LUNA Bounces as Orogen Drills Deeper in 2026

On JAN 26 2026, LUNA rose by 5.05% within 24 hours to reach $0.079, despite a 1.86% drop over the previous 7 days and a 17% decline over both the past month and year. This recent price increase coincides with notable developments in the mining and exploration sector by Orogen Royalties, a move that may indirectly influence investor sentiment toward LUNA.

Orogen Royalties Advances Exploration Projects

Orogen Royalties Inc. has announced significant progress in its partner-funded exploration programs for 2025 and provided a forward-looking outlook for 2026. In 2025, the company recorded over 37,800 meters of drilling, with an estimated $30 million in expenditures. These efforts included resource expansion at the Navidad/Winter vein target and the Luna zone at the Ermitaño gold-silver mine in Mexico.

The company also received over $4.1 million from the sale of projects and payments from exploration partners, alongside the creation of four new royalties and three exploration alliances. Paddy Nicol, Orogen’s CEO, emphasized the company’s record high in early-stage generative exploration, which was driven by alliance partners.

2026 Exploration and Royalty Outlook

Orogen plans to execute twelve partner-funded drilling programs in 2026, excluding drilling at Ermitaño, with an anticipated total of over 40,000 meters of drilling. Three ongoing alliances with Altius Minerals Corp., South32 Limited, and Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp. will continue to drive exploration efforts. Additionally, six projects will be under option to industry partners.

Resource updates are expected at the Navidad/Winter gold-silver veins and the MPD South porphyry copper-gold project in British Columbia. The company anticipates robust alliance activity in 2026, supported by generative work from its key partners.

Exploration Asset and Royalty Portfolio Progress

The Ermitaño epithermal gold-silver mine in Sonora, Mexico, is a focal point of Orogen’s portfolio. First Majestic Silver Corp. completed 21,319 meters of drilling at the Navidad/Winter vein targets and the Luna area. Metallurgy and scoping studies were also conducted, laying the groundwork for further resource estimates.

Orogen’s strategic developments are poised to enhance its royalty and exploration revenue streams, which may align with broader market interest in commodities. Such progress could influence investor behavior in the cryptocurrency market, particularly for assets like LUNA, as macroeconomic conditions and commodity prices often intersect with digital asset performance.

Market Relevance

The recent uptick in LUNA’s price may reflect broader investor appetite for assets with potential correlations to industrial and commodity markets. While no direct link is established between Orogen’s activities and LUNA’s price movement, the mining sector's momentum can shape risk-on sentiment, influencing speculative trading and asset allocation strategies.

As Orogen continues to expand its portfolio and secure drilling programs for 2026, investors may remain attentive to how developments in the mining and exploration space influence overall market dynamics, especially for digital assets sensitive to macroeconomic shifts.