The transaction represents a significant expansion of the Company's growing gold claims pipeline and advances I-ON's strategy of building a scalable digital asset infrastructure supported by proven ownership interests in gold-bearing mineral assets. Upon closing, the acquisition is expected to increase the Company's inventory of onboarding-eligible mineral assets and expand the pool of eligible assets available for future digitization initiatives.

The acquisition is expected to support the Company's broader strategy of expanding its real-world asset ecosystem through the future development of site-specific mineral processing, recovery, storage, and vaulting capabilities. Management believes these initiatives may enhance the long-term utility of qualifying mineral assets and create additional pathways for reserve monetization, asset digitization, and balance sheet growth.

The Company has secured the funding sources necessary to complete the acquisition, with consideration expected to consist of a strategic combination of cash, Seller Finance, treasury-held IONau, and I-ON common stock, with the initial funding tranche being executed in collaboration with Real Asset Acquisition Corp. (https://raac.io). In addition, the Seller has substantially completed I-ON's proprietary onboarding, verification, and reserve qualification process prior to the opening of escrow, allowing the transaction to advance through many of its most significant diligence and qualification milestones. While final geological review, reserve validation, claim rights verification, and other customary closing conditions remain outstanding, and no assurance can be given that the claims will ultimately satisfy all onboarding requirements, the Company believes this advanced stage of review reduces execution risk, supports an accelerated path to closing, and strengthens its growing pipeline of digitization-eligible mineral assets. Subject to completion of the remaining verification and closing requirements, I-ON currently expects to complete the acquisition and onboard eligible claims into its digital asset ecosystem during the third quarter of 2026.

Beyond the initial acquisition of rights to 20 claims, the agreement provides I-ON with a joint-venture operating option over additional mineral claims held by the seller, while establishing a structured pathway for future reserve growth without the need to renegotiate mineral rights allocation on a claim-by-claim basis.

"This transaction reflects the continued execution of our long-term strategy to build a scalable pipeline of institutional-quality mineral assets for digitization, deployment, and future financial innovation," said Carlos Montoya, Chief Executive Officer of I-ON Digital Corp. "By combining a scalable reserve acquisition strategy with a rigorous onboarding and verification framework, we believe I-ON is establishing a differentiated platform for real-world asset digitization. With financing secured and substantial onboarding milestones already achieved, this acquisition represents another step toward expanding our pipeline of digitization-eligible assets, securing individual and institutional relationships, and advancing our greater long-term growth strategy in general."

Transaction Highlights

  • Binding Purchase and Assumption Agreement to acquire rights to 20 Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") gold mining claims located in the southwestern United States.
  • Acquisition financed through a combination of cash, Seller Finance, IONau, and I-ON common stock.
  • I-ON has secured the funding sources necessary to complete the acquisition, subject only to customary due diligence and closing requirements.
  • Accelerated escrow timeline supported by the Seller's substantial completion of I-ON's proprietary onboarding and verification process prior to opening escrow.
  • Closing and digitization of the acquired claims targeted for the third quarter of 2026.
  • Joint venture operating option secured on additional seller-controlled mineral claims, creating a structured pathway for future reserve expansion.