General Keane's New Mission: Securing America's Rare Earth Supply

DALLAS, TX – February 09, 2026 – In a move that underscores the growing convergence of national security and industrial policy, retired Four-Star General John M. “Jack” Keane has been appointed to the board of REalloys Inc., a company positioning itself at the heart of America’s push for critical mineral independence. The appointment, set to formalize upon the closing of a merger with financial technology firm Blackboxstocks Inc. (NASDAQ: BLBX), places one of the nation's most respected military strategists at the forefront of a new economic battleground: the global rare earth supply chain.

REalloys is on the cusp of completing its merger with Blackboxstocks, a transaction that has already received a key green light from the Securities and Exchange Commission, which declared the company's Form S-4 registration statement effective. With only final NASDAQ listing approval and other customary conditions pending, the deal is expected to close in the near term, transforming a social media-driven fintech platform into a vertically integrated producer of materials essential for defense, clean energy, and advanced technology.

A New Battlefield: Securing Critical Supply Chains

General Keane’s entry into the corporate world is anything but typical. With a 37-year military career that saw him serve as Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, command the 101st Airborne Division, and play a pivotal role in formulating the “Surge” strategy in Iraq, his expertise is in high-stakes strategy and leadership. His appointment signals that REalloys’ mission is viewed not just as a business venture, but as a national imperative.

Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020, General Keane has remained a prominent voice on security matters, serving as Chairman of the Institute for the Study of War and as a senior strategic analyst. His decision to join REalloys highlights the strategic vulnerability posed by the West's deep reliance on foreign adversaries for rare earth elements—the building blocks of everything from F-35 fighter jets and guided missiles to electric vehicles and wind turbines.

“The United States and our allies face a defining challenge: we must secure the strategic resources that power our defense systems and our economy,” General Keane stated. “Dependence on adversaries for these materials is a vulnerability we can no longer accept. I believe that REalloys is taking decisive action in its plan to build the domestic capacity we need to remain free and independent.”

From Fintech to Frontline Minerals: A Strategic Pivot

The vehicle for this ambitious industrial mission is, unusually, a publicly-traded financial technology company. Blackboxstocks Inc., known for its AI-enhanced trading platform for stock and options traders, is executing a dramatic pivot. Facing a challenging market and a three-year revenue decline, the company is merging with REalloys in a deal that will see Blackboxstocks' original shareholders retain approximately 7.3% of the combined entity.

This is not a partnership but a complete transformation. The merger agreement includes Contingent Value Rights (CVRs) that entitle legacy Blackboxstocks shareholders to proceeds from the potential sale of the original fintech business within two years, signaling a clear intent to divest the old platform and focus entirely on the rare earth industry. The move represents a calculated shift from the volatile world of market analytics to the tangible, high-stakes domain of critical minerals, where geopolitical stability and government contracts offer a different kind of growth potential.

The Boardroom 'Dream Team' Assembling for REalloys

General Keane is not the only heavyweight on the REalloys board. He joins a formidable leadership team that brings together deep expertise from the worlds of defense, diplomacy, and industrial policy. The board is led by Chairman Stephen S. duMont, who also serves as President of GM Defense, linking the company directly to the needs of the defense industrial base.

Also on the board are Ambassador David MacNaughton, former Canadian Ambassador to the United States, and the Honorable Brad Wall, former Premier of Saskatchewan. Their involvement underscores the cross-border nature of the mission, which integrates Canadian resources with U.S. manufacturing capabilities. This potent combination of leadership is designed to navigate the complex regulatory, political, and logistical challenges of building a secure supply chain from the ground up.

“General Keane is one of the most respected strategic minds of our time,” said Chairman Stephen S. duMont. “As REalloys works to break reliance on foreign adversaries for rare earth supply chains, we believe that General Keane’s guidance will be invaluable. We are not just building a company; we are securing the industrial foundation of the free world.”

Building a 'Mine-to-Magnet' Powerhouse in North America

REalloys’ strategy is to create a fully integrated, secure North American supply chain, from raw materials to finished products. The company's operational plan rests on three pillars: upstream resource development, midstream processing, and downstream manufacturing.

The upstream foundation is its Hoidas Lake asset in Saskatchewan, Canada, considered a high-grade source of critical rare earths. This will be supplemented by feedstock from recycling partners and a non-binding agreement with Kazakhstan's AltynGroup to diversify supply.

For the crucial midstream processing stage—a major bottleneck in Western supply chains—REalloys has forged a landmark partnership with the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC). The company is investing approximately US$21 million to dramatically expand the SRC’s separation and refining facility. This expansion is projected to increase heavy rare earth processing capacity by 300% and light rare earth capacity by 50%, with REalloys securing the majority of this output under a long-term offtake agreement.

Finally, these refined materials will feed REalloys’ downstream manufacturing facility in Euclid, Ohio. This plant already produces advanced alloys and magnet components, serving federal agencies like the Department of Defense and NASA. This integrated 'mine-to-magnet' model is designed to provide a secure, auditable, and reliable source of critical materials just as new U.S. defense procurement rules restricting foreign content are set to take effect in 2027. As the final regulatory hurdles are cleared, the newly formed entity is poised to become a cornerstone of North America's strategy to reclaim control over its most vital technological and defense resources.