1. Softbank to invest US$2 billion in Intel

Intel’s (NASDAQ:INTC) share price got a boost this week after a series of major announcements, beginning with SoftBank Group’s (TSE:9984) Monday (August 18) announcement that it plans invest US$2 billion in the company.

“Semiconductors are the foundation of every industry. For more than 50 years, Intel has been a trusted leader in innovation,’ said Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of SoftBank, in a press release.

‘This strategic investment reflects our belief that advanced semiconductor manufacturing and supply will further expand in the United States, with Intel playing a critical role,” he added.

Following that news, sources confirmed last week’s reports that the US government was seeking an equity stake in Intel in exchange for Biden-era Chips Act funding. Then, on Friday (August 22), US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick announced that Intel had agreed to sell an 8.9 percent stake to the federal government, a move that will convert billions of dollars in previously awarded grants into a passive ownership stake.

Intel performance, July 28 to August 18, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

These developments have sent Intel’s market value soaring, with its share price increasing over 28 percent from the start of the month. Shares of Intel closed up on Friday at US$24.80.

2. Figure files for Nasdaq IPO

Figure Technology filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq on Monday under the ticker symbol FIGR, joining a growing list of crypto-related companies looking to access public markets following the successful debut of stablecoin issuer Circle Internet Group (NYSE:CRCL).

Figure leverages blockchain to streamline financial services. The company’s filing reveals a strong financial performance, with profit reaching US$29 million in the first half of 2025, compared to a US$13 million loss in the same period last year. Its revenue for the first half of the year was US$191 million.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF) and Bank of America Securities are acting as lead underwriters for the offering. The number of shares and price ranges are yet to be confirmed.

3. Google unveils new Pixel and more

Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) made headlines this week with several new developments spanning its business lines.

The week kicked off with the tech giant announcing it has increased its stake in data center operator and Bitcoin miner TeraWulf (NASDAQ:WULF) to roughly 14 percent, worth US$3.2 billion.

The company also revealed a partnership with advanced nuclear startup Kairos Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority to power its data centers in Tennessee and Alabama using a new nuclear reactor.

On Wednesday (August 20), Google unveiled its latest Pixel smartphone, the Pixel 10, and accessories, with upgrades including a health coach powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

The week culminated with reports of a US$10 billion cloud computing agreement with Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) to provide the necessary servers and infrastructure for Meta’s expanding AI operations. The news sent Google’s share price up by over 3 percent and Meta’s up by over 2 percent.

4. NVIDIA tumbles amid China tension and chip sales

NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) experienced a volatile week, with its share price slipping in early trading on Monday following reports of renewed tensions with China. The downturn was triggered by news that Beijing will move to restrict sales of the H20 AI chip, the company’s most advanced product approved for the Chinese market.

China’s internet and telecom regulator, as well as the state planning agency, issued informal guidance to major tech companies, instructing them to halt new orders of the H20 chips, citing security concerns.

According to unnamed officials who spoke to the Financial Times, the decision was also influenced by “insulting” remarks from US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

In response to the Chinese directive, NVIDIA has reportedly instructed its component suppliers, including Foxconn Technology (TPE:2354), Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and Amkor Technolgy (NASDAQ:AMKR), to suspend production of the H20 chip; the company also said it is working on a new AI chip for China.

Alphabet, NVIDIA, Palo Alto Networks and Meta Platforms performance, August 19 to 22, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

NVIDIA saw the greatest losses midweek, falling over 4 percent between Tuesday and Thursday. The company recovered some of its losses during Friday’s rally, but finished the week over one percent lower.

5. Palo Alto Networks rises on strong forecast

Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW) surged over 7 percent on Tuesday after the cybersecurity company forecast that revenue and profit for its 2026 financial year will come in above estimates.

The company gave a strong performance in its 2025 fiscal year, with total revenue increasing 15 percent year-on-year to US$9.2 billion, fueled by an increase in revenue from newer, cloud-based security products. This growth occurred alongside a 24 percent rise in its future contracted business to US$15.8 billion.

The company also surpassed a US$10 billion revenue run rate while maintaining its “Rule-of-50” status — a measure of the balance between growth and profitability — for the fifth consecutive year.

Source: the White House.

Tariffs are not inflation

Trump’s tariffs have added to uncertainty, but they are not inflationary per se. The famous Nobel Prize-winning monetary economist, Milton Friedman, summarized what he had learned from the most comprehensive empirical study ever undertaken on inflation in the following quote:

“Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon in the sense that it is and can be produced only by a more rapid increase in the quantity of money than in output. A steady rate of monetary growth at a moderate level [may allow] little inflation and much growth.”

Another monetary economist of the 20th century, but not quite as famous as Friedman, was Ludwig von Mises. He agreed with the first half of the quote above, but not the second. He also supported a gold standard, as seen below, as protection from inflation and accompanying boom-bust cycles:

“All economic activity is based upon an uncertain future. It is therefore bound up with risk.” Thus: “There is no such thing as a safe investment.” But: “The…gold standard alone is a truly effective check on the power of the government to inflate the currency.”

Tariffs are just taxes

A student of Mises was Murray Rothbard. The latter wrote in Power and Market that the burden of a sales tax falls entirely on the supplier and supply chain, not the consumers, yet tariffs inexplicably do the opposite. The former is closer to the truth, depending on elasticities.

Media pundits often claim that businesses pass forward tax increases, like tariffs, to consumers. This is a half-truth. The other half of this half-truth is that businesses take a hit, so that they invest and hire less. This means foreign businesses, more than American consumers.

And rather than just a 50/50 split between supply and demand, as per the graph below, economics and history show it is more like an 80/20 situation. That 80 includes a pass backward in the supply chain. This means foreign supply chains, more than American supply chains.

Source: SlidePlayer.

Rationale for Trump’s tariffs

Trump’s tariffs have created extra uncertainty, but not nearly as much as the neoliberals, on the left or right, would suggest by their outrage and alarm. Firstly, imports and import elasticities are relatively low in the US.

Secondly, Trump’s strategy is consistent with the same three exceptions to free trade, and in the same order, as did the classical liberal, and godfather of free trade economics, Adam Smith.

The first exception is not only about directly decoupling from communist China, for targeted defense purposes, but also indirectly, for broader strategic purposes, by weakening the Communist Party of China to the point of regime change, as Reagan did to the USSR.

The second and third exceptions, of reciprocity and retaliation, are part of the “art of the deal.” This three-pronged strategy, despite the outcry as being anti-free trade, is not only trying to put America first, but also to restore genuine free trade. It is a well-calculated risk.

Impact of these tariffs

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in its press release of July 17: “Import prices ticked up 0.1% in June, following a decrease of 0.4% in May, and an advance of 0.1% in April.”

The BLS added that: “Prices for US imports fell 0.2% from June 2024 to June 2025, matching the 12- month decline for the year ended May 2025. Those were the largest annual decreases since the index fell 0.9% for the year ended February 2024.”

The BLS also provided an interactive chart of the Import Price Index (IPI). Highlights from the Trump 47 era for “all imports” include: IPI increased, but at a declining rate, by 1.7 percent in February, 0.8 percent in March and 0.1 percent in April; then decreased by -0.2 percent in May and -0.2 percent in June.

“Consumer goods” are also illuminating: IPI dropped from 1.2 percent in November 2024 to -0.8 percent in March 2025; then sunk further to -1.2 percent in May before rising to -0.6 percent in June, but still negative.

The story with “industrial supplies and materials” was that: IPI grew at 5.7 percent in February, then plunged to 1.9 percent in March; followed by shrinking down into negative territory of -2 percent in April, -3.6 percent in May and -3.2 percent in June.

Source: BLS.

Conclusion

Many Main Street investors, and even those on Wall Street, are aware that gold is a great hedge against both inflation and uncertainty; and it is. But few on either streets also know that it is a great investment that outperforms the S&P Index; and it does.

Gold is very rare indeed, and not just in terms of its physical scarcity, but in its unique ability to be both a safe-haven investment and a performance investment as well. The two charts at the end demonstrate gold’s protection and gold’s growth over the decades.

Therefore, for American investors it is still the right time to “trust” in gold growth to come, “but verify” through gold protection in the meantime. Thus, when one has gold, “heads” you win and “tails” you don’t lose.

Sources: FRED (CPI) (GDP) (M3); Shiller Data (S&P); World Bank (gold).

About Darren Brady Nelson

Darren Brady Nelson is chief economist with Fisher Liberty Gold and policy advisor to The Heartland Institute. He previously was economic advisor to Australian Senator Malcolm Roberts. He authored the Ten Principles of Regulation and Reform, and the CPI-X approach to budget cuts.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$116,546, a 3.9 percent increase in 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$112,019, and its highest was US$117,310.

Bitcoin price performance, August 22, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

The crypto market rallied after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech at the Jackson Hole Symposium offered clues that the Fed may be preparing to lower interest rates in September.

Bitcoin jumped from US$112,000 to US$116,000 in just over an hour. The current situation with inflation and the labor market, Powell said, “may warrant adjusting” the Fed’s monetary policy stance.

Powell cited a “curious balance” in the labor market, with reduced worker supply and demand increasing employment risks, while also noting that tariffs’ visible impact on consumer prices is likely to be short-lived.

However, he signaled that the central bank remains cautious of potential lasting inflation, emphasizing the need to balance its dual mandates when goals conflict.

The Fed also revised its monetary policy, stating that low unemployment alone will not trigger rate hikes. They removed language suggesting tolerance for inflation above 2 percent to offset past undershoots and no longer described low interest rates as a “defining feature” of the economy, offering greater flexibility in a volatile post-pandemic economy.

According to the CME Group Fedwatch tool, the probability of an interest rate cut at the September 17 FOMC meeting has surged to over 83 percent, up from 75 percent just yesterday.

Likewise, Ether (ETH) gained over 10 percent following Powell’s remarks, rising above the week-long US$4,600 resistance and forming a bull flag pattern, with analysts projecting potential highs around US$6,000.

ETH was priced at US$4,843.61, up by 14.5 percent over the past 24 hours, and its highest valuation of the day. Its lowest valuation was US$4,254.24.

Altcoin price update

• Solana (SOL) was priced at US$199.01, up by 10.5 percent over 24 hours to its highest valuation of the day. Its lowest was US$178.52.

• XRP was trading for US$3.09, up by 7.9 percent in the past 24 hours, and its highest valuation of the day. Its lowest was US$282.

• Sui (SUI) was trading at US$3.74, up by 9.5 percent over the past 24 hours, following market trends by reaching its highest valuation as the markets wrapped. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.33.

• Cardano (ADA) was also trading at its highest valuation on Friday at US$0.9334, up by 9.5 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation for the day was US$0.8332.

Today’s crypto news to know

Coinbase approves Trump-backed stablecoin

Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) has listed USD1, a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial, the crypto project linked to US President Donald Trump and his sons. The exchange announced the move on Thursday (August 21), while Eric Trump reposted the news on X and hinted that additional updates on the project are coming soon.

With the addition, Coinbase now offers US users a wide range of stablecoins, including USDT, USDC, PYUSD, DAI and others. World Liberty launched USD1 earlier this year as part of its push into decentralized finance, positioning the token for use in a forthcoming platform built on Ethereum with Aave technology.

The platform is not yet live, but the company has said it will eventually support lending and borrowing services.

The listing comes as the US stablecoin sector gains momentum following the passage of the GENIUS Act, which set national standards for stablecoin issuance and trading.

Still, World Liberty’s political connections remain controversial, especially after reports linked USD1 to a multibillion-dollar investment in Binance from an Abu Dhabi sovereign fund.

House moves to prohibit Fed from issuing CBDC

The US House of Representatives has added a provision to a defense policy bill for the 2026 fiscal year that would ban the Fed from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC). On Thursday, the House Rules Committee released a revised version of HR 3838, the House’s rendition of a bill enacting the National Defense Authorization Act.

It incorporates extensive wording that prohibits the Fed from researching or developing digital currency.

In July, the House narrowly passed the Republican-backed Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, which aims to prevent the Fed from issuing a digital currency, with a vote of 219 to 210. Its fate in the Senate remains uncertain.

The National Defense Authorization Act and its associated appropriations bills are considered essential national security legislation. They detail the military’s funding and budget allocation. Adding this provision from the anti-CBDC bill is a strategic maneuver by supporters of the CBDC ban to increase the likelihood of it passing into law.

CFTC seeks public input on spot crypto trading regulations

Caroline D. Pham, acting chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), is calling for public input from crypto market participants on how the agency can better regulate spot crypto trading.

“The public feedback will assist the CFTC in carefully considering relevant issues for leveraged, margined or financed retail trading on a CFTC-registered exchange as we implement the President’s directive,” Pham said on Thursday.

Comments may be submitted via the commission’s website until October 20.

This marks the second leg of the CFTC’s “crypto sprint,” an initiative to fast track the implementation of a new regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and other digital assets in the US. Last month, the agency announced that it would explore enabling the trading of spot crypto asset contracts on CFTC-registered futures exchanges.

Ripple, SBI to bring RLUSD to Japan

Ripple and SBI Holdings (TSE:8473) unveiled plans on Thursday to bring Ripple USD (RLUSD) to Japan.

Their aim is to launch the stablecoin in early 2026. The rollout will be handled by SBI VCTrade, a licensed digital payments provider, under Japan’s new regulatory framework for stablecoins.

RLUSD, first introduced in December 2024, is backed by dollar deposits, short-term US treasuries and cash equivalents, with monthly attestations from an independent firm. Ripple says this design ensures regulatory clarity and sets the coin apart as an institutional-grade product. SBI executives described the partnership as a milestone for Japan’s financial system, stressing that the stablecoin will enhance trust and convenience for users.

Ripple officials framed RLUSD as a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized networks, particularly just days after Japan approved its first yen-based stablecoin.

ECB explores public blockchains for digital euro

The European Central Bank (ECB) is reportedly exploring major public blockchain networks, including Ethereum and Solana, in connection with its digital euro design.

Sources familiar with the matter told the Financial Times that EU officials are accelerating plans for a digital euro after the passage of the GENIUS Act deepened concerns regarding the competitive viability of a European digital currency.

Sources familiar with the matter told the news outlet that while a private blockchain was widely expected for the digital euro, a public option is now being considered more seriously.

Meanwhile, the ECB informed the Financial Times that it is exploring both centralized and decentralized technologies, including distributed ledger technologies, in the lead up to a final decision.

Austrac directs Binance to appoint external auditor

Binance is facing renewed scrutiny in Australia after the country’s financial watchdog directed it to appoint an external auditor. AUSTRAC said the exchange has failed to meet standards for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing controls, citing gaps in oversight and risk management. The agency also pointed to Binance’s high staff turnover and limited senior management presence in Australia as red flags.

AUSTRAC Chief Brendan Thomas warned that global crypto exchanges must adapt to local compliance requirements, regardless of their size. The action adds to a growing list of regulatory challenges for Binance worldwide, including a record US$4.3 billion fine in the US last year for failing to block illicit users.

The company’s founder, Changpeng Zhao, is serving a four month prison sentence related to those violations. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, Binance is still battling tax evasion and illegal foreign exchange allegations, with a court trial pushed back to October.

Investor Insight

Horizon Minerals’ near-term cash-flow potential, large-scale gold resource base, and strategic processing infrastructure in the prolific Western Australian Goldfields position the company to transition into a sustainable, standalone mid-tier gold producer. Recent acquisitions, operational start-ups and high-grade resource expansions strengthen Horizon’s ability to leverage record gold prices and deliver consistent shareholder returns.

Overview

Horizon Minerals (ASX:HRZ,OTC:HRZMF) is an emerging standalone gold producer strategically positioned in the heart of Western Australia’s world-class goldfields. The company has built a robust portfolio of high-quality gold projects complemented by significant base and precious metal resources, all within easy haulage distance of key processing infrastructure.

Horizon currently holds 1.8 Moz of resources across 1,386 sq km of exploration tenure.

Following the transformational merger with Poseidon Nickel in early 2025 and the acquisition of the Gordons project in August 2025, Horizon now controls a total mineral resource of 1.82 million ounces (Moz) of gold at an average grade of 1.84 grams per ton (g/t), along with substantial silver, zinc, nickel, cobalt and manganese resources.

Central to Horizon’s growth strategy is the 2.2 Mtpa Black Swan processing facility, acquired through the Poseidon transaction. Located just 40 km north of Kalgoorlie, the plant is currently on care and maintenance but is fully permitted and connected to power and water. A low-capex refurbishment and conversion to a gold CIL circuit is underway, forming the backbone of Horizon’s plan to establish a sustainable ~100,000 ounce per annum production profile from late 2026.

The Black Swan processing facility is at the heart of Horizon’s stand-alone gold production strategy.

In parallel, Horizon is generating strong near-term cash flow from ore sales and toll milling arrangements at its Boorara and Phillips Find operations, respectively, both of which have delivered first gold in 2025. These operations, together with high-grade satellite deposits such as Burbanks, Penny’s Find, Cannon and the newly acquired Gordons Dam, will provide the feedstock for Black Swan’s initial five-year mine plan.

The company’s consolidated 1,386 sq km landholding spans some of the most prospective geological trends in the Goldfields, offering a mix of advanced development assets, near-mill open pits, and highly prospective exploration ground. With approximately 50,000 metres of drilling budgeted for FY25–26, Horizon is targeting both resource growth and upgrades in confidence across its portfolio.

Leveraging record gold prices and a strong balance sheet, Horizon is now at an inflection point – transitioning from a developer with multiple growth options into a fully integrated, cash-generating, standalone Western Australian gold producer.

Company Highlights

• Emerging standalone gold producer with an extensive WA Goldfields portfolio and a total mineral resource of 1.82 million ounces gold plus significant silver, zinc, nickel, cobalt and manganese resources.
• Acquisition of Poseidon Nickel delivers the 2.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) Black Swan processing facility, strategically located 40 km north of Kalgoorlie, with refurbishment studies underway for conversion to a gold carbon-in-leach (CIL) plant.
• Acquisition of the Gordons project from Yandal Resources adds 77 sq km of tenure near Black Swan, including the Gordons Dam deposit (365 kt @ 1.7 grams per ton gold for 20 koz) with strong exploration upside.
• Continuous cash flow generation from two producing mines, via the ore sale agreement for Boorara (~AU$30 million estimated free cashflow at AU$3,600/oz) and the joint venture toll milling agreement at Phillips Find.
• Record gold prices (>AU$5,000/oz) underpin robust margins and fund ~50,000 metres of drilling in FY25–26, targeting both resource growth and confidence upgrades.
• Combined landholding of 1,386 sq km in Western Australia’s most productive gold belts, following the Poseidon and Gordons acquisitions

Key Projects

Boorara Gold Project

The Boorara gold project, located just 15 kilometres east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, is Horizon’s cornerstone operation and the foundation of its near-term cashflow strategy. Over the past decade, extensive reverse circulation and diamond drilling has defined a substantial JORC 2012 mineral resource of 10.53 Mt grading 1.27 g/t gold for 428,000 ounces. Boorara is strategically positioned within trucking distance of multiple third-party processing facilities and only two kilometres from Horizon’s 100-percent-owned Nimbus silver-zinc project.

Mine operations at the Boorara gold project

Open pit mining commenced in August 2024, marking the start of Horizon’s transition to gold production. First ore was exposed and mined in late September 2024, with the inaugural gold pour achieved in January 2025. Mining operations are planned over approximately 14 months, with processing to occur over 19 months. A binding ore sale agreement with Paddington Gold provides for the processing of 1.24 Mt of Boorara ore at their Paddington mill until Q2 2026. The agreement is forecast to deliver more than AU$30 million in free cash flow at a gold price of AU$3,600/oz, with upside potential given current spot prices exceeding AU$5,000/oz.

Importantly, Boorara is not just a standalone deposit; it is the central baseload feed source in Horizon’s integrated production plan. It will be supplemented by higher-grade satellite ore from projects such as Burbanks, Penny’s Find, Cannon, Phillips Find and Gordons Dam. This blend of tonnage and grade is designed to optimise mill feed once Black Swan is recommissioned, extending the life of mine and improving overall project economics..

Phillips Find Gold Project

The Phillips Find gold project, 45 kilometres northwest of Coolgardie, is a high-grade goldfield with a production history of about 33,000 ounces. Horizon is advancing the project under a low-risk joint venture with BML Ventures, which funds and manages all mining and operational activities.

First ore was mined in late 2024, with the initial gold pour in February 2025 from toll treatment at FMR Investments’ Greenfields mill. Early campaigns processed 56,300 dry tonnes at 1.63 g/t gold for 2,807 ounces, sold at an average AU$4,894/oz, generating approximately AU$13.7 million in gross revenue to the JV.

Milling agreements include capacity at the Greenfields mill from February to June 2025 and a September-October 2025 campaign for 70,000 tonnes at Focus Minerals’ Three Mile Hill plant. An additional 80,000 tonnes of capacity has been reserved at Greenfields for future ore, giving Horizon strong processing flexibility while complementing production from Boorara and other satellite deposits.

Burbanks Gold Project

Horizon’s high-grade growth asset, the Burbanks gold project, lies nine kilometres southeast of Coolgardie on the prolific Burbanks Shear Zone. With historical production exceeding 420,000 ounces, Burbanks now hosts 465,000 ounces at 2.80 g/t gold across open pit and underground resources. The deposit remains open in all directions, and recent drilling has demonstrated strong potential for significant extensions, with a major 30,000 metre drill campaign underway to support the Black Swan five-year mine plan.

Gordons Project

In August 2025, Horizon expanded its near-mill project pipeline with the acquisition of the Gordons project from Yandal Resources. This 77 sq km package, only 10 kilometres from the Black Swan facility, includes the Gordons Dam deposit with 20,000 ounces in resource and multiple drill-ready prospects, such as Star of Gordon and Malone. The strategic location and exploration upside of Gordons make it an ideal fit for Horizon’s centralised processing strategy.

Black Swan Processing Facility

Existing flotation circuit and planned changes to facilitate gold production at Black Swan

At the heart of Horizon’s stand-along gold production strategy is the Black Swan processing facility, secured through a February 2025 merger with Poseidon Nickel. This 2.2 Mtpa concentrator, currently on care and maintenance, is being refurbished and converted to include a gold CIL circuit. All necessary approvals are in place, and engineering studies led by GR Engineering are progressing towards first gold production from Black Swan in late 2026. The plant’s location and capacity offer Horizon the ability to unlock value from its own resources and potentially treat stranded third-party ores.

Other Projects

Cannon Underground Project

• Fully permitted high-grade underground project 30km ESE of Kalgoorlie
• Pre-feasibility study complete

Penny’s Find

• High-grade UG project with MRE of 0.43Mt @ 4.57g/t Au for 63koz
• Pre-feasibility completed December 2024

Nimbus Silver-Zinc Project

• 12.1 Mt @ 52 g/t silver, 0.2 g/t gold, 0.9 percent zinc for 20.2 Moz silver, 77 koz gold, 104 kt zinc
• High-grade core: 0.26 Mt @ 774 g/t silver, 12.8 percent zinc
• Concept study supports concentrate production pathway

Management Team

Ashok Parekh – Non-executive Chairman

Ashok Parekh has over 33 years of experience advising mining companies and service providers in the mining industry. He has spent many years negotiating mining deals with publicly listed companies and prospectors, leading to new IPOs and the initiation of new gold mining operations. Additionally, he has been involved in managing gold mining and milling companies in the Kalgoorlie region, where he has served as managing director for some of these firms. Parekh is well-known in the West Australian mining industry and has a highly successful background in owning numerous businesses in the Goldfields. He was the executive chairman of ASX-listed A1 Consolidated Gold (ASX:AYC) from 2011 to 2014. He is a chartered accountant.

Warren Hallam – Non-executive Director

Warren Hallam is currently a non-executive director of St Barbara Limited and Poseidon Nickel Limited, and non-executive chairman of Kingfisher Mining Limited. Hallam has built a strong track record over 35 years in operations, corporate and senior leadership roles across multiple commodities. This includes previous Managing Director roles at Metals X Limited, Millenium Metals and Capricorn Metals. Hallam is a metallurgist with a Master in Mineral Economics from Curtin University.

Grant Haywood – Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Grant Haywood brings over three decades of experience in both underground and open-cut mining operations. During his career, he has served in senior leadership capacities in various mining companies, guiding them from feasibility through to development and operations. His experience spans various roles within junior and multinational gold mining companies, predominantly in the Western Australian goldfields, including positions at Phoenix Gold, Saracen Mineral Holdings, and Gold Fields. He is a graduate of the Western Australian School of Mines (WASM) and has also earned a Masters in Mineral Economics from the same institution.

Julian Tambyrajah – Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary

Julian Tambyrajah is an accomplished global mining finance executive with more than 25 years of industry expertise. He is a certified public accountant and chartered company secretary. He has served as CFO of several listed companies including Central Petroleum (CTP), Crescent Gold (CRE), Rusina Mining NL, DRDGold, and Dome Resources NL. He has extensive experience in capital raising, some of which includes raising US$49 million for BMC UK, AU$122 million for Crescent Gold and AU$105 million for Central Petroleum.

Stephen Guy – Chief Geologist

Stephen Guy is a geologist with over 25 years of experience in the mining industry, specialising in exploration, production, and project start-ups for both open pit and underground operations. His career spans key regions in Australia, including Western Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland, where he has collaborated with leading companies such as BHP, Newcrest, St Barbara Gold, Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), and Gindalbie Metals. Guy’s expertise covers a diverse range of commodities, including gold, copper, nickel, base metals, and iron ore.

Rob Waugh – Non-Executive Director

Rob Waugh is a senior mining executive with more than 35 years’ experience in the resources sector, operating predominantly in gold and base metals. With a strong track record of exploration and discovery success, Waugh has held senior exploration management roles at WMC Resources and BHP and was previously the managing director of Musgrave Minerals, which was acquired for AU$200 million by Ramelius Resources in 2023.