeding 90%, providing a level of grid stability that distinguishes it from intermittent renewables like wind and solar.

According to data from the Low-Carbon Power 2025 Report, Iceland’s geothermal infrastructure currently boasts an installed capacity of approximately 799 megawatts electrical equivalent (e), contributing nearly 28% of the country’s total electricity generation. The existing infrastructure, managed by leaders such as Landsvirkjun and ON Power, includes world-class facilities like the Hellisheidi and Reykjanes plants, which are increasingly integrating carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies to move toward carbon-negative operations.

The National Energy Authority of Iceland (Orkustofnun) identifies a massive ‘understood potential’ for future development through the Master Plan for Nature Protection and Energy Utilization. Current estimates suggest that Iceland’s total geothermal energy potential for electricity generation is approximately 20 terawatt hours per year of high-enthalpy energy available for industrial scaling.

This stable political and geological environment has positioned Iceland as a hub for long-term industrial expandability, particularly for high-energy users in the eFuel and Digital Infrastructure sectors. Reports from atNorth and Country Reports note that the ‘predictable, low-cost nature of Icelandic geothermal power’ is attracting a new wave of industrial tenants, including eFuel producers and AI-ready data centers, who require scalable, 24/7 renewable energy to meet global ESG mandates.

Iceland continues to leverage its ‘geothermal-first’ policy to foster strategic collaborations between energy producers and prospective industrial customers. This synergy bolsters confidence that industrial users can secure long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) that are insulated from the volatility of global fossil fuel markets, solidifying Iceland’s role as an energy powerhouse of the North Atlantic.

About Syntholene

Syntholene is actively commercializing its novel Hybrid Thermal Production System for low-cost clean fuel synthesis. The target output is ultrapure synthetic jet fuel, manufactured at 70% lower cost than the nearest competing technology today. The company’s mission is to deliver the world’s first truly high-performance, low-cost, and carbon-neutral synthetic fuel at an industrial scale, unlocking the potential to produce clean synthetic fuel at lower cost than fossil fuels, for the first time.

Syntholene’s power-to-liquid strategy harnesses thermal energy to power proprietary integrations of hydrogen production and fuel synthesis. Syntholene has secured 20MW of dedicated energy to support the Company’s upcoming demonstration facility and commercial scale-up.

Founded by experienced operators across advanced energy infrastructure, nuclear technology, low-emissions steel refining, process engineering, and capital markets, Syntholene aims to be the first team to deliver a scalable modular production platform for cost-competitive synthetic fuel, thus accelerating the commercialization of carbon-neutral eFuels across global markets.

For further information, please contact:
Dan Sutton, CEO
comms@syntholene.com 
www.syntholene.com
+1 608-305-4835

X: @Syntholene
Linkedin: Syntholene Energy
Youtube: Syntholene Energy

Investor Relations
KIN Communications Inc.
604-684-6730
ESAF@kincommunications.com

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

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words ‘expect’, ‘anticipate’, ‘aims’, ‘continue’, ‘estimate’, ‘objective’, ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘project’, ‘should’, ‘believe’, ‘plans’, ‘intends’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including but not limited to statements regarding the completion of the demonstration facility, commencement commercialization efforts, potential to materially improve the economics of clean fuel, the successful implementation of the test facility, commercial scalability, technical and economic viability, anticipated geothermal power availability, anticipated benefit of eFuel, and future commercial opportunities, are forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including without limitation the assumption that the Company will be able to execute its business plan, that the eFuel will have its expected benefits, that there will be market adoption, and that the Company will be able to access financing as needed to fund its business plan. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties.

Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks, including, without limitation, Syntholene’s ability to meet production targets, realize projected economic benefits, overcome technical challenges, secure financing, maintain regulatory compliance, manage geopolitical risks, and successfully negotiate definitive terms. Syntholene does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Readers are advised to exercise caution and not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

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Over the past year, the spot price of silver has surged past a 40 year record and into triple-digit territory, reaching a high of US$121 per ounce this past January.

For silver investors who bought into the physical market when the price was low, this first leg of the silver bull market has provided an opportunity to take ample profits.

At the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference, Rick Rule, proprietor at Rule Investment Media, shared his strategy for leveraging profits made in the physical silver market.

“That’s how I save. I maintain liquidity in US currency and I save in gold,” he said.

What did Rule do with the remaining half of his gains from selling physical silver?

He deposited those profits into high-quality silver-mining stocks.

“My reasoning being as follows: If silver goes nowhere for a year, if it stays rangebound, the best silver producers are discounting US$45 silver a year from now. If the price is at US$75 or US$80 they’ll be discounting US$75 or US$80 silver, which means the stock will be up 50, 60, 70 percent,” said Rule.

“The speculative outlook for the silver stocks seemed to be better than the speculative outcome for silver. If silver stays flat for a year, by definition silver won’t give me any return. But if it stays flat, the silver stocks would give me 50 or 60 percent. So it was a better speculative outcome,’ he added.

Here’s a look at the five silver stocks Rule invested in after selling his physical silver. Market cap figures were accurate as of February 12, 2026.

1. Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX:WPM,NYSE:WPM)

TSX market cap: C$88.43 billion
NYSE market cap: US$64.53 billion

Wheaton Precious Metals is the world’s biggest precious metals streaming company.

Its business model involves making upfront payments to precious metals companies in order to gain the right to purchase all or a portion of their metal production at a low, fixed cost. Investors benefit from gaining exposure to a wide range of precious metals companies operating in politically stable jurisdictions, while reducing the risk associated with investing in individual mining stocks. The company pays a quarterly dividend.

Wheaton currently has streaming agreements in place for 23 operating mines and 25 development-stage projects across five continents. This includes investments in Newmont’s (NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) Peñasquito mine in Mexico, Sibanye Stillwater’s (NYSE:SBSW) Stillwater and East Boulder mines in Montana, US, and Glencore’s (LSE:GLEN,OTCPL:GLCNF) Antamina silver mine in Peru.

2. Pan American Silver (TSX:PAAS,NASDAQ:PAAS)

TSX market cap: C$33.3 billion
NASDAQ market cap: US$23.67 billion

Pan American Silver holds interest in five silver-producing mines located in four Latin American countries.

This includes its three wholly owned mines: Huaron in Peru, Cerro Moro in Argentina and La Colorada in Mexico — its largest silver-producing asset. The company also holds a 95 percent interest in the San Vicente mine in Bolivia and a 44 percent stake in the Juanicipio mine in Mexico, operated by Fresnillo (LSE:FRES,OTCPL:FNLPF). Pan American’s gold-producing segment includes its second largest silver mine by production, the El Peñon gold-silver mine in Chile.

Ranked among the world’s largest primary silver producers, Pan American’s 2025 silver production total came in at 22.8 million ounces, alongside 742,200 ounces of gold. It’s set its silver production guidance for 2026 to between 25 million and 27 million ounces, white its expected gold production for the year is 700,000 to 750,000 ounces.

3. Industrias Penoles (OTCPL:IPOAF)

OTC market cap: US$26.14 billion

Founded in 1887, Mexico-based Industrias Peñoles is a vertically integrated metals company and a global leader in refined silver production. The company holds a majority stake in Fresnillo, the world’s leading primary silver producer.

Industrias Peñoles is also a top producer of refined gold and lead in Latin America, and one of the world’s leading producers of refined zinc and sodium sulfate. Its mining portfolio includes the Sabinas mine in Zacatecas, the Tizapa mine in Zacazonapan and the Velardeña mine in Durango. In the first half of 2025, Industrias Peñoles’ overall silver production from its mining operations came in at 30.3 million ounces of the metal.

4. AbraSilver Resource (TSXV:ABRA,OTCQX:ABBRF)

TSXV market cap: C$2.15 billion
OTC market cap: US$1.57 billion

Canadian junior Abrasilver Resource’s wholly owned flagship asset is the advanced-stage Diablillos silver-gold project in Salta, Argentina. It hosts five significant deposits: Oculto, JAC, Fantasma, Laderas and Sombra.

In December 2024, the company published an updated prefeasibility study for Diablillos, outlining a net present value (NPV) of US$747 million after tax at a 5 percent discount, as well as a 27.6 percent internal rate of return (IRR) and a two year payback period. An updated mineral resource estimate from July 2025 totals approximately 199 million ounces of silver and 1.72 million ounces of gold in the measured and indicated category.

Abrasilver has been busy expanding the upside potential at Diablillos via a Phase 6 drill program. The 15,000 meter campaign is aimed at extensions across various exploration targets. Results coming in from previous campaigns continue to demonstrate the potential for identifying gold and silver resources outside of the current resource estimate.

5. Vizsla Silver (TSXV:VZLA,NYSEAMERICAN:VZLA)

TSX market cap: C$1.73 billion
NYSEAMERICAN market cap: US$1.25 billion

Vizsla Silver is advancing toward production at its Panuco silver-gold project in Sinaloa, Mexico. Its expected to reach first silver production in the second half of 2027. In May 2025, the company acquired the producing Santa Fe silver-gold mine and property located to the south of Panuco. Production at the mine between 2020 and 2024 amounted to 370,366 metric tons of ore, with an average head grade of 203 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver and 2.17 g/t gold.

At Panuco, Vizsla completed a feasibility study in November 2025, outlining over 17.4 million ounces of silver equivalent production annually over an initial 9.4 year mine life, an after-tax NPV of US$1.8 billion at a 5 percent discount, an 111 percent IRR and a seven month payback at US$35.50 silver and US$3,100 per ounce gold.

The company has several upcoming catalysts for 2026. In the first half of the year, management is focused on completing detailed engineering, underground drilling, geophysical surveys and optimization work in order to make a construction decision in the second half of 2026 once permits are received. Throughout 2026, Vizsla is expecting to conduct 60,000 meters of diamond drilling across the Panuco district. A fifth phase of metallurgical testwork to optimize silver and gold recoveries using material from a 10,000 tonne bulk sample program is also planned.

After the interview with Rule took place, 10 workers were abducted from Panuco. Mexican authorities have since recovered 10 bodies as part of an investigation into the incident, with five being identified as Vizsla workers. The company has suspended operations at the site, although engineering-based remote work continues.

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

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PERTH, AUSTRALIA AND VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / February 16, 2026 / Sarama Resources Ltd. (‘Sarama‘ or the ‘Company‘) (ASX:SRR)(TSXV:SWA) is pleased to announce it has appointed Davidson & Company LLP (‘Davidson & Co’) as Sarama’s audit firm, effective 13 February 2026.

Davidson & Co was appointed following the receipt by Sarama of the resignation of HLB Mann Judd, effective 10 February 2026. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors accepted the resignation of HLB Mann Judd and recommended the appointment of Davidson & Co. The Board of Directors of Sarama, on the recommendation of the Audit Committee, appointed Davidson & Co as the new auditor until the next Annual General Meeting of Sarama.

Sarama sent a Notice of Change of Auditor (the ‘Notice‘) to HLB Mann Judd and to Davidson & Co and has received a letter from each, addressed to the securities commissions in each jurisdiction where Sarama is reporting, stating that they agree with the information contained in the Notice. The Notice and letters (the ‘Change of Auditor Package‘) have been reviewed and approved by Sarama’s Audit Committee and the Board of Directors.

The Change of Auditor Package is available under Sarama’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

This announcement was authorised for release to the ASX by the Board of Sarama Resources Ltd.

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

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Dinning
Sarama Resources Ltd
e: info@saramaresources.com
t: +61 8 9363 7600

SOURCE: Sarama Resources Ltd.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

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Surface Metals Inc. (CSE: SUR,OTC:SURMF) (OTCQB: SURMF) (the ‘Company’, or ‘Surface Metals’) is pleased to announce it has engaged Danayi Capital Corp. (‘Danayi’), a full service marketing firm based out of Vancouver, BC, to provide digital marketing services for a 6-month term commencing on February 16, 2026. Under the terms of the agreement between Surface Metals and Danayi, the Company has agreed to pay Danayi one hundred and fifty thousand USD. No compensation in securities of the Company will be paid to Danayi. Danayi Capital Corp., an arm’s length party, is owned by Mehran Bagherzadeh. Based at 550 – 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 2V6 (e-mail: mehran@danayi.co; tel: 604-767-2983), Danayi specializes in marketing, advertising and public awareness within the mining and metals sector. To the knowledge of the Company, Danayi does not own any securities of the Company.

About Surface Metals Inc.

Surface Metals Inc. (CSE: SUR,OTC:SURMF) (OTCQB: SURMF) is a North American mineral exploration company focused on advancing a diversified portfolio of gold and lithium projects in Nevada, USA. The Company’s Cimarron Gold Project is located in Nye County, Nevada, in a historically productive gold district. Surface’s Clayton Valley Lithium Brine Project hosts an inferred resource of approximately 302,900 tonnes LCE adjacent to Albemarle’s Silver Peak Mine. Surface Metals is also advancing a sedimentary claystone lithium project in Fish Lake Valley, Nevada.

For more information, please visit: www.surfacemetals.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors
Steve Hanson
Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director
Telephone: (604) 564-9045
info@surfacemetals.com

Neither the CSE nor its regulations service providers accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release contains certain statements which may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (‘forward-looking statements’). These include statements regarding the amount of funds to be raised under the Offering, and the use of such funds. There is no guarantee the Offering will be completed on the terms outlined above, or at all. Use of funds is subject to the discretion of the Company’s board of directors, and as such may be used for purposes other than as set out above. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

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Gold and silver were having a fairly quiet week until Thursday (February 12), when both precious metals experienced steep drops early in the day.

The gold price, which had been steady above US$5,000 per ounce, and even briefly breached US$5,100, tumbled by over US$100, bottoming out around US$4,900.

Meanwhile, silver sank from above US$80 per ounce to below US$75.

Market watchers have presented various reasons for these declines, with a mainstream talking point being that the precious metals were moving in line with the broader stock market.

Thursday brought declines in major US indexes as investors reportedly reacted to concerns that various industries could be negatively impacted by AI automation.

Of course, with gold and silver it’s always possible that there’s more going on beneath the surface. Many of our popular YouTube channel guests reacted to this week’s price drop on X, with some, including Willem Middelkoop and Craig Hemke, suggesting manipulation was at play.

I’ve also read that a Russian memo seen by Bloomberg may have had a dampening effect on gold — the report details proposals sent by the Kremlin that could see the country return to the US dollar settlement system as part of an economic partnership with the Trump administration.

Whatever the reason for the decrease was, gold and silver had bounced back by Friday (February 13), with silver getting back above US$77 and gold closing at the US$5,043 level.

The rebound came despite slightly cooler than expected US consumer price index data, which eased inflation concerns and boosted interest rate cut expectations from the US Federal Reserve.

Looking forward, I want to emphasize again that the broad consensus among the experts I’ve been speaking to continues to be that the run in gold and silver prices isn’t over.

However, that doesn’t mean the path will be straight up. I heard this week from Keith Weiner of Monetary Metals, who spoke about the importance of weathering volatility:

‘I mean, we’re in dollar bear market for reasons. And so people better be prepared for the volatility, because as things go off the rails, which is what’s happening to the dollar, yeah, there’s volatility. And there’s days when people can’t sell the dollar enough, and there’s days when they’re desperately, urgently trying to grab as many fistfuls of dollars as they can, and the dollar is extremely well bid — you’ll see that as the price of gold falling. So you’re going to get it both ways, but the trend is clear and the drivers are clear.’

Keith is calling for US$6,000 gold in 2026 and a silver price of US$120 by the end of the year. The US$6,000 number is in line with recent projections from BNP Paribas and CIBC, whose forecasts indicate that major banks also still see strength in gold.

Bullet briefing — Top takeover candidates

Merger talks between commodities giants Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) and Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTCPL:GLCNF) have fallen through, nixing what would have been the mining industry’s biggest-ever deal, but M&A activity in the space continues to heat up.

A new survey from TD Cowen identifies IAMGOLD (TSX:IMG,NYSE:IAG) as the year’s top takeover candidate, with close to 20 percent of the 58 respondents pointing to the company.

Artemis Gold (TSXV:ARTG,OTCQX:ARGTF) was in second place at 11 percent, while Arizona Sonoran Copper Company (TSX:ASCU,OTCQX:ASCUF) was third at 7 percent.

Almost all of the respondents, who included institutional investors and mining executives, said they expect to see more gold, silver and copper M&A in 2026 compared to last year.

We’ll have to wait and see how any potential deals play out, including Barrick Mining’s (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) planned initial public offering for its North American gold assets.

Newmont (NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM), Barrick’s partner at the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture, said it is concerned about the management of the operation, and wants to see improvements — a clash between the two miners could end up disrupting Barrick’s plans.

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

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Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (February 13) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

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

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$68,987.01, up 5.2 percent over the last 24 hours.

Bitcoin price performance, February 13, 2026.

Bitcoin price performance, February 13, 2026.

Chart via TradingView.

A constructive scenario over the next three to six months depends on gradual improvement in global liquidity, moderation in yields and steady exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows.

According to Tran, if financial conditions tighten or additional liquidity stress occurs, the market may need another washout to rebalance leverage. Ultimately, the return of confidence, reflected through durable and sustainable capital inflows, is what matters most for the transitional phase.

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$2,054.76, up by 7 percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

  • XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.41, up by 4.7 percent over 24 hours.
  • Solana (SOL) was trading at US$85.01, up by 10.2 percent over 24 hours.

Today’s crypto news to know

Coinbase posts US$667 million Q4 loss

Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) reported a fourth quarter net loss of US$667 million as falling crypto prices weighed on its revenue and the value of its investment portfolio. The company’s revenue came in at US$1.78 billion, below analysts’ expectations, making a 22 percent decline from a year earlier.

The firm attributed much of the loss to a US$718 million drop in portfolio value, largely unrealized, alongside weaker transaction activity. Shares slid ahead of the release and have fallen more than 55 percent over the past six months as cryptocurrencies retreated. Despite the surprise slide, CEO Brian Armstrong sought to reassure investors, saying the firm remains “deliberately well capitalized” with US$11.3 billion in cash and equivalents.

He added that retail customers are largely holding rather than selling, even as volatility persists.

Bitcoin ETFs lose US$410 million

Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw US$410 million in outflows on Thursday (February 12), extending a rocky stretch that has drained nearly US$1.5 billion over two weeks.

The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:IBIT) led the pullback, followed by Fidelity and Grayscale products, as institutional investors recalibrated positions amid macro uncertainty.

Treasury chief pushes CLARITY Act as crypto selloff deepens

US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent urged Congress to pass the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act this spring, arguing that it will provide stability to markets rattled by volatility.

Speaking on CNBC and later before the Senate Banking Committee, Bessent said the bill will give “great comfort to the market,” and warned that parts of the crypto industry are resisting what he called “very good regulation.”

“There seems to be a nihilist group in the industry who prefers no regulation over this very good regulation,” he told lawmakers, drawing support from Senator Mark Warner.

The legislation has stalled amid disputes over stablecoin yield, DeFi oversight and token classifications, with critics — including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong — raising objections. Bessent cautioned that a bipartisan coalition backing the bill could fracture if Democrats retake the House in November. Warner, meanwhile, stressed unresolved concerns around illicit finance and national security risks tied to DeFi.

HIVE’s BUZZ HPC platform secures US$30 million in AI cloud contracts

BUZZ High Performance Computing (HPC), a Hive Digital Technologies (TSXV:HIVE,NASDAQ:HIVE) platform, announced that it has signed customer agreements valued at approximately US$30 million over two year fixed terms for artificial intelligence (AI) cloud contracts. The new contracts will support the initial phase of BUZZ’s AI-optimized GPU deployment at its Canada West location in Manitoba, with compute capacity expected to be online during the quarter ending on March 31, 2026. This phase consists of 504 liquid-cooled Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) server-based GPUs.

This initial phase is expected to generate about US$15 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) to BUZZ’s cloud business once fully operational, increasing HIVE’s total annualized HPC segment revenue to roughly US$35 million.

HIVE said it aims to scale its HPC GPU AI cloud business toward approximately US$140 million in ARR over the next year. The company is using vendor financing and strategic partnerships to scale efficiently and pursue a “dual-engine strategy” of hashrate services and GPU-accelerated AI computing across its facilities in Canada, Sweden and Paraguay.

Taurus and Blockdaemon partner to expand institutional staking

Taurus, a Swiss fintech firm that provides digital asset infrastructure for banks and financial institutions, announced an agreement with blockchain infrastructure company Blockdaemon that will allow banks to offer staking yields to their clients without having to move those assets out of tightly controlled, regulated custody.

Taurus will integrate Blockdaemon’s staking infrastructure into its custody product, Taurus‑PROTECT, which is designed to keep digital assets safe inside banks’ own systems under financial regulator rules.

Taurus also has an agreement to provide digital asset custody, tokenization and node management technology that State Street uses to power its full‑service digital asset platform for institutional investors. Additionally, BNY Mellon (NYSE:BK) is broadening its digita asset platforms by partnering with infrastructure providers, including Blockdaemon.

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

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

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Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) and Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTCPL:GLCNF) said they will no longer be pursuing a merger, with Rio Tinto noting that the combination of the businesses would not deliver value to its shareholders.

Glencore responded to Rio Tinto by saying that under the terms of the proposal, the Rio Tinto executive group would retain both the chair and CEO roles, which would undervalue Glencore’s contribution to the combined company.

The deal would have created the world’s largest mining company with a combined market cap of US$260 billion. While the collapse of the proposed merger is drawing headlines, it comes at an accelerated pace for mergers and acquisitions in the industry, as majors seek to replenish their project pipelines and mid-cap producers look to grow their businesses.

Among other notable mergers still on the books is Anglo American’s (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:NGLOY) merger with Canada-based Teck Resources (TSX:TECK.A,TECK.B,NYSE:TECK). That deal is currently working its way through regulatory approvals, with the most recent update that it is heading toward antitrust clearance in Europe.

On Wednesday (February 11), Indonesia’s resources ministry ordered Eramet (EPA:ERA,OTCPL:ERMAF) and its joint venture partners, Tsingshan Holding Group, to slash production at the world’s largest nickel mine.

Under the new work and budget plan, PT Weda Bay Nickel has been granted an initial quota of 12 million metric tons, down from the 42 million metric tons it was allowed in 2025.

Nickel has been elevated this year, trading as high as US$18,725 on February 2. Although prices have fallen since that high, the announcement gave nickel some momentum, pushing prices to US$17,720 per metric ton on the London Metal Exchange on Wednesday. Prices eased again on Thursday (February 12), but remain well above 2025 averages.

For more on what’s moving markets this week, check out our top market news round-up.

Markets and commodities react

Canadian equity markets were mixed this week.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) gained 2.88 percent over the week to close Friday (February 13) at 33,073.71, while the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) shed 0.48 percent to 991.99.

The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) dropped 2.7 percent to 163.24

The gold price was largely flat, losing just 0.07 percent to close at US$5,032.68 per ounce on Friday at 4:00 p.m. EST. The silver price fared worse, closing the week down 8.43 percent at US$76.92 on Friday.

In base metals, the Comex copper price recorded a 2.35 percent decrease this week to US$5.83.

The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) was down 0.13 percent to end Friday at 583.86.

Top Canadian mining stocks this week

How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?

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

Stocks data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. 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. Trinity One Metals (TSXV:TOM)

Weekly gain: 104.55 percent
Market cap: C$12.83 million
Share price: C$0.45

Trinity One Metals is a silver exploration and development company with a portfolio of mineral projects, including the recently acquired Silver 1 project in Ecuador.

The property consists of the Silver-1 mine concession, which covers an area of 3,108 hectares and lies within the same mineral belt as Lundin Gold’s (TSX:LUG,OTCQX:LUGDF) Fruta Del Norte mine. Past mining at the site occurred between 1989 and 1994 and included 3,600 meters of underground development, along with a historic resource of 200,000 to 700,000 metric tons of ore averaging 400 to 800 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver and 3 g/t gold.

The company announced the closing of the property acquisition on February 4 for a total consideration of US$540,000. In the release, the company said it will work swiftly to confirm the historic resource to modern standards.

The news was followed on Tuesday (February 10), when the company announced a C$3.3 million non-brokered private placement, which was upsized to C$5.3 million on Thursday. The company said it will use proceeds from the placement to advance exploration projects across its portfolio.

2. Cordoba Minerals (TSXV:CDB)

Weekly gain: 74.68 percent
Market cap: C$123.82 million
Share price: C$1.38

Cordoba Minerals is an explorer whose flagship project is Alacran in Colombia. The asset is a 50/50 joint venture with JCHX Mining Management (SHA:603979). The 20,000 hectare property hosts copper, gold and silver mineralization across five deposits: Alacran, Alacran North, Montiel East, Montiel West and Costa Azul.

A feasibility study for the project released in February 2024 demonstrates an after-tax net present value of US$360 million with an internal rate of return of 23.8 percent and a payback period of three years.

The resource estimate for the Alacran deposit and historical tailings shows an indicated resource of 99.46 million metric tons of ore with an average grade of 0.41 percent copper, 0.24 g/t gold and 2.65 g/t silver. Contained metal totals 904.53 million pounds of copper, 765,400 ounces of gold and 8.47 million ounces of silver.

Following the completion of JCHX’s earn in for 50 percent of the project in July 2025, Cordoba said it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell its remaining 50 percent interest in Alacran.

However, on January 2, the company reported that not all conditions for the sale had been met, and on Tuesday, announced that it had entered into an amended agreement.

Under the new terms, the closing payment was increased to US$128 million from US$88 million, payable in a lump sum at closing. The release states that the bulk of the cash payment will be distributed to shareholders after settling liabilities and obligations, with the company retaining US$10 million for corporate purposes.

3. Rio Silver (TSXV:RYO)

Weekly gain: 52.38 percent
Market cap: C$23.74 million
Share price: C$0.64

Rio Silver is an exploration company advancing its Maria Norte project in Peru.

The property has changed hands several times in the 18 years prior to Rio’s acquisition in March 2025, but has seen little exploration during that time. However, in a February 5 release, the company notes that historic mining occurred at the site due to the presence of a reclaimed waste dump. The property covers the western portion of the Tangana West vein system, and although it has not yet completed an economic assessment for the property. In the announcement, the company said it plans to advance surface mapping and sampling in the third quarter of 2026.

Throughout January, the company made several announcements regarding its exploration and development timeline. On January 6, the company reported results from technical work at the site, confirming the presence of silver mineralization with grades up to 991 g/t in a 0.7-meter channel sample.

The company also announced on January 29 that it was launching a metallurgical program at the site, which it said will assist the company in determining the project’s potential value.

4. Barksdale Resources (TSXV:BRO)

Weekly gain: 48.15 percent
Market cap: C$28.04 million
Share price: C$0.2

Barksdale Resources is a copper explorer focused on advancing its Sunnyside asset in Arizona, US. The property covers approximately 21 square kilometers, south of Tucson, Arizona. It hosts an intrusive complex that the firm believes to be an extension of the copper-zinc-lead-silver system found at South32’s (ASX:S32,OTCPL:SOUHY) Taylor deposit.

In 2025, the company achieved several milestones under its earn-in agreement and completed the initial 51 percent in September following a C$1 million cash payment. Prior to the payment in June, Barksdale said it would work toward increasing its interest in the property to 67.5 percent.

On January 21, the company announced plans to raise C$5 million to fund a Phase 2 drill plan required to increase its ownership stake in the Sunnyside project.

On Wednesday, Barksdale announced the opening of an additional private placement to raise C$930,000. Funds raised from this round will also be used to fund exploration activities at Sunnyside.

5. Pirate Gold (TSXV:YARR)

Weekly gain: 48 percent
Market cap: C$129.48 million
Share price: C$0.37

Formerly Sokoman Minerals, Pirate Gold is a discovery-oriented company with a portfolio of gold projects and one of the largest land positions in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

It also owns a 40 percent stake in the Killick lithium project, a 40/40/20 joint venture with Benton Resources (TSXV:BEX,OTCPL:BNTRF) and Piedmont Lithium.

In October, the company combined its Moosehead and Crippleback claims to form the Treasure Island project, which hosts the largest mineral license and longest strike length along the Valentine Lake fault.

Along with new claims, Pirate Gold’s land holdings in the area cover approximately 58,775 hectares and host multiple untested anomalies identified through historic data and exploration efforts by Pirate Gold.

On Friday, Pirate Gold announced the initiation of project-scale surveys at Treasure Island, as well as the advancement of a 50,000 meter drill program, with two rigs mobilized to the site.

Additionally, the company also said it had received drill permits to operate at the Crippleback Lake and Stony Lake areas, which would allow it to extend its exploration beyond the current footprint at Moosehead and test other high-priority targets along the fault zone.

FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?

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

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

As of December 2025, 898 mining companies and 71 oil and gas companies are listed on the TSXV, combining for more than 60 percent of the 1,531 total companies listed on the exchange.

As for the TSX, it is home to 175 mining companies and 51 oil and gas companies. The exchange has 2,089 companies listed on it in total.

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

How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

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

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

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

How do you trade on the TSXV?

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

Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.

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

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

We also break down next week’s catalysts to watch to help you prepare for the week ahead.

In this article:

    This week’s tech sector performance

    The Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) ended in the green on Monday (February 9) despite a weaker open.

    A rally in tech companies drove US stocks higher ahead of an economic data release, while Asian indexes also rose, led upward by Japan’s tech‑heavy Nikkei 225 (INDEXNIKKEI:NI225).

    It hit new record highs after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party secured a landslide victory in the Lower House, clearing the path for tax cuts and higher defense spending.

    Tax planning and wealth management stocks fell on Tuesday (February 10) after financial software provider Altruist unveiled an artificial intelligence (AI) tool for creating tax strategies, echoing last week’s selloff in legal software stocks following the debut of a lawyer-focused AI platform.

    Broader tech‑driven weakness and softer‑than‑expected retail‑sales data dragged the Nasdaq down in Tuesday’s session. The index rose again on Wednesday (February 11) after January data showed labor market stability, potentially allowing the US Federal Reserve to keep interest rates steady as it monitors inflation.

    Software stocks resumed their slide, with Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) at one point down more than 2 percent, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) falling over 2.5 percent and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) slipping about 1 percent.

    Personal computer makers also fell after Lenovo Group (HKEX:0992,OTCPL:LNVGF) warned of shipment pressure from a memory chip shortage. HP (NYSE:HPQ) and Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) each lost about 4.5 percent.

    After a muted close, investors turned their AI disruption fears to yet another corner of the market on Thursday (February 12). This time, it was logistics and trucking stocks, which plummeted after AI logistics firm Algorhythm Holdings (NASDAQ:RIME) said it has scaled freight volumes by 300 to 400 percent without increasing headcount.

    This event showed traders that AI is now affecting sectors previously thought to be resistant to automation and AI‑driven efficiency gains, leading to selloffs that also spilled into real estate and drug distribution.

    All three major indexes closed lower, with the Nasdaq hit hardest.

    A softer-than-expected US consumer price index report released on Friday (February 13) morning reinforced beliefs that the Fed is likely to cut interest rates this year, while global concerns about potential AI-driven disruptions kept investors cautious. European and Asian indexes lost ground, tracking Wall Street’s losses.

    While the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX) closed slightly ahead on the day, mega-cap tech stocks dragged on the Nasdaq, which closed the week 1.77 percent below Monday’s open.

    3 tech stocks moving markets this week

    1.Cloudflare (NYSE:NET)

    Cybersecurity firm Cloudflare saw its share price surge after its sales guidance for the current quarter exceeded expectations. Shares closed 13.07 percent higher for the week.

    2. Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT)

    Applied Materials, a provider of materials engineering solutions for the semiconductor sector, saw its share price rise sharply after reporting better-than-forecast quarterly financial results. Shares advanced 10.05 percent.

    3. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE:TSM)

    Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company rose after D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria gave it a ‘buy’ rating with a US$450 price target and called it a top AI foundry name. Shares advanced 5.02 percent.

    Cloudflare, TSMC and Applied Materials performance, February 9 to 13, 2026.

    Cloudflare, TSMC and Applied Materials performance, February 9 to 13, 2026.

    Chart via Google Finance.

    Top tech news of the week

        • Alphabet completed two bond sales this week, raising a combined total of nearly US$52 billion. On Monday, the company sold US$20 billion in US dollars, followed by a nearly US$32 billion multi‑currency bond sale in British pounds and Swiss francs completed within 24 hours on Tuesday.

                                    Tech ETF performance

                                    Tech exchange-traded funds (ETFs) track baskets of major tech stocks, meaning their performance helps investors gauge the overall performance of the niches they cover.

                                    This week, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) advanced by 2.56 percent, while the Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXQ) advanced by 1.89 percent.

                                    The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) also increased by 2.19 percent.

                                    Tech news to watch next week

                                    Tech stocks face a quieter earnings backdrop next week, with no mega‑cap AI giants reporting; instead, the sector will be trading on macro cues and any guidance hints from mid‑tier semis and software names.

                                    Key US data includes jobs‑related releases and consumer confidence surveys.

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

                                    This post appeared first on investingnews.com