Bitcoin Hits New Highs: 6 Reasons Why the ETF Rally Could Continue
As the Nasdaq Composite hit record levels and the S&P 500 followed closely behind, Bitcoin also benefitted from favorable policy signals and tightening supply. No wonder, Bitcoin-based exchange-traded fund iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF IBIT is up 15% this year. The fund gained 4.3% past month.
Crypto analyst Nic Puckrin emphasized that Bitcoin normally tracks tech stock performance, and its recent performance reflected a pressure release more than a full-scale bull run, as quoted on Yahoo Finance. Over the past two months, Bitcoin maintained an unusually tight $10,000 range, setting the stage for this breakout.
Crypto Policy Tailwinds: Congress and Regulation
Bitcoin's breakout also came just before Congress kicked off its 'Crypto Week' on July 14, where lawmakers will debate key regulations that could shape the future of the industry. Among them is the GENIUS Act, which aims to establish a federal stablecoin framework, mentioned on the above-mentioned Yahoo Finance article.
A positive outcome from the meeting may boost institutional inflows into Bitcoin, further reinforcing its status as a macroeconomic asset. Shares of Circle CRCL, the issuer of USDC, rose 2% on Thursday and are now up more than 500% since their June 5 IPO. Trading platforms like Robinhood HOOD and Coinbase COIN also saw gains.
Bitcoin as a Resilient Hedge Amid Market Turmoil
While the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY gained 7% this year, Bitcoin gained 26.4% (as of July 11, 2025), showing strength amid tariff-led uncertainty. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has referred to Bitcoin as 'virtual and digital gold,' while investor Ray Dalio recommended investing in hard assets like Bitcoin to weather potential debt crises (read: Is Bitcoin the Digital Gold? ETFs in Focus).
Inflation and Bitcoin's Limited Supply
Bitcoin is widely seen as a hedge against inflation, thanks to its fixed supply cap of 21 million coins. As governments ramp up fiat issuance and Trump's import tariffs may raise inflation globally, Bitcoin's scarcity may help it retain value better than traditional currencies.
Corporate and Institutional Bitcoin Adoption Expands
Once led by MicroStrategy MSTR, corporate Bitcoin adoption is spreading. Companies like GameStop GME, Semler Scientific, and Rumble RUM have started adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets, creating increased demand and institutional credibility.Goldman Sachs, one of the world's largest investment banks, significantly increased its Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) holdings in early 2025 (read: Goldman Sachs Expands Bitcoin ETF Holdings: Should You?).
Rate Cuts Could Favor Risk-On Assets Like Bitcoin
Despite recent hawkish tones, signs point to potential rate cuts later this year. Fed Governor Christopher Waller, a potential candidate to succeed Powell, stated that the Fed might consider a rate cut in July, arguing the inflation effects from tariffs are likely temporary.
Other Fed officials like Mary Daly and Michelle Bowman also leaned toward dovish stances, with calls for up to two cuts this year. Trump has consistently advocated for rate cuts, stating the Fed should 'rapidly lower the rate.'Lower rates normally favor risk-on assets like Bitcoin by reducing the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets.
Bitcoin Miners Pivot to AI Infrastructure
Bitcoin miners like Bitfarms are evolving. Originally focused on mining, they are now leveraging their power-dense data centers to tap into the booming AI infrastructure market. CEO Geoff Morphy explained that AI-related data centers are more profitable, often trading at 20–30x earnings, compared to 3–5x for Bitcoin mining companies (read: Crypto ETFs in Focus as Bitcoin Mining Boosts AI Infrastructure).
As NVIDIA's dominance in AI grows, so does the need for scalable infrastructure. Bitcoin miners, known for building massive facilities, are well-positioned to meet AI's rising energy and space demands. Morphy emphasized that companies like Bitfarms offer the scale and energy understanding necessary for the next generation of AI computing.
Safe Bitcoin ETFs for Risk Averse Investors
Issuers have introduced various tools to make a high-risk asset like Bitcoin more accessible and appealing to risk-averse investors. Calamos, has launched a suite of Bitcoin buffer ETFs: Bitcoin Structured Alt Protection ETF – January CBOJ, Bitcoin 90 Series Structured Alt Protection ETF – January CBXJ and Bitcoin 80 Series Structured Alt Protection ETF – January CBTJ.
Innovator also launched the Uncapped Bitcoin 20 Floor ETF - Quarterly QBF, the first ETF offering uncapped exposure to Bitcoin's upside potential while simultaneously capping downside losses. These products some downside protection amid extreme volatility.
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Globe and Mail
8 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Noble Plains Uranium Closes on Duck Creek Project in the Heart of Powder River Basin
Exploration Target Range Supported by New NI 43-101 Technical Report Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 14, 2025) - Noble Plains Uranium Corp. (TSXV: NOBL) (OTCQB: NBLXF) (FSE: INE0) (" Noble Plains" or the " Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed on the property option agreement to acquire an 80% interest in the Duck Creek Project (" Duck Creek Property", " Duck Creek", the " Project", or the " Property"), a strategically located brownfield uranium asset in Wyoming's highly productive Powder River Basin (the " PRB"). The option closing coincides with a newly completed National Instrument 43-101 (" NI 43-101") technical report prepared for UNXE238 Corp. (the " Optionor") by independent firm Western Water Consultants, Inc d/b/a WWC Engineering of Sheridan, Wyoming (" WWC"). The report highlights an Exploration Target of between 2.37 million tons at 0.03% U₃O₈ and 5.45 million tons at a grade of 0.05% U₃O₈ based on historical drilling. The potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, that there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and that it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. "This is a further example of our team executing on its strategy to identify high-quality brownfield assets in the best U.S. uranium districts, use strong historic data to accelerate de-risking, and advance them quickly toward compliant resources," said Drew Zimmerman, President of Noble Plains Uranium. "With Duck Creek now secured along with a new NI 43-101, we are positioned to rapidly deliver meaningful pounds in the ground, building real leverage for our shareholders as the uranium market continues to strengthen." Duck Creek Project Highlights Scale & Location: 4,133 acres (6.5 sq. mi.) of mineral rights, surrounded by major uranium projects and production facilities owned by Cameco, Uranium Energy Corp., Global Uranium and Enrichment, and GTI Energy, Extensive Historical Work: Over 4,000 drill holes, including a 3-mile trend of shallow roll-front uranium mineralization, Historic Drill Intercepts: include 8.9 feet grading 0.75% U₃O₈ and 13.9 feet of 0.47% U₃O₈, Historic Production: Past open-pit mining evident along and beyond the mineralized trend, Significant Exploration Potential: untested deeper Fort Union Formation. In the Heart of a Growing Production Corridor Located in one of the most prolific in-situ recovery (" ISR") uranium districts in the United States, Duck Creek is directly surrounded by major deposits and production facilities owned by Cameco Corporation, Uranium Energy Corp., and GTI Energy Limited (see Figure 1). The Project's extensive historical database, favourable geology, and proximity to existing infrastructure present a rare opportunity to advance a uranium project in a proven production hub. Figure 1: Duck Creek Project Surrounded by resource and production projects To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Note: source of resource numbers in Figure 1: Allemand-Ross, Barge, and Ludeman projects, from 2022-09 technical report Exhibit 96.1. Smith Ranch Highland, from Cameco website. Lo Herma, from company website. Technical and scientific information disclosed from neighbouring properties does not necessarily apply to the Duck Creek Project. "From a geological perspective, Duck Creek has all the hallmarks of a highly attractive ISR project," said Paul Cowley, CEO of Noble Plains Uranium. "It is in a proven roll-front uranium district, with drill spacing and mineralization continuity that provide a strong basis for confirmation and expansion. We plan to initiate a focused drilling campaign this fall. Design and magnitude of the drill program is in progress with a drill permit application at an advanced stage." Duck Creek - A Strong Technical Foundation The Project covers 4,133 acres (6.5 mi²) of mineral rights, including four State of Wyoming mineral leases (2,560 acres) and 78 lode mining claims (1,573 acres). The Project hosts a 3-mile-long corridor of high-density drilling completed by Kerr-McGee Nuclear Corporation in the 1970s. A total of 4,068 historical drill holes outline a consistent, shallow roll-front uranium system within the Eocene-aged Wasatch Formation, with mineralization occurring from less than 50 feet to 260 feet below surface (see Figure 2). Highlights of the historical drill intercepts include 8.9 feet grading 0.75% U₃O₈ and 13.9 feet of 0.47% U₃O₈. Local historic open-pit mining is evident within and beyond the mineralized trend shown in Figure 2. The technical report was completed for UNXE238 Corp. by independent WWC, dated August 13, 2025, entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Duck Creek Uranium Project" (" Technical Report") which states that the Project potentially contains an Exploration Target summarized in Table 1. The Technical Report will be Sedar filed today and made available on the Company website. Table 1. Duck Creek Uranium Project Exploration Target Upper Range Estimate Methodology Average Grade (% U 3 O 8) Median GT Sum (% U 3 O 8 -ft) Area (ft 2) Tons (000s) Mineral Outline 0.05 0.598 5,895,866 4,241 Extended Trend 0.05 - - 1,205 Total 5,446 Lower Range Estimate Methodology First Quartile Grade (% U 3 O 8) Minimum GT Sum (% U 3 O 8 -ft) Area (ft 2) Tons (000s) Mineral Outline 0.03 0.201 5,895,866 2,373 Total 2,373 The potential quantity and grade at the Project are conceptual in nature, that it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource and there is insufficient data to estimate a mineral resource. Drill holes with intercepts with Grade-Thickness (GT) sum less than 0.2 %-ft were excluded. A bulk density of 16.6 ft3/ton was used. The average thickness of each intercept with GT greater than 0.2%-ft within the mineral outline is 7 ft. The total number of intercepts within the mineral outline area is 1,317 and the average cumulative intercept thickness per drillhole is 11.8 ft. Figure 2: 3-mile-long trend of high-density historic drilling and historic production areas To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Untested Upside in the Fort Union Formation The historical drilling at Duck Creek focused exclusively on shallow mineralization in the Wasatch Formation. The deeper Fort Union Formation remains completely untested on the property. This lower unit hosts the bulk of resources at several surrounding ISR projects in the Powder River Basin, including those operated by Cameco and Uranium Energy Corp. The absence of historic drilling into the Fort Union at Duck Creek presents a significant exploration upside to expand beyond the Wasatch mineralized zones. Strategic Context The acquisition of Duck Creek significantly strengthens Noble Plains' Wyoming portfolio, building on the Company's recent acquisition of Shirley Central and expansion of Shirley East in the Shirley Basin. Wyoming has produced over 238 million pounds of uranium since the 1950s, with the Powder River Basin and Shirley Basin's representing key districts in that legacy of production. ISR is now the dominant extraction method in Wyoming overall, because it allows for faster permitting, minimal surface disturbance, and lower capital and operating costs. The Transaction Further to the Company's June 19, 2025 news release announcing the execution of a property option agreement, between the Company, UNXE238 Corp., and Drakensberg Resources LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, the Company has closed the first stage of its option to acquire up to an 80% interest in the Duck Creek Property by issuing 1,250,000 common shares and paying US$250,000 to the Optionor. The common shares issued are subject to a four-month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws. The remaining share issuances and cash payments are as disclosed in the Company's June 19, 2025 news release. The Duck Creek Property option transaction was accepted by the TSX Venture Exchange as an expedited transaction. UNXE238 Corp. has a Surface Access Agreement with a local rancher. About Noble Plains Uranium Corp. Noble Plains Uranium (TSXV: NOBL) is focused on acquiring and advancing U.S.-based uranium projects amenable to In-Situ Recovery (ISR)-the most capital-efficient and environmentally responsible method of uranium extraction. The Company targets historically explored, geologically robust projects in uranium-friendly jurisdictions with the goal of rapidly delineating NI 43-101 resources and building out a pipeline of ISR-development opportunities. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, "Paul Cowley", CEO "Drew Zimmerman", President For further information, please contact: Drew Zimmerman: (778) 686-0973 Website: Technical disclosure of the Technical Report and Exploration Target estimate in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Christopher McDowell, P.G., Project Manager at WWC Engineering, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Technical disclosure, excluding the Exploration Target estimate in this news release, has been reviewed and approved by Bradley Parkes, VP Exploration and Director of Noble Plains Uranium Corp., a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, who has read and approved the technical content of this news release. 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