How Retail Investors Can Now Buy and Trade Physical Uranium—No ETFs Required

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For the first time, retail investors can directly access the uranium spot market, thanks to a new online trading platform. Uranium.io enables users to buy, own, and sell physical uranium, a commodity that has historically been difficult to trade outside institutional markets.

Exclusive to inclusive: Making uranium investment widely accessible 

Uranium.io’s launch marks a milestone in commodity investing. The platform allows users to own and trade uranium ore concentrate (U3O8), commonly known as “yellowcake”, online. Fractional ownership and 24/7 global accessibility lower entry barriers for investors who were previously restricted to exchange-traded funds (ETFs), managed funds, or uranium mining stocks.

The trading platform is being launched in partnership with Curzon Uranium, a global uranium trading company with over $1 billion in uranium trades, and Archax, the UK-regulated digital asset firm, as the custodian for the physical uranium. The uranium bought on the platform is physically stored at a regulated depository owned and operated by Cameco, one of the world’s leading global uranium providers/converters.

Why uranium, and why now?

Demand for uranium has been rapidly rising in recent years, particularly as governments and companies seek low-emission energy solutions. Nuclear power is emerging as a stable and scalable option for supporting artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, which require massive amounts of electricity to operate.

Industry leaders, including Microsoft, have announced nuclear energy investments, and several technology firms have secured long-term agreements for nuclear power. This trend has bolstered uranium prices, reaching a peak of $106 per pound in early 2024. Historically, uranium trading has been confined to over-the-counter markets and institutional transactions, with minimum purchase sizes often exceeding 50,000 pounds (lbs) or c. $3.2m, making it inaccessible to most individual investors.

How the uranium.io platform works and its role in commodity trading

Uranium.io assists investors in accessing a decentralized trading venue that permits an investor to acquire or dispose of as little as one ounce of uranium, a significant shift from traditional markets. Transactions are conducted in USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. The platform ensures compliance with all regulatory measures, with analytics proactively monitoring compliance and requesting verification from users only if needed.

The decentralized platform provides a level of transparency and liquidity previously unseen in the uranium market. Investors maintain beneficial ownership of their uranium, which is stored in a regulated depository operated by Cameco. Unlike shares in uranium ETFs or mining stocks, where the price of which can diverge from the spot price of uranium, the xU3O8 tokens evidence actual and direct ownership of the physical commodity.

 Bringing a commodity like uranium online offers several advantages:

• Lower costs: By reducing intermediaries, the uranium.io platform simplifies the process of buying and selling uranium.
• 24/7 Global accessibility: Investors from around the world can participate in the market without needing to establish complex international banking relationships
• Reduced entry barriers: Fractional ownership enables investors to start investing with amounts as small as $5
• Price accuracy of physical uranium: Beneficial ownership ensures direct exposure and tracking of uranium market prices

A model for other commodity markets?

The launch of the xU3O8 arrangements and the uranium.io platform serves as a blueprint for other real-world assets. Other commodity markets, such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth metals, could benefit from similar efforts, particularly as industries seek improved price discovery and trading efficiency.

As the demand for uranium and other essential materials grows, platforms like this could play a crucial role in democratizing access to historically opaque markets.

For more information, visit uranium.io.

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