Bitunix Analyst: U.S. launches “Mineral Stockpile War” to reshape strategic supply chains — global resource rivalry intensifies

On Oct 13, the Financial Times reported that the U.S. Department of Defense has initiated a $1 billion strategic mineral reserve program aimed at reducing foreign dominance in critical metal supply chains. Documents from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) show procurement plans for metals including cobalt, antimony, tantalum, and scandium oxide — with the latter two added to the National Defense Stockpile list for the first time. Analysts note this move signals a major policy escalation by the Trump administration to strengthen U.S. autonomy in future tech and defense supply chains.

Market-wise, the “mineral hoarding” campaign underscores an accelerating restructuring of global resource flows. With China curbing exports and prices of rare earths and germanium surging, Western supply chain anxiety is mounting. Under the America Great Act, the U.S. is expected to inject further capital into domestic production, potentially fueling volatility in energy, rare earth, and battery material sectors — and sparking a new wave of global mining investments.

Bitunix Analyst Insight:
Washington’s “mineral stockpiling” reflects a structural response to prolonged geopolitical rivalry — a bid to realign the dollar system around resource sovereignty. If more nations follow suit in nationalizing key metals, resource-based assets may reemerge as hedging instruments. For crypto markets, shifts in inflation expectations and USD liquidity could provide new allocation signals.