Why I Chose Critical Minerals Over Crypto 🌎

Critical Mineral Investing

Many of you know that my work has always lived at the intersection of markets, policy, and national interest. From serving as mayor of a border city in Arizona to leading economic development for the state and later overseeing mission critical operations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, I learned early that real power flows through supply chains.

That lesson is why my firm, Intermestic Capital, has been active in the critical minerals space, including our partnership with EVelution Energy. While crypto continues to capture attention, my focus has moved decisively toward the materials that actually power the modern economy.

The Crypto Lesson I Took Away

I do not dismiss cryptocurrency outright. I understand the appeal. I have watched friends and investors ride massive upswings, only to experience sharp reversals just as quickly.

What crypto taught me was not how to chase volatility, but how fragile purely speculative value can be when it is disconnected from physical demand, regulation, and national priorities. Timing matters in crypto. Strategy matters less.

Why Critical Minerals Are Personal for Me

Critical minerals are not theoretical. I have seen their impact from the border to the boardroom.

As CEO of Intermestic Partners, an international business advisory firm founded in 2011 that specializes in cross border trade and development, I work with top national and international companies navigating mineral supply chains, energy transitions, and geopolitical risk every day.

Through Intermestic Capital, we invest where policy, infrastructure, and industrial demand converge. Our work with EVelution Energy reflects a belief that minerals like cobalt are not just commodities. They are strategic assets.

During my time in government, I saw how quickly supply disruptions could become security crises. Today, the same materials powering electric vehicles also determine military readiness and grid resilience.

Stability Beats Speculation

Critical minerals offer something crypto does not. Durability.

Demand is driven by:

• Electrification and national security mandates

• Defense and aerospace requirements

• Manufacturing reshoring and nearshoring

Prices move, but the underlying need does not disappear with a headline or a tweet.

Investing With Purpose

One overlooked truth is that capital shapes behavior. Investing in critical minerals responsibly allows investors to influence environmental standards, workforce practices, and regional development.

That alignment matters to me personally. It is why Intermestic Partners focuses on long term value creation rather than short term wins.

Conclusion

Crypto may define a moment. Critical minerals define an era.

My decision to lean into this sector is rooted in lived experience, not theory. The future economy will be built with real materials, sourced responsibly, and secured strategically.

If you want to explore how critical minerals, national security, and long term investment intersect, I invite you to engage with Intermestic Partners and continue the conversation.