Ahead of a planned listing of its international unit on the Hong Kong stock exchange, Zijin Mining, a leading Chinese gold and copper miner, has agreed to acquire a project in Kazakhstan for $1.2 billion.

In a significant announcement to the Hong Kong bourse on Monday, the company articulated a strategic vision aimed at dramatically bolstering its position within the global gold mining industry. 

Bolstering gold reserves

This ambitious initiative, centered around a newly disclosed deal, is projected to substantially augment both its gold reserves and its annual production output, South China Morning Post said in a report.

Zijin Mining explicitly stated its intention to ascend from its current sixth-place ranking among the world’s leading gold producers, a position it held last year, to a coveted spot within the top three by the year 2028. 

The upward trajectory is directly attributable to the expected benefits of the recently agreed-upon transaction, which is anticipated to unlock significant new gold resources and operational efficiencies. 

The successful integration of these new assets and capabilities is considered a cornerstone of the company’s long-term growth strategy, positioning it for enhanced market leadership and sustained profitability in the coming years.

Raygorodok project and market impact

Additionally, the company stated that the agreement would “significantly improve Zijin Gold International’s asset scale, profit margins, and global industry standing,” while also facilitating its listing and share offering in the international capital market.

Zijin Mining had announced in May its intention to increase its annual output of gold. The target for 2028 is set at 100 to 110 tonnes, representing a 36-50% increase from 2024 levels.

Furthermore, the company had announced two months ago its intention to reorganise and list its overseas gold mining assets under Zijin Gold International, a company founded in 2007.

This strategic move aims to enhance shareholder value through asset revaluation.

Zijin Gold International, through a firm it owns, has acquired the Raygorodok gold mine project from Kazakhstan-based Cantech for $1.2 billion.

The mine project is based in northern Kazakhstan.

As of the end of last year, the project reported net assets of $291 million, a net profit of $202 million, and revenue of $473 million.

The mine’s initial development plan projected an economic ore reserve of 94.9 million tonnes, based on a gold price of $1,750 per ounce. 

With an average extraction ratio of one gram of gold per tonne of ore, the mine’s facilities could produce approximately 100.6 tonnes of gold.

Gold prices to support expansion

Zijin Mining said:

Under the current gold price environment, there is clear potential to increase resources and reserves and expand production capacity by optimising the pit design at a higher gold price assumption.

Last year, Zijin Mining had produced 73 tonnes of gold. The mine itself produced six tonnes of gold at a cost of $796 per ounce, excluding non-cash expenses such as asset depreciation.

Zijin reported that the London Bullion Market Association’s spot market gold price experienced its most significant annual growth since 2010, surging by 26% throughout 2024.

On Monday, spot gold rebounded to $3,301 per ounce after falling to a one-month low last week. 

This year, gold purchases by global investors, including central banks, have further increased.

This surge is attributed to gold’s role as a safe haven amidst uncertain US trade policies, as reported by State Street Global Advisors on June 5.

Resource Capital Funds, a US private equity firm, owns Cantech, which is 65% owned by V Group International, one of Kazakhstan’s largest equity investment firms. 

Zijin was expected to complete its acquisition of the Kazakhstan project by the end of September.

Gold mines owned by Zijin Mining are located in Australia, Colombia, Ghana, Guyana, Kyrgyzstan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Serbia, Suriname, and Tajikistan.

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European stock markets started the trading week with modest gains on Monday, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 index edging higher as a newly effective trade deal between the United Kingdom and the United States provided a positive catalyst.

This comes amid a broader trend that saw European equities dramatically outperform their US counterparts during the first half of the year.

In early dealings, the pan-European Stoxx 600 index was up 0.1%, building on gains from the previous week.

Sector performance was mixed, with autos down 0.6% and banks slipping 0.25%, while financial services gained 0.6%.

A key focus for investors is the official start of the trade deal between the UK and the US, which was brokered last month and came into effect this morning.

Key details of the agreement include a reduction in British car export tariffs from 27.5% to 10%, along with the complete elimination of duties on aerospace goods such as engines and aircraft parts.

Companies expected to benefit from this deal were trading slightly higher, having already posted strong gains when the deal was first announced.

These include engine-maker Rolls-Royce, which was up 0.6%, and German automaker BMW, up 0.26%.

However, Aston Martin shares were down a slight 0.1%.

The UK’s FTSE 100 was up 0.1%. It’s worth noting that the UK has still been left with a baseline 10% tariff, and an outlined agreement to put zero tariffs on core steel products has not yet been finalized.

In currency markets, the British pound, which last week hit an almost four-year high against the US dollar, continued its strong run, up 0.1% against the greenback at 7:39 a.m. in London to trade around $1.373.

In economic news, the UK’s statistics agency on Monday confirmed that economic growth for the first quarter of 2025 was 0.7%, in line with its previous estimate.

A transatlantic shift: Europe’s dramatic market comeback

The positive start to the week reinforces a powerful trend seen throughout the first half of 2025: a dramatic outperformance of European markets compared to their US peers.

European stocks outperformed US equities by the biggest margin on record in dollar terms during the first six months of the year, a clear sign that the region’s markets are staging a significant comeback after more than a decade in the doldrums.

This rebound is not confined to stocks.

The euro has surged 13% against the dollar in the six months through June.

Meanwhile, the chaotic rollout of US tariffs has wiped some of the shine off US Treasuries, with German bunds outperforming them since April, even as the German government prepares to issue more debt.

Assets in emerging European markets like Poland and Hungary are also rallying sharply.

This shift is being driven by a reallocation of global capital. Investors are reportedly slowing their purchases of US assets and shifting more money to Europe.

This is happening amidst concerns that President Donald Trump’s program of tariffs and tax cuts will negatively impact US corporate earnings, stoke inflation, and widen the budget deficit.

Europe has become the major beneficiary of this capital rotation, as governments there boost spending while the European Central Bank has been slashing interest rates.

“We’re seeing extremely strong demand for European assets, particularly from the US,” Erik Koenig, who runs the EMEA equity sales desk at Bank of America Corp. in London, told Bloomberg.

While Europe has faced challenges in the past that may have held its markets back, there’s now a growing confidence in its long-term potential.

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LeverFi rose to the spotlight last week after Binance announced it would delist it and four other altcoins on July 4, triggering mixed price performances in these tokens.

While removal from a top trading platform hurts crypto projects, the latest blockchain transactions from LeverFi have magnified worries among LEVER holders.

Notably, the protocol has minted 13.7 billion tokens days before the scheduled delisting.

The move has raised questions about the potential effect on LEVER’s value, transparency, and timing.

Nevertheless, the massive token issuance has increased LEVER supply to nearly 56 billion from 35 billion.

While the minting matches the team’s May announcement about the LeverAI staking program, the close timing to the imminent delisting and movement of some of the new coins to Bybit and MEXC has sparked concerns among traders and holders.

LeverFi hasn’t communicated the motive behind the massive token minting as Binance’s delisting looms.

LeverAI and supply cap surge

The decentralized protocol announced LeverAI, an AI-powered automation and staking program, on May 15.

The team confirmed it would increase the token supply from 35,000,000,000 to 55,786,500,000, with plans to support growth initiatives such as AI developments, ecosystem incentives, and staking rewards.

Thus, the latest mint matches the planned tokenomics upgrade. However, the rollout comes amid bearish sentiments as enthusiasts brace for Binance delisting later this week.

The absence of real-time updates from the team on the token allocation has intensified worries about the supply expansion.

Some suggest that the partial deposit to Bybit could indicate an upcoming dump, especially with Binance ceasing support.

However, proponents trust the move is part of liquidity redistribution as LeverFi explores other exchanges.

Binance delisting fuels speculations

Binance remains crucial for liquidity as it enhances visibility, accessibility, and volume. Therefore, removing support for LEVER means a significant blow.

Binance users will no longer access LeverFi’s native token starting July 4, translating to lower exposure and reduced liquidity.

The exchange delists projects that have failed to impress due to factors like unresponsive teams, lower ecosystem developments, and inactive communities.

The LeverFi team should act accordingly to maintain the brand image by cementing its presence on different platforms.

Moreover, the protocol has to justify the native token’s utility using the LeverAI program.

 Therefore, the team might have conducted the minted for optimistic purposes, including supporting AI-driven expansion, rewarding users, and backing staking pools.

However, clarity from the team remains crucial to remove doubts among LEVER enthusiasts.

LEVER price outlook

Despite the increasing uncertainty, the native token gained over 3% in the previous 24 hours, likely driven by broad market rebounds.

However, LEVER will unlikely sustain this rally amid the massive supply increase and delisting debates.

It has lost over 20% of its value over the past seven days, reflecting fading market confidence and concerns about token dilution.

However, LEVER’s long-term potential will depend on how the team responds to this pivotal moment.

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Japan’s Metaplanet Inc. has intensified its aggressive Bitcoin (BTC) strategy, acquiring an additional 1,005 BTC and issuing ¥30 billion in zero-interest ordinary bonds to expand its holdings even further.

The Tokyo-based company disclosed the move in a public filing on June 30, confirming that it spent ¥15.648 billion (approximately $108 million) to complete the latest purchase at an average price of ¥15,569,831, or around $107,430 per Bitcoin.

Metaplanet’s BTC holding has surged past Galaxy Digital and CleanSpark

With this latest acquisition, Metaplanet’s total Bitcoin holdings now stand at 13,350 BTC, valued at over $1.4 billion at current market prices.

Metaplanet has officially become the fifth-largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, overtaking both Galaxy Digital, which holds 12,830 BTC, and CleanSpark, with 12,502 BTC.

This leap comes just a week after the company surpassed Tesla in total Bitcoin reserves, highlighting Metaplanet’s rapid rise among top public BTC holders worldwide.

Just three months ago, the firm held only 3,350 BTC, meaning it has added an impressive 10,000 BTC in a span of weeks, showcasing its unparalleled accumulation pace.

CEO Simon Gerovich emphasised the speed of progress, noting that the firm hit its year-end goal of 10,000 BTC by June 16, far ahead of schedule.

Metaplanet has been funding the Bitcoin spree with 0% bonds

To support its ambitious accumulation strategy, Metaplanet has issued 18 series of 0% ordinary bonds, and it has now issued its 19th series of ordinary bonds worth ¥30 billion, or roughly $207 million, to EVO FUND.

The bonds, which carry zero interest and mature in December 2025, will partly refinance ¥1.75 billion in existing secured debt and partly fund further Bitcoin acquisitions.

This zero-interest bond issuance underlines investor confidence in Metaplanet’s long-term strategy and reflects institutional appetite for exposure to Bitcoin-linked growth without direct crypto risk.

Despite the absence of interest, the bond was swiftly secured, underscoring the unique positioning of Metaplanet in bridging traditional finance with digital assets.

Metaplanet shares jumped 10% after the announcement

Following the Bitcoin purchase news, Metaplanet’s stock surged over 10% on Monday, climbing to ¥1,647 per share, according to Google Finance data.

The stock has now gained 53.5% in the past month and is up a staggering 370.7% year-to-date, reflecting growing investor enthusiasm for its Bitcoin-centric strategy.

Even though Metaplanet remains Japan’s most shorted stock, the positive market reaction suggests a shift in sentiment as institutional and retail investors take note of its performance.

The BTC Yield, a key metric used by the company to track Bitcoin’s value growth per share, jumped from 95.6% to 129.4% in the April–June quarter, further validating its approach.

Looking beyond 2025 with the ‘555 Million Plan’

Metaplanet has made it clear that Bitcoin is more than a treasury asset—it’s a cornerstone of its business model and a hedge against inflation and fiat devaluation.

Earlier this month, the company launched its “555 Million Plan,” aiming to raise ¥555 billion ($5.4 billion) to accumulate 210,000 BTC by 2027, or 1% of Bitcoin’s total supply.

This goal marks a dramatic expansion from its earlier target of 21,000 BTC by 2026 and signals the company’s long-term commitment to becoming a global Bitcoin powerhouse.

Although scepticism persists, especially from traditional investors, Metaplanet’s transparency and pace of execution have drawn attention across markets.

As Bitcoin (BTC) trades around $107,786 and macroeconomic uncertainty lingers, Metaplanet’s bold strategy may continue to redefine corporate treasury management in Asia and beyond.

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Metaplanet stock price has surged this year, making it one of the best performers in the Nikkei 225 Index. It surged by over 10% on Monday, taking it closer to its all-time high of ¥1,925. It has soared by over 460% from its lowest point this year, giving it a market capitalization of over $7 billion.

Metaplanet stock jumps amid Bitcoin accumulation

In a statement on Monday, Metaplanet said that it continued its Bitcoin accumulation. It bought 1,005 coins last week for $108.1 million, bringing its total holdings to 13,350. 

BitcoinTreasuries data shows that it is now the sixth biggest Bitcoin holder globally after Strategy, MARA Holdings, XXI, Riot Platforms, and Galaxy Digital Holdings. At the current price, its Bitcoin holdings are worth over $1.14 billion. 

The company aims to continue accumulating Bitcoin as it works to reach 100,000 coins in its treasury by the end of next year. This means that it needs to buy 86,650 coins currently worth over $9.9 billion to get to its target.

It also hopes to have 210,000 coins by the end of 2027, meaning that it needs to raise cash aggressively to achieve this goal.

MetaPlanet noted that its Bitcoin Yield, a measure used widely by similar companies, has jumped to 348% this year. Bitcoin yield is calculated by estimating the percentage change in the ratio of Bitcoin held relative to its fully diluted shares. 

Stock to depend on BTC price actio, but risk remains

MetaPlanet stock price will likely continue thriving as long as the Bitcoin surge gains steam. Analysts are highly bullish on Bitcoin prices. For example, we recently mapped a potential scenario where BTC price surges to $300,000 in the coming years.

BlackRock analysts anticipates that the coin will surge to $700,000 in the coming years, while Ark Invest expect it to hit $2.4 million by the end of the decade.

Therev are solid reasons to expect that this will happen. For example, recent data shows that Bitcoin ETF demand is skyrocketing in the United States, with the total inflows nearing the key level at $50 billion. BlackRock’s IBIT has become a $74 billion juggernaut, making it the fastest-growing ETF on record.

At the same time, Bitcoin supply in exchanges has plunged to the lowest point in years. Therefore, the imbalance between the Bitcoin demand and supply means that the coin will push it higher in the long term. 

Therefore, soaring Bitcoin price will likely push the Metaplanet stock price higher over time.

Still, there is a significant risk in the stock’s premium since it has a market cap of over $7 billion against Bitcoin holdings worth $1.4 billion. This gives it a premium of about 5.1, much higher than MicroStrategy’s 1.68. 

Therefore, there is a likelihood that the stock will start to underperform as it closes the valuation gap as Strategy has done lately. While Bitcoin is nearing the all-time high of $112,000, MSTR stock remains much lower than its record high.

Metaplanet stock price analysis

The daily chart shows that the Metaplanet share price has surged in the past few years after the company embraced its Bitcoin treasury strategies. The risk, however, is that it is slowly forming a double-top pattern whose upper side is at 1,925 yen and neckline is at 1,257 yen.

The stock also remains above the 200-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages. For example, it is about 90% above the 100-day moving average. 

Therefore, there is a risk that the Metaplanet stock price will go through mean reversion and drop soon. Mean reversion is a situation where an asset moves back to its historical averages. 

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