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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / For centuries, gold’s value rested on weight, purity, and trust. In modern markets, those attributes are no longer sufficient on their own. Gold is increasingly being treated not just as a commodity, but as a regulated data asset, one whose market acceptance depends as much on verifiable provenance, custody, and compliance as on chemical composition.

That shift is happening faster than many expected, and SMX (NASDAQ:SMX) is not simply participating in it, but emerging as one of the sector’s most recognized providers of verifiable proof. In other words, in the right place at the right time.

Across global gold markets, regulators and counterparties are no longer satisfied with attestations and paper trails. They want persistent proof. The result is a structural change in how gold must be authenticated, tracked, and verified across its lifecycle. Gold without verifiable identity increasingly faces friction. Gold with embedded, auditable identity gains optionality.

Momentum Behind a Sector Shift

SMX’s recent momentum across the precious-metals sector reflects a clear understanding of that inflection point.

Following its engagement with the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, SMX has expanded its physical-to-digital authentication framework into operational supply chains through its newest initiative with Bougainville Refinery Ltd and biometric identity provider FinGo. In parallel, the company has continued to advance trueGold, its verified gold platform designed to preserve identity, provenance, and integrity through refining, custody, and trade.

Together, these efforts point to a consistent strategy. SMX is not treating gold traceability as a reporting layer. It is treating gold itself as a data-bearing asset.

At the foundation of that approach is SMX’s molecular-level authentication technology. By embedding an invisible, persistent identifier directly into gold, SMX creates a physical-digital link that survives refining and downstream processing. Once applied, the gold can be verified repeatedly without reliance on external documentation. Identity travels with the metal.

Unrivaled Critical Persistence

That persistence is critical. One of the gold market’s long-standing vulnerabilities has been identity loss once material enters industrial workflows. Bars are melted. Lots are aggregated. Documentation is reconciled after the fact. SMX removes that fragility by ensuring the material itself remains verifiable throughout its lifecycle.

trueGold builds on this capability by positioning verified gold as a distinct asset class, one that carries trusted metadata alongside its physical form, better serving a market increasingly shaped by responsible sourcing frameworks, AML expectations, and ESG scrutiny. That distinction matters. Verified gold is not simply compliant. It is legible to regulators, financiers, and counterparties in a way unverified material is not.

Human identity completes the equation. Gold does not move autonomously. It is extracted, handled, refined, and exported by people. FinGo’s biometric digital identity infrastructure enables those actions to be attributed to verified individuals aligned with KYC and AML requirements, even in environments where traditional identity systems struggle. When combined with SMX’s material identity, each custody event links a verified human to a verified asset at a specific moment in time.

This convergence transforms compliance from narrative to evidence by Bougainville Refinery Ltd providing a real-world proving ground where these systems are evaluated under live operational conditions. As a licensed refinery and exporter, BRL represents the point where sourcing, compliance, and international market access intersect. Embedding identity infrastructure at this level demonstrates how jurisdictions can modernize gold supply chains without sacrificing efficiency or inclusion.

Global Implications, All Positive

The broader implication extends beyond Bougainville. Gold markets are moving toward a model where value increasingly reflects not just what gold is, but what can be proven about it. Jurisdictions and market participants that can offer verifiable identity, custody, and compliance gain strategic advantage.

SMX’s accelerating activity across gold, from DMCC alignment to jurisdiction-level deployment and the expansion of TrueGold, suggests the company is not waiting for this shift to crystallize. It is building for it now.

Gold is still gold. But the markets that trade it are changing. Increasingly, the most valuable gold will be the gold that can speak for itself.

About SMX

As global businesses face new and complex challenges relating to carbon neutrality and meeting new governmental and regional regulations and standards, SMX is able to offer players along the value chain access to its marking, tracking, measuring and digital platform technology to transition more successfully to a low-carbon economy.

Forward-Looking Statements

This information contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and assumptions regarding future events involving SMX (NASDAQ: SMX), its technologies, its partnership activities, and its development of molecular marking systems for recycled PET and other materials. Forward looking statements are not historical facts. They involve risks, uncertainties, and factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied.

Forward looking statements in this editorial include, but are not limited to, expectations regarding the integration of SMX’s molecular markers into U.S. recycling markets; the potential for FDA-compliant markers to enable recycled PET to enter food-grade and other regulated applications; the scalability of SMX solutions across diverse global supply chains; anticipated adoption of identity-based verification systems by manufacturers, recyclers, regulators, or brand owners; the potential economic impact of turning recycled plastics into tradeable or monetizable assets; the expected performance of SMX’s Plastic Cycle Token or other digital verification instruments; and the belief that molecular-level authentication may influence pricing, compliance, sustainability reporting, or financial strategies used within the plastics sector.

These forward looking statements are also subject to assumptions regarding regulatory developments; market demand for authenticated recycled content; the pace of corporate adoption of traceability technology; global economic conditions; supply chain constraints; evolving environmental policies; and general industry behavior relating to sustainability commitments and recycling mandates. Risks include, but are not limited to, changes in FDA or international regulatory standards; technological challenges in large-scale deployment of molecular markers; competitive innovations from other companies; operational disruptions in recycling or plastics manufacturing; fluctuations in pricing for virgin or recycled plastics; and the broader economic conditions that influence capital investment and industrial activity.

Detailed risk factors are described in SMX’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of publication. SMX undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward looking statements to reflect subsequent events, changes in circumstances, or new information, except as required by applicable law.

EMAIL: info@securitymattersltd.com

SOURCE: SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), After Reviewing Historical Use and Modern Safety Evidence, Officially Confirms Kava is a Food Under Federal Law

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially confirmed that kava is a conventional food under federal law. This acknowledgment marks a pivotal moment in the national understanding of kava, providing long-needed clarity across federal and state systems and affirming that, when prepared and enjoyed as a beverage (i.e. kava tea), kava holds a legitimate and established place within the nation’s food landscape.

This federal confirmation, issued through multiple FDA case responses, has already guided the State of Hawaii and the State of Michigan, with additional states now reviewing the same evidence, to determine that the kava beverage qualifies as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) based on its extensive history of safe, cultural use. For Pacific Island communities, including Native Hawaiians whose cultural practices, ceremonies, and community life have been intertwined with kava for generations, the people of American Samoa, and the many Fijian, Tongan, and other Pacific Islander families throughout the United States, this acknowledgment carries profound significance. It affirms the deep cultural legacy of kava, strengthens recognition of Pacific Islander heritage in the United States, and honors a cultural food that is now finding an increasingly meaningful place in modern American life.

FDA Issues Written Statements Affirming Kava Tea as a Conventional Food

Kava’s longstanding cultural use as a beverage informs how federal law evaluates traditional foods, and this history shaped the FDA’s recent clarification. When asked to confirm how kava should be treated under federal food law, the agency provided some of its clearest language to date. In responding, the FDA affirmed the classification of the kava beverage and stated:

“You are correct that kava mixed with water as a single ingredient conventional food would generally not be regulated as a food additive if the tea is consumed as food.”

In another communication, the agency reinforces this, explaining that “Kava tea can be considered as a food, provided that the tea and labeling are compliant with FDA’s food safety and food labeling regulations”. These statements draw directly on the federal definition of food under 21 USC 321(f) and align with the FDA’s 1958 food additive statute, which acknowledges substances with a common use in food prior to January 1, 1958 when prepared in their traditional form.

Modern evaluations by the World Health Organization in 2016, along with assessments by the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and numerous peer reviewed studies, also support the safety profile of kava and align with the FDA’s understanding of how it fits within conventional food standards.

“We can trust the US FDA which now considers kava, prepared in the customary manner, to be a conventional food aligning its classification with the Codex Alimentarius at the United Nations FAO and the WHO. Science evolves, and early concerns have since been clarified in the same way many initial assumptions are corrected over time. When we look at the full body of modern research, kava is one of the safest plant foods we study, closer to a superfood than a risk. Decades of data show a safety profile that aligns with its long cultural history, and the modern scientific understanding overwhelmingly supports what Pacific communities have known all along.”

– Ed Johnston, Kava Scientist, Association for Hawaiian ‘Awa

How food standards should apply to kava

In 1958, the U.S. made a landmark decision about how food should be understood in a diverse nation. Congress passed the Food Additives Amendment, establishing that entirely new ingredients entering the food supply would require FDA approval, while foods with a long history of cultural use would continue to be treated as ordinary foods. This rule protected the rich variety of traditional foods already present in American communities and ensured that cultural practices brought to the United States over generations could continue without disruption. It is one of the reasons the country has been able to embrace such a wide range of cultural dishes, beverages, and food traditions.

Traditional kava fits directly within this framework. It is a beverage with centuries of safe use across Hawaii and the South Pacific, and it was already part of life in Hawaii and American Samoa long before the 1958 law created the distinction between traditional foods and new additives. The FDA’s recent clarification recognizes this history and places the kava beverage squarely alongside other long-established cultural foods that have found their place in the American food landscape.

Impact on Policymakers, Health Inspectors, and Small Businesses

For policymakers and health inspectors, this provides a clear basis for how kava should be approached within existing food safety processes. It establishes that the kava beverage should be evaluated in the same way as other everyday beverages such as matcha green tea or coffee, using the same standards already familiar across the food system. For Pacific Island communities, this clarity carries deeper meaning. It acknowledges a cultural food that predates federal regulation, affirms the continuity of cultural practices, and recognizes the long-standing place of Pacific Island traditions within the broader American food landscape.

For small businesses such as kava bars, cafés, and community gathering spaces, this clarity also provides practical benefits. It offers a consistent regulatory framework that aligns traditional kava tea with other familiar beverages, reducing confusion during inspections and helping ensure that these small establishments are evaluated by the same standards already used across the food and beverage sector. This supports a more predictable operating environment and allows kava-serving businesses to participate in the American food economy with the same transparency and expectations as other culturally rooted establishments.

“For far too long, our cultural food sat in a gray area without the recognition it deserved. Kava is part of who we are as Pacific Islanders, and this confirmation finally affirms what our communities have always known. I feel a deep sense of comfort knowing that our traditions are protected and respected, and that businesses like mine can continue serving a cultural drink that connects us to our identity.”

– Tuni Rafaele, Fijian Owner of DaKava House in Billings, Montana

What is kava?

Kava is a tea-like beverage made from the root of the kava plant. The word kava can refer to the plant itself, the root, or the drink prepared from it. It is a shared cultural drink across many Pacific Island communities, including Hawaii, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and American Samoa, where it has been part of ceremony, social gatherings, and everyday life for centuries. Kava is valued not only as a beverage but as a source of connection, respect, and community identity. Today, kava also holds an important place in modern American life. Millions of people across the country enjoy kava for wellness and connection, and it is served in kava bars, restaurants, cafes, and community spaces. Kava products are now also available in major national retailers such as Whole Foods and Sprouts.

If you are unfamiliar with kava and look it up online while reading this, you may encounter alarming claims about its safety, including warnings about liver damage. These claims trace back to the early 2000s, when a single pharmaceutical product in Germany that was marketed as a “kava product” caused illness and was later recalled. That incident created confusion and led some countries to place temporary restrictions on kava, even though the issue did not involve the kava beverage. It is comparable to a pharmaceutical product marketed with using green tea being recalled and the public concluding that matcha is suddenly unsafe, even though matcha has been part of Japanese life for centuries.

To support public understanding, the International Kava Organization offers a concise kava consumer fact sheet explaining what kava is, addressing common misconceptions, and outlining its role in both cultural and modern life.

A new chapter for kava

The FDA’s recent clarification, the growing alignment among states, and the renewed public understanding of kava’s cultural and scientific foundation mark an important moment for this traditional beverage. They reflect a broader recognition of kava as a meaningful part of American life and as a cultural food that has connected Pacific Island communities for centuries. As more states review the evidence and as public awareness continues to grow, the path ahead is one of opportunity, clarity, and shared respect.

“Growing up Tongan American, with parents born in Tonga, kava shaped how I learned connection and respect. Today, those same practices live on in modern community spaces. The kava circle creates room for open conversation, shared learning, and mutual respect across backgrounds, education levels, and professions. In the circle, every voice matters. As a small business owner and financial professional, and one of the first CFP(R) professionals of Tongan descent, I see kava as both heritage and living practice. Public recognition like this honors our culture and affirms the role kava continues to play in bringing people together.”

– Gilbert Gallahar, MBA, CFP®, Financial Professional

The International Kava Organization remains committed to supporting this progress by providing clear guidance, amplifying community voices, and ensuring that kava is understood and treated in a way that honors its heritage, the modern scientific understanding of kava, and its expanding economic place in the United States. The future of kava is bright, and this moment signals a new chapter for everyone who values this remarkable cultural food.

About the International Kava Organization (IKO)

The International Kava Organization serves as the global voice for kava. It represents American business owners, scientific researchers, cultural practitioners, and Pacific Island farmers. Its mission is to ensure that kava is understood accurately, respected culturally, and guided by science, cultural understanding, and its modern importance rather than misconception.

Press Contact:
press@internationalkava.org

SOURCE: International Kava Organization

Related Documents:

• Consumer-Fact-Sheet—Kava-IKO

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / Quantum BioPharma Ltd. (NASDAQ:QNTM)(CSE:QNTM)(FRA:0K91) (“Quantum BioPharma“),understands that Quantum BioPharma shareholder Paul Durkacz has filed a class action lawsuit alleging that investors in Quantum BioPharma were the victims of stock manipulation. The suit alleges that between January 6, 2021, and October 15, 2025, shareholders who sold securities of Quantum Biopharma Ltd., formerly known as FSD Pharma Inc., were significantly and materially harmed.

A link to this complaint can be found here.

Quantum Biopharma intends to seek appointment as a lead plaintiff in this class action in order to assist in protecting its shareholders.

For more information visit: www.quantumbiopharma.com and https://www.quantumbiopharma.com/quantum-biopharma-vs-banks.

Quantum Biopharma Ltd. has renewed the services of LWM for one month starting December 22, 2025.

About Quantum BioPharma Ltd.

Quantum BioPharma (NASDAQ:QNTM) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to building a portfolio of innovative assets and biotech solutions for the treatment of challenging neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders and alcohol misuse disorders with drug candidates in different stages of development. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Lucid Psycheceuticals Inc. (“Lucid“), Quantum BioPharma is focused on the research and development of its lead compound, Lucid-MS. Lucid-MS is a patented new chemical entity shown to prevent and reverse myelin degradation, the underlying mechanism of multiple sclerosis, in preclinical models. Quantum BioPharma invented unbuzzd™ and spun out its OTC version to a company, Celly Nutrition Corp. (“Celly Nutrition“), now Unbuzzd Wellness Inc., led by industry veterans. Quantum BioPharma retains ownership of 19.86% as of September 30, 2025 of Unbuzzd Wellness Inc. at www.unbuzzd.com. The agreement with Unbuzzd Wellness Inc. also includes royalty payments of 7% of sales from unbuzzd™ until payments to Quantum BioPharma total $250 million. Once $250 million is reached, the royalty drops to 3% in perpetuity. Quantum BioPharma retains 100% of the rights to develop similar products or alternative formulations specifically for pharmaceutical and medical uses. Quantum BioPharma maintains a portfolio of strategic investments through its wholly owned subsidiary, FSD Strategic Investments Inc., which represents loans secured by residential or commercial property. For more information visit www.quantumbiopharma.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities law. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as “believes”, “hopes”, “alleges”, “pending”, “further”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions events or results “may”, “could”, “which”, or “will” and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information herein includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the Company’s ongoing litigation against major financial institutions; the potential outcome or judgment value; expectations regarding whistleblower submissions and related rewards; continued market integrity initiatives; future business performance and possible acquisitions.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation: the ability to obtain and validate whistleblower evidence; the timing and outcome of legal proceedings; resolution of ongoing litigation on favourable terms, availability and sufficiency of litigation funding; continued regulatory compliance and market stability for the Company’s operations.

The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The above lists of forward-looking statements and assumptions are not exhaustive. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to a number of factors and risks. These include: the adverse outcome of legal actions; the receipt and credibility of whistleblower disclosures; changes in applicable laws and regulations; the actions of third parties involved in alleged manipulation; evolving market dynamics; the sufficiency of future litigation proceeds to fund the Company’s whistleblower reward; the continued ability to obtain sufficient litigation funding; limited future growth opportunities, and reliance on key personnel.

Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

The reader is urged to refer to additional information relating to Quantum BioPharma, including its annual information form, can be located on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca and on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

Contacts:

Quantum BioPharma Ltd.
Zeeshan Saeed, Founder, CEO and Executive Co-Chairman of the Board
Email: Zsaeed@quantumbiopharma.com
Telephone: (833) 571-1811

Investor Relations
Investor Relations: IR@QuantumBioPharma.com
General Inquiries: info@QuantumBioPharma.com

SOURCE: Quantum Biopharma Ltd.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / For years, transparency in the global gold market advanced in theory faster than in practice. Standards evolved. Guidance tightened. And, expectations rose. Yet the most important part, implementation, lagged, constrained by fragmented systems that verified paperwork more easily than reality. That gap is now closing, and it is closing quickly.

SMX (NASDAQ:SMX) deserves some credit. It’s emerging as one of the most active drivers of that shift. Following its engagement with the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, SMX is extending its physical-to-digital authentication framework into operational supply chains through a new joint initiative with FinGo and Bougainville Refinery Ltd. Together, the partners are evaluating a combined technology architecture designed to authenticate gold from mine and miner through refinery and export, embedding verification directly into live workflows rather than treating compliance as a tagged afterthought.

The pace matters. Historically, changes in the precious metals sector unfolded over decades. SMX technology changes that timeline, fast-tracking framework alignment to real-world deployment in rapid succession. It’s not just signaling progress. It’s demonstrating that material identity and supply-chain verification are transitioning from discussion to infrastructure.

From Market Frameworks to Operational Reality

The issue has never been a lack of good intentions. The global gold industry has spent years refining rules and standards to manage its complexity. The challenge has been the absence of tools capable of implementing those standards consistently across borders and participants. Fragmentation has always been the enemy.

Guidance from the London Bullion Market Association, the World Gold Council, and the DMCC increasingly demands demonstrable provenance, auditable custody, and verifiable compliance across the gold lifecycle. Yet these frameworks often operate in parallel, relying on different processes and oversight models. What SMX has been proving is that these requirements can converge operationally rather than compete administratively.

That results from SMX’s technology addressing shared requirements at the material level. Through molecular-level authentication, gold can be invisibly and permanently marked, creating a persistent, immutable physical-digital link that remains intact through refining and downstream processing. Once embedded, the material itself becomes verifiable, reducing reliance on external documentation to establish authenticity or origin.

All of that is great. But equally important, and what distinguishes SMX’s recent momentum, is how quickly this capability is being paired with operational partners and regulatory environments. The initiative with Bougainville Refinery Ltd reflects a deliberate move to take material authentication out of controlled environments and into national-scale supply chains, where credibility is earned through use, not assertion. This mirrors the trajectory of national frameworks unfolding in markets such as Singapore and Dubai.

Solving the Human Dimension of Compliance

Keep in mind that gold’s identity challenge has never been limited to the metal alone. The people who extract, handle, aggregate, refine, and export gold represent equally critical points of risk when identity cannot be confidently established. Shared credentials, paper IDs, and informal verification processes have long undermined otherwise well-intentioned compliance frameworks.

FinGo’s biometric digital identity platform addresses this human layer directly. By enabling verified identity aligned with KYC and AML requirements, the technology allows actions and custody changes to be attributed to real, authenticated individuals, even in remote or infrastructure-limited environments. This capability transforms supply-chain records from narrative descriptions into defensible event histories.

When combined with SMX’s material identity, each supply-chain event links a verified human to a verified asset at a specific moment in time. For regulators, financiers, and counterparties, that linkage represents a meaningful step change in evidentiary quality. The value chain becomes stronger, more legible, and more resilient.

Bougainville as a Proof Point for Scalable Transparency

Bougainville Refinery Ltd provides the operational context that turns theory into practice. As a licensed refinery and export participant, BRL will evaluate how the integrated framework performs across real sourcing, refining, and export workflows, embedding authentication and identity verification directly into day-to-day operations.

The initiative aligns with Bougainville’s broader commitment to responsible resource management and transparency. More importantly, it positions Bougainville as a reference environment for how advanced verification infrastructure can be deployed at a jurisdictional level, supporting both economic participation and international trust.

For SMX, this reflects a clear and repeatable strategy. First, align with global market authorities and frameworks. Next, demonstrate operational viability in real supply chains. Then, scale through replication.

A Sector Moving From Intention to Infrastructure

Don’t underappreciate what’s happening here. The speed at which SMX is executing across the precious metals space is notable. More importantly, these collaborations reflect a broader shift underway in global markets, showing that responsible sourcing, AML, and ESG are no longer treated as parallel efforts. They are converging on a single expectation and a single deliverable: proof.

By embedding material-level authentication, verified human identity, and auditable digital records into live supply-chain environments, SMX and its partners are delivering exactly that. The collaboration leaves no room for abstraction, signaling that infrastructure is not being discussed, it is being built.

Solutions that can move from policy alignment to operational deployment will define the next phase of trade. SMX’s recent momentum, with help from valuable players, suggests that phase is arriving faster than many anticipated.

About SMX

As global businesses face new and complex challenges relating to carbon neutrality and meeting new governmental and regional regulations and standards, SMX is able to offer players along the value chain access to its marking, tracking, measuring and digital platform technology to transition more successfully to a low-carbon economy.

Forward-Looking Statements

This information contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and assumptions regarding future events involving SMX (NASDAQ:SMX), its technologies, its partnership activities, and its development of molecular marking systems for recycled PET and other materials. Forward looking statements are not historical facts. They involve risks, uncertainties, and factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied.

Forward looking statements in this editorial include, but are not limited to, expectations regarding the integration of SMX’s molecular markers into U.S. recycling markets; the potential for FDA-compliant markers to enable recycled PET to enter food-grade and other regulated applications; the scalability of SMX solutions across diverse global supply chains; anticipated adoption of identity-based verification systems by manufacturers, recyclers, regulators, or brand owners; the potential economic impact of turning recycled plastics into tradeable or monetizable assets; the expected performance of SMX’s Plastic Cycle Token or other digital verification instruments; and the belief that molecular-level authentication may influence pricing, compliance, sustainability reporting, or financial strategies used within the plastics sector.

These forward looking statements are also subject to assumptions regarding regulatory developments; market demand for authenticated recycled content; the pace of corporate adoption of traceability technology; global economic conditions; supply chain constraints; evolving environmental policies; and general industry behavior relating to sustainability commitments and recycling mandates. Risks include, but are not limited to, changes in FDA or international regulatory standards; technological challenges in large-scale deployment of molecular markers; competitive innovations from other companies; operational disruptions in recycling or plastics manufacturing; fluctuations in pricing for virgin or recycled plastics; and the broader economic conditions that influence capital investment and industrial activity.

Detailed risk factors are described in SMX’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of publication. SMX undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward looking statements to reflect subsequent events, changes in circumstances, or new information, except as required by applicable law.

EMAIL: info@securitymattersltd.com

SOURCE: SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / Revolve Renewable Power Corp. (TSXV:REVV)(OTCQB:REVVF) (“Revolve” or the “Company“), a North American owner, operator and developer of renewable energy projects, is pleased to announce the receipt of a final Generation Permit for its 130 megawatt (“MW”) El 24 Wind Project (the “Project”), located in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, from the Comisión Nacional de Energía (“CNE”), Mexico’s federal regulator for the renewable energy sector. The project was one of only 5 wind projects across the entire country granted a generation permit by CNE. Additionally, the Company is pleased to report material progress on the interconnection application process for the Project. The issuance of the CNE Generation Permit represents a critical regulatory milestone and materially advances El 24 toward ready-to-build (“RTB”) status, positioning the project for advanced commercial discussions, financing, and potential monetization.

“Securing the final generation permit for El 24 is a defining value-creation milestone,” said CEO Myke Clark. “This is the same stage of development where we have historically unlocked significant shareholder value, including with our Parker and Bouse solar projects that were sold to ENGIE. By systematically advancing El 24 through late-stage permitting, we are executing a proven strategy that has delivered strong outcomes.”

Approval of the Generation Permit provides regulatory certainty over installed capacity, generation rights, and compliance with Mexico’s national electricity framework. This approval substantially reduces any remaining development risk and enables the project to progress into final permitting, engineering, procurement, and commercial structuring phases. The Generation Permit enhances bankability, supports advanced interconnection and financing discussions, and positions the project for a range of strategic outcomes. The Generation Permit for El 24, which was approved December 19, 2025, is the key authorisation issued by the federal regulator for the electricity sector in Mexico. Without this permit any generation project does not have authorisation to generate electricity and / or export to the national electricity grid. The Company submitted a generation permit request to CNE in mid-October 2025 and has been working with CNE in the evaluation process since then.

The El 24 Wind Project is a utility-scale, 130 MW onshore wind development strategically located in Tamaulipas, a region with strong wind resources and established transmission infrastructure. Revolve has completed extensive site control, wind resource assessment, environmental and social studies, and interconnection planning in advance of the CNE approval.

With the Generation Permit secured, Revolve will focus on:

• Completing final engineering and turbine optimization.

• Advancing interconnection agreements and grid integration planning.

• Evaluating commercial pathways, including construction financing, strategic partnerships, and potential monetization opportunities.

• RTB targeted for late 2026.

• Commercial operation date targeted for 2028.

The Mexican government has also announced it will launch a further qualification window in 2026 for new projects to participate in the accelerate permitting process. The Company intends to evaluate this new qualification window and the potential to register the 400 MW Presa Nueva Wind Project for evaluation. The Company believes that its on-the-ground experience, local relationships, and disciplined development execution provide a competitive advantage as regulatory clarity improves.

Regulatory Background

On October 17, 2025, the Mexican government announced a comprehensive plan for the growth and expansion of the electricity sector in the country with a specific focus on new renewable energy generation capacity and the role of private sector investment. The plan identified a requirement for capacity totalling 5,970MW from new wind and solar generation projects that would be delivered between 2026 and 2030 specifically from private generators such as Revolve. This new capacity requirement was then broken down into an initial list of preferred locations where projects in these areas would be considered for priority treatment under the federal plan.

To underpin this plan the government at the same time announced an accelerated or expedited interconnection and permitting process, which would see priority projects being evaluated over a 2-month period by both CNE and Centro Nacional de Control de Energía (“CENACE”, Mexico’s independent public agency that manages the National Electric System). If successful through this evaluation process private generation projects would be awarded a Generation Permit by CNE and an interconnection agreement by CENACE based on an agreed commercial operation date for the respective project.

The El 24 Wind project is in one of the preferred locations identified under the federal energy plan. On this basis the Company registered the project to participate in the accelerated interconnection and permitting process referenced above. This registration application was successful, and the Company has been working through the evaluation process for the Project with CNE and CENACE over the last 6 weeks.

Interconnection

The Company submitted a revised interconnection application for the Project in early November and has since received the results of the technical studies from CENACE to support the interconnection of the Project to the national electricity grid. These studies included confirmation of the network upgrades and associated costs to interconnect the Project, the results of which were in line with the Company’s expectations. The Company has formally accepted these studies and is awaiting the next step of the evaluation process, which is expected to be the issuing of the final interconnection agreement in February 2026.

“Revolve has a demonstrated history of advancing large renewable projects through late-stage development and monetizing them at optimal points in the value curve. We believe that El 24 benefits from many of the same commercial attributes that drove value in those prior projects. Mexico has implemented expedited permitting and prioritization mechanisms designed to accelerate the integration of new renewable generation capacity into the national electricity system. Revolve’s success in securing the El 24 permit reflects both the Company’s project readiness and its deep familiarity with Mexico’s evolving regulatory framework,” concluded Clark.

November 2025 Unit Financing Note

Further to the Company’s press release dated November 7, 2025, announcing the closing of its brokered private placement of units for total gross proceeds of $3,039,973, and at the request of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company clarifies that Beacon Securities Limited, as agent, received a cash commission of $202,648.11 and was issued 1,092,369 compensation options (each a “Compensation Option“). Each Compensation Option is exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company (each a “Common Share“) at an exercise price of $0.19 per Common Share until November 7, 2027.

For further information contact:

Myke Clark, CEO
IR@revolve-renewablepower.com
778-946-0072

About Revolve

Revolve was formed in 2012 to capitalize on the growing global demand for renewable power. Revolve develops utility-scale wind, solar, hydro and battery storage projects in the US, Canada and Mexico. Revolve also installs and operates sub 20MW “behind the meter” distributed generation (or “DG”) assets. Revolve’s portfolio includes the following:

• Operating Assets: 13 MW (net) of operating assets under long term power purchase agreements across Canada and Mexico covering wind, solar, battery storage and hydro generation;

• Development: a diverse portfolio of utility scale development projects across the US, Canada and Mexico with a combined capacity of over 3,000 MWs as well as a 140 MW+ distributed generation portfolio that is under development.

Revolve has an accomplished management team with a demonstrated track record of taking projects from “greenfield” through to “ready to build” status and successfully concluding project sales to large operators of utility-scale renewable energy projects. To-date, Revolve has developed and sold over 1,550 MW of projects.

Forward Looking Information

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release constitute ‘‘forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws in each of the provinces and territories of Canada and the respective policies, regulations and rules under such laws and ‘‘forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, ‘‘forward-looking statements”). The words “will”, “expects”, “estimates”, “projections”, “forecast”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “targets” (and grammatical variations of such terms) and similar expressions are often intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the Company’s project development and construction timelines, regulatory approvals, asset acquisitions and sales, strategic partnerships, expected energy production, and the advancement and monetization of its project pipeline. This forward-looking information and other forward-looking information are based on our opinions, estimates and assumptions considering our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we currently believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Despite a careful process to prepare and review the forward-looking information, there can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Material factors underlying forward-looking information and management of the Company’s (“Management“) expectations include: the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals and financing for the Company’s El 24 Wind Project and other projects; the absence of material adverse regulatory decisions being received and the expectation of regulatory stability; the absence of any material equipment breakdown or failure; availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the stability of credit ratings of the Company and its subsidiaries; the absence of unexpected material liabilities or uninsured losses; the continued availability of commodity supplies and stability of commodity prices; the absence of interest rate increases or significant currency exchange rate fluctuations; the absence of significant operational, financial or supply chain disruptions or liability, including relating to import controls and tariffs; the continued ability to maintain systems and facilities to ensure their continued performance; the absence of a severe and prolonged downturn in general economic, credit, social or market conditions; the successful and timely development and construction of new projects; the absence of capital project or financing cost overruns; sufficient liquidity and capital resources; the continuation of long term weather patterns and trends; the absence of significant counterparty defaults; the continued competitiveness of electricity pricing when compared with alternative sources of energy; the realization of the anticipated benefits of the Company’s acquisitions and joint ventures; the absence of a change in applicable laws, political conditions, public policies and directions by governments, materially negatively affecting the Company; the ability to obtain and maintain licenses and permits; maintenance of adequate insurance coverage; the absence of material fluctuations in market energy prices; the absence of material disputes with taxation authorities or changes to applicable tax laws; continued maintenance of information technology infrastructure and the absence of a material breach of cybersecurity; the successful implementation of new information technology systems and infrastructure; favourable relations with external stakeholders; our ability to retain key personnel; our ability to maintain and expand distribution capabilities; and our ability to continue investing in infrastructure to support our growth.

These and other uncertainties and risks could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or to cause the underlying assumptions to prove incorrect. Such uncertainties and risks may include, among others, market conditions, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain required regulatory approvals in a timely fashion, or at all; the availability of financing, fluctuating prices, the possibility of project cost overruns, mechanical failure, unavailability of parts and supplies, labour disturbances, interruption in transportation or utilities, adverse weather conditions, and unanticipated costs and expenses, variations in the cost of energy or materials or supplies or environmental impacts on operations, disruptions to the Company’s supply chains; changes to regulatory environment, including interpretation of production tax credits; armed hostilities and geopolitical conflicts; risks related to the development and potential development of the Company’s projects; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; the availability of tax incentives in connection with the development of renewable energy projects and the sale of electrical energy; as well as those factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors discussed in the Company’s continuous disclosure filings on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned that given these risks, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of their dates.

Future-oriented financial information (“FOFI“) and financial outlooks contained in this release, including statements regarding estimated capital expenditures, anticipated milestone payments, and projected financial outcomes from project sales or partnerships and, are provided for illustrative purposes only and are subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, and uncertainties described above with respect to forward-looking information. Such FOFI reflects Management’s current estimates and assumptions considered reasonable in the circumstances, which may prove incorrect. Actual financial results may differ materially from Management’s expectations, and such variations may be material and adverse. The Company’s financial projections are inherently speculative, were not prepared with a view toward compliance with applicable GAAP and have not been reviewed or audited by independent accountants or other third-party experts, and should not be relied upon as indicative of future results.Such information is presented for illustrative purposes only and may not be an indication of our actual financial position or results of operations.

Other than as specifically required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or FOFI to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements or FOFI whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

“Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.”

SOURCE: Revolve Renewable Power Corp.

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Industry experts to examine 2025 deal data, evolving regulatory pressures, and capital formation strategies shaping the microcap market

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / DealFlow Events today announced a featured panel discussion, “Inside the Microcap Markets: Deals, Trends & Regulation for 2026,” to be held at the DealFlow Discovery Conference, taking place January 28-29, 2026, at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The session will include Richard Anslow, Partner at Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, the conference’s Platinum Sponsor, alongside a panel of legal, financial, and advisory professionals active across the microcap ecosystem.

As the landscape for microcap companies continues to evolve, the panel will provide a data-driven look at 2025 deal activity and examine what companies, investors, and advisors should expect in 2026. Topics will span IPOs and uplistings, cross-listings, SPACs, secondary offerings, and crypto-related transactions, as well as the increasing regulatory scrutiny shaping capital formation strategies.

Key discussion areas will include:

• A data-driven overview of microcap deal activity across financing strategies

• The impact of crypto-related listings on the microcap markets in 2025

• Regulatory changes anticipated for 2026 and their implications for issuers and investors

• How companies and investors are adapting to heightened oversight, disclosure requirements, and trading scrutiny

• Practical insights on positioning for success in a shifting market environment

“Microcap capital formation continues to intersect with a wider range of transaction structures, from traditional IPOs and uplistings to SPAC-related activity and emerging crypto-adjacent listings,” said Richard Anslow, Partner at Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. “EGS has been involved across these areas for many years, and I look forward to joining a highly experienced panel to discuss what the data from 2025 reflects and how regulatory developments may shape opportunities and compliance considerations in 2026.”

The panel will be moderated by Joseph Lucosky, Managing Partner at Lucosky Brookman, and will feature the following panelists:

• Ross Carmel, Partner, Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel

• Richard Anslow, Partner, Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

• Stephen Lambrix, Managing Director, Ernst & Young LLP

“This panel brings together professionals who are actively involved in the transactions shaping today’s microcap market,” said Phillip LoFaso, Managing Director of DealFlow Events. “It’s designed to give attendees a clear, practical view of where deal activity has been and how regulatory developments may influence capital formation in 2026.”

The DealFlow Discovery Conference brings together public and private growth companies, investors, analysts, and capital markets advisors for two days of curated programming, one-on-one meetings, and networking.

Additional information and registration details are available at: https://dealflowdiscoveryconference.com/

About DealFlow Events

DealFlow Events organizes conferences that connect growth companies with investors, analysts, and advisors across the capital markets through curated content, networking, and one-on-one meetings.

About Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP is a New York-based law firm focused on securities law, corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets, with extensive experience advising microcap and growth-oriented companies, including IPOs, SPACs, and emerging digital asset-related transactions.

Media Contact:
DealFlow Events
Phillip LoFaso
Phillip@DealFlowEvents.com

SOURCE: DealFlow Events

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Focused on Real-World Autonomy, Not Hype

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA / ACCESS Newswire / December 22, 2025 / Arrive AI (NASDAQ:ARAI), an autonomous delivery network company focused on secure, AI-powered delivery solutions for healthcare and enterprise environments, announced today that members of its leadership, product, and engineering teams will attend CES 2026 to engage with industry stakeholders and evaluate emerging trends shaping the next phase of autonomous delivery.

Arrive AI’s delegation will include Chief Operating Officer Mark Hamm, along with product lead managers and engineers, underscoring the company’s focus on real-world execution, system reliability, and applied AI in complex, regulated environments.

Rather than approaching CES as a showcase event, Arrive AI is attending with a deliberate focus on listening, learning, and validating market readiness for autonomous delivery solutions that move beyond pilots and into scalable operations. There is also the goal of engaging with prospective strategic supply chain and technology partners.

“CES offers a unique opportunity to step back from individual product announcements and assess where the broader autonomous delivery ecosystem truly stands,” said Mark Hamm, COO of Arrive AI. “Our goal is to engage directly with operators, integrators, and technology leaders to better understand what’s working in real deployments, where gaps remain, and how AI and autonomy can be applied responsibly in environments where reliability and trust are non-negotiable.”

Throughout CES, Arrive AI’s team will prioritize conversations around:

• Operational readiness and scalability of autonomous delivery systems

• AI applied to safety, reliability, and exception handling, not just autonomy

• Integration challenges across hardware, software, and infrastructure

• Enterprise and healthcare delivery pain points, including security, chain of custody, and compliance

With autonomous delivery gaining increased attention across consumer, enterprise, and healthcare sectors, Arrive AI sees CES as a barometer for how the industry is evolving from experimental demonstrations toward dependable, production-ready systems.

“There’s no shortage of innovation on the CES floor,” Hamm added. “What matters now is understanding how these technologies perform outside of controlled environments – inside hospitals, campuses, and other mission-critical settings where failure isn’t an option.”

Informing the Next Phase of Development

Insights gathered at CES will help inform Arrive AI’s ongoing product and platform development, particularly as the company continues building an autonomous delivery network centered on secure delivery points, AI-driven orchestration, and system-level integration.

By bringing product leaders and engineers to the show alongside executive leadership, Arrive AI aims to ensure that strategic decisions remain closely tied to real-world feedback from partners, customers, and industry peers.

About Arrive AI

Arrive AI’s patented Autonomous Last Mile (ALM) platform enables secure, efficient delivery to and from a smart, AI-powered mailbox, whether by drone, ground robot or human courier. The platform provides real-time tracking, smart logistics alerts and advanced chain of custody controls to support shippers, delivery services and autonomous networks. By combining artificial intelligence with autonomous technology, Arrive AI makes the exchange of goods between people, robots and drones frictionless and convenient. Its system integrates with smart home devices such as doorbells, lighting and security systems to streamline the entire last-mile delivery experience. Learn more at www.arriveai.com and via the company’s press kit.

Media contact: Cheryl Reed, media@arriveai.com

Investor Relations Contact: Alliance Advisors IR, ARAI.IR@allianceadvisors.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release and statements of Arrive AI’s management in connection with this news release or related events contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements, including but not limited to statements related to the future regulatory environment applicable to Arrive AI, the prospects of hiring the desired talents, and building productive and profitable products or systems related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “optimistic” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may be beyond our control. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. Potential investors should review Arrive AI’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for more complete information, including the risk factors that may affect future results, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Arrive AI Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire