With 25+ years of experience, Brendon Grunewald is executive director of the Critical Minerals Institute and managing director of Praefidi.
Western economies have run into a critical minerals supply chain bottleneck. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the supply chain share for a set of key minerals controlled by just three countries rose to 86% in 2024. The U.S. has been completely reliant on imports for 12 critical minerals, and more than 50% reliant for 31 critical minerals.
Government And Industry Investments
Government and industry are investing significant amounts to address this. The U.S. Department of Defense agreed earlier this year to purchase $400 million of preferred stock in MP Materials and extend $150 million to accelerate their heavy rare-earth separation plant at Mountain Pass.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced critical minerals funding opportunities worth nearly $1 billion to support mining, processing, manufacturing and recycling across the U.S. critical minerals and materials supply chain. And the U.S. government was reported to be in talks in September 2025 to establish a $5 billion fund (registration required) to invest in mining to bolster the U.S. supply of critical minerals.
Industry player CVMR also announced in September 2025 that they were scaling their previously announced $7 billion asset-backed fund to $42 billion.
In short: High demand and concentrated supply chains compounded by strategic political and economic risk means there is serious money being spent and to be made.
Five Technology Levers
Here are five high‑impact technology levers companies can consider to get a winning edge:
1. AI In Exploration And Discovery
Traditional exploration is taking longer to reach production from initial discovery, with one estimate saying it takes about 40% longer than it took 15 years ago. This is putting pressure on markets, which in turn puts pressure on permitting authorities.
AI platforms like KoBold Metals, VerAI Discoveries and others have emerged. Many new platforms are capable of processing and analyzing geological, geochemical and remote‑sensing datasets at speeds and accuracy levels previously unknown to identify high‑probability exploration zones and reduce wasted drilling.
Many mining companies, though, even those using AI, still face their biggest cost and delay late in the development phase.
Board Action: Launch a top-level AI platform investigation to see if and what type of AI tools could make a strategic difference in your exploration costs or processing effectiveness. Make sure you set clear, objective and measurable key performance indicators (KPIs) to judge effectiveness in your specific business.
2. Aerial Sensing And Satellite Analytics
In some cases, high‑resolution remote sensing, airborne or even space geophysics can accelerate discovery and reduce in-field exploration costs. Companies like Pixxel operate hyperspectral satellites that map mineral signatures from orbit, while others like Fleet Space combine satellite-enabled geophysics with AI analytics.
Board Action: Assess whether satellite and or and UAV reconnaissance technologies are applicable to your project, and if so, implement before drilling commitments.
3. Smart Mine Processing And Tailings
With new mining projects taking longer than the market expects, some investors and companies are looking to improve yield or returns by extracting “tailings” from existing mines.
Mine processing facilities are also using X-ray transmission (XRT) ore sorting, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) pre-concentration and digital twin modeling to improve yields. And a recent study published in Science shows that recovering by-product minerals from U.S. metal mines could significantly reduce imports.
Board Action: Consider implementing a suitable pilot ore sorting technology or analyzing any historic waste for previously “uneconomic” minerals.
4. Blockchain For Traceability
Traceability is becoming a market‑access requirement in some cases, such as with the EU Battery Regulation. Traceability technologies can also help companies in their environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting and save costs through reducing import and export delays. For example, a variety of companies already trace mine-to-manufacturer supply chains using a platform from Circulor.
Board Action: Assess if your business is “passport‑ready,” and if not, implement the necessary blockchain/data models and run a traceability pilot.
5. Blockchain Finance And Treasury Innovation
Mining is expensive! And while the government may be deploying investments in some companies, other companies are exploring new investor and financing streams to fund or invest in critical mineral projects.
• Tokenization: Some companies are issuing real world asset backed and revenue share tokens to bring on new liquidity for their own use or to make investments to the critical minerals sector. This is a non-dilutive way to raise cash, retaining control of the company.
• Digital Asset Treasuries: Companies can consider new strategies to back critical‑minerals expansion. For example, Critical Metals Corp announced a Bitcoin treasury strategy and financing facility of up to $500 million.
Board Action: Understand whether tokenization is viable and whether or not a digital asset treasury aids or defocuses your company, especially under the new FASB fair‑value rules.
Implementation Risks
While advanced technologies promise many benefits, companies often underestimate the execution risks. Integrating AI, automation or blockchain systems into mining and processing environments demands new skill sets—the kind not typically found in mining companies. This is not to be underestimated as many digital transformation project failures in heavy industry are due to capability gaps and change-management resistance rather than technology limitations.
Prepare the implementation well. Communication, education and leadership are required, not just software and data.
Conclusion
In a landscape where mining, processing, traceability, digital finance and supply-chain resilience are increasingly intertwined, traditional mining companies may be missing out on a critical success factor: technology. Is your company capable of assessing and taking advantage of new opportunities to gain a competitive advantage?
My recommendation for boards is to conduct an AI and blockchain suitability and readiness assessment or workshop. Then adapt your corporate governance reporting to include: suitability of mining and processing/engineering to AI technologies, supply-chain traceability in your ESG reports and potential for blockchain finance.
Consider augmenting board expertise to include technology and innovation oversight by adding a board member or advisor who has relevant tech experience to validate and update the board on relevant innovations and technology opportunities.
The information provided here is not investment, tax, or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation.
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