Storage steps into the spotlight

Global lithium demand reached 1.6 million metric tons in 2025, up more than 30 percent year-over-year and in line with Albemarle’s prior projections. Demand growth outpaced supply, tightening inventories and lifting prices into year-end.

For 2026, Albemarle now expects global lithium demand to rise to between 1.8 million and 2.2 million metric tons — growth of 15 to 40 percent — driven by both EV adoption and accelerating deployments of stationary energy storage systems (ESS).

While global EV sales climbed 21 percent in 2025, energy storage was the standout. ESS demand surged more than 80 percent year-over-year, with strong growth across China, North America and Europe.

China, which accounted for roughly 40 percent of ESS shipments, saw demand rise 60 percent. North American shipments jumped 90 percent, reflecting grid stability needs and rising electricity consumption linked to data centers and artificial intelligence. European shipments more than doubled as countries expanded renewables and sought greater energy security.

Demand outside the three major regions grew 120 percent and represented more than 20 percent of global ESS shipments, with Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Australia emerging as key growth markets.

The shift is already visible in Albemarle’s financials. In 2025, energy storage volumes reached 235,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent, up 14 percent year-over-year and above the high end of the company’s guidance range.

Fourth quarter energy storage net sales rose 23 percent from a year earlier, while segment EBITDA climbed 25 percent, supported by higher lithium pricing and cost improvements.

CFO Neal Sheorey said Albemarle’s updated 2026 scenarios reflect both pricing and operational gains.

Cost discipline, portfolio reset

After weathering a sharp downturn in lithium prices over the past two years, Albemarle has focused on strengthening its balance sheet and lowering its cost base.

In 2025, the company delivered approximately US$450 million in run-rate cost and productivity improvements and is targeting an additional US$100 million to US$150 million in 2026.

Albemarle also announced it will idle operations at its Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant in Western Australia, citing a structural cost gap between Western and Chinese conversion assets.

“There is a gap there between China and the West,” Masters said, pointing to higher labor, power and waste management costs in Australia. Idling the plant is expected to improve adjusted EBITDA beginning in the second quarter, with no impact on sales volumes.

At the same time, Albemarle is streamlining non-core assets.

The company closed the sale of its stake in the Eurocat joint venture in January and expects to complete the sale of a majority stake in its refining catalysts business in the first quarter. Together, the transactions are expected to generate approximately US$660 million in pre-tax proceeds.

“We are committed to maintaining our investment-grade credit profile,” Masters said, adding that deleveraging and disciplined capital allocation remain priorities.

Growth with limited new capital

Despite pulling back on large-scale capital spending, Albemarle expects to deliver a five-year compound annual growth rate of roughly 15 percent in energy storage sales volumes, building on a 25 percent CAGR over the past four years.

Incremental expansions at the Greenbushes mine in Australia, yield improvements at the Salar de Atacama in Chile and higher utilization at the Wodgina joint venture are expected to support growth with minimal additional capital.

Looking ahead, Masters said the company is better positioned to navigate lithium’s still-maturing cycle.

“We’ve been through two cycles since the advent of EVs,” he said, describing the market as early in its development from a commodity perspective.

With stationary storage now emerging as a second structural demand pillar alongside EVs, Albemarle’s revised outlook suggests the lithium market’s next phase will be shaped as much by grid resilience and energy security as by transportation electrification — broadening the base of demand for years to come.

Lithium prices rebound sharply in early 2026

Lithium prices have surged since the start of 2026, underscoring the market’s renewed volatility.

According to Fastmarkets, spot battery-grade lithium carbonate on the seaborne market climbed from about US$11 per kilogram in early December to more than US$16 per kilogram by early January, a jump of nearly 50 percent in a matter of weeks.

The rally has been driven by tightening supply, including delays to the reopening of CATL’s (SZSE:300750,HKEX:3750) Jianxiawo lepidolite mine and maintenance at other production facilities, alongside aggressive restocking tied to long-term contract negotiations.

Speculative buying has amplified the move, with bullish sentiment and geopolitical risk adding to momentum. At the same time, thin spot liquidity reflects a cautious market, as buyers and sellers hesitate to commit amid rapid price swings.

Spodumene prices have followed suit, rising above US$2,000 per metric ton in January, levels not seen since October 2023. The rebound has improved margins for Australian producers, many of whom curtailed output when prices fell below US$900 per metric ton. Sustained pricing at current levels could prompt a wave of mine restarts, potentially easing supply tightness later this year.

Still, Fastmarkets cautioned that prices may be running ahead of fundamentals.

“Lithium prices appear to have moved ahead of the fundamentals, propelled by speculative buying, bullish sentiment and a backdrop of heightened geopolitical risk,” wrote Paul Lusty. “The key takeaway is to brace for more volatility.”

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$67,551.42, down 18 percent over the last 24 hours.

Bitcoin price performance, February 11, 2026.

Chart via TradingView.

“Bitcoin appears to be entering a stabilization phase before its next directional move. In the near term, prices are likely to consolidate around the US$70,000 level as the market digests recent volatility and continued profit-taking, but the broader setup points to a gradual recovery toward the US$85,000 to US$95,000 range by mid-2026.

“The key driver is institutional behavior: ETF outflows are slowing rather than accelerating, suggesting that forced selling pressure is easing and longer-term allocators are becoming more selective instead of exiting outright. At the same time, regulatory progress — particularly around stablecoin frameworks and clearer market structure — continues to strengthen Bitcoin’s position as a maturing asset within global portfolios, especially as investors look for inflation hedges amid ongoing macro uncertainty.

“While short-term price action may remain uneven, innovation across DeFi and tokenized assets is reinforcing the underlying crypto ecosystem, creating conditions that have historically supported post-correction recoveries and attracted long-term capital back into Bitcoin.”

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$1,955.33, down by 2.8 percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

• XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.38, down by 1.2 percent over 24 hours.

• Solana (SOL) was trading at US$79.64, down by 3.5 percent over 24 hours.

Today’s crypto news to know

Robinhood shares Q4 earnings

Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:HOOD) released its latest quarterly report on Wednesday, revealing net income totaling US$605 million for Q4 2025 and US$1.9 billion for the year.

The company reported a record US$1.28 billion in quarterly revenue, a 27 percent increase year-on-year, but shy of estimates of about US$1.36 billion. Its full‑year 2025 revenue reached US$4.5 billion, up 52 percent.

However, crypto revenue fell 38 percent to US$221 million in Q4.

Despite a fundamentally solid quarter, with record earnings per share of US$0.66 in Q4 and US$2.05 for 2025, shares dropped between 7 and 12 percent after the print and closed 9 percent lower on the day.

In other news, Robinhood launched a public testnet for Robinhood Chain, an Ethereum Layer 2 built on Arbitrum technology and designed to support tokenized real‑world and digital assets.

Developers can begin building and testing apps on it ahead of a future mainnet launch. The testnet offers network access, developer docs and compatibility with standard Ethereum tools, plus early support from infrastructure providers such as Alchemy, Chainlink and LayerZero. Robinhood also said it is committing US$1 million to the 2026 Arbitrum Open House program to encourage developer activity on the testnet and eventual mainnet.

Banks dig in on stablecoin yield as CLARITY Act stalls

US banks are hardening their position on stablecoin rules, escalating a policy clash that has left the long-awaited CLARITY Act stuck in Congress. During a White House-hosted meeting led by the administration’s crypto council, banking groups circulated a proposal calling for an outright ban on paying interest or other incentives to stablecoin holders.

The draft language states: “No person may provide any form of financial or non-financial consideration to a stablecoin holder” in connection with holding or using a payment stablecoin.

Banking groups warned that allowing yield on stablecoins could “drive deposit flight that would undercut Main Street lending,” while crypto advocates argued innovation should not be stifled. The dispute centers on whether stablecoin rewards resemble bank deposits, potentially siphoning funds from traditional lenders.

‘As we noted during the meeting, that framework can and must embrace financial innovation without undermining safety and soundness, and without putting the bank deposits that fuel local lending and drive economic activity at risk. We look forward to ongoing discussions to move market structure legislation forward,’ the American Bankers Association said in a statement following the meeting.

The standoff has become the main obstacle preventing the CLARITY Act from advancing, despite earlier passage of the GENIUS Act, which created a federal framework for dollar-backed stablecoins.

Goldman Sachs maintains US$1 billion Bitcoin ETF exposure

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) disclosed in its latest US Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it holds just over US$1 billion in exposure to Bitcoin through exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The exposure is split across products, including BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (NASDAQ:IBIT) and Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin ETF (NEO:FBTC). Bitcoin has dropped roughly 47 percent from its high and is trading near US$67,000, part of a broader US$2 trillion drawdown across the crypto market. ETF flows have been volatile, with more than US$6 billion exiting spot Bitcoin funds since November, according to industry data.

Despite the slump, Goldman has also expanded into Ether, XRP and Solana ETFs.

Monad launches Nitro accelerator

Blockchain company Monad announced Tuesday (February 10) launch of a new three month accelerator program, Nitro, supported by notable firms including Paradigm, Electric Capital, Dragonfly and Castle Island Ventures.

According to commentary provided in a media briefing accompanying the announcement, “The program is designed to address a common issue in crypto venture funding: teams often raise capital quickly but struggle to ship production-ready products or reach product-market fit. Nitro is structured around execution, shipping cadence, and validation, rather than short-term growth metrics or token-driven incentives.”

The press release notes that the Monad ecosystem has already seen US$108 million raised by projects.

The three month program includes an in-person first month in New York City, and will be followed by two months of focused execution, concluding with a Demo Day for crypto and tech investors.

Interactive Brokers adds Coinbase nano contracts

Interactive Brokers said it is adding “nano contracts’ from Coinbase Global’s (NASDAQ:COIN) derivatives arm to its trading platform. These contracts control fractions of a Bitcoin or Ether coin and require less upfront investment.

Clients can trade these futures, some with set expiry dates and others that track the current price over time, 24/7 within Interactive Brokers’ standard brokerage environment, alongside stocks and options.

The move is meant to make it easier and cheaper for people to get exposure to crypto prices and manage risk, while still using a regulated broker and exchange.

Tartisan Nickel (CSE:TN,OTCQX:TTSRF,FSE: 8TA) is a Canadian exploration and development company focused on advancing high-quality critical mineral assets in Ontario. Its flagship asset, the Kenbridge nickel project in Northwestern Ontario, is an advanced-stage nickel sulphide deposit containing nickel, copper and cobalt.

Management’s strategy for Kenbridge is clear and execution-driven: expand and upgrade the resource through drilling, extend potential mine life, and continue systematically de-risking the project.

At the same time, Tartisan holds the Sill Lake silver project, a past-producing silver-lead property near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Supported by strong fundamentals for nickel, copper and silver, management positions Tartisan as a multi-asset story—providing investors with exposure to several value drivers within a single platform.

Company Highlights

• Clear focus on drilling-driven value creation, with active programs designed to upgrade inferred resources, expand the deposit at depth, and extend mine life into the mid-teens
• Low-capex development profile relative to many peer nickel projects, supported by a historic shaft, road access, and established infrastructure
• Sill Lake Silver Project provides additional, underappreciated value, offering exposure to silver through a brownfields, past-producing asset with a defined historic resource
• Experienced leadership team with deep capital markets and mine development experience, focused on disciplined capital allocation and unlocking value from opportunity-acquired assets

This Tartisan Nickel profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

Click here to connect with Tartisan Nickel (CSE:TN,OTCQX:TTSRF,FSE: 8TA) to receive an Investor Presentation

Investor Insight

Sirios Resources is advancing one of Québec’s largest undeveloped gold deposits, combining a multi-million-ounce resource base, strong infrastructure access and deep regional expertise backed by the Osisko development ecosystem, creating a clear pathway toward re-rating and growth.

Overview

Sirios Resources (TSXV:SOI,OTCQB:SIREF) is a Québec-based gold exploration and development company focused on advancing a portfolio of high-potential projects in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec. The company’s flagship asset, the Cheechoo gold project, ranks among the largest gold projects in the province by resource size. The project benefits from favourable geology, near-surface mineralization, and proximity to existing infrastructure, including road access, power lines and the nearby Éléonore mine. Sirios is advancing Cheechoo through systematic drilling, resource expansion and technical studies with the objective of progressing the project toward a PEA.

In December 2025, Sirios announced a transformational combination with OVI Mining, creating a district-scale gold platform anchored by Cheechoo and complemented by the Corvet Est and PLEX projects. The transaction brings Sirios into the Osisko development ecosystem, strengthening the company’s leadership team with proven mine-building and capital markets expertise, while retaining Sirios’ long-standing geological knowledge of James Bay.

With over three decades of continuous exploration in the region and strong relationships with local and Indigenous communities, Sirios is well-positioned to unlock value through disciplined project advancement and exploration-driven growth.

Company Highlights

• Flagship Cheechoo gold project hosts approximately 3 million ounces of gold, including 1.3 million ounces indicated and 1.7 million ounces inferred, including additional underground resources
• Located in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Québec, a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction with strong government and community support
• Low strip ratio (2.9:1) and high gold recoveries (92 percent) support attractive open-pit development potential at Cheechoo
• Strategic combination with OVI Mining brings Osisko-backed leadership, capital markets strength and additional district-scale exploration assets

Key Projects

Cheechoo Gold Project

The 100 percent owned Cheechoo gold project is Sirios’ flagship asset located in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Québec, near existing infrastructure and operating mines. The project hosts a large, near-surface gold deposit with scalable, open-pit potential and higher-grade underground extensions.

A 2025 mineral resource estimate outlines approximately 3 million ounces of gold, including 1.3 million ounces indicated at 1.12 grams per ton (g/t) gold and 1.7 million ounces inferred at 1.23 g/t gold, which includes 446,000 ounces of underground resources grading 3.09 g/t gold. The deposit exhibits a low strip ratio of 2.9:1 and high metallurgical recoveries of approximately 92 percent, supporting favourable development characteristics.

In addition to the current resource, Cheechoo hosts a significant exploration target ranging from 31 to 40 million tonnes grading between 1.27 and 1.45 g/t gold, highlighting strong potential for further resource growth. Sirios’ ongoing work is focused on expanding the resource base and advancing the project toward a preliminary economic assessment.

Corvet Est Gold Project

Corvet Est is a 6,500-hectare district-scale land package located east of Cheechoo within the same highly prospective James Bay geological corridor. The project comprises a historically drilled gold system that has seen limited modern exploration since 2012. Following consolidation by OVI Mining, Corvet Est now offers Sirios exposure to a large land package with multiple mineralized zones and significant upside potential.

Plex Gold Project

The PLEX project is a 21,000-hectare district-scale land package hosting the Orfée gold zone, characterized by multiple structural corridors and underexplored depth and strike potential. Historical drilling has confirmed gold mineralization, and Sirios plans to advance compilation, target refinement and exploration programs to unlock the project’s discovery potential.

Aquilon Gold Project

The Aquilon project is an optioned gold asset located in James Bay and hosts numerous high-grade gold showings, including some of the highest gold grades historically reported in Québec. Recent drilling has outlined a broad gold-mineralized halo with strong expansion potential. Exploration at Aquilon is currently being advanced in partnership with Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada, providing Sirios with continued exposure to exploration upside while limiting capital commitments.

Management Team (Post-Transaction)

Dominique Doucet. – Executive Chairman

Dominique Doucet is a veteran of Québec’s mineral exploration industry with more than 40 years of experience, including over 30 years in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region. He founded Sirios Resources and has led the discovery of several significant gold occurrences, including the Cheechoo and Aquilon deposits.

Jean-Félix Lepage – Chief Executive Officer

Jean-Félix Lepage is a mining engineer with over 15 years of experience in mine operations and project development. Prior to joining Sirios, he served as vice-president of Projects at O3 Mining, where he advanced the Marban project, and previously held senior operational roles at Newmont, including at the Éléonore mine.

Sean Roosen – Board Member

Sean Roosen is the founder and executive chairman of Osisko Development and former CEO of Osisko Gold Royalties. He played a central role in the discovery, financing and development of the Canadian Malartic mine and is widely recognized as a leader in the global mining industry.

Laurence Farmer – Board Member

Laurence Farmer is CEO of Electric Elements Mining and General Counsel and vice-president of corporate development at Osisko Development. He brings extensive experience across mining, law and finance, with a strong background in corporate transactions and resource development.