Investing

1. Apple’s App Store appeal, AI search plans and chip news

Apple is formally contesting last week’s judicial ruling mandating a reduction in its App Store commission.

The company filed an appeal against the order that would compel it to lower the existing 27 percent fee imposed on businesses offering links within their apps to external payment processing alternatives.

In related news, Apple executive Eddy Cue revealed during federal court testimony that the tech giant is investigating the development of its own AI-powered search engine for the Safari web browser. The news had an immediate impact on Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) shares, resulting in a 9 percent decline on Wednesday (May 7) afternoon.

In other news, Apple is reportedly making advances in its in-house silicon development.

The company is designing new proprietary chips intended to serve as the main central processing units for a range of future Apple products. These include anticipated devices such as smart glasses, more powerful iterations of its Mac computer line and specialized AI servers.

Combined with this week’s macroeconomic and geopolitical developments, Apple’s share price experienced turbulence, ultimately closing 2.25 percent below Monday’s (May 5) opening price on Friday (May 9).

2. OpenAI announces restructuring, acquisition and leadership changes

In a notable week for AI giant OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman shared a reorganization strategy on Monday, announcing that its operational arm will transition into a new public benefit corporation, with its non-profit arm acting as the primary shareholder. The decision follows talks with civic leaders and state attorneys general.

A person familiar with the matter told Business Insider that the new plan will let the company receive the full US$30 billion investment from SoftBank (TSE:9984). Meanwhile, sources told Bloomberg on Monday that Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and OpenAI are still in negotiations regarding a restructuring plan. A later report from the Information reveals that OpenAI plans to slash its 20 percent revenue-sharing agreement with Microsoft to 10 percent by 2030.

Regarding the ongoing legal dispute between Sam Altman and Tesla (NADAQ:TSLA) CEO Musk, who alleges that the company has strayed from its founding mission, Musk’s attorney, Marc Toberoff, told Reuters on Monday that the team intends to proceed with the lawsuit. Toberoff also called the restructuring a “cosmetic” move that turns charitable assets into private wealth, adding that “the founding mission remains betrayed.”

In other news, OpenAI made its largest acquisition to date this week, agreeing to buy AI-assisted coding tool Windsurf for about US$3 billion, and named ex-Instacart (NASDAQ:CART) CEO Fidji Simo as its new head of applications.

According to reports, Simo will manage operations and report directly to Sam Altman, who will retain his title as CEO. Altman will shift his focus to research, safety efforts and advancing artificial general intelligence.

3. AI chip regulatory developments

US Representative Bill Foster is preparing to introduce legislation aimed at tracking the location of AI chips, such as those produced by NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), after they are sold.

The proposed bill, first reported by Reuters on Monday, would task US regulators with developing rules to monitor these chips, ensuring they remain in authorized locations under export control licenses.

It would also seek to prevent unlicensed chips from being activated outside of authorized locations.

In other chip-related news, NVIDIA shares rose following news that the Trump administration plans to eliminate the so-called “AI diffusion rule.” However, a spokesperson from the US Department of Commerce clarified upcoming plans in a statement to CNBC’s Kif Leswing on Wednesday, commenting:

“The Biden AI rule is overly complex, overly bureaucratic, and would stymie American innovation. We will be replacing it with a much simpler rule that unleashes American innovation and ensures American AI dominance.”

The announcement highlights the Trump administration’s intention to keep some guardrails in place to protect US interests, despite pushback from tech industry executives.

At a Congressional hearing on Thursday (May 8), OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized the importance of maintaining US leadership in AI development. He cautioned against overregulation, warning that poorly designed rules could hinder America’s competitive edge, particularly against China.

4. Palantir, AMD, Arm and Super Micro share results

Palantir’s Q1 revenue rose 39 percent year-on-year to US$884 million, driven by demand for its data analytics software in the US. The company expects demand to continue, forecasting Q2 revenue between US$934 million and US$938 million. Palantir’s share price fell by 8 percent after hours as investors anticipated even stronger results. The company posted a loss of 5.6 percent for the week after a volatile week for tech stocks, as overvaluation concerns persist.

Advanced Micro Devices’ Q1 earnings report shows quarterly revenue of US$7.4 billion, an annual increase of 36 percent, with adjusted earnings per share of US$0.96. Despite an initial 7 percent stock surge following a positive quarterly report, AMD shares fell following the company’s announcement of a projected US$1.5 billion revenue decrease this year, attributed to US government limitations on the sale of AI chips to China.

Palantir, Super Micro, AMD and Arm performance, May 6 to 9, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

For Q4 2024, Arm Holdings reported quarterly revenue of more than US$1 billion for the first time in its history, but forecast revenue and profit for Q1 2025 below Wall Street estimates, resulting in a 4 percent slump on Thursday morning

Super Micro Computer’s net sales increased from US$3,85 billion in Q3 2024 to US$4.6 billion, while the company’s earnings per share fell year-on-year from US$0.66 to US$0.17.

The company lowered its full-year revenue guidance from US$23.5 billion to US$25 billion, down to US$21.8 billion to US$22.6 billion, with trade war-induced uncertainty and increasing competition cited as obstacles to growth. The company’s share price opened over 5 percent lower the next day and fell by over 3 percent this week.

5. Constellation shares jump, White House plans reactor push

Shares of Constellation Energy (NASDAQ:CEG) rose nearly 10 percent in two days ahead of the Tuesday (May 6) release of its Q1 earnings report, which revealed revenue that exceeded expectations by over 20 percent.

Later, during an earnings call, CEO Joe Dominguez said the company was close to inking multiple long-term deals to provide nuclear power to meet surging energy demands, further bolstering investors’ optimistic outlook.

In another significant development within the nuclear energy sector, Ontario Power Generation said it has secured the necessary approvals to commence construction on the first of four small modular reactors (SMR) designed by GE Verona (NYSE:GEV), which will be located at the company’s Darlington site near Toronto.

The Darlington project is anticipated to be the first deployment of this particular SMR technology within a G7 nation.

Separately, Axios reported on Tuesday that sources familiar with the matter say the White House is in the final stages of preparing executive actions intended to accelerate the deployment of nuclear reactors. These plans, reportedly under consideration for several weeks, could be officially announced imminently.

On Friday, NPR said its reporters have seen a draft of such an order. According to the report, the order instructs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to send new reactor safety guidelines to the White House for review and possible amendments. The draft also calls for a reduction of NRC’s staff and a “wholesale revision of its regulation” in coordination with the administration and the Department of Government Efficiency.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$103,116 as markets closed for the week, up 2 percent in 24 hours.

The day’s range has seen a low of US$102,526 and a high of US$103,636. After breaking through the US$100,000 threshold on Thursday (May 8), the digital asset has found support.

Bitcoin performance, May 9, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

The crypto market’s surge is attributed to positive geopolitical developments, particularly surrounding a US-UK trade agreement and optimism over upcoming trade talks with China.

A better-than-expected jobs report also reignited institutional interest. Meanwhile, the MOVE index has cooled from its late March-early April spike, encouraging broader risk-taking across financial markets.

On the technical side, Bitcoin’s realized cap has hit an all-time high above US$893 million. Cointelegraph’s Marcel Pechman notes that strong options activity suggests that prices above US$105,000 could fuel further gains. Analyst Egrag Crypto is forecasting a rally to US$170,000, contingent on Bitcoin breaking past its previous all-time high of US$109,000.

However, with Bitcoin’s relative strength index approaching 70, overbought conditions are emerging, and investors are urged to be cautious of short-term volatility.

Ethereum’s (ETH) price surge has outperformed that of Bitcoin and can be attributed to an increase in transactions following Wednesday’s (May 7) Pectra upgrade. ETH’s price has increased by over 25 percent from last week and 42 percent month-on-month. It finished the week at US$2,325.35, a 10 percent increase over 24 hours.

The day’s range saw a low of US$2,288.24 and a high of US$2,372.09.

Altcoin price update

• Solana (SOL) closed at US$171.67, up 7.1 percent over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$168.64 and a high of US$172.75.

• XRP was trading at US$2.35, reflecting a 3.6 percent increase over 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached a daily low of US$2.33 and a high of US$2.40.

• Sui (SUI) was priced at US$3.89, showing a decreaseof 0.6 percent over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$3.87 and a high of US$4.03.

• Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.7799, up 5.5 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$0.7763, and it reached a high of US$0.7953.

Today’s crypto news to know

Coinbase to acquire Deribit in US$2.9 billion crypto derivatives deal

Coinbase has announced plans to acquire Deribit, a leading crypto derivatives exchange, for $2.9 billion — the largest deal in the crypto industry to date. This strategic move positions Coinbase to expand its offerings in the crypto options market, catering to the growing demand for advanced trading products.

The acquisition includes US$700 million in cash and 11 million shares of Coinbase Class A common stock.

Deribit, which processed US$1.2 trillion in trading volume last year, controls approximately 85 percent of the global crypto options market. This deal is expected to enhance Coinbase’s presence in the international derivatives market and diversify its revenue streams. Analysts view the acquisition as a significant step for Coinbase to compete with other major exchanges like Binance and Kraken in the derivatives space. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is anticipated to close later this year. Until then, Deribit will continue its operations as usual.

Rumble’s crypto wallet launch and Q1 earnings

Rumble’s (NASDAQ:RUM) CEO confirmed the firm will launch a Bitcoin and stablecoin wallet to compete with the Coinbase Wallet in Q3. The Rumble Wallet will launch in partnership with Tether.

“Our goal is to become the most prominent non-custodial Bitcoin and stablecoin wallet, powering the creator economy,” according to a May 9 (Friday) X post by Chris Pavlovski.

On the earnings front, Rumble reported a net loss of US$2.7 million for Q1 on Thursday, a significant improvement over the US$43 million loss reported in Q1 2024. The company’s revenue of US$23.7 million exceeded analysts’ estimates; however, the firm reported a decrease in monthly active users to 59 million, down from 68 million in Q4 2024.

Rumble opened 2.44 percent higher on Friday (May 9) and closed the week with a gain of over 17 percent.

Meta’s potential stablecoin integration

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) is reportedly in discussions with cryptocurrency enterprises regarding the potential implementation of stablecoins for select, smaller-scale creator disbursements.

Five informed sources told Fortune that the corporation has engaged in consultative deliberations with multiple cryptocurrency infrastructure providers, albeit without having yet settled upon a definitive strategic approach.

An insider suggests that the entity may adopt a multi-token framework, encompassing the integration of established stablecoins such as Tether’s USDt and Circle’s USD Coin, amongst other alternatives.

This news comes the day after Democratic lawmakers withdrew support for the GENIUS Act after concerns arose over the lucrative crypto dealings of companies tied to US President Donald Trump. The bill stalled on the floor of the Senate, prompting a public statement from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

“This bill represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand dollar dominance and US influence in financial innovation. Without it, stablecoins will be subject to a patchwork of state regulations instead of a streamlined federal framework.’

Celsius founder sentenced to 12 years for crypto fraud

Alex Mashinsky, founder and former CEO of Celsius Network, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for defrauding customers and manipulating the price of the company’s CEL token.

Between 2018 and 2022, Mashinsky misled investors about the safety of their funds, using customer deposits to inflate CEL’s value and personally profiting over US$48 million. Celsius, which once managed over US$25 billion in assets, collapsed in 2022 amid a broader crypto market downturn, leaving thousands of users unable to access their funds.

SEC considers crypto exemptions

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is “considering a potential exemptive order” to let crypto firms bypass requirements to register as a broker-dealer, clearing agency exchange to issue, trade and settle securities. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce made the announcement in a speech published on Thursday.

Companies would still be expected to comply with rules to prevent fraud and market manipulation and may also need to meet certain disclosure and recordkeeping requirements.

Markets and commodities react

In Canada, major indexes were mixed at the end of the week.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) gained 1.46 percent during the week to close at 25,357.74 on Friday, the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) moved up 3.57 percent to 683.4 and the CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) falling 0.41 percent to 119.12.

US equities were flat this week, with the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:INX) flat gaining 0.08 percent to close at 5,659.90, the Nasdaq-100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) gaining 0.67 percent to 20,061.45 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) rising 0.18 percent to 41,249.37.

The gold price strengthened in the middle of the week but remained off recent highs, but still managed to post a 2.72 percent gain, closing out Friday at US$3,328.93.

The silver price was also up, rising 2.38 percent during the period to US$32.76.

In base metals, the COMEX copper price was flat, falling just 0.64 percent over the week to US$4.66 per pound. Meanwhile, the S&P GSCI (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) rose 2.18 percent to close at 531.54.

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.

Stock data for this article was retrieved at 4 p.m. EDT on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market capitalizations greater than C$10 million are included. Companies within the non-energy minerals and energy minerals sectors were considered.

1. Group Eleven Resources (TSXV:ZNG)

Weekly gain: 69.44 percent
Market cap: C$53.2 million
Share price: C$0.305

Group Eleven Resources is an exploration company working to advance its flagship PG West zinc, lead, copper and silver project in the Republic of Ireland. The wholly owned asset consists of 22 prospecting licenses covering 650 square kilometers and hosts the main Ballywire prospect, which was discovered in 2022.

Shares in Group Eleven gained this past week after an exploration announcement on Thursday.

The company reported assay results from four holes at Ballywire, with one highlighted copper and silver result recording grades of 1.46 percent copper and 356 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver over 19.9 meters.

It includes an intersection of 3.72 percent copper and 838 g/t silver over 6.4 meters.

It also reported an additional zinc, lead and silver hole with grades of 3.1 percent zinc, 1.4 percent lead and 22 g/t silver over 47.1 meters, which included an intersection of 7.7 percent zinc, 3.2 percent lead and 57 g/t silver over 12.9 meters.

2. Element 29 Resources (TSXV:ECU)

Weekly gain: 66.67 percent
Market cap: C$61.62 million
Share price: C$0.50

Element 29 Resources is an exploration company focused on advancing a portfolio of projects in Peru.

Its primary projects consist of the Elida copper-molybdenum-silver project in West-Central Peru and the Flor de Cobre project in the Southern Peruvian copper belt. The Elida site is composed of 29 concessions covering 19,749 hectares and hosts five distinct exploration targets within a 2.5 by 2.5 kilometer alteration system.

A September 2022 resource estimate shows an inferred resource of 321.7 million metric tons (MT) containing 2.24 billion pounds of copper at a grade of 0.32 percent, 205.7 million pounds of molybdenum at a grade of 0.03 percent and 27 million ounces of silver at 2.61 percent.

The company’s less explored Flor de Cobre project is composed of 11 mining concessions and one mining claim covering 3,135 hectares. The company announced in March that it received environmental permitting for the site and would be partnering with the GlobeTrotters Resource Group, which discovered Elida, on exploration at For de Cobre.

Shares of Element 29 posted gains this week, but the company did not share any news.

3. Giant Mining (CSE:BFG)

Weekly gain: 56.1 percent
Market cap: C$18.48 million
Share price: C$0.32

Giant Mining is an exploration company working to advance its Majuba Hill District copper, silver and gold project north of Reno, Nevada. The site consists of 403 federal lode mining claims and four private property parcels that cover an area of 3,919 hectares. Mining at the property took place between 1900 and 1950, resulting in the production of 2.8 million pounds of copper, 184,000 ounces of silver and 5,800 ounces of gold.

Extensive exploration work has been carried out at Majuba Hill, with 89,930 feet being drilled since 2007.

The most recent news from the project includes a pair of releases this week.

First, on Wednesday, the company announced that it has completed four of the five planned drill holes in its 2025 exploration program, with one of the samples sent to the lab for analysis.

The second release came on Thursday, when Giant announced that it has begun drilling the final hole of the program and expected to reach a depth of 1,000 feet. The company said the current program was designed with artificial intelligence to expand the known zones of copper mineralization and advance the project toward a mineral resource estimate.

4. PPX Mining (TSXV: PPX)

Weekly gain: 55.56 percent
Market cap: C$44.58 million
Share price: C$0.07

PPX Mining is a precious metals company that is focused on its Igor project, which contains the operating Callanquitas underground mine, located in the Otuzco province of Northern Peru.

An updated resource estimate for Callanquitas released by the company in January 2024 shows measured and indicated amounts as oxides of 81,090 ounces of gold and 2.9 million ounces of silver. The inferred resource as sulfides stands at 34,450 gold equivalent ounces at 4.63 g/t gold equivalent.

In a prefeasibility study for Igor, which was amended in January 2022, the company indicates that the 1,300 hectare site previously hosted small-scale mining operations and holds a 50 MT per day gold-processing plant from the 1980s. In November 2024, PPX announced that it had started construction of a 350 MT per day carbon-in-leach and flotation plant that will be used to process oxide and sulfide ore from Callanquitas.

The latest construction update came on March 26, when the company said major plant equipment was ready to ship from China. The equipment includes crushing plant units, metal detectors, ball mills and flotation cells. The company has not provided a further update on the timeline for when the shipments would arrive on site.

The most recent news from PPX came on Monday (May 5), when it announced that it had closed an oversubscribed non-brokered private placement. The terms of the funding will see the company issue 17.83 million shares for gross proceeds of C$802,303. Funding raised will be used for further exploration of Callanquitas and general working capital.

5. Triumph Gold (TSXV:TIG)

Weekly gain: 50 percent
Market cap: C$11.97 million
Share price: C$0.03

Triumph Gold is an explorer and developer advancing projects in the Yukon and BC, Canada.

Its three properties in the Yukon are all within the Dawson Range and consist of its flagship Freegold Mountain project, which has 20 identified mineral resources hosting gold, silver, copper, molybdenum, lead and zinc deposits; the Tad/Toro copper, gold and molybdenum project; and the Big Creek copper and gold project.

Triumph’s property in Northern BC is called Andalusite Peak.

The most recent update from the company came on Wednesday, when it announced it has refined its exploration focus on geochemical surveys and detailed geological mapping at the Andalusite Peak project, as well as defining new targets at Freegold Mountain. Additionally, the company said it has engaged Independent Trading Group to provide market-making services and enhance the liquidity of common shares.

FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

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

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

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

How do you trade on the TSXV?

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

1. Global X Copper Miners ETF (ARCA:COPX)

Assets under management: US$2.09 billion

The Global X Copper Miners ETF tracks the Solactive Global Copper Miners Index, which covers copper exploration companies, developers and producers. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.65 percent.

The fund currently has 39 holdings, with the top three companies being First Quantum Minerals (TSX:FM,OTC Pink:FQVLF), Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) and Lundin Mining (TSX:LUN,OTC Pink:LUNMF).

2. United States Copper Index Fund (ARCA:CPER)

Assets under management: US$162.94 million

The United States Copper Index Fund aims to give investors exposure to a portfolio of copper futures without using a commodity futures account. It has an expense ratio of 1.04 percent.

The fund tracks the performance of the SummerHaven Copper Index Total Return (INDEXNYSEGIS:SCITR), which is calculated based on certain copper futures contracts selected on a monthly basis.

3. Sprott Physical Copper Trust (TSX:COP.U,OTCQX:SPHCF)

Assets under management: US$96.59 million

A relatively new ETF, the Sprott Physical Copper Trust was established in July 2024 and is one of the first funds to be based around physical copper. The fund has an expense ratio of 2.03 percent.

As of the start of May 2025, the fund held 10,157 metric tons of copper worth US$96.59 million.

4. iShares Copper and Metals Mining ETF (NASDAQ:ICOP)

Assets under management: US$50.63 million

The iShares Copper and Metals Mining ETF tracks the STOXX Global Copper and Metals Mining Index, which is composed of public companies primarily engaged in copper and metal mining. It has an expense ratio of 0.47 percent.

The fund represents a global portfolio of 41 copper companies. Its top three holdings are Grupo Mexico (OTC Pink:GMBXF,BMV:GMEXICOB), BHP (NYSE:BHP,ASX:BHP,LSE:BHP) and Freeport McMoRan.

5. Sprott Copper Miners ETF (NASDAQ:COPP)

Assets under management: US$23.65 million

Sprott Asset Management bills its Sprott Copper Miners ETF as ‘the only pure-play ETF focused on large-, mid- and small-cap copper mining companies that are providing a critical mineral necessary for the clean energy transition.’

It came to market in March 2024, and has an expense ratio of 0.65 percent.

The fund is made up of a portfolio of 49 companies and has a market cap of US$279 billion; it is rebalanced twice a year in June and December. The fund’s top three holdings are Freeport-McMoRan, Teck Resources (TSX:TECK.A,TECK.B,NYSE:TECK) and Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN,OTCQX:IVPAF).

6. Sprott Junior Copper Miners ETF (NASDAQ:COPJ)

Assets under management: US$12.6 million

Launched in February 2023, the Sprott Junior Copper Miners is a pure-play ETF that, as its name suggests, is focused on small-cap copper miners. It has an expense ratio of 0.76 percent.

The fund consists of 40 companies, and its top three holdings are Northern Dynasty Minerals (TSX:NDM,NYSEAMERICAN:NAK), Solaris Resources (TSX:SLS,NYSEAMERICAN:SLSR) and Atalaya Mining (LSE:ATYM).

Like Sprott’s other copper fund on this list, COPJ is rebalanced twice a year in June and December.

7. iPath Series B Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return ETN (OTC Pink:JJCTF)

Assets under management: US$6.9 million

The iPath Series B Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return ETN provides exposure to the Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return. According to Barclays (LSE:BARC), the note ‘reflects the returns that are potentially available through an unleveraged investment in the futures contracts on copper.’ It is tied to the high-grade copper futures contract available on the Comex and carries an expense ratio of 0.75 percent.

Unlike an ETF, an ETN does not own the underlying asset. Instead, an ETN functions in the same way as an uninsured bond. Investopedia states that investors take their profits when they sell the note or it reaches maturity.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$103,027 as markets opened, up 1.3 percent in 24 hours. After breaking through the US$100,000 threshold Thursday (May 8) the digital asset has found support. The day’s range has seen a low of US$102,871 and a high of US$103,672.

Bitcoin performance, May 9, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Bitcoin’s recent price surge is driven by the US government’s decision to legalize strategic Bitcoin reserves—boosting investor confidence and signaling institutional backing—alongside growing global adoption supported by favorable regulations and broader acceptance across sectors.

Ethereum (ETH) started the trading day at US$2,220 and quickly rallied. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$1,792.06 and saw a daily high of US$2,415.

Altcoin price update

• Solana (SOL) opened at US$169.63 up 4.57 percent over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$151.51 and a high of US$171.39.

• XRP was trading at US$2.33, reflecting a 5 percent increase over 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached a daily high of US$2.36 midday.

• Sui (SUI) was priced at US$3.80, showing an increaseof 0.50 percent over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$3.36 and a high of US$3.92.

• Cardano (ADA) is trading at US$0.7866, up 7 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price of the day was US$0.71, and it reached a high of US$0.79.

Today’s crypto news to know

Bitcoin surges past $100,000 amid trade optimism and institutional inflows

Bitcoin (BTC) has reclaimed the US$100,000 mark for the first time since February, driven by optimism surrounding a new US-UK trade deal and significant institutional investments. On May 8, US Bitcoin ETFs saw net inflows totaling US$117.4 million, with BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC leading the gains.

Additionally, the Federal Reserve’s decision to hold interest rates steady has bolstered investor confidence in crypto markets.

Coinbase acquires Deribit in landmark US$2.9 billion crypto derivatives deal

Coinbase has announced its acquisition of Deribit, a leading crypto derivatives exchange, for $2.9 billion—the largest deal in the crypto industry to date. This strategic move positions Coinbase to expand its offerings in the crypto options market, catering to the growing demand for advanced trading products.

The acquisition includes US$700 million in cash and 11 million shares of Coinbase Class A common stock. Deribit, which processed US$1.2 trillion in trading volume last year, controls approximately 85 percent of the global crypto options market.

This deal is expected to enhance Coinbase’s presence in the international derivatives market and diversify its revenue streams.

Analysts view the acquisition as a significant step for Coinbase to compete with other major exchanges like Binance and Kraken in the derivatives space. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is anticipated to close later this year. Until then, Deribit will continue its operations as usual.

Celsius founder sentenced to 12 years for crypto fraud

Alex Mashinsky, founder and former CEO of Celsius Network, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for defrauding customers and manipulating the price of the company’s CEL token.

Between 2018 and 2022, Mashinsky misled investors about the safety of their funds, using customer deposits to inflate CEL’s value and personally profiting over US$48 million. Celsius, which once managed over US$25 billion in assets, collapsed in 2022 amid a broader crypto market downturn, leaving thousands of users unable to access their funds.

Uranium ETFs tracking uranium stocks

1. Global X Uranium ETF (ARCA:URA)

Total asset value: US$2.7 billion

The Global X Uranium ETF tracks a basket of uranium miners, as well as nuclear component producers.

The fund has an expense ratio of 0.69 percent and a yearly return of negative 17.23 percent, a decline that coincides with the recent pullback in the uranium price.

Uranium companies account for a significant portion of its portfolio, and nearly half of those companies are Canadian. The ETF’s top two uranium company holdings are major uranium producer Cameco (TSX:CCO,NYSE:CCJ) at a weight of 22.31 percent and NexGen Energy (TSX:NXE) at 5.64 percent. Interestingly, one of its top three holdings is the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (TSX:U.U) at a weight of 8.52 percent.

2. Sprott Uranium Miners ETF (ARCA:URNM)

Total asset value: US$1.32 billion

The Sprott Uranium Miners ETF includes both uranium producers and explorers for broader exposure. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.75 percent and a yearly return of negative 34.69 percent.

Uranium stocks with market caps under US$2 billion account for 48.7 percent of the ETF’s holdings. Its top three holdings are Cameco at 15.28 percent, the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust at 13.21 percent and Kazatomprom (LSE:59OT,OTC Pink:NATKY) at 12.99 percent.

3. VanEck Vectors Uranium + Nuclear Energy ETF (ARCA:NLR)

Total asset value: US$1.02 billion

The VanEck Vectors Uranium + Nuclear Energy ETF launched in 2007 and tracks a market-cap-weighted index of stocks in the uranium and nuclear energy industries. Its expense ratio is 0.61 percent and its yearly return is negative 0.12 percent.

This uranium ETF’s top three holdings are Constellation Energy Group (NASDAQ:CEG) at a weight of 8.49 percent, Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE:PEG) at 7.38 percent and Endesa (OTC Pink:ELEZF,SSE:ELE) at 6.95 percent.

4. Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF (NASDAQ:URNJ)

Total asset value: US$232.29 million

The Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF launched in February 2023, making it one of the newest additions to the uranium ETF universe. The ETF has an expense ratio of 0.8 percent and a yearly return of negative 15.51 percent.

It tracks the NASDAQ Sprott Junior Uranium Miners Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NSURNJ), which follows small-cap uranium companies. The fund’s 33 holdings are all uranium mining, development or exploration companies. Its top three holdings are Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN,OTCQX:PALAF) at 12.46 percent, Uranium Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:UEC) at 10.32 percent and NexGen Energy at 10.25 percent.

5. Horizons Global Uranium Index ETF (TSX:HURA)

Total asset value: US$55.08 million

The Horizons Global Uranium Index ETF was Canada’s first pure-play uranium ETF and provides exposure to uranium industry growth. It has an expense ratio of 1.06 percent and a yearly return of negative 25.2 percent.

Created in 2019, the fund’s top holdings are Cameco with a weight of 20.68 percent, Kazatomprom at a weight of 17.12 percent and the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust at 15.25 percent.

Physical uranium investment vehicles

1. Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (TSX:U.U)

Total asset value: US$4.09 billion

Of all the uranium-focused funds, this one has created the most buzz. Launched in July 2021, the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust quickly made its mark on the sector, stoking investor interest and prices for the commodity.

The fund holds 66.22 million pounds of U3O8, has an expense ratio of 0.64 percent and has a yearly return of negative 34.57 percent.

2. Yellow Cake (LSE:YCA,OTCQB:YLLXF)

Total asset value: US$983.66 million

Founded in 2018, Yellow Cake is a uranium company that provides investment exposure to the uranium spot price through its physical holdings of uranium and uranium-related commercial activities.

Yellow Cake’s current holdings total 21.68 million pounds of U3O8. Its access to material volumes of uranium at prevailing market prices comes via its long-term partnership with Kazatomprom. Through this partnership, it has the option to purchase up to US$100 million of uranium annually through 2027.

3. Zuri-Invest Uranium AMC

Total asset value: US$1.65 billion

Launched in April 2023, Zuri-Invest’s product is directly linked to physical uranium, and is the first actively managed certificate (AMC) in the sector. According to Zuri-Invest, “an AMC is a security that can be managed on a discretionary basis enabling the active management of a chosen investment strategy.”

Qualified non-US institutional and professional investors can take part in this physical uranium AMC (Swiss ISIN code CH1214916533) through their bank. The custodian of the product is Cameco, which holds the physical uranium in a secure storage facility in Canada.

4. xU3O8

Total asset value: US$5.93 million

One of the newest ways to gain exposure to physical uranium is through the token xU3O8.

Using the power of the Tezos blockchain and real-world asset tokenization, the xU3O8 token from uranium.io gives investors the ability to directly own and trade physical uranium. Launched in 2024, xU3O8’s 38,464.62 kilograms of U3O8 are stored at a secure Cameco facility, with Archax acting as trustee.