NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / January 20, 2026 / At first glance, the announcement that SMX (NASDAQ:SMX) has opened a corporate account with Kraken may appear to be a routine treasury disclosure. Read quickly, it can sound like a simple operational update, the kind that blends into the background of public-company communications. That reaction is understandable, but it overlooks the broader context in which this decision was made.What matters here is not the account itself, but the intent behind it an ...

Core Insights - SMX has developed a global authentication engine that provides permanent, material-level identity for supply chains, addressing a critical flaw in various industries [1][3][6] - The technology enables materials to retain their identity through transformations, enhancing authenticity and traceability across sectors like gold, rare earths, and digital assets [2][3][5] - The simultaneous adoption of SMX's technology across multiple industries creates a compounding effect, strengthening the overall market dynamics [5][6][7] Industry Impact - SMX's technology resolves a systemic flaw in industries reliant on trust without verification, allowing for scientifically measurable claims in sustainability and authenticity [2][3] - The infrastructure value of SMX's solution is recognized as a structural upgrade across global systems, influencing how markets price the company [4][6] - The integration of verified data across sectors enhances the logic behind ESG standards and digital asset creation, creating a circular feedback loop that reinforces the value of SMX's platform [5][6] Market Dynamics - The market is currently in a recalibration phase, recognizing that SMX addresses a fundamental problem shared across multiple industries rather than isolated issues [7] - As industries realize the benefits of SMX's technology, the valuation logic is shifting, indicating a broader acceptance and integration of the solution [6][7] - The response from regulators, analysts, and commercial partners reflects a growing understanding of SMX's role as a catalyst for change in various sectors [6][8]

Core Points - Charbone Hydrogen Corporation has successfully completed a private placement raising a total of 1.013 million dollars, exceeding its initial target of 1 million dollars [1][2] - The funds will be used for the installation of hydrogen equipment at the Sorel-Tracy site and for the development of infrastructure to support long-term growth strategies [2][5] - The second tranche of the private placement involved the issuance of 9,183,334 units at a price of 0.06 dollars per unit, each consisting of one common share and one common share purchase warrant [3][5] Company Overview - Charbone Hydrogen Corporation specializes in the production and distribution of Ultra High Purity (UHP) hydrogen and strategic industrial gas distribution in North America and the Asia-Pacific region [4][6] - The company is developing a modular network for green hydrogen production and partners with industry players to offer helium and other specialty gases without the need for costly new plants [4][6] Financial Details - The proceeds from the share issuance will primarily be allocated to purchasing hydrogen equipment, installation at the Sorel-Tracy site, infrastructure development, and general working capital needs [5] - Each unit offered in the placement includes a warrant that allows the holder to purchase an additional common share at an exercise price of 0.08 dollars for a period of 24 months following the closing date [5]

CAPEX and Investments - Gerdau expects to invest R$6 billion in 2025 and R$47 billion in 2026, focusing on maintenance, coking plants, blast furnaces, and competitiveness[13] - Approximately 45% of the total estimated CAPEX for 2026 is allocated to three main projects: Midlothian Expansion, Scrap Processing in Pindamonhangaba, and Miguel Burnier Mining[18] - The Miguel Burnier sustainable mining platform has a CAPEX of R$36 billion between 2023 and 2026 and a potential EBITDA gain of approximately R$11 billion per year[99] Financial Management and Liquidity - Gerdau's average debt term is 72 years, with a gross debt of R$181 billion and cash reserves of R$90 billion, resulting in a net debt of R$91 billion and a net debt/EBITDA ratio of 085x[37] - The company has strong liquidity in US dollars, with 59% of its cash held in USD[40, 41] - Approximately 75% of free cash flow generated from 1Q18 to 2Q25 was allocated to shareholders through dividends and buybacks, with shareholder remuneration totaling R$174 billion and buybacks at R$33 billion[59, 60] Brazil Operations - Gerdau's Brazil operations have a crude steel capacity of approximately 78 million tons per year and a rolling capacity of approximately 82 million tons per year[76] - The company anticipates moderate growth prospects in Brazil for the segments in which it operates, including automotive (+14%), industry, agriculture, and other (+17%), and civil construction (+05%) in 2026[80] - Gerdau is investing in a new hot coil rolling capacity in Brazil, expecting a total available capacity of 1080kt/year in 4Q25 and a potential EBITDA of R$400 million per year[93, 98] North America Operations - Gerdau has re-balanced its operational footprint in North America to minimize shipments between countries and has captured additional business from import declines due to tariffs[149] - The company has increased SBQ new sales quoting in the US by 60%, indicating new local investment activity[149] - Gerdau is well-positioned in high-growth end-markets in North America, such as renewable energy and data centers, and is increasing capacity at its Midlothian mill with a R$12 billion investment and a potential EBITDA of R$275 million per year[159, 166, 172]

Group 1 - The Jiangsu-Germany Dialogue 2025 focused on low-carbon economy and green transition, gathering representatives from Chinese and German enterprises to explore cooperation avenues [1][4] - Changzhou has a solid industrial foundation with five industrial clusters each exceeding 100 billion yuan, particularly in high-end equipment, new energy, and new materials [4] - The scale of Changzhou's new energy industry surpassed 850 billion yuan in 2024, ranking among the top in China and providing broad cooperation space for enterprises [4] Group 2 - The Sino-German (Changzhou) Innovation Industry Park has attracted over 70 enterprises from German-speaking regions, with total investment exceeding 2.3 billion euros [5] - Changzhou and Germany have established 7 pairs of sister cities and strengthened exchanges through student and faculty programs, enhancing bilateral cooperation [6] - The Jiangsu-Germany Dialogue has become a key platform for promoting bilateral cooperation, emphasizing the potential of the Chinese market and the importance of integrating into local supply chains [7]

Project Overview - Arafura Rare Earths is developing the world's most advanced construction-ready rare earths project, offering a non-China alternative [1] - The Nolans Project has a mine life of over 38 years and is strategically located with access to existing infrastructure [28, 31, 47] - The project is construction-ready with environmental permits and approvals in place, and over US$40 million has been spent on site works to de-risk the project schedule [35] Financials and Funding - The project's NPV8 after tax is estimated at US$1,729 million (base) and US$2,549 million (incentive) [30] - The company is targeting 60% of equity funding through Cornerstone Investors [40] - Over US$1 billion of debt and completion support has been conditionally approved [40, 48] - NRFC has committed to a A$200 million investment [48] - KfW has an investment of US$113 million subject to conditions [40, 41] Market and Demand - The rare earth magnet exports to the US experienced a 93.3% year-on-year decline in May 2025 [13] - Demand for NdPr oxide is projected to grow at a 7% CAGR from 2024 to 2035, requiring an additional supply of nearly 60kt by 2035 [17] - Robotics is an emerging thematic with a CAGR of approximately 22% between 2024 and 2035, with humanoids forecast to be a US$5 Trillion market by 2050 [17] Production and Cost - The Nolans Project is projected to produce 4,440 tpa of NdPr oxide [28, 47] - The project is expected to be in the first quartile of the cost curve [29, 48] - The project will produce 573 tpa of SEG/HRE Oxide [29]