As renewed talks of a U.S. acquisition of Greenland intensify under President Donald Trump, tech investors — including backers of the Magnificent Seven companies — are closely examining the potential windfall in critical and rare earth minerals. These resources are vital for powering smartphones, electric vehicles (EVs), AI data centers, semiconductors, and advanced defense technologies.A January 12, 2026, CNBC report reveals surging interest from tech-focused investors in how American control over the Arctic island could accelerate mining projects and secure supply chains currently dominated by China.
In the past week alone, Critical Metals Corp — a NASDAQ-listed company developing a project to extract heavy rare earth elements (HREE) in Greenland — has received direct inquiries from tech investors about the impact of a U.S. takeover on its asset and development timeline. CEO Tony Sage told CNBC:
Sage said U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about Greenland had generated additional “buzz” for the project from investors. Without naming specific shareholders, he said Critical Metals Corp backers included those who invest in Magnificent Seven U.S. tech companies.
The company’s project targets heavy rare earth elements such as Yttrium, Gadolinium, Terbium, Dysprosium, Holmium, Erbium, Thulium, Ytterbium, Lutetium, and Gallium, which provide essential heat resistance and magnetic stability. Sage emphasized their strategic importance:
“These are the materials that are essential for defence technologies, robotics, semiconductors and aerospace applications. We can’t fly rockets into space, build nuclear submarines or next-generation fighter jets without these materials.”
For companies like Apple, which relies heavily on rare earths for iPhone magnets, displays, cameras, and other components — as well as broader ecosystem needs in chips and batteries — a more secure, U.S.-aligned source could reduce vulnerability to China’s export restrictions. China produced 70% of global rare earths in 2024 and imposed bans on key minerals like germanium and gallium in 2025, directly affecting AI and tech production.
Echoing this, Amaroq Minerals CEO Eldur Ólafsson highlighted the criticality of these materials in a prior CNBC interview:“When Trump put tariffs on China, the first two metals China stopped exporting were germanium and gallium,” Ólafsson told CNBC.
“Why? Because you need it in AI, you need it in defense, you need it in tech, it’s absolutely critical.”
Amaroq has confirmed commercial levels of germanium and gallium in its Greenland projects — elements indispensable for advanced AI chips and semiconductors used across Big Tech products.
With the White House “actively” discussing a potential purchase of Greenland (while not ruling out other means), and ongoing talks between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Danish officials, a U.S. presence could streamline permitting, attract more investment, and foster direct government support for mining — as evidenced by Critical Metals Corp’s “strong relationships” with both the U.S. and Greenland governments.
While skeptics like Tracy Hughes of the Critical Minerals Institute caution that Greenland’s projects remain in early exploration stages and “won’t materially move markets in the next decade” due to complex processing requirements, the current investor “buzz” and stock surges (Critical Metals up 116% in 2026 so far) signal strong optimism among tech investors.
For Apple and fellow Magnificent Seven giants, Greenland joining America, likely via a Compact of Free Association (COFA), could represent a geopolitical shortcut to diversified, reliable supplies of the rare materials underpinning tomorrow’s innovations — from next-gen iPhones to AI infrastructure.
MacDailyNews Take: Even if you paid every Greenland citizen a million bucks each, it’d be a cost effective solution (population: 57,000 x $1,000,000 = $57 billion*) as Greenland joining America would be a geopolitical jackpot for both countries, Greenland citizens, the U.S. military, Apple, and Big Tech by securing rare earth minerals essential for iPhones, magnets, chips, and AI — breaking China’s rare earths hegemony and powering tomorrow’s innovations.
*For perspective, Apple alone has pledged to invest $600 billion in America over the next four years. Yes, Apple could basically buy Greenland if they so desired.
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