Major shake-up in the mining sector: Energy Fuels, a prominent US miner, is acquiring Australian Strategic Materials in an all-stock transaction. The deal values the critical minerals company at $299 million, marking a significant move to strengthen Energy Fuels' foothold as a rare earth elements producer. This acquisition reflects growing consolidation in the critical minerals space—essential for battery technology, renewable energy infrastructure, and advanced electronics. The expansion signals confidence in long-term demand for rare earths, a sector increasingly intertwined with global supply chain strategies and tech independence initiatives. For the crypto and blockchain community, such developments underscore how traditional mining and Web3 sectors are converging around resource scarcity and value extraction.