Aqua Metals Inc

United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (which we refer to as the “Annual Meeting”) of Aqua Metals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”), to be held at 7:00 a.m. local time, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

At the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote upon the following proposals to (i) elect four (4) directors to serve for the ensuing year as members of the Board of Directors of the Company; (ii) approve, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the potential issuance and sale of up to Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “common stock”), pursuant to our purchase agreement with Lincoln Park Capital Fund, LLC (the “Lincoln Park Purchase Agreement”); (iii) approve an amendment (as set forth on Appendix A to the Company’s Proxy Statement, the “Reverse Split Amendment”) to our First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“Certificate of Incorporation”) to effect a reverse split of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock, at a specific ratio, ranging from one-for-two (1:2) to one-for-ten (1:10), with the exact ratio within such range to be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Reverse Split,” and such proposal, the “Reverse Split Proposal); (iv) approve an amendment to our 2019 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved under the plan; (v) ratify the appointment of Forvis Mazars, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025; and (vi) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

The accompanying Proxy Statement describes these proposals in more detail.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote:FOR each of the four (4) nominees for director named in the Proxy Statement,FOR approval, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), of the potential issuance and sale of up to $10,000,000 of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Lincoln Park Purchase Agreement;FOR the approval and adoption of an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse split of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock at a specific ratio, ranging from one-for-two (1:2) to one-for-ten (1:10), with the exact ratio within such range to be determined by our Board,FOR the approval an amendment to our 2019 Stock Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved under the plan;FOR the ratification of the appointment of Forvis Mazars, LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, andFOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

To ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting, you are urged to vote your shares of common stock via the Internet at www.proxyvote.com, by phone at 1-800-690-6903 or by promptly marking, dating, signing, and returning the proxy card via mail. Voting instructions are provided on the proxy card delivered to you and included in the accompanying Proxy Statement. If your shares of common stock are held by a bank, broker or other agent, please follow the instructions from your bank, broker or other agent to have your shares voted.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Aqua Metals, Inc., we thank you for your participation.

Sincerely, /s/ Vincent L. DiVito Vincent L. DiVito Chairman of the Board

5370 Kietzke Lane, Suite 201

Reno, Nevada 89511

(775) 525-1936

NOTICE OF 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON JULY 22, 2025

The 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (which we refer to as the “Annual Meeting”) of Aqua Metals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as “we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”), will be at 7:00 a.m. local time, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Company’s offices located at 5370 Kietzke Lane, Suite 201, Reno, Nevada 89511.

We will consider and act on the following items of business at the Annual Meeting:

The accompanying Proxy Statement describes each of these items of business in detail. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on June 17, 2025 are entitled to notice of, to attend, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting or any continuation, postponement or adjournment thereof.

Please note that space limitations make it necessary to limit attendance at the Annual Meeting to our stockholders. Registration and seating will begin at 6:30 a.m. PDT. For admission to the Annual Meeting, each stockholder may be asked to present valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, and proof of stock ownership as of the record date, such as the enclosed proxy card or a brokerage statement reflecting stock ownership. Cameras, recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the Annual Meeting.

To ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting, you are urged to vote your shares of common stock via the Internet at www.proxyvote.com, by phone at 1-800-690-6903 or by promptly marking, dating, signing, and returning the proxy card via mail. If your shares of common stock are held by a bank, broker or other agent, please follow the instructions from your bank, broker or other agent to have your shares voted.

Sincerely, /s/ Vincent L. DiVito Vincent L. DiVito Chairman of the Board

Reno, Nevada