Author: Milan Ignjatovic

We are seeing a global growth in mining in all countries around the world, even in those that are not yet developed. A perfect storm is about to hit the market and could shift the focus from AI to minerals and electricity. It's not that we don't like the AI boom; after all, people have to live with AI or without it. We’ve shifted from the era of "Petropolitics" (oil and gas) to an era of "Electropolitics" and "Mineral Diplomacy." The transition to a decarbonized, electrified economy is essentially a shift from a fuel-intensive system to a material-intensive system. To generate, store, and move electricity, we need vastly more minerals than we did for fossil fuel combustion. In this new era, the "OPEC of the future" isn't composed of oil-rich…

Silver has had a wild ride over the past year. Prices have surged, driven by what many are calling a “perfect storm” of industrial demand, geopolitical tensions, and supply constraints. Even seasoned investors have been caught off guard. While gains have been impressive, volatility remains extreme. Analysts continue to warn of sharp swings. Some, like GoldSilver, even suggest silver could reach $100 per ounce in 2026 if the supply-demand gap persists. That’s a bold forecast but the underlying numbers make it plausible. In 2025, silver jumped nearly 147%, starting the year near $28.92 and ending above $72. Recent weeks have been particularly dramatic: prices climbed roughly 30% in just 30 days, breaking past the $80 mark, a key psychological level for traders. Source: https://goldprice.org Why Supply Can’t Keep Up A…

For several decades, the United States government has used the toolkit of economic sanctions as one of the major tools of foreign policy, and the Venezuelan case is one of the extreme instances of this sort of experience with the United States. These sanctions have really had a major effect on the Venezuelan economy, particularly the oil industry, which generates the major source of export earnings and revenues in Venezuela. Critics claim that the use of such tactics has a kind of indirect warfare aim, which is directed at the economic infrastructure of the country in order to destabilize or weaken the government without necessarily using direct warfare tactics. Within the broader context of pressure and confrontations, statements emanating from U.S. officials have at various points included an openly interventionist…

Bulgaria officially became the 21st member of the eurozone at the stroke of midnight during the New Year celebrations. The euro officially entered circulation, ATMs began dispensing euros, and the Bulgarian National Bank joined the Eurosystem. (Source: ECB Press Release, 1 January 2026) The process was completed after a formal decision was made in July 2025 by the finance ministers of the EU. Bulgaria has acceded to the eurozone as a means of finishing the integration process within the European Union and switching from a “rule-taker” to a “rule-maker” within the European rules on the economy. Notably, within the current context characterized by globalization uncertainty, membership within the euro is understood to offer a sense of secure anchorage for Bulgaria within the Western institutions, away from the influences from Russia.…

Germany, long considered the engine of Europe, is now facing its third consecutive year of recession. A symbol of this downturn is Volkswagen, which has begun closing plants on German soil for the first time in its 87-year history. This marks the start of a difficult period for the country, with even darker days anticipated. The current economic and political trajectory of Europe is under critical scrutiny, especially when considering the intersection of agricultural protests and the industrial decline in Germany. Economist Richard Werner, in his analysis, says that these protests are not just about disputes over subsidies, but represent a fundamental struggle for survival against "green" mandates and the very future of the European Union. While big names like Volkswagen and BASF dominate the headlines, thousands of small, specialized…

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in 2023 was among the most momentous to hit the shores of the United States since the financial crisis broke out in 2008. The bank became an instant subject of interest when it suddenly collapsed, particularly for being one of the main financing institutions for technology startups, venture capital firms, and high-growth companies in Silicon Valley. Banks can fail for a variety of different reasons, but most often it is due to a mix of bad choices and things beyond their control. Here are the 9 main reasons: Bad Decisions on Loans and Investments (Risk Management) Too Much of the Same Thing (Concentration Risk) Not Enough Money to Cover Losses (Weak Capital) Fraud or Bad Management Not Being Able to Pay Depositors (Liquidity Problems)…

Local Serbian media, such as Blic and Novosti, have reported that citizens find it increasingly hard to obtain physical euros either from banks or exchange offices, which chimes in with growing concerns about a foreign currency liquidity squeeze. The result is a very strange situation whereby local banks and exchange offices have stopped selling paper euros, while digital transactions in euros are still fluid and available. Such a paradox is deeply rooted in the interaction of these factors, liquidity management, foreign currency reserves, and regulatory control, linked to wider economic challenges that Serbia is going through. The problem related to Serbia's foreign currency liquidity lies at the very heart of this issue. Foreign currency reserves play a very important role in maintaining the stability of exchange rates, paying off foreign…

Visa’s latest wave of digital wallet launches across Europe signals a pivotal shift in the mobile payments sector, one driven by both technological advancements and regulatory changes. As Apple is now compelled to open up NFC (Near Field Communication) access to third-party apps under the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), Visa is moving swiftly to help banks and fintechs build their own mobile wallets, positioning itself to compete directly with Apple Pay for the first time. This strategic development, which includes new partnerships with leading financial institutions such as BBVA, Klarna, Vipps MobilePay, and a pilot program with Italy’s BANCOMAT, lays the groundwork for a new generation of mobile wallets that leverage tokenization, flexible payment credentials, contactless technology, and deeper user control over their payment experiences. With these changes,…