Let’s cut through the noise. Right now, three major forces (critical minerals, stablecoins and nuclear energy) are quietly reshaping the global economy — and if you’re paying attention, there’s real potential to get ahead of the next wave of opportunity.
1. Modern Wars Run on Critical Minerals — and Supplies Are Tightening
Here’s something most people miss: wars today are fought not just with weapons, but with resources — and minerals are at the heart of it all.
From drones and satellites to ammunition and semiconductors, everything needs copper, graphite, germanium, and a range of other critical minerals. Even massive AI data centers — the digital war rooms of the future — can’t function without them.
Market research firm Project Blue estimates global military copper demand is rising by 500,000 tonnes per year — about 1.5% of annual demand.
The problem? China dominates the supply chain for many of these materials, and that’s raising alarm bells in Washington. In response, the U.S. has started pushing for more domestic production and deep-sea mining.
But for that to happen, prices need to rise to make new exploration worthwhile. Right now, most mining stocks (excluding gold) are still flying under the radar.
Smart move? Start building a watchlist or take a contrarian bet on undervalued mining stocks before the next commodity bull cycle kicks in.
2. Stablecoins: The Silent Threat to Visa and Mastercard
If you shop online (and who doesn’t?), you might soon notice fewer credit card charges — thanks to something called stablecoins.
In just the last week, both Amazon and Walmart signaled plans to explore launching their own dollar-backed stablecoins.
Unlike Bitcoin, stablecoins are designed to hold a steady value — usually pegged to the U.S. dollar — and they allow for instant, low-cost payments. That’s a huge win for major retailers who are currently losing billions to card networks.
Amazon and Walmart together spend an estimated $14 billion a year on transaction fees.
Even a modest 1%-2% cut in those costs could unlock hundreds of millions in annual savings.
That’s not all — even U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently said stablecoins could lower government borrowing costs by driving more demand for U.S. Treasuries (the assets backing stablecoins).
In short, stablecoins are quietly becoming a foundational layer of the modern economy — and investors would be wise to pay attention to the companies building this infrastructure.
Smart move? Keep an eye on the crypto-fintech space, especially companies developing payment rails, custody tech, and Treasury-backed tokens.
3. Nuclear Power Is Back — And Bigger Than Ever
While crypto and minerals grab headlines, nuclear energy is staging one of the most surprising comebacks of the decade.
Just recently, nuclear startup TerraPower — backed by Bill Gates — raised $650 million to bring its Natrium reactor online. This isn’t just any reactor — it combines advanced nuclear tech with gigawatt-scale energy storage.
One winner? Uranium Energy Corp (UEC), a key supplier to the Natrium project and one of our top uranium picks in South African Investor.
But it doesn’t stop there:
Meta (formerly Facebook) signed a 20-year deal to buy all the energy from the Clinton Clean Energy Center — a nuclear plant in Illinois — to power its AI systems.
Amazon went even further, locking in nearly 2 gigawatts of nuclear power from the Susquehanna plant through 2042.
Why? Because AI, data centers, and electrification need stable, carbon-free energy — and nuclear fits the bill better than almost anything else.
Smart move? Look into uranium stocks, small modular reactor tech, or companies that support nuclear infrastructure. This is a long-term trend with real momentum.
Bottom Line: The Future Belongs to the Informed Investor
We’re at the tipping point of three massive shifts:
* Military and geopolitical power now hinges on access to critical minerals.
* Financial power is tilting towards blockchain-based stablecoins, threatening legacy banks.
* Energy security and decarbonization are reigniting interest in nuclear power.
Each trend is a disruptive force. Combined, they’re reshaping how the global economy works — from supply chains to payments to power grids.
Start preparing. Whether that means building a sector-specific watchlist, taking a starter position in a uranium stock, or following the stablecoin infrastructure plays — the key is to act before these trends go mainstream.
Because by the time the headlines catch up, the best opportunities will already be gone.
Want help identifying specific investment ideas in these areas? Just sign up to South African Investor.
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