NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 18, 2026 / Global energy markets operate in a constant state of flux, where pricing pressures, geopolitical tensions, and shifting logistics can alter supply dynamics in an instant. In this environment, absolute trust has become a premium asset. SMX (Security Matters) PLC (NASDAQ: SMX; SMXWW) introduces a new layer of authenticity through its advanced traceability platform, enabling crude oil, refined fuels, and petrochemical products to carry a persistent, verifiable identity throughout their journey-helping defend the enormous capital investments that underpin the global energy system while equipping stakeholders with real-time intelligence.

The impact of SMX's technology extends across every node of the energy value chain. Producers are able to preserve the integrity and market value of their output. Transporters and traders gain confirmation that materials remain consistent and untampered with in transit. Refiners and distributors can validate the authenticity of feedstocks entering their systems. Regulators and government bodies are better positioned to enforce sanctions, ensure compliance, and monitor cross-border flows. Meanwhile, investors and financial markets benefit from enhanced transparency surrounding the origin and movement of energy assets that drive global trade.

Each year, petroleum commodities valued in the trillions move through an intricate web of pipelines, vessels, storage facilities, refineries, and trading centers spanning multiple countries and regulatory regimes. Within these complex pathways, materials can be altered-whether through blending, substitution, dilution, relabeling, or diversion-introducing significant financial exposure, compliance risks, and reputational challenges.

SMX addresses these vulnerabilities by embedding microscopic, undetectable markers directly into the commodities themselves. These markers create a lasting, traceable signature that travels with the material across every stage of its lifecycle-from production and transport to storage, processing, and end delivery.

This approach represents a departure from conventional tracking systems that rely on external documentation. Instead, SMX anchors verification within the physical product, transforming each barrel or batch into its own source of truth.

By linking this embedded signature to a secure digital verification framework, SMX enables the creation of a continuous, auditable record of origin and movement. The result is a unified physical-digital identity system that enhances visibility across global energy supply chains while reinforcing the value and security of the assets involved.

Given the scale of capital deployed across energy infrastructure-from upstream extraction to downstream distribution-ensuring the authenticity of materials moving through these systems is no longer optional. It is central to protecting both operational integrity and financial performance.

SMX's markers are engineered to integrate seamlessly into existing industrial workflows without affecting the chemical composition or performance of the materials. They can be introduced during production or refining and later authenticated through proprietary detection technologies.

In a world where energy markets react in real time and disruptions can ripple across continents overnight, SMX delivers a critical advantage: embedded verification at the source-providing clarity, accountability, and actionable insight for those responsible for powering, regulating, and investing in the global energy economy.

Contact: Jeremy Murphy/ jeremy@360bespoke.com

SOURCE: SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited