NEW YORK, January 25, 2026, 07:35 EST — Market closed
- Critical Metals shares jumped in the final session, following a volatile week of swings
- A significant shareholder reported selling 5 million shares through a Rule 144 transaction
- Investors will be watching for more selling pressure and any updates on project offtake talks once trading starts again
Shares of Critical Metals Corp (CRML) surged 11.7% to close at $20.62 on Friday, marking another volatile session for the rare-earths-linked company ahead of Monday’s open. Trading ranged from $16.89 to $20.74, with volume hitting almost 44 million shares. After-hours activity suggested a pullback. 1
The late-week surge is significant since a large portion of the supply is held by a single shareholder, meaning minor moves in that stake can rattle this thinly traded stock. Traders have also leaned on the name as a quick proxy for policy news and supply-chain plays linked to Greenland and rare earths.
A regulatory filing revealed that on Jan. 21, European Lithium Limited sold 5 million Critical Metals ordinary shares under Rule 144, raising roughly $85.5 million in gross proceeds. After the transaction, European Lithium said it held about 48.0 million shares, representing 39.5% of the company’s total stock. This is based on 121.7 million shares outstanding as of Jan. 23. 2
Rule 144 governs how restricted stock and shares held by affiliates can be resold in the U.S. securities market. Traders typically view these sales as an overhang since they introduce additional supply without a formal offering.
The company has been driving the recent volatility. On Jan. 21, Critical Metals filed a Form 6-K revealing it signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi-based Tariq Abdel Hadi Abdullah Al‑Qahtani & Brothers Company. The deal aims to explore one or more joint ventures for a processing and refining facility in Saudi Arabia tied to material from its Tanbreez project in Greenland. It also disclosed four non-binding offtake term sheets for rare-earth concentrate from Tanbreez. Critical Metals currently holds a 42% stake in Tanbreez.
European Lithium described the sale as a move to strengthen its balance sheet without losing its stake in Critical Metals. “This transaction again proves our investment in the Tanbreez project has been a huge success,” said Tony Sage, executive chairperson of European Lithium. 3
Critical Metals announced earlier this month it has given the green light and kicked off construction in Greenland for its pilot plant and related facilities in Qaqortoq. The pilot plant is expected to be operational by May 2026, pending conditions. At the time, Sage described the turnkey contract as offering “a clear, structured pathway.” 4
That said, some near-term risks linger. The Saudi joint-venture framework and offtake term sheets remain non-binding. Project timelines in Greenland often face delays due to permitting, logistics, and financing—challenges compounded by Arctic conditions. Plus, another wave of shareholder selling could strain demand after a week of heavy volume.
As U.S. markets reopen Monday, Jan. 26, eyes will be on any new stake-sale disclosures and whether offtake talks are firming up into contracts. Traders will also watch if CRML can stay above the $20 mark after Friday’s jump.
