Bitcoin and Ether price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$85,873.25, down by 3 percent over 24 hours.

Bitcoin price performance, December 15, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

A bruising bout of weekend volatility pushed Bitcoin to a two week low near US$87,500 amid thin liquidity. Buyers emerged early on Monday to briefly lift prices toward the US$89,500 to 89,700 range, but both DeFi and traditional markets slipped in early trading after Greg Jensen, co-CIO of hedge fund giant Bridgewater Associates, issued a client note warning that Big Tech’s heavy reliance on external capital for artificial intelligence (AI) investments has entered a “dangerous” phase, amplifying AI bubble fears and exacerbating last week’s tech selloff into Monday.

Bitcoin fell to lows around US$85,400, and the global crypto market cap saw a 24 hour decrease of 3.2 percent.

In a post on X, veteran trader Peter Brandt highlighted that Bitcoin’s advance has fractured after failing to hold support following October highs. He warned that this breakdown could trigger “exponential decay” since each bull cycle has yielded smaller gains. Based on historical precedents, Bitcoin could see a drop to US$25,000.

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$2,930.31, down by 5.1 percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

• XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.89, down by 5.2 percent over 24 hours.

• Solana (SOL) was trading at US$125.43, down by 3.6 percent over 24 hours.

Crypto derivatives and market indicators

Bitcoin futures open interest rose slightly to US$59.63 billion, while Ether open interest dipped to US$38.2 billion, signaling modest Bitcoin accumulation amid Ether caution.

Heavy long liquidations confirm capitulation selling pressure. Positive funding rates show some bulls hanging on despite pain, but a relative strength index of 27.03 marks extreme fear, historically preceding sharp reversals in crypto.

Elevated Bitcoin funding rates reflect pricier long bias persisting, but decay could accelerate if shorts pile in.

Overall market sentiment skews fearful, with Bitcoin holding firmer than Ether.

Today’s crypto news to know

Strategy expands Bitcoin holdings amid price slump

Michael Saylor’s Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) announced on Monday that it has acquired an additional 10,645 BTC for US$980.3 million, paying an average price of $92,098 per coin.

That brings Strategy’s total holdings to 671,268 BTC. “As of 12/14/2025, we hodl 671,268 $BTC acquired for ~$50.33 billion at ~$74,972 per bitcoin,” the company said in an X post.

JPMorgan launches tokenized money market fund

JPMorgan Chase’s (NYSE:JPM) US$4 trillion asset management arm is launching its first tokenized money market fund, the My OnChain Net Yield Fund, on the public Ethereum blockchain. The fund runs on JPMorgan’s Kinexys platform as a private placement under Rule 506(c), targeting institutions via the Morgan Money trading system.

“Active management and innovation are at the heart of how we deliver new solutions for investors navigating today’s financial landscape,” said George Gatch, CEO of JP Morgan Asset Management. “By harnessing technology alongside our deep expertise in active management, we’re able to provide clients with advanced, innovative, and cost-effective capabilities that help them achieve their investment goals.”

Bitget launches TradFi private beta for traditional assets

Monday saw Bitget announce the private beta launch of Bitget TradFi, a new feature enabling crypto users to open bets on traditional assets using the stablecoin USDT. Fees start at US$0.09 per lot.

Positions will be margined and settled in USDT, eliminating the need for separate brokers or currency conversions, with up to 500x leverage, a tight spread and regulation by Mauritius’ Financial Services Commission.

“The shift in wealth management is happening now, assets that were previously only available on certain niche markets are now on Bitget,’ said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, in the company’s announcement

‘This is historic; crypto, stocks, gold, forex and commodities now coexist under a single system. This is what a universal exchange merging wealth management under a roof looks like; it’s now present-day finance.’

UK moves to place crypto firms under full regulation

UK officials are preparing legislation that would move crypto companies fully inside the country’s financial regulatory framework. According to the Guardian, the plan involves putting crypto service providers under regulation like other financial firms, subject to the Financial Conduct Authority’s rules on consumer protection, governance, transparency and market conduct. Treasury officials say the shift is meant to close longstanding gaps as crypto activity becomes more entwined with mainstream finance rather than operating at the regulatory edges.

Legislation is expected by October 2027 to give firms time to adjust to the more demanding compliance environment.

If enacted, the move would mark a structural change for UK-based crypto startups, which until now have largely operated without full product-level regulation.

HashKey prices Hong Kong IPO at top end at US$206 million

HashKey Holdings, Hong Kong’s largest licensed crypto exchange, is set to raise about US$206 million after pricing its initial public offering near the top of its marketed range, according to a source familiar with the deal.

The company priced shares at 6.68 Hong Kong dollars, valuing the exchange operator as it prepares to debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Wednesday (December 17). HashKey operates across trading, asset management, brokerage and tokenization, and runs the city’s biggest regulated crypto exchange.

While Mainland China continues to warn against crypto speculation, Hong Kong has taken the opposite approach, positioning itself as a regulated gateway for digital finance.

North Korean hackers drain wallets using fake online meetings

North Korean cybercrime groups are using fake Zoom (NASDAQ:ZOOM) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Teams meetings to steal crypto, draining more than US$300 million through the tactic so far, according to security researchers.

According to CryptoNews, the scam typically starts with a message from a compromised Telegram account that appears to belong to someone the victim already knows. Victims are then invited to what looks like a legitimate video call, complete with convincing video feeds that are actually pre-recorded footage.

During the call, attackers claim there is an audio problem and send a supposed software “patch” that installs malware. The malware can extract passwords, private keys and internal security data, allowing attackers to empty crypto wallets.

Global crypto thefts have already surpassed US$2 billion this year, with North Korea-linked groups remaining among the most active and sophisticated actors in the space.

Bitcoin and Ether price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$90,250.03, down by 2.6 percent over 24 hours. It has extended its bullish tone this week as markets absorbed the US Federal Reserve’s interest latest rate cut and reassessed risk sentiment across assets.

Bitcoin price performance, December 12, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

The Fed has now cut rates three times in three months, bringing the target range down to 3.5 to 3.75 percent.

Bitcoin dipped to US$89,000 to US$90,000 lows at the US market open, echoing post-Fed pullback patterns noted by Santiment across all three cuts since September.

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$3,084.18, down by 5 percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

• XRP (XRP) was priced at US$2, down by 2.1 percent over 24 hours.

• Solana (SOL) was trading at US$131.52, down by 4.2 percent over 24 hours.

Fear and Greed Index snapshot

Open interest eased, while US$3.1 million Bitcoin and US$3.92 million Ether long liquidations signaled deleveraging. A neutral relative strength index and low funding rates kept positioning balanced post-expiry.

CMC’s Crypto Fear & Greed Index continues to hold firm in fear territory, remaining firmly risk-averse on Friday and staying at 29 for a second consecutive day. Despite Bitcoin’s recent upward trend and stabilization at the US$92,000 mark, investors continue to exercise caution after a volatile fourth quarter, reinforcing the view that traders remain reluctant to take on aggressive positions despite improved liquidity conditions elsewhere.

CMC Crypto Fear and Greed Index, Bitcoin price and Bitcoin volume.

Chart via CoinMarketCap.

Today’s crypto news to know

Bessent prepares policy shift on crypto regulation

US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent is preparing a major policy letter that would direct the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) away from its post-2008 focus on tightening rules and toward re-evaluating whether existing regulations hinder growth. The draft letter, obtained by CNBC, says the FSOC will begin assessing whether certain oversight measures “impose undue burdens” that may undermine stability by limiting innovation.

The FSOC, originally created to prevent another financial collapse, coordinates oversight between the Fed, the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and other agencies.

If finalized, the policy would empower agencies to roll back or revise rules deemed outdated or overly restrictive.

OCC approves US trust bank approvals

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has conditionally approved national trust bank charters for Circle’s (NYSE:CRCL) First National Digital Currency Bank and the Ripple National Trust Bank. The OCC also endorsed transitions for existing state charters held by Paxos Trust Company, BitGo Bank & Trust and Fidelity Digital Assets.

With these approvals, the firms can now operate nationwide under federal oversight, enhancing stablecoin issuance and digital asset services like custody.

Pakistan clears Binance and HTX to begin licensing process

Pakistan has granted initial clearance for Binance and HTX to set up local subsidiaries and begin preparing applications for full digital asset exchange licences.

The Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority issued “no objection certificates” after reviewing each platform’s governance, compliance structures and risk controls, though the approvals stop short of permitting trading activity.

The certificates also allow both companies to register on Pakistan’s anti-money-laundering system and begin establishing regulated local entities ahead of a forthcoming licensing regime.

Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority Chair Bilal bin Saqib said the phased model will admit only platforms that meet strict global standards on anti-money-laundering and counter-terror financing.

Pakistan, one of the world’s largest crypto markets by retail activity, is simultaneously developing a Virtual Assets Act, while coordinating with US-based World Liberty Financial on digital infrastructure proposals.

Phantom integrates Kalshi prediction market

Phantom has integrated Kalshi’s regulated prediction markets, allowing in-app trading on events like elections, sports, crypto trends and macroeconomics using Solana or its CASH stablecoin.

Users can access live odds, notifications, tokenized positions and community chat without external accounts, leveraging Kalshi’s CFTC oversight and recent high volumes.

1. Germany, Italy Face Pressure to Repatriate US$245 Billion in Gold as Trust in US Custody Wavers

Publish date: June 24, 2025

In June, growing distrust in US custodianship of foreign gold reserves and political uncertainty linked to the Trump administration put pressure on Germany and Italy to repatriate their foreign bullion.

At the time, both countries collectively held more than US$245 billion in gold reserves at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and local political leaders were raising concerns that the US had become a less neutral custodian.

German taxpayer advocates warned that increasing political influence over the US Federal Reserve could jeopardize access to foreign-owned bullion. Similar concerns surfaced in Italy, where critics argued that continuing to store gold abroad posed a strategic risk during a period of heightened geopolitical tension.

Germany repatriated 674 metric tons of gold from 2013 to 2017, but 37 percent of its reserves remain in New York.

2. What Does the GDX Index Change Mean for Gold Investors?

Publish date: September 19, 2025

In September, the world’s largest gold-mining stock exchange-traded fund (ETF) — the US$20.5 billion VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ARCA:GDX) — underwent a major structural overhaul.

VanEck transitioned GDX from the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index to the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index, ending a benchmark relationship in place since 2004.

The switch adopted free-float market-cap rules that exclude locked-up or government-held shares, aligning the fund with index standards commonly used in broader equity markets.

3. Barrick’s Bristow Steps Down Following Hemlo Sale and Mali Challenges

Publish date: September 29, 2025

Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) went through a major leadership transition this year after CEO Mark Bristow unexpectedly left the company following nearly seven years at the helm.

Bristow, who had led the company since the 2019 merger with Randgold Resources, stepped down amid strategic disagreements with Barrick Chair John Thornton and a year marked by operational challenges, including ongoing legal and political challenges in Mali, where its Loulo-Gounkoto complex is located.

Bristow’s departure also came shortly after Barrick finalized a US$1.09 billion sale of its Hemlo mine in Ontario, formally marking its exit from primary Canadian gold production to concentrate on higher-margin international operations.

Chief Operating Officer Mark Hill assumed interim CEO responsibilities as the board initiated a global search for a successor. Hill previously oversaw Barrick’s Latin America and Asia-Pacific operations, and played a key role in the company’s initial decision to explore the Fourmile gold project in Nevada.

4. Mali Enforces Gold Seizure at Barrick’s Loulo-Gounkoto Mine

Publish date: January 13, 2025

Barrick’s tensions with Mali’s military government intensified at the start of 2025 after authorities seized gold shipments from the firm’s Loulo-Gounkoto mine, which accounts for roughly 14 percent of its annual production.

At the time, officials claimed Barrick owed more than US$500 million in unpaid taxes and state dividends under a revised mining code implemented in 2023. Detentions and legal threats against local staff heightened the conflict further, and the government reportedly intercepted approximately 3 metric tons of bullion.

The year-long dispute reached a conclusion on November 24, when Barrick confirmed a settlement with the Malian government that restores full control over the Loulo-Gounkoto mine.

Under the terms, the company was to pay 244 billion CFA francs (US$430 million), with 144 billion CFA francs due within six days of signing and an additional 50 billion CFA francs applied through VAT credit offsets.

In exchange, Mali was to drop all charges against Barrick, lift state control of Loulo-Gounkoto, release four detained employees and renew the company’s mining permit for another decade.

The agreement also requires Barrick to comply with Mali’s 2023 mining code — the same legislation that triggered the original confrontation.

5. Navigating Uncertainty: How Trump’s Tariffs Are Affecting the Gold Market

Publish date: August 27, 2025

US trade policy sparked gold market turbulence after confusion surrounding import tariffs, including whether Swiss-refined 1 kilogram and 100 ounce bars would be subject to rates near 39 percent. Traders rushed to secure physical imports amid the uncertainty, widening spreads between New York futures and London spot benchmarks.

The volatility eased only after US officials clarified their position.

Silver’s persistent structural supply deficit

In its ‘2025/2026 Precious Metals Investment’ report, Metal Focus forecasts a fifth straight year of a silver supply deficit for 2025, coming in at 63.4 million ounces. And while that figure is expected to retract to 30.5 million ounces in 2026, the firm is confident that the deficit will continue to be a factor for silver this coming year.

Essentially, silver is in an entrenched structural deficit tied to a multi-year mine supply shortfall that can’t keep up with both rising industrial use and strong investment demand. Aboveground silver stocks are running dry, with silver mine production has decreased over the past decade, especially in the silver-mining hubs of Central and South America.

Even with silver at never-seen-before prices, it could be years before any sort of balance returns to the market.

“If the silver that you produce is a small portion of your stream of revenues, you’re not that motivated to try to produce more silver,” he explained. In fact, Krauth said a higher silver price could result in less silver coming to market as miners switch to processing lower-grade material that was once uneconomical and might even contain less silver.

On the exploration side, it takes 10 to 15 years to bring a silver deposit through discovery and into production.

“The reaction time to higher prices is actually really, really slow. I think we’re going to see these shortages and tightness persist,” Krauth added.

Industrial demand for silver from cleantech and AI

Industrial demand was another major catalyst for higher silver prices in 2025, and is expected to remain a strong tailwind for the silver market next year and beyond.

In a December report titled ‘Silver, the Next Generation Metal,’ the Silver Institute explains that heavy demand for silver through 2030 is coming from the cleantech sector — mainly from the solar and electric vehicle (EV) segments — and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers. Silver’s critical role in these economically important industries led the US government to include silver on its list of critical minerals this year.

A staunch believer in solar as a major pillar of the silver market, Krauth advised that it is “dangerous to underestimate” the level of demand yet to come from the industry. This is especially true if investors consider the projected growth of AI data centers in the US alone, and the amount of energy needed to power their operations.

“I think about 80 percent of data centers are located in the US, and their demand for electricity is expected to grow by 22 percent over the next decade. AI alone, on top of data center demand for electricity, is expected to grow by 31 percent over the next decade,” he said, adding that over the past year data centers in the US have chosen solar energy five times more than nuclear options for powering their operations.

Safe-haven investment demand magnifying silver scarcity

As a precious metal, silver tracks gold. Lower interest rates, a return to quantitative easing by the Fed, a weaker US dollar, rising inflation, increased geopolitical uncertainty — all of these factors that benefit its sister metal are also highly supportive of the silver price. And as an affordable alternative to gold, silver is attracting significant retail and institutional investment, including massive exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows.

Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, posted to X on December 10:

‘Meanwhile, inflows into silver-backed ETFs have reached around 130 million ounces this year, lifting total holdings to roughly 844 million ounces—an 18% increase.’

Safe-haven investment appeal for silver is expected to grow further in 2026. Concerns over the Fed’s independence and the very real likelihood that Chair Jerome Powell will be replaced in May with someone more amenable to the Trump White House’s low interest rate demands are big factors boosting demand for silver as a portfolio hedge.

Substantial demand for silver as a safe-haven investment has already led to mint shortages in silver bars and coins and tight inventories in futures markets, primarily in London, New York and Shanghai.

For example, Bloomberg reported in late November that silver inventories at the Shanghai Futures Exchange had hit their lowest level since 2015. These shortages are resulting in rising lease rates and borrowing costs, which points to genuine challenges with delivery of physical metal rather than mere speculative positioning.

In India, where gold jewelry is traditionally a form of wealth preservation, there’s strong demand for silver jewelry as buyers look for a more affordable option with the gold price now over US$4,300 per ounce.

Demand for silver bars and silver ETFs is also on the rise in India, already the world’s largest consumer of the white metal. The nation imports 80 percent of its silver demand.

Silver price forecast for 2026

Silver’s notoriety as a highly volatile metal — it’s not called ‘the devil’s metal’ for nothing — and its recent jaw-dropping rally, has many precious metals analysts hesitating to define a clear price target for 2026.

Although the case for much higher silver prices is a strong one, there are risks that could jeopardize the metal’s upward momentum. For example, Mind Money’s Khandoshko suggested that a global economic slowdown or sudden liquidity corrections could apply downward pressure on the silver price.

“For 2026, I’d be watching industrial demand trends, Indian imports, ETF flows and any widening price gaps between trading hubs,” she advised. “I’d also pay close attention to sentiment around large unhedged short positions. If trust in paper contracts weakens again, we could see another structural shift in pricing.”

Krauth also cautioned investors to remember that silver is “famously volatile” and while “it’s been fun because the volatility has been to the upside … don’t be surprised if you get some kind of rapid drawdowns.” He views US$50 as the new floor for silver, and gave what he deems a “conservative” forecast of silver in the US$70 range for 2026.

This is in line with Citigroup’s (NYSE:C) prediction that silver will continue to outperform gold and reach upwards of US$70 for 2026, especially if its industrial side fundamentals remain in place.

Chambers referred to silver as the “fast horse” of the precious metals. While industrial demand is important, he believes retail investment demand is the real “juggernaut” for the silver price in the coming year.

1. King Copper Discovery (TSXV:KCP)

Year-to-date gain: 1,240 percent
Market cap: C$189.77 million
Share price: C$0.67

King Copper Discovery is a copper, silver and gold explorer that is developing a portfolio of projects in South America. Its primary focus is the Colquemayo project in Moquegua, Peru. In July 2024, King entered into an option agreement with Compania de Minas Buenaventura (NYSE:BVN) to wholly acquire the property.

The company has been re-logging the historic drill core from the site. The 6,600 hectare property has seen more than 20,000 meters of historic core drilling and hosts multiple porphyry targets that have been identified but had gone untested.

Highlighted drill samples show results of 2.4 percent copper and 10 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver over 237.3 meters, including 14.8 percent copper and 47 g/t silver over 31.3 meters.

In a broad corporate update on February 12, the company said it was intensifying its focus on the project and rebranded from Turmalina to reflect that. Additionally, it hired Insideo, a Lima-based environmental consulting firm, to help advance baseline studies and the drill permit process.

The company closed a C$15 million private placement with a strategic investor on September 15. It plans to use the funds for a 15,000 meter diamond drilling program at Colquemayo.

The investor now holds a 9.99 percent interest in King.

Its most recent news came on October 4, when King released an update on its work to re-log and reinterpret the historic drill core. At that time, the company had completed 61 drill cores across the Amata-Cairani and Coripuquio zones, with work on 16 cores at the Yanarico zone still ongoing.

The company said it had identified multiple new high-priority targets for its fully funded diamond drill program and was sending a field crew to validate the discoveries.

Shares of King reached a year-to-date high of C$0.90 on October 16.

2. Edge Copper (TSXV:EDCU)

Year-to-date gain: 1,233.33 percent
Market cap: C$48.94 million
Share price: C$0.40

Edge Copper is an exploration company working to advance its Zonia project in Arizona, United States. The company changed its name from Plata Latina in October.

Shares in Edge have seen steady gains throughout 2025. Its first major news came on February 27, when it announced that a Fresnillo (LSE:FRES,OTC Pink:FNLPF) subsidiary was exercising an option on the Naranjillo property to acquire Edge’s 3 percent net smelter return in exchange for C$8.61 million. Edge announced the deal’s completion on April 11.

On July 23, the company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Zonia project from World Copper (TSXV:WCU,OTCQB:WCUFF). The past-producing mine sits on 900 hectares of land south of Prescott, Arizona. It hosts existing infrastructure and benefits from a streamlined permitting process, requiring only state permits for Phase 1.

The acquisition closed on October 30, at which time Plata Latina changed its name to Edge Copper to reflect its new focus. Under the terms of the deal, World Copper received C$10.5 million in cash, along with a 31.3 percent ownership stake in Edge Copper, for a total aggregate value of C$22 million.

Additionally, Edge reported that, in connection with the deal, it closed a non-brokered private placement totaling US$17 million in gross aggregate proceeds, which will be directed to drilling, metallurgical tests, permitting and a feasibility study for Zonia.

The most recent news came on November 3, when the company reported it commenced its first drill program at Zonia. The 60,000 foot, AI-assisted program is designed to build on the mine’s existing indicated and inferred resource with the intention of supporting a larger and longer-life operation at the property.

According to the project page, the asset contains an indicated resource of 668 million pounds of copper with an average grade of 0.3 percent copper from 112.2 million US tons of ore, and an inferred resource of 320 million pounds of copper with an average grade of 0.26 percent from 62.9 million US tons.

Shares in Edge reached a year-to-date high of C$0.60 on October 20.

3. Amarc Resources (TSXV:AHR)

Year-to-date gain: 451.22 percent
Market cap: C$245.61 million
Share price: C$1.13

Amarc Resources is a copper explorer primarily focused on advancing its JOY district in Northern British Columbia, Canada. The 495 square kilometer property lies within the Toodoggone region and hosts the AuRORA discovery.

Exploration at the JOY district is funded as part of a May 2021 earn-in agreement with Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX), which allows Freeport to earn up to a 70 percent stake in the project.

Shares of Amarc surged early in the year after it announced the discovery of AuRORA on January 17. In the release, it outlined the high-grade potential of the deposit, highlighting an assay of 0.63 percent copper and 2.19 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold over 162 meters, including an 81 meter intersection grading 0.92 percent copper and 3.69 g/t gold, from near surface depths.

To support the discovery, in February Amarc signed an agreement with Canasil Resources for the option to acquire up to 100 percent of the Brenda property, which lies directly to the east of the AuRORA discovery.

Amarc provided more drill assays from its 2024 program on February 28. One assay from a drill hole at the AuRORA discovery graded 0.63 percent copper over 132 meters, including 0.81 percent over a 90 meter segment.

On July 16, Amarc announced the start of its summer drilling program at JOY, designed to expand the AuRORA deposit as well as test the PINE deposit and the discoveries at Twins and Canyon. The announcement also reported the expansion of the JOY district through Freeport’s options on Finlay’s PIL property, and Amarc’s acquisition of the Brenda property.

Then, on September 4, the company reported Freeport is proceeding to Stage 2 of its earn-in for the JOY property after completing Stage 1 in May for a 60 percent interest. Under the terms of the deal, Freeport now has five years to earn an additional 10 percent in the property by spending C$75 million.

Amarc announced the completion of its 2025 drill program at the JOY District on October 22. It consisted of 35 holes over 15,381 meters, with the majority at AuRORA.

After releasing rush assays from one hole at AuRORA on September 22, the company released further assays from the program on November 3. Among the highlights was one interval of 126 meters grading an average of 0.32 percent copper and 0.97 g/t gold, including a 61 meter intersection of 0.47 percent copper and 1.24 g/t gold. The company said that the program demonstrated the potential for significant and on-going deposit expansion, with grades among the highest in British Columbia.

Then on December 10, the company released additional assays, which included one highlight with 0.44 percent copper and 1.5 g/t gold over 47 meters.

Amarc noted that AuRORA remained open to further expansion to the north, east and west and that it believes that the “grade, geometry and emerging scale” of the deposit bears the hallmarks of a tier one asset.

Amarc shares climbed significantly through September, and reached a year-to-date high of C$1.35 on September 26.

4. C3 Metals (TSXV:CCCM)

Year-to-date gain: 450 percent
Market cap: C$124.86 million
Share price: C$1.32

C3 Metals is an exploration company working to advance its assets in Jamaica and Peru.

C3’s primary Jamaican asset is the Bellas Gate project, a 13,020 hectare site featuring 14 porphyry and over 30 epithermal prospects along an 18 kilometer strike. To date, drilling at the site has concentrated on a 4 kilometer zone encompassing the Provost, Geo Hill, Camel Hill and Connors prospects.

Shares of C3 gained significantly after the company announced on February 11 that it had signed an earn-in agreement with a Freeport-McMoRan subsidiary, which can gain up to a 75 percent interest in the project. Under the agreement, Freeport must contribute US$25 million in exploration and project expenditures over five years to earn the initial 51 percent interest, and an additional US$50 million over the following four years for the remaining 24 percent.

On August 13, the company commenced a drill program at the property to test multiple targets along strike focused on those with limited to no prior drilling to depths of 500 meters. C3 indicated that the program’s data would inform optimal locations for future deeper drilling.

C3 followed its drill program by initiating a 3D geophysical survey of the property, announced on October 6, with the intent of extending the area covered to 70 square kilometers and identifying drill targets beyond 700 meters in depth. The company said completion of the survey is anticipated for December, with data used to design a 2026 drill campaign.

However, exploration was put on hold in early November after Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica, and C3 pivoted to focus on helping the community. The company noted that its workforce was safe and equipment and drill core were intact following the storm, although roads were impassable and its sites were without power.

‘We estimate it will take approximately six to eight weeks to repair and restore necessary infrastructure to continue exploration activities,’ President and CEO Dan Symons stated.

In Peru, C3 has focused on advancing its Jasperoide copper-gold project and its Khaleesi project, located 8 kilometers apart. The Jasperoide project sspans 30,000 hectares and hosts two porphyry and more than 15 skarn prospects across two 28 kilometer belts.

According to a July 2023 technical report, a resource estimate for the Montana de Cobre skarn outlined a measured and indicated resource of 51.94 million metric tons of ore with an average grade of 0.5 percent copper and 0.2 g/t gold for contained metal totaling 569.1 million pounds of copper and 326,800 ounces of gold.

As for its Khaleesi project, the company announced in February that it discovered a 1,900 meter by 650 meter copper-molybdenum soil anomaly and a 470 meter by 400 meter high-grade copper-zinc anomaly based on results from soil sampling.

C3 has carried out exploration work at the property throughout the year, and in August reported that anomalies detected through magnetic, induced polarization and magnetotelluric surveys coincided with the February discoveries.

The most recent exploration update for the property came on September 9, when C3 announced it was commencing a 14 hole, 6,300 meter maiden drill program designed to evaluate the prospects discovered through the surveys.

Shares in C3 reached a year-to-date high of C$1.35 on December 10.

5. Sterling Metals (TSXV:SAG)

Year-to-date gain: 448.57 percent
Market cap: C$74.13 million
Share price: C$1.98

Sterling Metals is an exploration company with a trio of projects in Canada.

Over the past year, its primary focus has been on exploration at its brownfield Soo Copper project in Ontario, which it renamed from Copper Road in May. The 25,000 hectare property hosts two past-producing copper mines and has the potential for larger intrusion-related copper mineralization.

The company’s other two projects consist of Adeline, a 297 square kilometer district-scale property with sediment-hosted copper and silver mineralization along 44 kilometers of the strike, and Sail Pond, a silver, copper, lead and zinc project that hosts a 16-kilometer-long linear soil anomaly. Both properties are located in Newfoundland and Labrador.

On January 15, Sterling announced results from a 3D induced polarization and resistivity survey that covered an area of 5 kilometers by 3 kilometers and revealed multiple high-priority drill-ready targets.

The company used the survey results, along with historical exploration, to inform a drill program at the site.

On August 7, Sterling reported it commenced Phase 2 drilling at the Soo Copper project. The program is designed to test areas defined through analysis of the Phase 1 drill program, historic drill data and geophysical interpretations.

The company announced a discovery in the first hole on September 29, with assays delivering the highest copper grades encountered at Soo Copper. Grading from the hole returned values of 0.43 percent copper over 336 meters, starting at 5 meters from surface, and included one intersection with 6.8 percent copper over 9.15 meters and another with 21.3 percent over 0.6 meters which also returned a grade of 196 g/t gold.

The last exploration update for the year came on October 8, when Sterling announced it had discovered large-scale bornite in outcrop from soil sampling results. The new target corridor, which it named Gimlet, is located about 2 kilometers south of its recent discovery.

On November 26, the company announced that it had closed a non-brokered private placement, raising gross proceeds of C$14 million. It intends to use the funds to rapidly advance the project, allocating a minimum of C$6.2 million to project spending next year, with the majority of that dedicated to drilling.

Shares in Sterling reached a year-to-date high of C$2.84 on September 29, coinciding with the high-grade discovery.