The international seabed mining code remains unadopted, with the International Seabed Authority failing to reach agreement on the rules for the exploitation of the deep seabed during a meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, in mid-July. This failure, which was anticipated for years, has led to further postponements of deadlines, with the next potential agreement now expected no earlier than 2027. Meanwhile, the United States is advancing its own initiatives in the field. On August 19, the U.S. administration began reviewing a request from The Metals Company, a Canadian mining company, to explore and commercially recover polymetallic nodules in the Pacific. No approval has yet been granted, but this move signals a potential national path for seabed mining outside the multilateral framework. The delay in establishing an international code creates a paradox: while technological advancements have made access to the deep ocean more feasible, the environment remains largely unexplored. According to a study published in Science Advances, less than 0.001 percent of the deep ocean floor has been visually observed, and only about a quarter of the global ocean floor is mapped at high resolution. This lack of knowledge has led 46 states to demand a precautionary pause on seabed mining, citing the need for further understanding of the potential risks. France is one of the leading supporters of this position, joined this year by Mauritius, Mozambique, and the Republic of Congo. The deep ocean contains more than just metals; it is a realm where life produces its own light, where molecules could inspire future medicines, and where cables serve as scientific instruments. The absence of a binding international code may provide an opportunity to allow science time to understand the deep sea before industrial activities transform it. Scientists warn that the deep ocean is one of the last largely unexplored frontiers on Earth, and any large-scale mining could have irreversible environmental consequences. The debate over seabed mining thus reflects a broader tension between economic interests and the need to protect one of the planet’s most mysterious and fragile ecosystems.