UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of February, 2024
Commission File Number: 001-40398
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
British Columbia, Canada
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Suite 855 -789 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC
V6C 1H2
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
[ ] Form 20-F [X] Form 40-F
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): [ ]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): [ ]
Exhibits 99.1, 99.2. 99.5 and 99.6 to this Report on Form 6-K are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement on Form F-10 of the Registrant, which was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 17, 2023 (File No. 333- 274054).
EXHIBIT INDEX
SIGNATURES
HIVE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES LTD. | ||
By: | /s/ Darcy Daubaras | |
Name: Darcy Daubaras | ||
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
Date: February 12, 2024
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd.
(formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.)
Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
(In thousands of U.S. dollars)
(Unaudited)
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (In thousands of US dollars) (Unaudited) |
Notes | December 31, 2023 |
March 31, 2023 |
|||||||
Assets | |||||||||
Current assets | |||||||||
Cash | $ | 17,824 | $ | 4,373 | |||||
Amounts receivable and prepaids | 5 | 8,194 | 9,354 | ||||||
Investments | 4 | 6,900 | 2,866 | ||||||
Digital currencies | 6 | 71,894 | 65,899 | ||||||
104,812 | 82,492 | ||||||||
Plant and equipment | 7 | 91,877 | 87,228 | ||||||
Long term receivable | 5 | 2,366 | 5,815 | ||||||
Deposits, net of provision | 8 | 23,181 | 9,542 | ||||||
Right of use asset | 13 | 8,999 | 10,973 | ||||||
Intangible assets | - | 67 | |||||||
Total assets | $ | 231,235 | $ | 196,117 | |||||
Liabilities and equity | |||||||||
Current liabilities | |||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 10 | $ | 11,813 | $ | 9,354 | ||||
Current portion of convertible loan - liability component | 9 | 1,532 | 1,175 | ||||||
Current portion of lease liability | 13 | 2,528 | 2,330 | ||||||
Term loan | 12 | 6,176 | 7,139 | ||||||
Current portion of loans payable | 11 | 2,828 | 1,224 | ||||||
Current income tax liability | 4,977 | 1,846 | |||||||
29,854 | 23,068 | ||||||||
Convertible loan - liability component | 9 | 2,352 | 3,554 | ||||||
Convertible loan - derivative component | 9 | 337 | 482 | ||||||
Loans payable | 11 | 11,004 | 11,854 | ||||||
Lease liability | 13 | 6,454 | 8,138 | ||||||
Deferred tax liability | 1,181 | 206 | |||||||
Total liabilities | 51,182 | 47,302 | |||||||
Equity | |||||||||
Share capital | 16 | 451,344 | 419,213 | ||||||
Special warrants | 16 | 18,959 | - | ||||||
Equity reserve | 25,741 | 18,864 | |||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 28,426 | 7,404 | |||||||
Accumulated deficit | (344,417 | ) | (296,666 | ) | |||||
Total equity | 180,053 | 148,815 | |||||||
Total liabilities and equity | $ | 231,235 | $ | 196,117 |
Nature of operations (Note 1)
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
Subsequent events (Note 26)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income and Comprehensive (Loss) Income (In thousands of US dollars, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) |
Three months ended December 31, | Nine months ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||||||
Notes | Revised | Revised - Note 25 | |||||||||||||
Revenue from digital currency mining | 6 | $ | 30,115 | $ | 14,318 | $ | 75,973 | $ | 88,094 | ||||||
High performance computing hosting | 1,137 | - | 1,611 | - | |||||||||||
31,252 | 14,318 | 77,584 | 88,094 | ||||||||||||
Cost of sales | |||||||||||||||
Operating and maintenance costs | 20 | (19,963 | ) | (10,703 | ) | (53,682 | ) | (41,521 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation | 7,13 | (16,423 | ) | (20,340 | ) | (49,473 | ) | (70,415 | ) | ||||||
(5,134 | ) | (16,725 | ) | (25,571 | ) | (23,842 | ) | ||||||||
Revaluation of digital currencies | 6 | 422 | (5,997 | ) | - | (79,207 | ) | ||||||||
Gain (loss) on sale of digital currencies | 6 | 5,818 | (3,448 | ) | 2,989 | (22,199 | ) | ||||||||
Expenses | |||||||||||||||
General and administrative | 19 | (3,698 | ) | (3,250 | ) | (10,028 | ) | (9,851 | ) | ||||||
Foreign exchange (loss) gain | (374 | ) | 2,017 | 717 | 5,451 | ||||||||||
Share-based compensation | 16 | (633 | ) | (2,556 | ) | (6,650 | ) | (5,457 | ) | ||||||
(4,705 | ) | (3,789 | ) | (15,961 | ) | (9,857 | ) | ||||||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments | 4 | 4,247 | (1,073 | ) | 3,616 | (10,757 | ) | ||||||||
Change in fair value of derivative liability | 9 | (129 | ) | 715 | 145 | 4,894 | |||||||||
Impairment of equipment | 7 | - | (38,844 | ) | - | (71,417 | ) | ||||||||
Impairment of deposits | 8 | - | (22,653 | ) | - | (27,331 | ) | ||||||||
Provision on sales tax receivables | 5 | (4,931 | ) | - | (4,931 | ) | - | ||||||||
Gain (loss) on sale of equipment | 6 | (1,292 | ) | (235 | ) | (1,277 | ) | ||||||||
Other (expenses) income | 47 | 240 | (75 | ) | 240 | ||||||||||
Finance expense | 18 | (843 | ) | (1,004 | ) | (2,560 | ) | (2,932 | ) | ||||||
Net loss before tax for the period | (5,202 | ) | (93,870 | ) | (42,583 | ) | (243,685 | ) | |||||||
Tax (expense) recovery | (1,749 | ) | 411 | (5,168 | ) | 542 | |||||||||
Net loss for the period | $ | (6,951 | ) | $ | (93,459 | ) | $ | (47,751 | ) | $ | (243,143 | ) | |||
Other comprehensive (loss) income | |||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive (loss) income to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods: | |||||||||||||||
Revaluation of digital currencies | 6 | $ | 19,352 | $ | - | $ | 19,410 | $ | - | ||||||
Translation adjustment | 1,212 | 227 | 1,610 | 796 | |||||||||||
Net loss and comprehensive income (loss) for the period | $ | 13,613 | $ | (93,232 | ) | $ | (26,731 | ) | $ | (242,347 | ) | ||||
Basic loss per share | $ | (0.08 | ) | $ | (1.13 | ) | $ | (0.55 | ) | $ | (2.95 | ) | |||
Diluted loss per share | $ | (0.08 | ) | $ | (1.13 | ) | $ | (0.55 | ) | $ | (2.95 | ) | |||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding | |||||||||||||||
Basic | 17 | 88,252,813 | 82,704,522 | 86,039,252 | 82,555,946 | ||||||||||
Diluted | 17 | 88,252,813 | 82,704,522 | 86,039,252 | 82,555,946 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (In thousands of US dollars, except shares issued) (Unaudited) |
Share capital | Special Warrants | Accumulated other | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity | comprehensive | Accumulated | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Shares issued | Amount | Number (in units) | Amount | reserve | income | deficit | equity | |||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
At March 31, 2022 | 82,241,988 | 413,660 | - | - | 12,236 | 23,399 | (60,244 | ) | 389,053 | |||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation | - | - | - | - | 5,456,768 | - | - | 5,456,768 | ||||||||||||||||
Vesting of restricted stock units | 218,016 | 1,093 | - | - | (1,093 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Shares offering | 1,306,473 | 3,822 | - | - | - | - | - | 3,822 | ||||||||||||||||
Loss for the period | - | - | - | - | - | - | (243,143 | ) | (243,143 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Translation adjustment | - | - | - | - | - | 796 | - | 796 | ||||||||||||||||
Realized loss on digital currencies | - | - | - | - | - | (15,111 | ) | - | (15,111 | ) | ||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2022 (revised - Note 25) | 83,766,477 | 418,575 | - | - | 5,467,911 | 9,084 | (303,387 | ) | 5,592,185 | |||||||||||||||
At March 31, 2023 | 84,172,711 | 419,213 | - | - | 18,864 | 7,404 | (296,666 | ) | 148,815 | |||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation | - | - | - | - | 6,650 | - | - | 6,650 | ||||||||||||||||
Special warrants | - | - | 5,750,000 | 21,738 | - | - | - | 21,738 | ||||||||||||||||
Shares offering | 7,549,840 | 30,302 | - | - | - | - | - | 30,302 | ||||||||||||||||
Vesting of restricted stock units | 453,150 | 969 | - | - | (969 | ) | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
Issuance costs | - | (408 | ) | - | (2,779 | ) | 1,280 | - | - | (1,907 | ) | |||||||||||||
Asset acquisition | 345,566 | 1,088 | - | - | - | - | - | 1,088 | ||||||||||||||||
Exercise of options | 22,500 | 180 | - | - | (84 | ) | - | - | 96 | |||||||||||||||
Loss for the period | - | - | - | - | - | - | (47,751 | ) | (47,751 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Translation adjustment | - | - | - | - | - | 1,610 | - | 1,610 | ||||||||||||||||
Revaluation gain on digital currencies | - | - | - | - | - | 19,412 | - | 19,412 | ||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2023 | 92,543,767 | 451,344 | 5,750,000 | 18,959 | 25,741 | 28,426 | (344,417 | ) | 180,053 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands of US dollars) (Unaudited) |
For the nine months ended December 31, | ||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||
Revised - Note 25 | ||||||
Operating activities | ||||||
Net loss for the period: | $ | (47,751 | ) | $ | (243,143 | ) |
Adjusted for: | ||||||
Revenue recognized from digital currency mined | (75,973 | ) | (88,094 | ) | ||
Depreciation | 49,473 | 70,415 | ||||
Unrealized (gain) loss on investments | (3,616 | ) | 10,757 | |||
Change in fair value of derivative liability | (145 | ) | (4,894 | ) | ||
Impairment of equipment | - | 71,417 | ||||
Impairment of deposits | - | 27,331 | ||||
Provision on sales tax receivables | 4,931 | - | ||||
Loss on sale of equipment | 235 | 1,277 | ||||
Accretion on convertible debt | 1,415 | 1,627 | ||||
Tax expense (recovery) | 5,168 | (542 | ) | |||
Share-based compensation | 6,650 | 5,457 | ||||
Interest expense | 687 | 1,462 | ||||
Foreign exchange | 2,147 | (1,939 | ) | |||
Changes in non-cash working capital items: | ||||||
Amounts receivable and prepaids | 38 | (5,623 | ) | |||
Digital currencies | 89,390 | 204,257 | ||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 653 | (2,926 | ) | |||
Cash provided by operating activities | 33,302 | 46,839 | ||||
Investing activities | ||||||
Deposits on equipment | (23,108 | ) | (2,529 | ) | ||
Investments | (250 | ) | - | |||
Proceeds on disposal of equipment | 329 | - | ||||
Purchase of equipment | (40,972 | ) | (38,223 | ) | ||
Cash paid on acquisition | (647 | ) | - | |||
Cash used in investing activities | (64,648 | ) | (40,752 | ) | ||
Financing activities | ||||||
Exercise of options | 96 | - | ||||
Shares offering, net of issuance costs | 29,894 | 3,822 | ||||
Issuance of warrants, net of issuance costs | 20,239 | - | ||||
Repayment of loans | (1,107 | ) | (1,511 | ) | ||
Repayment of debenture | (2,260 | ) | (2,898 | ) | ||
Lease payments made | (2,104 | ) | (1,980 | ) | ||
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 44,758 | (2,567 | ) | |||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | 39 | (228 | ) | |||
Net change in cash during the period | 13,451 | 3,292 | ||||
Cash, beginning of period | 4,373 | 5,319 | ||||
Cash, end of period | $ | 17,824 | $ | 8,611 | ||
Supplemental cash flow information | ||||||
Share consideration issued for acquisition | $ | 1,088 | $ | - | ||
Supplemental disclosures: | ||||||
Interest paid | 1,251 | $ | 810 | |||
Income taxes paid | $ | 687 | $ | - |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
1. Nature of Operations
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (the "Company") was incorporated in the province of British Columbia on June 24, 1987. The Company is a reporting issuer in each of the Provinces and Territories of Canada and is listed for trading on the TSXV, under the symbol "HIVE.V", as well on the Nasdaq's Capital Markets Exchange under "HIVE", and on the Open Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under "YO0.F". On July 12, 2023 the Company completed a name change from HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. to HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. The Company's head office is located at Suite 855, 789 Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 1H2, and the Company's registered office is located at Suite 2500, 700 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, V7Y 1B3.
In connection with the Company's change of business filed in September 2017 ("Change of Business"), the Company acquired digital currency mining data center equipment in Iceland. Following the initial acquisition, the Company acquired additional data center equipment in Iceland and Sweden throughout fiscal 2018. Phases one and two of Sweden commenced operations on January 15, 2018 and March 31, 2018 respectively, while phase three commenced operations on April 30, 2018. On April 9, 2020 the Company acquired a data center in Quebec, Canada, and on April 15, 2021 the Company acquired a data center in New Brunswick, Canada. The Company is in the business of providing infrastructure solutions, including the provision of computational capacity to distributed networks, in the blockchain industry. The Company's operations are focused on the mining and sale of digital currencies to upgrade, expand and scale up its mining operations. Digital currencies are subject to risks unique to the asset class and different from traditional assets. Additionally, the Company may at times hold assets with third party custodians or exchanges that are limited in oversight by regulatory authorities.
On May 24, 2023, the Company incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, Bikupa Real Estate AB, to function as a holding entity to facilitate the acquisition of the data center as detailed in Note 26.
On May 24, 2022, the Company affected the consolidation of its common shares (Note 16) based on one post-consolidation common share for each five pre-consolidated common shares. The impact was reflected and adjusted such that all common shares and per share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the consolidation.
The negative impact on the global supply chain related to the COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges to the Company including increased shipping costs and delaying obtaining equipment from China on a timely basis. Additionally, the Company continues to face uncertainty in the availability of equipment from suppliers as it relates to the Company's ASIC equipment.
2. Basis of Presentation and Material Accounting Policies
(a) Statement of Compliance
These unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34, "Interim Financial Reporting of the International Financial Reporting Standards" ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and follow the same accounting policies and methods of application as the Company's March 31, 2023, annual audited financial statements, unless otherwise noted. These condensed interim consolidated financial statements do not include all the information required for full annual financial statements and accordingly, they should be read in conjunction with the Company's most recent annual statements.
The condensed interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a cost basis except for the convertible loan - derivative component and digital assets that have been measured at fair value. In addition, these condensed interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared using the accrual basis of accounting, except for cash flow information. The condensed interim consolidated financial statements are presented in United States dollars ("US dollars" or "$"), except where otherwise indicated.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
2. Basis of Presentation and Material Accounting Policies (continued…)
(a) Statement of Compliance (continued...)
The Company is in the business of the mining and sale of digital currencies to upgrade, expand, and scale up its mining operations, many aspects of which are not specifically addressed by current IFRS guidance. The Company is required to make judgements as to the application of IFRS and the selection of accounting policies. The Company has disclosed its presentation, recognition and de-recognition, and measurement of digital currencies, and the recognition of revenue as well as significant assumptions and judgements; however, if specific guidance is enacted by the IASB in the future, the impact may result in changes to the Company's earnings and financial position as presented.
These unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements were approved and authorized for issuance by the Board of Directors on February 12, 2024.
(b) New Accounting Standards Adopted by the Company
Amendment to IAS 12 - deferred tax related to assets and liabilities arising from a single transaction
In May 2021, the IASB issued Deferred Tax related to Assets and Liabilities arising from a Single Transaction (Amendments to IAS 12). The amendments narrowed the scope of the initial recognition exemption to exclude transactions that give rise to equal and offsetting temporary differences. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023, with early adoption permitted.
Amendments to IAS 1, Practice statement 2 and IAS 8
Presentation of Financial Statements was amended to clarify that the classification of liabilities as current or non-current is based on rights that are in existence at the end of the reporting period and specifies that classification is unaffected by expectations about whether an entity will exercise its right to defer settlement of a liability. The amendments are effective January 1, 2023 with early application permitted. The amendments are required to be adopted retrospectively.
Amendments to IAS 1, Presentation of financial statements', on classification of liabilities
In February 2021, the IASB issued Definition of Accounting Estimates (Amendments to IAS 8). The amendments introduced a definition of accounting estimates and included other amendments to help entities distinguish changes in accounting estimates from changes in accounting policies. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023, with early adoption permitted.
Amendments to IAS 1 Amendments to IAS 1 clarify how to classify debt and other liabilities as current or non-current.
The amendments help to determine whether, in the condensed interim consolidated financial statements, debt and other liabilities with an uncertain settlement date should be classified as current (due or potentially due to be settled within one year) or non-current. The amendments also include clarifying the classification requirements for debt an entity might settle by converting it into equity. Amendments to IAS 1 specify that covenants to be complied with after the reporting date do not affect the classification of debt as current or non-current at the reporting date. Instead, the amendments require to disclose information about these covenants in the notes to the financial statements.
The adoption of the amendments listed above did not have a significant impact on the Company's condensed interim consolidated financial statements.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
2. Basis of Presentation and Material Accounting Policies (continued…)
(c) Future Accounting Standards
Amendments to IAS 21 - Lack of Exchangeability
An entity is impacted by the amendments when it has a transaction or an operation in a foreign currency that is not exchangeable into another currency at a measurement date for a specified purpose. A currency is exchangeable when there is an ability to obtain the other currency (with a normal administrative delay), and the transaction would take place through a market or exchange mechanism that creates enforceable rights and obligations. These amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2025 (early adoption is available).
Amendment to IAS 1 - Non-current liabilities with covenants
These amendments clarify how conditions with which an entity must comply within twelve months after the reporting period affect the classification of a liability. The amendments also aim to improve information an entity provides related to liabilities subject to these conditions. These amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2024.
Amendment to IFRS 16 - Leases on sale and leaseback
These amendments include requirements for sale and leaseback transactions in IFRS 16 to explain how an entity accounts for a sale and leaseback after the date of the transaction. Sale and leaseback transactions where some or all the lease payments are variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or rate are most likely to be impacted. These amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2024.
The Company continues to review changes to IFRS standards. There are no other pending IFRSs or IFRIC interpretations that are expected to be relevant to the Company's condensed interim consolidated financial statements.
3. Significant Estimates and Judgements
The preparation of the unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements necessitates management to make various judgments, estimates, and assumptions regarding the recognition and measurement of assets, liabilities, income, and expenses. These judgments and estimates are based on management's best understanding of future events, circumstances, and potential actions taken by the Company. It should be noted that the actual results may deviate from these assumptions and estimates.
The assessments and underlying assumptions are regularly reviewed. If any revisions are made to the assumptions or estimates and they only affect the current period, they are recognized in that particular period. However, if the revisions impact both the current and future periods, they are recognized in the period of the revision and in subsequent periods.
The significant judgments made by management while applying the Company's accounting policies and the primary sources of estimation uncertainty remain consistent with those outlined in the audited annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2023.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
4. Investments
As at December 31, 2023 the Company holds a number of investments in both private and public companies. The Company's investment holdings that are not traded in active markets by the Company are considered investments. Investments are accounted for as financial assets which are initially recognized at fair value and subsequently measured through fair value through profit or loss.
The continuity of investments was as follows:
Investments | |||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | $ | 17,001 | |
Unrealized loss on investments | (13,432 | ) | |
Foreign exchange | (703 | ) | |
Balance, March 31, 2023 | $ | 2,866 | |
Additions | 250 | ||
Unrealized gain on investments | 3,616 | ||
Foreign exchange | 168 | ||
Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 6,900 |
5. Amounts Receivable and Prepaids
December 31, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | |||||
Sales tax receivable** | $ | 7,671 | $ | 8,694 | ||
Prepaid expenses and other receivables | 6,004 | 4,659 | ||||
Receivable on sale of subsidiary* | 1,816 | 1,816 | ||||
Total | $ | 15,491 | $ | 15,169 | ||
Less: provision on sales tax receivable | (4,931 | ) | - | |||
Less: current portion | (8,194 | ) | (9,354 | ) | ||
Long term portion | $ | 2,366 | $ | 5,815 |
* Receivable is conditional upon ruling by the by the Swedish Tax Authority related to an ongoing value added tax process. If the ruling is favourable, amounts will be received, otherwise, the amounts will not be collectible. Management has assessed the collectability using a probability model under a range of scenarios and this receivable reflects the results of that process.
** During the period ended December 31, 2023, after examination of the history of claims and payments received from various authorities, together with regulatory challenges, the Company assessed the collectability of its Sales tax receivable balance. As a result, the Company determined that there is uncertainty over the collection of certain amounts, and recorded a provision of $4.9 million for these receivables.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
6. Digital Currencies
Digital currencies are recorded at their fair value on the date they are received as income from digital currency mining and are revalued to their current market value less costs to sell at each reporting date.
The Company's holdings of digital currencies consist of the following:
December 31, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | |||||
Bitcoin | $ | 71,652 | $ | 65,772 | ||
Ethereum Classic | 124 | 117 | ||||
Other coins | 118 | 10 | ||||
Total | $ | 71,894 | $ | 65,899 |
The continuity of digital currencies was as follows:
Bitcoin | Amount | Number of coins | ||||
Digital currencies, March 31, 2022 | $ | 117,669 | 2,596 | |||
Digital currency mined | 77,482 | 3,258 | ||||
Digital currency sold | (70,997 | ) | (3,522 | ) | ||
Revaluation adjustment | (58,382 | ) | - | |||
Digital currencies, March 31, 2023 | 65,772 | 2,332 | ||||
Digital currency mined | 75,943 | 2,465 | ||||
Digital currency sold | (89,404 | ) | (3,093 | ) | ||
Revaluation adjustment | 19,341 | - | ||||
Digital currencies, December 31, 2023 | $ | 71,652 | 1,704 | |||
Ethereum | Amount | Number of coins | ||||
Digital currencies, March 31, 2022 | $ | 52,302 | 16,165 | |||
Digital currency mined | 28,424 | 14,984 | ||||
Digital currency sold | (68,257 | ) | (31,149 | ) | ||
Revaluation adjustment | (12,469 | ) | - | |||
Digital currencies, March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2023 | $ | - | - | |||
Ethereum Classic | Amount | Number of coins | ||||
Digital currencies, March 31, 2022 | $ | 29 | 625 | |||
Digital currency mined | 172 | 6,180 | ||||
Digital currency sold | (45 | ) | (1,087 | ) | ||
Revaluation adjustment | (39 | ) | - | |||
Digital currencies, March 31, 2023 | 117 | 5,718 | ||||
Digital currency mined | 1 | 28 | ||||
Revaluation adjustment | 6 | - | ||||
Digital currencies, December 31, 2023 | $ | 124 | 5,746 |
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
6. Digital Currencies (continued…)
During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, the Company sold digital currencies for proceeds totalling $30.7 million and $92.4 million, respectively (December 31, 2022 - $30.9 million and $102.7 million, respectively) and recorded a gain on sale of $5.8 million and $3.0 million, respectively (December 31, 2022 - loss on sale of $3.4 million and $22.2 million, respectively).
The Company reclassified a surplus of $nil from accumulated other comprehensive income (December 31, 2022 - $15.1 million) in connection to the revaluation gain on its digital currencies.
7. Plant and Equipment
Building and | ||||||||||||
Cost | Equipment | Land | Leaseholds | Total | ||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | $ | 306,802 | $ | 663 | $ | 17,538 | $ | 325,003 | ||||
Disposals | (9,587 | ) | - | - | (9,587 | ) | ||||||
Additions | 55,353 | - | 10,296 | 65,649 | ||||||||
Impairment | (119,033 | ) | - | - | (119,033 | ) | ||||||
Foreign exchange on translation | (4,348 | ) | - | (1,307 | ) | (5,655 | ) | |||||
Balance, March 31, 2023 | $ | 229,187 | $ | 663 | $ | 26,527 | $ | 256,377 | ||||
Disposals | (3,548 | ) | - | - | (3,548 | ) | ||||||
Additions | 48,109 | - | 115 | 48,224 | ||||||||
Acquisition | 446 | 86 | 1,587 | 2,119 | ||||||||
Foreign exchange on translation | 2,291 | - | 625 | 2,916 | ||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 276,485 | $ | 749 | $ | 28,854 | $ | 306,088 | ||||
Building and | ||||||||||||
Accumulated depreciation | Equipment | Land | Leaseholds | Total | ||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | $ | 146,670 | $ | - | $ | 790 | $ | 147,460 | ||||
Disposals | (6,250 | ) | - | - | (6,250 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation | 76,739 | - | 2,213 | 78,952 | ||||||||
Impairment | (48,623 | ) | - | - | (48,623 | ) | ||||||
Foreign exchange on translation | (2,300 | ) | - | (89 | ) | (2,389 | ) | |||||
Balance, March 31, 2023 | $ | 166,236 | $ | - | $ | 2,914 | $ | 169,150 | ||||
Disposals | (2,983 | ) | - | - | (2,983 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation | 45,668 | - | 1,679 | 47,347 | ||||||||
Foreign exchange on translation | 682 | - | 15 | 697 | ||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 209,603 | $ | - | $ | 4,608 | $ | 214,211 | ||||
Carrying amount | ||||||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2023 | $ | 62,951 | $ | 663 | $ | 23,613 | $ | 87,227 | ||||
Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 66,882 | $ | 749 | $ | 24,246 | $ | 91,877 |
During the three and nine month period ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded an impairment on miner equipment of $38.8 million and $71.4 million, respectively. The impairment was based on an assessment of the performance of the equipment in relation to prevailing replacement costs. There were no indicators of impairment for the three and nine month period ended December 31, 2023.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
8. Deposits
The deposits relate to required amounts on account with electricity providers in Sweden and for equipment purchases, consisting of:
Description | December 31, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | ||||
Bodens Energi | $ | 273 | $ | 217 | ||
Equipment Deposits | 33,779 | 35,431 | ||||
Vattenfall AB | 1,260 | 1,225 | ||||
35,312 | 36,873 | |||||
Equipment deposit provision | (12,131 | ) | (27,331 | ) | ||
Total | $ | 23,181 | $ | 9,542 |
The Company is exposed to counterparty risk through the advances made for certain mining equipment ("Deposits") it places with its suppliers in order to secure orders over a set delivery schedule. The risk of a supplier failing to meet its contractual obligations may result in late deliveries and/or the value of the deposits is not realised as a result of non delivery of equipment or delivery of equipment with reduced quality. The Company attempts to mitigate this risk by procuring mining hardware from the established suppliers and with whom the Company has existing relationships and knowledge of their reputation in the market.
During the three and nine month period ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded impairment on the equipment deposits of $nil (December 31, 2022 - $22.7 and $27.3 million, respectively). The impairment is based on the counterparty risk of delivery, efficiency of machines expected use of the machines and the expected quantity and quality of the equipment to be received.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
9. Convertible Loan
On January 12, 2021, the Company closed its non-brokered private placement of unsecured debentures (the "Debentures"), for aggregate gross proceeds of $15 million with U.S. Global Investors, Inc. ("U.S. Global"). The Executive Chairman of the Company is a director, officer and controlling shareholder of U.S. Global.
The Debentures mature on the date that is 60 months from the date of issuance, bearing interest at a rate of 8% per annum. The Debentures will be issued at par, with each Debenture being redeemable by the Company at any time, and convertible at the option of the holder into common shares (each, a "Share") in the capital of the Company at a conversion price of C$15.00 per Share. Interest is payable monthly and the principal repayments are due quarterly. In addition, U.S. Global was issued 5.0 million common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants"). Each five whole Warrant entitles U.S. Global to acquire one common at an exercise price of C$15.00 per Share for a period of three years from closing. The Warrants expired unexercised on January 12, 2024 (Note 16).
The Company determined that the Convertible Loan contained an embedded derivative, and that the conversion feature does not qualify as equity as it does not satisfy the "fixed for fixed" requirement as the number of potential common shares to be issued is contingent on a variable carrying amount for the financial liability. The financial liability is variable because the functional currency of Hive Digital Technologies Ltd. is Canadian dollars and the Convertible Loan is denominated in US dollars, therefore the number of common shares to be issued depends on the foreign exchange rate at the date of settlement. Consequently, the conversion feature is classified as a derivative liability.
The Company allocated the proceeds of $15 million first to the derivative component for $8.6 million, with the residual value to the liability component for $6.4 million. The derivative component was valued on initial recognition using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: a risk-free interest rate of 0.69%; an expected volatility of 105%; an expected life of 2.71 years; a forfeiture rate of zero; and an expected dividend of zero.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
9. Convertible Loan (continued…)
Liability Component
Balance, March 31, 2022 | $ | 5,599 | |
Principal payment | (3,000 | ) | |
Interest payment | (817 | ) | |
Accretion and interest | 2,947 | ||
Balance, March 31, 2023 | 4,729 | ||
Principal payment | (2,260 | ) | |
Interest payment | (457 | ) | |
Accretion and interest | 1,872 | ||
Balance, December 31, 2023 | 3,884 | ||
Less: Current portion | (1,532 | ) | |
Non-current portion | $ | 2,352 |
Derivative Component
Balance, March 31, 2022 | $ | 4,986 | ||
Change in fair value of liability | (4,504 | ) | ||
Balance, March 31, 2023 | 482 | |||
Change in fair value of liability | (145 | ) | ||
Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 337 |
The derivative component is remeasured each reporting period. As at December 31, 2023, the derivative component was revalued at $0.3 million (March 31, 2023 - $0.5 million) using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: share price of C$5.97 (March 31, 2023 - C$4.46) an expected weighted average risk-free interest rate of 4.43% (March 31, 2023 - 3.71%); an expected weighted average volatility of 84% (March 31, 2023 - 97%); and an expected weighted average life of 1.23 years (March 31, 2023 - 1.61 years). For the three and nine months period ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a loss in the change in the fair value of the derivative liability of $0.13 million and a gain of $0.15 million, respectively (December 31, 2022 - gain of $0.7 million and gain of $4.9 million, respectively).
10. Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
The components of accounts payable and accrued liabilities are as follows:
December 31, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | |||||
Accounts payable | $ | 8,158 | $ | 6,859 | ||
Accrued liabilities | 2,502 | 2,362 | ||||
Holdback payable | 500 | - | ||||
Other payable | 653 | 133 | ||||
Total | $ | 11,813 | $ | 9,354 |
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
11. Loans Payable
On March 31, 2021, as part of the sale of the net assets in Boden Technologies AB, the Company incurred a loan payable. The facility bears interest at the Swedish government borrowing rate plus 1% per annum and has a maturity date of December 31, 2035. Principal payment plus interest is payable annually. The loan payable is contingently forgiven based on a favourable ruling from the Swedish Tax Authority on the ongoing value added tax assessment.
A continuity of the loan balances are as follows:
Boden | |||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | $ | 15,692 | |
Interest | 223 | ||
Repayment | (1,272 | ) | |
Foreign exchange movement | (1,566 | ) | |
Balance, March 31, 2023 | 13,077 | ||
Interest | 280 | ||
Foreign exchange movement | 475 | ||
Balance, December 31, 2023 | 13,832 | ||
Less: Current portion | (2,828 | ) | |
Non-current portion | $ | 11,004 |
12. Term Loan
As part of the Atlantic acquisition, the Company acquired a $11.0 million (C$13.6 million) term loan. The facility bears interest at 3.33% per annum and a maturity date of June 30, 2024. Principal payments of C$0.2 million plus interest is payable monthly.
The term loan has financial ratios and minimum tangible asset covenants that must be maintained by HIVE Atlantic Datacentres Ltd. As at December 31, 2023, the covenant to maintain a ratio of total debt to tangible net worth equal to or less than 2:1 was not met. The outstanding balance is presented as a currently liability as at December 31, 2023. The lender has not requested early repayment of the loan as of the date when these financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors. The term loan includes an unlimited guarantee from the Company.
Balance, March 31, 2022 | $ | 9,375 | |
Interest | 273 | ||
Repayment | (1,991 | ) | |
Foreign exchange movement | (518 | ) | |
Balance, March 31, 2023 | $ | 7,139 | |
Interest | 164 | ||
Repayment | (1,271 | ) | |
Foreign exchange movement | 144 | ||
Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 6,176 |
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
13. Right of Use Asset and Lease Liability
The Company has lease agreements for its offices, and buildings for its datacenters in Sweden and Quebec, Canada, in addition to electrical equipment in Sweden.
During the three and nine months period ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized interest expense on the lease liability of $127 and $407, respectively (December 30, 2022 - $148 and $476, respectively) which was recorded within finance expense.
Cost | Right of Use Assets | ||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | $ | 17,758 | |
Additions | 250 | ||
Lease extension | 174 | ||
Adjustment for change in variable payments based on rate or index | 474 | ||
Foreign exchange | (1,354 | ) | |
Balance, March 31, 2023 | $ | 17,302 | |
Foreign exchange | 152 | ||
Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 17,454 | |
Accumulated Depreciation | |||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | $ | (5,171 | ) |
Depreciation | (2,510 | ) | |
Foreign exchange | 1,351 | ||
Balance, March 31, 2023 | $ | (6,330 | ) |
Depreciation | (2,059 | ) | |
Foreign exchange | (66 | ) | |
Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | (8,455 | ) |
Carrying Amount | |||
Balance, March 31, 2023 | $ | 10,972 | |
Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 8,999 |
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
13. Right of Use Asset and Lease Liability (continued…)
Lease Liability | |||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | $ | 12,649 | |
Lease payments made | (2,674 | ) | |
Additions | 250 | ||
Lease extension | 174 | ||
Adjustment for change in variable payments based on rate or index | 474 | ||
Interest expense on lease liabilities | 664 | ||
Foreign exchange | (1,069 | ) | |
Balance, March 31, 2023 | $ | 10,468 | |
Lease payments made | (2,104 | ) | |
Interest expense on lease liabilities | 407 | ||
Foreign exchange | 211 | ||
8,982 | |||
Less: current portion | (2,528 | ) | |
Balance, December 31, 2023 | $ | 6,454 | |
Lease Disclosures | |||
Interest expense on lease liabilities | $ | 407 | |
Total cash outflow for leases | $ | 2,104 | |
Maturity Analysis - Undiscounted Contractual Payments | |||
Less than 1 year | $ | 2,967 | |
1 to 2 years | 2,892 | ||
2 to 3 years | 2,500 | ||
3 to 4 years | 1,046 | ||
4 to 5 years | 505 | ||
$ | 9,910 |
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
14. Commitments and Contingencies
(a) Service agreements
The Company has a service agreement with an unrelated third party to operate and maintain their data center computing equipment for the purpose of mining crypto currency in Canada, Sweden and Iceland. As part of the arrangement, proprietary software is installed on the Company's computing equipment to assist in optimizing the use of the equipment.
(b) Power purchase agreement
The Company entered into a supplemental power pricing arrangement that provides a fixed price of electricity consumption each month at the Company's Bikupa Datacenter AB and Bikupa Datacenter 2 AB location in Sweden. The fixed price agreement was assessed and is being accounted for as an executory contract; electricity costs are expensed as incurred.
(c) Obligations on Mining equipment
The Company had purchase commitments of $14.9 million at the period ended December 31, 2023 (March 31, 2023 - $8.9 million).
Contingencies
(a) Contingent VAT Liability to the Swedish Tax Authority ("STA")
The Company's wholly owned subsidiaries located in Sweden (Bikupa Datacenter AB ("Bikupa") and Bikupa Datacenter 2 AB ("Bikupa 2") received decision notice of assessments ("the decision(s)"), on December 28, 2022, December 21, 2023, and December 22, 2023 for Bikupa and February 14, 2023, and December 21, 2023 for Bikupa 2 respectively, from the Swedish Tax Authority in connection with the application of VAT and its ability to recover input VAT against certain equipment and other charges in a total amount of SEK 411.9 million or approximately $40.9 million. The assessments cover the period December 2020 to December 2022 for Bikupa, and the period April 2021 to December 2022 for Bikupa 2, expressing the intent to reject the recovery of all the VAT for the periods under assessment and repayment of amounts previously received plus applicable interest.
The Company filed a formal appeal in connection with the December 28, 2022 Bikupa decision on February 9, 2023; however, there can be no guarantee that the Company will achieve a favourable outcome in its appeal. A formal appeal for Bikupa 2 in relation to the February 14, 2023 decision was filed on March 10, 2023 by the Company. The Company engaged an independent legal firm and independent audit firm in Sweden with expertise in these matters to assist in the appeal process. The Company does not believe that the decision has merit because in management's opinion and those of the Company's independent advisors, the decision is not compatible with the current applicable law and therefore the amount claimed to be owed by the Company is not probable. According to general principles regarding the placement of the burden of proof, it is up to the Swedish Tax Agency to provide sufficient evidence in support of its decision. It is the Company's opinion, the Swedish Tax Agency has not substantiated their claim. We are not aware of any precedent cases, authoritative literature, or other statement that supports the STA's position. The cases are currently in the County Administrative Court.
It is not yet known when this dispute will be resolved; the due process following appeals and the court ruling could extend beyond a year. Furthermore, given that the industry is rapidly developing, there can be no guarantee that changes to the laws or policies of Sweden will not have a negative impact on the Company's tax position with respect to the eligibility of the claimed VAT. (Note 21 Uncertain Tax Positions).
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
14. Commitments and Contingencies (continued…)
(a) Contingent VAT Liability to the Swedish Tax Authority ("STA") (continued…)
If the Company is unsuccessful in its appeal, the full amount could be payable including other items such as penalties and interest that may accrue to the Company. The Company will continue to assess these matters. At the period end, the Company has not recorded any amounts payable to the STA in connection with the decisions. The Company continues to monitor the activities of the claim with the STA. As at December 31, 2023, the Company has not received any additional communication from the STA.
(b) Litigation
From time to time, the Company is involved in routine litigation incidental to the Company's business. Management believes that adequate provisions have been made where required and the ultimate resolution with respect to any claim will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position or results of the operations of the Company.
15. Related Party Transactions
The Company entered into the following related party transactions not otherwise disclosed in these condensed interim consolidated financial statements:
a) As at December 31, 2023, the Company had $9.5 due to the CFO (March 31, 2023 - $12 combined due to the CEO and CFO) for the reimbursement of expenses included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
b) As at December 31, 2023, the Company had $nil (March 31, 2023 - $nil) due to a company controlled by Frank Holmes, a director of the Company included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. For the three and nine months period ended December 31, 2023, the Company paid $60 and $188, respectively (December 31, 2022 - $74 and $252, respectively) to this company for marketing services.
Key Management Compensation
Key management personnel include those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Company as a whole. The Company has determined that key management personnel consist of members of the Company's Board of Directors and corporate officers.
For the three and nine months period ended December 31, 2023, key management compensation includes salaries and wages paid to key management personnel and directors of $335 and $944, respectively (December 31, 2022 - $489 and $1.2 million, respectively) and share-based payments of $443 and $4.4 million, respectively (December 31, 2022 - $2.1 million and $3.3 million, respectively).
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
16. Equity
(a) Authorized
Unlimited common shares without par value
Unlimited preferred shares without par value
(b) Issued and fully paid common shares
On May 24, 2022, the Company proceeded with the consolidation of its common shares on the basis of five (5) pre-Consolidation Common Shares for one (1) post-Consolidation Common Shares. The common shares, options, warrants and RSU's have been retroactively adjusted for impact of the share consolidation by the Company.
During the period ended December 31, 2023, the Company:
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
16. Equity (continued…)
(c) Stock options
The Company has established a rolling Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the number of shares reserved for issuance may not exceed 10% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares and, to any one optionee, may not exceed 5% of the issued shares on a yearly basis. The maximum term of each option shall not be greater than 10 years. The exercise price of each option shall not be less than the market price of the Company's shares at the date of grant. Options granted to consultants performing investor relations activities shall vest over a minimum of 12 months with no more than a quarter of such options vesting in any 3-month period. All other options vest at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Following is a summary of changes in stock options outstanding for the period ended December 31, 2023:
Weighted average | ||||||
Outstanding | exercise price | |||||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | 2,846,515 | C$ | 6.31 | |||
Granted | 415,200 | 5.66 | ||||
Expired | (133,300 | ) | 1.50 | |||
Forfeited | (55,000 | ) | 18.97 | |||
Balance, March 31, 2023 | 3,073,415 | C$ | 6.20 | |||
Granted | 620,000 | 6.86 | ||||
Expired | (2,400 | ) | 6.09 | |||
Forfeited | (202,600 | ) | 24.75 | |||
Exercised | (22,500 | ) | 5.66 | |||
Balance, December 31, 2023 | 3,465,915 | C$ | 5.24 |
The stock options outstanding and exercisable as at December 31, 2023, are as follows:
Outstanding |
Exercisable |
Exercise price |
Expiry date |
2,000 |
2,000 |
C$ 15.70 |
February 11, 2026 |
10,000 |
10,000 |
14.95 |
June 4, 2026 |
387,900 |
251,100 |
5.66 |
August 26, 2027 |
1,000,000 |
1,000,000 |
1.50 |
September 14, 2027 |
24,615 |
24,615 |
10.00 |
October 11, 2027 |
50,000 |
50,000 |
10.00 |
March 26, 2028 |
620,000 |
620,000 |
6.86 |
July 6, 2028 |
400,000 |
400,000 |
3.10 |
September 18, 2028 |
100,000 |
100,000 |
1.35 |
December 21, 2028 |
500,000 |
500,000 |
1.45 |
February 10, 2030 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
1.90 |
May 29, 2030 |
1,400 |
1,400 |
10.80 |
December 24, 2030 |
30,000 |
30,000 |
25.15 |
April 6, 2031 |
60,000 |
60,000 |
18.35 |
April 29, 2031 |
180,000 |
81,000 |
18.50 |
October 7, 2031 |
60,000 |
40,000 |
25.35 |
November 10, 2031 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
21.00 |
December 9, 2031 |
3,465,915 |
3,210,115 |
|
|
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
16. Equity (continued…)
(d) Warrants
Following is a summary of changes in warrants outstanding for the period ended December 31, 2023:
Warrants | Weighted average | |||||
outstanding | exercise price | |||||
Balance, March 31, 2022 and 2023 | 3,573,727 | C$ | 22.92 | |||
Grants | 345,000 | 5.00 | ||||
Expired | (550,000 | ) | 11.30 | |||
Balance, December 31, 2023 | 3,368,727 | C$ | 22.99 |
The warrants outstanding and exercisable as at December 31, 2023, are as follows:
Outstanding | Exercisable | Exercise price | Expiry date | ||||
1,000,000 | * | 1,000,000 | C$ | 15.00 | January 12, 2024 | ||
1,917,050 | ** | 1,917,050 | C$ | 30.00 | May 30, 2024 | ||
106,677 | *** | 106,677 | C$ | 30.00 | September 15, 2024 | ||
345,000 | **** | 345,000 | C$ | 5.00 | December 28, 2026 | ||
3,368,727 | 3,368,727 |
* On January 12, 2021, the Company closed its non-brokered private placement of unsecured debentures (the "Debentures"), for aggregate gross proceeds of $15 million with U.S. Global Investors, Inc. (Note 9). In addition, U.S. Global was issued 5.0 million common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants"). Each five whole Warrant entitles U.S. Global to acquire one common at an exercise price of C$15.00 per Share for a period of three years from closing. The warrants expired unexercised subsequent to the period ended December 31, 2023.
** On November 30, 2021, the Company completed an agreement with Stifel GMP as lead underwriter and sole book runner to include a syndicate of underwriters (the "Underwriters"), whereby the Underwriters will purchase, on a bought-deal basis, 3,834,100 special warrants of the Company (the "2021 Special Warrants") at a price of C$30.00 per Special Warrant for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of C$115 million (the "Offering"). On January 12, 2022, each 2021 Special Warrant was deemed to be exercised into one Unit comprised of one common share of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant being a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable for one share on or before May 30, 2024, at an exercise price of C$30.00 per Share.
*** On December 1, 2021, the Company issued 106,677 warrants as consideration for an investment in Titan.io. Each Warrant is exercisable for one share on or before September 15, 2024, at an exercise price of C$30.00 per Share.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
16. Equity (continued…)
(d) Warrants (continued...)
**** On December 28, 2023, the Company completed a bought-deal financing of 5,750,000 special warrants of the Company (the "2023 Special Warrants") at a price of C$5.00 per Special Warrant for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of C$28.75 million (the "Offering"). Each 2023 Special Warrant entitles the holder to receive without payment of additional consideration, one unit of the Company upon exercise consisting of one common share and one-half of common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$6.00 per whole warrant until December 28, 2026 (Note 28).
In consideration of services, the Underwriters received a cash commission of C$1.725 million, and 345,000 broker warrants. Each broker warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$5.00 per broker warrant until December 28, 2026. The broker warrants were valued at $1.28 million using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: a risk-free interest rate of 3.51%, an expected volatility of 100%, an expected life of 3 years, a forfeiture rate of zero; and an expected dividend of zero. The Company also incurred C$257 in professional and other fees associated with the 2023 Special Warrant financing.
(e) Restricted share-units
The Company has established a Restricted Share Unit Plan (the "RSU Plan"). Under the RSU Plan, together with any other share compensation arrangement, the number of shares reserved for issuance may not exceed 10% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares and, to any one optionee, may not exceed 5% of the issued shares on a yearly basis. Currently, the RSU Plan has a limit of 2 million shares, which is not rolling. The Board may in its own discretion, at any time, and from time to time, grant RSUs to any employee, director or consultant of the Company or its subsidiaries (collectively, "Eligible Person"), other than persons conducting investor relations activities, from time to time by the Board, subject to the limitations set forth in the RSU Plan. The Board may designate one or more performance periods under the RSU Plan. In respect of each designated performance period and subject to the terms of the RSU Plan, the Board may from time to time establish the grant date and grant to any Eligible Person one or more RSUs as the Board deems appropriate.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
16. Equity (continued…)
(e) Restricted share-units (continued...)
The fair value of restricted shares units (RSUs) is generally measured as the grant date price of the Company's share.
Following is a summary of changes in restricted share units outstanding for the period ended December 31, 2023:
Outstanding | |||
Balance, March 31, 2022 | 61,500 | ||
Granted | 2,641,280 | ||
Cancelled | (150,000 | ) | |
Exercised | (624,250 | ) | |
Balance, March 31, 2023 | 1,928,530 | ||
Cancelled | (3,000 | ) | |
Exercised | (453,150 | ) | |
Expired | (1,800 | ) | |
Balance, December 31, 2023 | 1,470,580 |
(f) Share-based compensation
During the three and nine months period ended December 31, 2023, $0.2 million and $3.6 million, respectively (December 31, 2022 - $0.83 million and $2.6 million, respectively) of share-based compensation expense was recognized in relation to the vesting of options, and $0.43 million and $3.0 million (December 31, 2022 - $1.73 million and $2.86 million, respectively) of share-based compensation expense was recognized in relation to the vesting of RSUs.
During the period ended December 31, 2023, the Company:
During the period ended December 31, 2023, the Company did not grant any RSUs.
17. Loss per Share
Income per common share represents net income for the year divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted income per share is calculated by dividing the applicable net income by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and all additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potentially dilutive common shares had been issued during the period.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
17. Loss per Share (continued…)
Three months ended | Three months ended | |||||
December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||
Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 88,252,813 | 82,704,522 | ||||
Effect of dilutive stock options and warrants | - | - | ||||
Effect of convertible loan | - | - | ||||
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 88,252,813 | 82,704,522 | ||||
Nine months ended | Nine months ended | |||||
December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||
Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding | 86,039,252 | 82,555,946 | ||||
Effect of dilutive stock options and warrants | - | - | ||||
Effect of convertible loan | - | - | ||||
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding | 86,039,252 | 82,555,946 |
18. Finance Expense
Finance expenses were comprised of the following for the period ended:
Three months ended December 31, | Nine months ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Interest and accretion on convertible loan | 587 | 730 | 1,872 | 2,266 | ||||||||
Interest on lease liabilities | 127 | 148 | 407 | 476 | ||||||||
Interest on loans payable | 129 | 126 | 281 | 190 | ||||||||
Total | 843 | 1,004 | 2,560 | 2,932 |
19. General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses were comprised of the following for the period ended:
Three months ended December 31, | Nine months ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Management fees, salaries and wages | 913 | 843 | 2,321 | 2,285 | ||||||||
Marketing | 319 | 312 | 957 | 721 | ||||||||
Office, administration, and regulatory | 1,296 | 963 | 3,533 | 3,456 | ||||||||
Professional fees, advisory, and consulting | 1,170 | 1,132 | 3,217 | 3,389 | ||||||||
Total | 3,698 | 3,250 | 10,028 | 9,851 |
20. Cost of sales
Cost of sales were comprised of the following for the period ended:
Three months ended December 31, | Nine months ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Digital currency mining | 18,774 | 10,703 | 51,926 | 41,521 | ||||||||
High performance computing hosting | 1,189 | - | 1,756 | - | ||||||||
Total | 19,963 | 10,703 | 53,682 | 41,521 |
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
21. Financial Instruments and Risk Management
The fair values of investments were measured using the cost, market or income approaches. The investments measured at fair value are classified into one of the three levels in the fair value hierarchy according to the relative reliability of the inputs used to estimate the fair values, with the designation based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are:
Level 1 Inputs: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity can access at the measurement date.
Level 2 Inputs: Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other observable inputs other than quoted prices.
Level 3 Inputs: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability (Unobservable inputs reflect management's assumptions on how market participants would price the asset or liability based on the information available).
Valuation of Assets that use Level 2 Inputs ("Level 2 Assets"). The fair value of Level 2 Assets would use the quoted price from the exchanges which the Company most frequently uses, with no adjustment.
The Company is exposed, in varying degrees, to a variety of financial related risks. The fair value of the Company's financial instruments, including cash, amounts receivable, and accounts payable approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature. The type of risk exposure and the way in which such exposure is managed is provided as follows:
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
21. Financial Instruments and Risk Management (continued…)
At the period end the Company classified its financial assets into the following levels:
As at December 31, 2023 | As at March 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
Assets | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||||||||||
Cash | $ | - | $ | 17,824 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 4,373 | $ | - | ||||||
Digital currencies | - | 71,894 | - | - | 65,899 | - | ||||||||||||
Investments | 5,314 | - | 1,586 | 1,307 | - | 1,559 | ||||||||||||
$ | 5,314 | $ | 89,718 | $ | 1,586 | $ | 1,307 | $ | 70,272 | $ | 1,559 | |||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||
Convertible loan -derivative | ||||||||||||||||||
component | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 337 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 482 | ||||||
$ | - | $ | - | $ | 337 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 482 |
Valuation of Assets / Liabilities that use Level 1 Inputs ("Level 1 Assets / Liabilities"). Consists of the Company's investments in common stock, where quoted prices in active markets are available.
Valuation of Assets / Liabilities that use Level 2 Inputs ("Level 2 Assets / Liabilities"). Consists of the Company's digital currencies, where quoted prices in active markets are available. The fair value is determined by the volume-weighted average of prices across principal exchanges as of 12:00 AM UTC, per coinbase.com.
Valuation of Assets / Liabilities that use Level 3 Inputs ("Level 3 Assets / Liabilities"). Consists of the Company's investments in preferred stock, convertible notes and common stock. For the Company's common stock investments:
A verified prior transaction is initially given 100% weighting in a fair value conclusion (if completed at arm's length), but subsequently such weighting is adjusted based on the merits of newly observed data. As a result, in the absence of disconfirming data, an unadjusted prior transaction price may not be considered "stale" for months or, in some cases, years.
Level 3 Continuity
The following is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets and liabilities:
Fair value at | Change | Fair Value at, | |||||||||||||
Level 3 Continuity | March 31, 2023 | Additions | Disposals | in fair value | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||||||
Investments | $ | 1,559 | $ | 250 | $ | - | $ | (223 | ) | $ | 1,586 | ||||
$ | 1,559 | $ | 250 | $ | - | $ | (223 | ) | $ | 1,586 | |||||
Liabilities | |||||||||||||||
Convertible loan - | |||||||||||||||
derivative component | $ | 482 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (145 | ) | $ | 337 | ||||
$ | 482 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | (145 | ) | $ | 337 |
The carrying values of the Company's cash, amounts receivable, accounts payable, term loan and loans payable approximate fair value due to their short maturities. The carrying value of the Company's lease liability is measured as the present value of the discounted future cash flows.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
21. Financial Instruments and Risk Management (continued…)
Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that one party to a financial instrument will fail to discharge an obligation and cause the other party to incur a financial loss. The Company's primary exposure to credit risk is on its cash held in bank accounts as at December 31, 2023. The majority of cash is deposited in bank accounts held primarily with one major bank in Canada so there is a concentration of credit risk. This risk is managed by using a major bank that is a high credit quality financial institution as determined by rating agencies.
For the security of its digital currencies, the Company uses the services of two institutions through custodial agreements, one located in Liechtenstein and another in the United States.
The Company is exposed to credit risk related to amounts receivable from the Swedish government related to VAT filings and from the Canadian and Quebec governments related to the sales tax filings. Refer to Note 5 for the at risk balances.
The amounts receivable for VAT filings are currently being withheld by the STA as a result of the decision notice of assessments received for both Bikupa and Bikupa 2 (Note 14). The uncertainty surrounding the resolution of the dispute gives rise to potential credit risk, as there is the possibility that the Company may not be able to fully collect the outstanding amounts from the Swedish government.
The amounts receivable for sales tax filings are currently being withheld by the Canadian and Quebec governments as a result of legislative changes to the Excise Tax Act surrounding mining activities in respect of crypto assets. The uncertainty surrounding the legislative changes gives rise to potential credit risk, as there is the possibility that the Company may not be able to fully collect the outstanding amounts from the respective Canadian and Quebec governments as applicable.
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Company manages liquidity risk by maintaining cash balances to ensure that it is able to meet its short term and long-term obligations as and when they fall due. The Company manages company-wide cash projections centrally and regularly updates projections for changes in business and fluctuations caused by digital currency prices and exchange rates.
HIVE is primarily engaged in the cryptocurrency mining industry, a highly volatile market with significant inherent risk. Declines in the market prices of cryptocurrencies, an increase in the difficulty of cryptocurrency mining, delays in the delivery of mining equipment, changes in the regulatory environment and other adverse changes in the industry can significantly and negatively impact the Company's operations and cash flows and its ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to meet its financial obligations. Adverse changes to the factors mentioned above have impacted the recoverability of the Company's digital assets and property, and equipment, resulting in impairment losses being recorded.
The Company currently settles its financial obligations out of cash and digital assets. The Company has a planning and budgeting process to help determine the funds required to support the Company's normal spending requirements on an ongoing basis and its expansionary plans. At current BTC prices, the Company's existing cash resources and the proceeds from any sale of its treasury and mined BTC will be sufficient to fund its capital investments and support its growth objectives. If the BTC price declines significantly, the Company would be required to raise additional funds from external sources to meet these requirements. Refer to details in Note 16 for the Company's ATM Equity Programs.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
21. Financial Instruments and Risk Management (continued…)
As at December 31, 2023, the contractual maturities of financial and other liabilities, including estimated interest payments, are as follows:
Contractual | |||||||||||||||
cash flows | within 1 year | 1 to 3 years | 3 to 5 years | 5+ years | |||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 8,811 | $ | 8,811 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | |||||
Term loan | 6,176 | 6,176 | - | - | - | ||||||||||
Convertible loan | 6,635 | 3,406 | 3,229 | - | - | ||||||||||
Lease commitments | 9,910 | 2,967 | 5,392 | 1,551 | - | ||||||||||
Loans payable and interest | 16,202 | 2,828 | 4,014 | 2,524 | 6,836 | ||||||||||
Total | $ | 47,734 | $ | 24,188 | $ | 12,635 | $ | 4,075 | $ | 6,836 |
Foreign currency risk
Currency risk relates to the risk that the fair values or future cash flows of the Company's financial instruments will fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates. Exchange rate fluctuations affect the costs that the Company incurs in its operations as well as the currency in which the Company has historically raised capital.
The Company's presentation currency is the US dollar, major purchases are transacted in US dollars, while financing to date has been completed in Canadian and US dollars. As the Company operates in an international environment, some of the Company's financial instruments and transactions are denominated in currencies other than an entity's functional currency. A portion of the Company's general and administrative costs are incurred mainly in currencies separate from each entity's functional currency, such as Swiss Francs, the Euro, the Swedish Krona, and Icelandic Krona. The fluctuation of these currencies in relation to the US dollar will consequently impact the profitability of the Company and may also affect the value of the Company's assets and liabilities and the amount of shareholders' equity.
The Company's net monetary position in the significant foreign currencies as of December 31, 2023 is summarized below with the effect on earnings before tax of a 10% fluctuation of each currency relative to the functional currency of the entity holding it to the US dollar:
Net Monetary Position | Impact of 10% variance | |
December 31, 2023 | in foreign exchange rate | |
(USD$ equivalent) ($) | (in foreign currency) ($) | |
US Dollars | 304 | 28 |
Canadian Dollars | 91 | 6 |
Euro Dollars | 160 | 16 |
Swiss Francs | 27 | 3 |
Swedish Krona | (822) | 7 |
Icelandic Krona | 1,414 | 1 |
Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. The Company's exposure to interest rate risk is limited and only relates to its ability to earn interest income on cash balances at variable rates. Changes in short term interest rates will not have a significant effect on the fair value of the Company's cash account. The interest rate on the Company's loans is fixed in nature and have limited exposure to changes in interest rates.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
21. Financial Instruments and Risk Management (continued…)
Price risk
Price risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate due to changes in market prices, other than those arising from interest rate risk or foreign currency risk. The Company is not exposed to any significant price risks with respect to its financial instruments.
Loss of access risk
The loss of access to the private keys associated with the Company's digital currency holdings may be irreversible and could adversely affect an investment. Digital currencies are controllable only by an individual that possesses both the unique public key and private key or keys relating to the "digital wallet" in which the digital currency is held. To the extent a private key is lost, destroyed or otherwise compromised and no backup is accessible the Company may be unable to access the digital currencies.
Irrevocability of transactions
Digital currency transactions are irrevocable and stolen or incorrectly transferred digital currencies may be irretrievable. Once a transaction has been verified and recorded in a block that is added to the blockchain, an incorrect transfer or theft generally will not be reversible, and the Company may not be capable of seeking compensation.
Regulatory oversight risk
Regulatory changes or actions may restrict the use of digital currencies or the operation of digital currency networks or exchanges in a manner that adversely affects investments held by the Company.
Digital asset risk
Digital currencies are measured at fair value less cost to sell. Digital currency prices are affected by various forces including global supply and demand, interest rates, exchanges rates, inflation or deflation and the political and economic conditions. Further, digital currencies have no underlying backing or contracts to enforce recovery of invested amounts. The profitability of the Company is related to the current and future market price of digital currencies; in addition, the Company may not be able to liquidate its holdings of digital currencies at its desired price if necessary. Investing in digital currencies is speculative, prices are volatile and market movements are difficult to predict. Supply and demand for such currencies change rapidly and are affected by a variety of factors, including regulation and general economic trends. Digital currencies have a limited history, their fair values have historically been volatile and the value of digital currencies held by the Company could decline rapidly. A decline in the market prices of digital currencies could negatively impact the Company's future operations. Historical performance of digital currencies is not indicative of their future performance.
Many digital currency networks are online end-user-to-end-user networks that host a public transaction ledger (blockchain) and the source code that comprises the basis for the cryptographic and algorithmic protocols governing such networks. In many digital currency transactions, the recipient or the buyer must provide its public key, which serves as an address for a digital wallet, to the seller. In the data packets distributed from digital currency software programs to confirm transaction activity, each party to the transaction must sign transactions with a data code derived from entering the private key into a hashing algorithm, which signature serves as validation that the transaction has been authorized by the owner of the digital currency. This process is vulnerable to hacking and malware and could lead to theft of the Company's digital wallets and the loss of the Company's digital currency.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
21. Financial Instruments and Risk Management (continued…)
While the Company does not store cryptocurrency on an exchange, the public failure of cryptocurrency exchanges appears to affect the value of cryptocurrencies and the cryptocurrency and crypto mining industries as a whole. As noted above, digital currency transactions are irrevocable. There are no governmental bodies that backstop the security of cryptocurrencies against theft or loss. A general loss of confidence in the technology that underlies the cryptocurrency industry, or a loss of confidence in the industry, itself, could substantially devalue our Bitcoin holdings and threaten the viability of our cryptocurrency mining business.
Digital currencies are loosely regulated and there is no central marketplace for exchange. Supply is determined by a computer code, not a central bank. Additionally, exchanges may suffer from operational issues, such as delayed execution, that could have an adverse effect on the Company.
Additionally, to the extent that the digital asset exchanges representing a substantial portion of the volume in digital asset trading are involved in fraud or experience security failures or other operational issues, such digital asset exchanges' failures may result in loss or less favorable prices of digital currencies, or may adversely affect the Company, its operations and its investments.
Safeguarding of digital assets
The Company utilizes the Fireblocks platform which provides the Company a secure medium to access its digital wallets and transact with reputable, exchanges on sales of its digital assets. At the period end the Company utilised the Fireblocks platform for 98% of its digital currencies associated with its operations. Fireblocks, with locations in New York and Tel Aviv, utilizes a secure hot vault and secure transfer environment to help establish connections between the Company's wallets and exchanges. Fireblocks utilizes multi-party computation ("MPC") protection layers to distribute private key secrets across multiple locations to ensure there is no single point of failure associated with the private keys. The use of MPC ensures private key shards are never concentrated to a single device at any point in time. The Company utilizes the Fireblocks Policy Engine to designate transaction approval policies for digital assets held within the Fireblocks portal. As such, administrators configure automated rules to ensure all transactions are disbursed based on the asset sent, total value of the transaction, source and destination of funds and signor requirements. All transactions initiated from Fireblocks that fail to meet the Company's predefined criteria per the engine policy are automatically rejected. All internal wallets owned by the Company and external wallets for addresses of the Company's counterparties require multiple approvals in accordance with our whitelisting policy. As such, the Company settles with counterparties or entities without the risk of losing funds due to deposit address attacks or errors. Fireblocks is SOC 2 Type II certified for the defined period and undergoes a SOC 2 review on an annual basis. The Company reviews the Fireblocks SOC 2 report to ensure they maintain a secure technology infrastructure and that their systems are designed and operating effectively. Additionally, the Company reviews its own complementary user entity controls in conjunction with the Fireblocks controls to ensure that applicable trust services criteria can be met. Fireblocks maintains an insurance policy which has coverage for technology, cyber, and professional liability and is rated "A" by A.M. Best based on the strength of the policy and has had no known security breaches or incidents reported to date.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
21. Financial Instruments and Risk Management (continued…)
Digital asset mining risk
The digital asset mining industry has seen rapid growth and innovation. In this environment of rapid change, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to compete effectively. The Company's expenses may be greater than we anticipate, and our investments to make the Company more efficient or to gain digital asset mining market share may not outpace our competitors. Moreover, the cost of gaining efficiency and maintaining or enhancing profit margins may be more than the Company can support given its overall strategy of holding Bitcoin, the currency in which our operating profits are generated. Among the factors that affect our position are the following.
ASIC and GPU miners and other necessary hardware for mining are subject to malfunction, technological obsolescence, shortages in the global supply chain and difficulty and cost in obtaining new hardware. In this context, we note that much has been said in the media about the widespread availability of GPU based mining machines as former Ethereum miners shut down their operations. The machines that HIVE requires are ASIC mining machines that are designed and built for Bitcoin mining, which is our main focus. As a result, any major malfunction out of the typical range of downtime for normal maintenance and repair of our Bitcoin mining systems could cause a significant disruption in our ability to continue mining, which could result in lower yields and harm our digital asset mining market share. New ASIC miners can be costly and may be in short supply.
There can be no assurances that the most efficient ASIC mining hardware will be readily available when we identify the need for it. We face competition in acquiring mining machines from major manufacturers and, at a given time, mining machines may only be available for pre-order months in advance. As a result of competition for the latest generation ASIC mining machines, or if we unexpectedly need to replace our mining machines due to a faulty shipment or other failure, we may not be able to secure replacement machines at reasonable costs on a timely basis.
Proof-of-work mining operations (such as the mining operations required to mine Bitcoin) consume significant amounts of electricity, and recently, there has been increased focus on, and public debate surrounding, the negative environmental, social and governance considerations associated with such operations. Regulatory changes or actions in foreign jurisdictions may affect the Company's business or restrict the use of one or more digital assets, mining activity or the operation of their networks or the digital asset exchange market in a manner that adversely affects the Company's business. If regulators or public utilities take actions that restrict or otherwise impact mining activities, there may be a significant decline in such activities, which could adversely affect digital asset networks, the Company's business and the market price of the Company's common shares. Because Bitcoin is a leading crypto currency, all of the foregoing risk factors may apply especially to Bitcoin, which is central to our business.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
21. Financial Instruments and Risk Management (continued…)
The Company's business strategy currently focuses on mining Bitcoin and prior to the Merge Ethereum, and our hardware is limited to mining using current proof-of-work protocols. There could be developments in proof of work protocols, or other competing validation methods or processes that render such business strategy obsolete or out of favor generally. Proof-of-stake is an alternative method of validating digital asset transactions. Proof-of-stake methodology does not rely on resource intensive calculations to validate transactions and create new blocks in a blockchain. Instead, the validator of the next block on a blockchain is determined, sometimes randomly, based on a methodology in the blockchain software. Rewards, and sometimes penalties, are issued based on the amount of digital assets a user has "staked" in order to become a validator. As a result of the Merge, on September 15, 2022, Ethereum shifted to a proof-of-stake validation method, and the Company stopped mining Ethereum. Should Bitcoin also shift from a proof-of-work validation method to a proof-of-stake or other method, the transaction verification process (i.e., "mining" or "validating") may render our mining business less competitive or less profitable. While we are not aware of how the Bitcoin blockchain could be so fundamentally modified, we have seen applications that offer sidechain alternatives to mining Bitcoin directly on the Bitcoin blockchain but that are integrated with the Bitcoin blockchain. To date, such efforts that we are aware of have been directed at increasing the volume and speed of Bitcoin transaction processing.
The aggregate computing power of the global Bitcoin and Ethereum networks has generally grown over time, and we expect it to continue to grow in the future. The barriers to entry for new Bitcoin miners are relatively low, which can give rise to additional capacity from competing miners. As the hash rate in the Bitcoin network increases, the amount of Bitcoin earned per unit of hash rate decreases. The Bitcoin protocol responds to increasing total hash rate by increasing the "difficulty" of Bitcoin mining. If this "difficulty" increases at a significantly higher rate, we would need to increase our hash rate at the same rate in order to maintain market share and generate equivalent block rewards. Therefore, in order to maintain or increase our market share, we may be required to make significant capital expenditures.
Any decrease in the Company's effective market share would result in a reduction in our share of block rewards and transaction fees, which could adversely affect our financial performance and financial position.
There is also a risk that the Company could be negative affected by a Bitcoin halving event. Halving is a process designed to control the overall supply and reduce the risk of inflation in Bitcoin. At a predetermined block, the mining reward is cut in half. The next Bitcoin halving is expected to occur in April 2024. While Bitcoin prices have had a history of price fluctuations around Bitcoin halvings, there is no guarantee that the price change will be favorable or would compensate for the reduction in mining reward. If Bitcoin price and difficulty do not maintain or continue their trend of adjusting to pre-Bitcoin halving profitability levels over time, or the period of market normalization after the Bitcoin halving to pre-Bitcoin halving profitability levels is too long, there is a risk that the Bitcoin halving will render the Company unprofitable for a sustained time period. In addition, a sustained reduction in Bitcoin price could affect the value of our ASIC mining fleet which is engineered for Bitcoin mining with the result that substantial write downs are required for this equipment. These events could result in the Company being unable to continue as a going concern.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
21. Financial Instruments and Risk Management (continued…)
Uncertain tax positions
Various foreign jurisdictions have, and may continue to adopt laws, regulations or directives that affect a digital asset network, the digital asset markets, and their users, particularly digital asset exchanges and service providers that fall within such jurisdictions' regulatory scope. For example, if China or other foreign jurisdictions were to ban or continue to otherwise restrict mining activity, including by regulating or limiting manufacturers' ability to produce or sell semiconductors or hard drives in connection with mining, it would have a material adverse effect on digital asset networks, the digital asset market, and as a result, impact our business.
A number of foreign jurisdictions have recently taken regulatory action aimed at digital asset activities. China has made transacting in digital currencies illegal for Chinese citizens in mainland China, and additional restrictions may follow. As recently as September 2021, China's central bank has further restricted digital asset-related activities, stating that activity by overseas digital asset exchanges, and services offering trading, order matching, and token issuance and derivatives, constitute illegal activity. Both China and South Korea have banned initial coin offerings entirely and regulators in other jurisdictions, including Canada, Singapore, and Hong Kong, have opined that initial coin offerings may constitute securities offerings subject to local securities regulations. In September 2021, the Chinese government announced issued a complete ban that restricts digital currencies trading and mining activities, citing concerns about high energy consumption and its desire to promote financial stability. Regulators in the Inner Mongolia and other regions of China have proposed regulations that would create penalties for companies engaged in digital currency mining activities and introduce heightened energy saving requirements on industrial parks, data centers and power plants providing electricity to digital currency miners. The effect of the China ban was a movement of those miners and their hashrates out of China and into other countries. The United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority published final rules in October 2020 banning the sale of derivatives and exchange traded notes that reference certain types of digital currencies, contending that they are "ill-suited" to retail investors citing extreme volatility, valuation challenges and association with financial crime.
Foreign laws, regulations or directives may conflict with those of the jurisdiction we operate in and may negatively impact the acceptance of one or more digital assets by users, merchants and service providers and may therefore impede the growth or sustainability of the digital asset economy in the European Union, China, Japan, Russia and the United States and globally, or otherwise negatively affect the value of digital assets that we invest in. The effect of any future regulatory change on our business or the digital assets that we invest in is impossible to predict, but such change could be substantial and adverse to our investment and trading strategies, the value of our assets and our investment value.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
22. Digital Currency and Risk Management
Digital currencies are measured using Level 2 inputs (Note 21).
Digital currency prices are affected by various forces including global supply and demand, interest rates, exchange rates, inflation or deflation and the global political and economic conditions. The profitability of the Company is directly related to the current and future market price of coins; in addition, the Company may not be able liquidate its inventory of digital currency at its desired price if required. A decline in the market prices for coins could negatively impact the Company's future operations. The Company has not hedged the conversion of any of its coin sales or future mining of digital currencies.
Digital currencies have a limited history and the fair value historically has been very volatile. Historical performance of digital currencies is not indicative of their future price performance. The Company's digital currencies currently mainly consist of Bitcoin and Ethereum Classic. The table below shows the impact for every 5% variance in the price of each of these digital currencies on the Company's earnings before tax, based on their closing prices at December 31, 2023.
Impact of 5% variance in price | |||
Bitcoin | $ | 3,583 | |
Ethereum Classic | $ | 6 |
23. Capital Management
The Company manages its capital to maintain its ability to continue as a going concern and to provide returns to shareholders and benefits to other stakeholders. The capital structure of the Company consists of equity comprised of issued share capital and reserves.
The Company manages its capital structure and adjusts it in light of economic conditions. The Company, upon approval from its Board of Directors, will balance its overall capital structure through new share issues, commencement of ATM Equity Programs, the sale of digital currencies or by undertaking other activities as deemed appropriate under the specific circumstances.
The Company is subject to externally imposed capital requirements due to its term loan (Note 12). The Company's overall strategy with respect to capital risk management remains unchanged from the prior year.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
24. Segmented Information
The Company operates in one segment, the mining and sale of digital currencies. External revenues are attributed by geographical location, based on the country from which services are provided.
December 31, 2023 | Canada | Sweden | Iceland | Switzerland | Bermuda | Total | ||||||||||||
Revenue from digital currency mining | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 75,973 | $ | 75,973 | ||||||
High performance computing hosting | - | - | - | - | 1,611 | 1,611 | ||||||||||||
$ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 77,584 | $ | 77,584 | |||||||
December 31, 2022 | Canada | Sweden | Iceland | Switzerland | Bermuda | Total | ||||||||||||
Revenue from digital currency mining | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 88,094 | $ | 88,094 | ||||||
High performance computing hosting | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
$ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 88,094 | $ | 88,094 |
The Company's plant and equipment are located in the following jurisdictions:
December 31, 2023 | Canada | Sweden | Iceland | Switzerland | Bermuda | Total | ||||||||||||
Plant and equipment | $ | 66,059 | $ | 23,621 | $ | 1,876 | $ | - | $ | 321 | $ | 91,877 | ||||||
ROU asset | 3,640 | 5,262 | - | - | 97 | 8,999 | ||||||||||||
$ | 69,699 | $ | 28,883 | $ | 1,876 | $ | - | $ | 418 | $ | 100,876 | |||||||
March 31, 2023 | Canada | Sweden | Iceland | Switzerland | Bermuda | Total | ||||||||||||
Plant and equipment | $ | 50,386 | $ | 31,544 | $ | 4,357 | $ | - | $ | 941 | $ | 87,228 | ||||||
ROU asset | 4,157 | 6,683 | - | - | 133 | 10,973 | ||||||||||||
$ | 54,543 | $ | 38,227 | $ | 4,357 | $ | - | $ | 1,074 | $ | 98,201 |
25. Revision
Reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income for digital currency sales
During the preparation of the March 31, 2023 year end consolidated financial statements, the Company identified a revision to the amounts to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income for digital currency sales and revaluation of the digital currencies. The Company identified that due to the decrease in digital currencies during the period ended December 31, 2022, the surplus in accumulated other comprehensive income should have been reclassified to reflect the realisation of amounts from disposal. The revision impacted the condensed interim consolidated statement of loss and comprehensive loss with a decrease in the revaluation loss on digital currencies and increase in the recognized loss on sale of digital currencies as indicated below.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
25. Revision (continued…)
The table below summarizes the revised condensed interim consolidated financial statements for December 31, 2022:
As previously | |||||||||
reported | Adjustments | As revised | |||||||
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position | |||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | $ | 10,384 | $ | (1,300 | ) | $ | 9,084 | ||
Accumulated deficit | $ | (304,685 | ) | $ | 1,300 | $ | (303,385 | ) | |
Consolidated Statements of income and Comprehensive income | |||||||||
Revaluation of digital currencies | $ | (80,507 | ) | $ | 1,300 | $ | (79,207 | ) | |
Loss on sale of digital currencies | $ | (70 | ) | $ | (22,129 | ) | $ | (22,199 | ) |
Net loss for the period | $ | (222,314 | ) | $ | (20,829 | ) | $ | (243,143 | ) |
Other comprehensive income | |||||||||
Revaluation gain on digital currencies | $ | (13,811 | ) | $ | 13,811 | $ | - | ||
Net loss and comprehensive loss for the period | $ | (235,328 | ) | $ | (7,019 | ) | $ | (242,347 | ) |
Basic loss per share | $ | (2.69 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) | $ | (2.95 | ) |
Diluted loss per share | $ | (2.69 | ) | $ | (0.25 | ) | $ | (2.95 | ) |
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity | |||||||||
Net loss for the period | $ | (222,314 | ) | $ | (20,829 | ) | $ | (243,143 | ) |
Revaluation of digital currencies | $ | (35,941 | ) | $ | 35,941 | $ | - | ||
Realized loss on digital currencies | $ | 22,130 | $ | (37,241 | ) | $ | (15,111 | ) | |
Total equity | $ | 140,874 | $ | - | $ | 140,874 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Cashflows | |||||||||
Operating activities | |||||||||
Net loss for the period | $ | (222,314 | ) | $ | (20,829 | ) | $ | (243,143 | ) |
Digital currencies | $ | 95,334 | $ | 20,829 | $ | 116,163 |
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
26. Asset Acquisition
On November 29, 2023, the Company acquired a data center in Sweden. In consideration, the Company issued 345,566 common shares of the Company to the vendor, made a cash payment totalling $647 and $500 in holdback common shares payable that are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities as at December 31, 2023 (Note 10). The Company also incurred $140 in acquisition costs.
The $500 holdback common shares payable shall be paid at the later of: (i) the six month anniversary of the closing date; and (ii) the date on which any claims made by the Company within six months of the closing date relating to a breach of warranty under the property transfer agreement have been finally settled, and shall be composed of such number of Common Shares equal to $500,000 less any amount payable by the Vendor to the Company in respect of such claim.
The Company determined that this transaction is an asset acquisition as the assets acquired did not constitute a business as defined by IFRS 3. The following table summarizes the consideration transferred, the estimated fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as the date of the acquisition:
Cash paid | $ | 647 | |
Shares issued | 1,089 | ||
Holdback payable | 500 | ||
Acquisition costs | 140 | ||
Total consideration | $ | 2,376 | |
Land | $ | 86 | |
Building | 1,587 | ||
Equipment | 446 | ||
VAT receivables | 360 | ||
Total assets | 2,479 | ||
Current liabilities | (103 | ) | |
Net assets acquired | $ | 2,376 |
27. Comparative Figures
Certain figures in the comparative period condensed interim consolidated statements of financial position, condensed interim consolidated statements of (loss) income and comprehensive (loss) income, condensed interim consolidated statements of changes in equity and condensed interim consolidated statements of cash flows have been reclassified to meet the current presentation.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Notes to the Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and 2022 (In thousands of US dollars unless otherwise indicated) (Unaudited) |
28. Subsequent Events
Subsequent to December 31, 2023, the Company issued 2,064,378 common shares (the "August 2023 ATM Shares") pursuant to the 2023 ATM Second Equity Program for gross proceeds of C$11.1 million ($8.3 million). The August 2023 ATM shares were sold at prevailing market prices, for an average price per August 2023 ATM Share of C$5.37. Pursuant to the August 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement, a cash commission of $248 on the aggregate gross proceeds raised was paid to the agent in connection with its services under the August 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement.
Subsequent to December 31, 2023, the Company issued 165,750 common shares under the RSU plan upon the exercise of restricted share units.
On January 5, 2024, the Company granted 241,976 restricted share units to employees, consultants and officers of the Company with a fair value of C$5.56 per share and vesting on January 5, 2025.
On January 12, 2024, the Company granted 16,000 restricted share units to an officer of the Company with a fair value of C$4.84 per share and vesting on January 12, 2025.
On February 2, 2024, each 2023 Special Warrant was deemed to be exercised into one unit comprised of one common share of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$6.00 per whole warrant until December 28, 2026.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
The following discussion is management's assessment and analysis of the results of operations, cash flows and financial condition of HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. ("HIVE" or the "Company") on a consolidated basis for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements and related notes for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023.
These documents and additional information regarding the business of the Company are available on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR+") at www.sedarplus.ca, the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval ("EDGAR") system maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") at www.sec.gov/EDGAR and the Company's website at www.hivedigitaltechnologies.com. The preparation of financial data is in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and all figures are reported in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated.
This Management's Discussion & Analysis contains information up to and including February 12, 2024.
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. is a growth-oriented company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), the NASDAQ Capital Markets Exchange ("NASDAQ") and on the Open Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Our primary business is operating data centers, the computing power of which is used for high performance computing ("HPC") and the mining of cryptocurrencies. Because the Company substantially holds Bitcoin and monetizes (or converts into Bitcoin) other cryptocurrencies that it derives from its mining operations, we view the Company as a bridge between the Bitcoin blockchain sector and traditional capital markets. Our cryptocurrency assets provide shareholders with exposure to the operating margins of digital currency mining as well as a portfolio of Bitcoin.
HIVE operates "green" energy-powered data center facilities in Canada, Sweden, and Iceland. Our references to "green" energy are to our energy agreements with producers of hydroelectric power in Sweden and Canada, and hosting agreements with suppliers in Iceland where the hosting facilities are powered by hydroelectric or geothermal power. One of our key objectives in locating our facilities where they are is to avoid using energy derived from fossil fuels. Our facilities are connected to local power grids that are controlled by local authorities. As a result, we do not control the sourcing of our power, which may include energy from any source on the grid. However, the close proximity of our facilities to hydroelectric and geothermal based power generating plants, makes it highly probable that most or all of the energy we use for our data centers is coming from those hydroelectric and geothermal plants, which is the basis for our saying that our operations are "green."
The Company's major data centers along with operational hashrate which totals 3.85 EH/s, operational and secured power as of January 31, 2024 is summarized as follows:
Sites | Approx. Hashrate | Approx. MW Utilized |
MW Capacity Available |
New Brunswick, Canada owned facility | 1,400 PH/s | 43.0 MW | 70.0 MW |
Quebec, Canada leased facility | 1,320 PH/s | 33.5 MW | 34.5 MW |
Boden, Sweden leased facility | 860 PH/s | 27.5 MW | 32.0 MW |
Boden 2, Sweden owned facility | 5 PH/s | 0.05 MW | 6.0 MW |
Robertsfors, Sweden leased facility | 85 PH/s | 4.0 MW | 4.0 MW |
Notviken, Sweden leased facility | 45 PH/s | 1.5 MW | 1.5 MW |
Keflavik, Iceland hosted facility | 125 PH/s | 8.0 MW | 8.0 MW |
Montreal, Canada hosted facility * | N/A | 0.5 MW | 1.0 MW |
Stockholm, Sweden hosted facility * | N/A | 0.75 MW | 0.75 MW |
* Data center used for HPC / AI compute only.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
Currently, the majority of our data center power is being utilized by HIVE to generate mining rewards that are paid in Bitcoin and occasionally other cryptocurrencies that we convert into Bitcoin. We retain our Bitcoin in segregated, secure storage wallets with Fireblocks Inc. ("Fireblocks"), a third-party provider that specializes in secure crypto storage. See "DIGITAL CURRENCY AND RISK MANAGEMENT" below. We have not pledged or staked our Bitcoin assets as collateral against debt or other obligations of any kind. Our Bitcoin is not stored on any exchange. Our Bitcoin is never "staked" for mining purposes (see definition of "Proof-of-Stake" below) or loaned to any third party.
The Company recognizes the majority of its revenue from the provision of transaction verification services, known as 'cryptocurrency mining', for which the Company receives digital currencies and records them at their fair value on the date received. The Company's revenue is being diversified through our expansion into data center operations which support HPC and AI based applications.
Change of Name
On July 12, 2023, the Company changed its name from HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. to HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. The change represents HIVE's evolving focus on revenue opportunities made possible by HIVE's large inventory of Nvidia Graphics Processing Unit ("GPU") cards in combination with emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence ("AI"), machine learning, advanced data analysis and HPC.
HIVE expects to maintain a strong presence in Bitcoin mining, however going forward HIVE will diversify its business by utilizing its approximately 38,000 GPU-based cards to build systems that can provide computational power on a massive scale. In addition, the Company intends to branch out into the rental of GPU server clusters via marketplaces and is exploring the development of a new cloud service offering. This cloud service is designed to offer to users a selection of options to access computing resources ranging from a virtual instance of a single GPU, to a "bare-metal" server equipped with up to 10 GPUs to clusters of multiple servers. The term, "bare metal" refers to instances where a user rents a physical machine from our facility that is not shared with any other tenants. Bare metal servers provide the high-performance capabilities of dedicated hardware combined with the flexibility and scalability of a cloud service. Pricing will likely be based upon the level of computing power accessed. Marketing for the cloud services is expected to be directed at small and medium-sized businesses as an efficient and cost-effective alternative, offering potential substantial savings in comparison to other major cloud service providers.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Three months ended December 31, | Nine months ended December 31, | |||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
Total revenue | $ | 31,252 | $ | 14,318 | $ | 77,584 | $ | 88,094 | ||||
Net loss | (6,951 | ) | (93,459 | ) | (47,751 | ) | (243,143 | ) | ||||
Gross operating margin (1) | 11,289 | 3,615 | 23,902 | 46,573 | ||||||||
Basic loss per share | $ | (0.08 | ) | $ | (1.14 | ) | $ | (0.55 | ) | $ | (2.95 | ) |
Digital assets mined - BTC | 830 | 787 | 2,465 | 2,466 |
1 Non-IFRS measure. A reconciliation to its nearest IFRS measures is provided under "Reconciliations of Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures" below.
The Company is a reporting issuer in each of the Provinces and Territories of Canada and is a reporting issuer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in the United States. The Company's shares are listed for trading on the TSXV, under the symbol "HIVE.V", as well as on the NASDAQ Capital Markets Exchange under "HIVE" and on the Open Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "YO0.F". The Company's head office is located at Suite 855, 789 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 1H2, and its registered office is located at Suite 2500, 700 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, V7Y 1B3.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
DEFINED TERMS
ASIC: | An ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) is a microchip designed for a special application, such as a particular kind of transmission protocol or a hand-held computer. In the context of digital currency mining ASICs have been designed to solve specific hashing algorithms efficiently, including for Bitcoin mining. |
Bitcoin or BTC: | Bitcoin refers to the native token of the Bitcoin network which utilizes the SHA-256 algorithm. Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer payment system and the digital currency of the same name which uses open source cryptography to control the creation and transfer of such digital currency. |
Bitcoin Network: | The network of computers running the software protocol underlying Bitcoin and which network maintains the database of Bitcoin ownership and facilitates the transfer of Bitcoin among parties. |
Blockchain: | A Blockchain is a generally immutable, decentralized public transaction ledger which records transactions, such as financial transactions in cryptocurrency, in chronological order. Bitcoin and Ethereum are the largest examples of a public blockchain. |
BuzzMiner: | A Bitcoin mining system developed by HIVE, using the Intel BlockScale ASIC, manufactured by an original design manufacturer ("ODM") which HIVE engaged, using aspects of the Intel Reference Design, with various improvements and optimizations and features implemented by HIVE (and unique to HIVE's BuzzMiner) including custom application programming interface ("API") calls, a software layer, operating modes at different ASIC frequencies, allowing HIVE to mine from 110 Terahash per second ("TH/s") to 130 TH/s at different efficiencies, along with demand response functionality. |
Ether or ETH or Ethereum: | Ether, ETH or Ethereum refers to the native token of the Ethereum Network which utilizes the ethash algorithm. Ethereum is a global, open-source platform for decentralized applications. Ethereum, ETH and Ether are used interchangeably to refer to the cryptocurrency. |
Ethereum Classic: | Ethereum Classic refers to the native token of the Ethereum Classic Network. |
GPU: | A GPU or Graphics Processing Unit is a programmable logic chip (processor) specialized for display functions. GPUs have proven to be efficient at solving digital currency hashing algorithms. |
Hashrate: | Hashrate is a measure of mining power whereby the expected revenue from mining is directly proportional to a miner's hashrate normalized by the total hashrate of the network. |
Mining: | Mining refers to the provision of computing capacity (or hashing power) to secure a distributed network by creating, verifying, publishing and propagating blocks in the blockchain in exchange for rewards and fees denominated in the native token of that network (i.e. Bitcoin or Ethereum, as applicable) for each block generated. |
Merge or Ethereum Merge: | The Merge refers to the shift in the Ethereum Blockchain from proof-of-work consensus to proof-of-stake consensus as of September 15, 2022. |
Network Difficulty or Difficulty: |
Network difficulty is a measure of how difficult it is to find a hash below a given target. |
Proof-of-Stake: | Under proof-of-stake consensus stakers who have sufficiently large coin balances 'staked' on the network update the ledger; stakers are incentivized to protect the network and put forth valid transactions because they are heavily invested in the network's currency. |
Proof-of-Work: | Under proof-of-work consensus, miners performing computational work on the network update the ledger; miners are incentivized to protect the network and put forth valid transactions because they must invest in hardware and electricity for the opportunity to mine coins on the network. The success of a miner's business relies on the value of the currency remaining above the cost to create a coin. |
Revaluation of Digital Currencies: |
Refers to the recognition of fair value adjustments to digital currency holdings based on available market prices at a point in time. |
SHA-256: | SHA-256 is a cryptographic Hash Algorithm. A cryptographic hash is a kind of 'signature' for a text or a data file. SHA-256 generates an almost-unique 256-bit (32-byte) signature for a text. The most well-known cryptocurrencies that utilize the SHA-256 algorithm are Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. |
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
OUTLOOK
Operations
The Bitcoin protocol is such that every 210,000 blocks the mining rewards are cut in half (a "Halving"). As the next Halving approaches, which is currently expected in April 2024, the Company will continue to make opportunistic investments to upgrade its ASICs and infrastructure, to improve our fleet efficiency and to maximise hashrate. In addition to our cryptocurrency mining operations, the Company has continued its efforts to expand its facilities to offer HPC services to companies in the gaming, artificial intelligence and graphics rendering industries.
During the period ended December 31, 2023, the Company has taken the 6 MW at our Boden, Sweden leased facility allocated to our GPUs to mine alternative cryptocurrencies which produced approximately 130 PH/s of Bitcoin mining capacity and installed new ASIC miners received during the quarter to operate at a higher efficiency and hash rate resulting in higher gross margins. The GPU cards are currently offline and expected to be used in our expansion efforts to offer HPC services.
The Company notes that as at December 31, 2023 it had 4.08 EH/s operational, however, due to maintenance work at the New Brunswick facility there has been a temporary decrease in total operational hashrate as at January 31, 2024.
On January 2, 2024, the Company mutually agreed to the early termination of its service agreement for its facility in Blonduos Iceland, and thus 100 PH/s of ASICs are being relocated to the Keflavik, Iceland facility. The Company is currently considering whether to expand the facility in Keflavik to add these ASICs back into operation.
High performance computing
The Company has continued to develop and expand its HPC business, which implements the Company's fleet of GPUs in enterprise grade CPU servers, operating in Tier 3 data centers. These GPU's operate with redundancy and are utilized for rental on GPU on-demand marketplaces, where end users are typical performing Large Language Model ("LLM") computations, such as inference and fine-tuning. The Company's fleet of GPUs used for this purpose include the NVIDIA A4000 with 16GB of vRAM, the A5000 with 24GB of vRAM and A40 with 48GB of vRAM. Subsequent to the period ended December 31, 2023, the Company also acquired 96 NVIDIA H100 GPUs.
COVID-19 and Upgrade Program
As the urgency of the impact of the COVID-19 virus has diminished, HIVE nonetheless maintains preparedness. At any time, HIVE can implement various measures to protect its employees and partners and prevent disruption to operations, in each case in alignment with local governments as well as national and international agency recommendations. These measures may include ceasing non-essential travel and having employees work remotely where possible. During the COVID pandemic, the Company was able to maintain normal uptime of its cryptocurrency mining operations and its data centers, as well as its supply chain, with only minimal disruption. The Company operates with a lean administrative structure and has few employees, as cryptocurrency mining is not a human capital-intensive industry. The Company's data centers are located in sparsely populated areas near the Arctic Circle in Europe, in rural Quebec and in New Brunswick near the border of Maine. Most management operations can be accomplished remotely, and any necessary equipment maintenance can be achieved by minimal staff utilizing personal protective equipment and maintaining physical distancing. The Company continues to caution that current global uncertainty with respect to the spread of the COVID-19 virus and emerging variants and its effect on the broader global economy may have a significant negative effect on the Company. While the future impact of the COVID-19 virus on the Company remains unknown, another rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus and its variants could have a material adverse effect on global economic activity and could result in volatility and disruption to global supply chains, operations, mobility of people and the financial markets, which could affect interest rates, credit ratings, credit risk, inflation, business, financial conditions, results of operations and other factors relevant to the Company.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
The Russian Invasion of Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. While it is impossible to predict what affect the conflict in Ukraine could have on the Company's operations in Sweden, the increased energy prices across Europe resulting from the conflict have been buffered partially by HIVE having forward energy agreements for the purchase of electricity. These energy hedging contracts allow HIVE to purchase a fixed quantity of power ("MW"), for a fixed period of time (number of months). As a result, if the index spot price increases, HIVE can rely on a previously agreed upon fixed energy price to continue operations. Furthermore, HIVE monitors the hashrate economics of its operations to determine our earnings from digital asset mining in dollars per megawatt-hour ("MWHR"). Under certain circumstances, it may be more profitable for HIVE to sell back to the grid its energy rights (since HIVE receives the proceeds of energy sold at index spot pricing, with the cost being the fixed price from the energy hedged contract). Under such circumstances, HIVE may elect to sell its energy rights in favour of mining digital assets. Our Swedish data centers utilize approximately up to 37.5 MW of renewable hydroelectric energy, which represents approximately 28% of our global overall capacity of hydroelectric and geothermal energy.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
Ethereum Mining Industry Revenues of U.S. dollars per Day for each 1 Megahash per second of computing power;
August 1, 2021 - September 15, 2022
Source: bitinfocharts.com
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
Bitcoin Mining Industry Revenues of U.S. dollars per Day for each 1 Terahash per second of computing power for the 24-month period from January 2022 to January 2024:
Source: bitinfocharts.com
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
The average monthly Bitcoin market data from April 2023 to December 2023 was as follows:
April | May | June | July | August | September | ||||||||||||||||
Bitcoin | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||
Average price | $ | 28,854 | $ | 27,458 | $ | 27,889 | $ | 30,028 | $ | 27,728 | $ | 26,379 | |||||||||
Average daily difficulty (in millions) | 48,016,072 | 48,875,463 | 51,696,373 | 52,551,598 | 53,416,976 | 55,583,251 | |||||||||||||||
October | November | December | Average | ||||||||||||||||||
Bitcoin | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | YTD F2024 | |||||||||||||||||
Average price | $ | 29,507 | $ | 36,496 | $ | 42,355 | $ | 30,744 | |||||||||||||
Average daily difficulty (in millions) | 59,251,965 | 64,363,260 | 68,813,730 | 55,840,965 |
Sources: Coinmarketcap.com, Glassnode.com, Blockchain.com
The average monthly Bitcoin market data from April 2022 to March 2023 was as follows:
April | May | June | July | August | September | ||||||||||||||||
Bitcoin | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||
Average price | $ | 41,435 | $ | 31,713 | $ | 24,384 | $ | 21,539 | $ | 22,366 | $ | 19,805 | |||||||||
Average daily difficulty (in millions) | 28,561,641 | 30,502,528 | 29,992,443 | 28,752,118 | 28,365,699 | 31,533,645 | |||||||||||||||
October | November | December | January | February | March | Average | |||||||||||||||
Bitcoin | 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | F2023 | ||||||||||||||
Average price | $ | 19,651 | $ | 17,601 | $ | 16,950 | $ | 20,251 | $ | 23,299 | $ | 25,055 | $ | 23,671 | |||||||
Average daily difficulty (in millions) | 34,809,688 | 36,843,488 | 35,063,080 | 36,279,360 | 39,902,165 | 44,321,920 | 33,743,981 |
Sources: Coinmarketcap.com, Glassnode.com, Blockchain.com
For reference, the following chart shows Bitcoin price vs Bitcoin miners' revenues (in Bitcoin block rewards and transaction fees) vs block difficulty* for the 24-month period from January 2022 to January 2024:
Source: Glassnode.com
* Block Difficulty - A relative measure of how difficult it is to find a new block. The difficulty is adjusted periodically as a function of how much hashing power has been deployed by the network of miners.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
The block reward is how new Bitcoin is "minted" or brought into the economy. These rewards, which started at 50 Bitcoin at inception of the network in 2009, halve every 210,000 blocks, with the Halving that occurred on May 11, 2020, resulting in a reward of 6.25 Bitcoin per block vs 12.5 immediately prior to the 2020 Halving. The next Halving which will reduce the reward to 3.125 Bitcoin per block is currently projected to happen in April 2024.
After the April 2024 Halving event, the total number of Bitcoins available to miners per day will fall from 900 to 450 per day. HIVE is preparing for this by upgrading and expanding our fleet of miners.
Industry subject to evolving regulatory and tax landscape
Both the regulatory and tax landscape for digital companies is evolving. The changing regulatory landscape applies to sectors that are based on blockchain, distributed ledgers, technology and the mining, use, sale and holding of tokens, or digital currencies, and the blockchain technology networks that support them.
Operating in an emerging industry, the Company must adapt to significant changes in regulatory, tax and industry rules and guidelines and obtain regulatory and tax advice from external global experts. In addition, regulations and the rules, rates, interpretations, and practices related to taxes, including consumption taxes such as value added taxes ("VAT"), are constantly changing.
The Company's headquarters are in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and as such the Company is subject to the jurisdiction of the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada. The Company manages its data centers and trading operations from Bermuda in order to simplify tax expectations.
The Company also has assets in a variety of other countries and is subject to changes in political conditions and regulations within these markets. Changes, if any, in policies or shifts in political attitude could adversely affect the Company's operations or profitability. See "The Russian Invasion of Ukraine" above.
Operations may be affected in varying degrees by government regulations and decisions with respect to, but not limited to, restrictions on price controls, currency remittance, income and consumption taxes, foreign investment, maintenance of claims, environmental legislation, land use, electricity use and safety. Additionally, cryptocurrency prices are highly volatile, can fluctuate substantially and are affected by numerous factors beyond the Company's control, including hacking, demand, inflation, expectations with respect to the rate of inflation, and global or regional political or economic events.
On-going and future regulatory or tax changes, actions or decisions may alter the nature of an investment in the Company or restrict the use of cryptocurrencies in a manner that adversely affects the Company's operations. The effect of any future regulatory change on the Company or any cryptocurrency that the Company may mine is impossible to predict, but such change could be substantial and adverse.
For example, governments may in the future curtail or outlaw the acquisition, use or redemption of cryptocurrencies. Governments may also take regulatory action that may increase the cost and/or subject cryptocurrency companies to additional regulation or prohibit or severely restrict the right to acquire, own, hold, sell, use or trade cryptocurrencies or to exchange cryptocurrencies for fiat currency. By extension, similar actions by other governments, may result in the restriction of the acquisition, ownership, holding, selling, use or trading in the Company's common shares. Such a restriction could result in the Company needing to liquidate its cryptocurrency inventory at unfavorable prices and may adversely affect the Company's shareholders.
The Company believes the present attitude towards blockchain technology, and the digital currency mining industry is increasingly unfavourable in many countries, but conditions may change. Operations may be affected in varying degrees by government regulation with respect to restrictions on production, price controls, export controls, foreign exchange controls, income and other taxes, and environmental legislation.
The Company's wholly owned subsidiaries located in Sweden (Bikupa Datacenter AB ("Bikupa") and Bikupa Datacenter 2 AB ("Bikupa 2")) received decision notice of assessments ("the decision(s)"), on December 28, 2022, December 21, 2023 and December 22, 2023 for Bikupa, and February 14, 2023 and December 21, 2023 for Bikupa 2, from the Swedish Tax Authority in connection with the application of VAT and its ability to recover input VAT against certain equipment and other charges in a total amount of SEK 411.9 million or approximately $40.9 million. The assessments covered the period December 2020 to December 2022 for Bikupa, and the period April 2021 to December 2022 for Bikupa 2, expressing the intent to reject the recovery of all the VAT for the periods under assessment.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
The Company filed a formal appeal in connection with the December 28, 2022 Bikupa decision on February 9, 2023; however, there can be no guarantee that the Company will achieve a favourable outcome in its appeal. A formal appeal for Bikupa 2 in relation to the February 14, 2023 decision was filed on March 10, 2023 by the Company. The Company has engaged an independent legal firm and independent audit firm in Sweden that have expertise in these matters to assist in the appeal process. The Company does not believe that the decisions have merit because in our opinion and those of our independent advisors, the decisions are not compatible with the current applicable law and therefore the amount claimed to be owed by the Company is not probable. According to general principles regarding the placement of the burden of proof, it is up to the Swedish Tax Agency to provide sufficient evidence in support of its decisions. In our opinion, the Swedish Tax Agency has not substantiated their claim. We are not aware of any precedent cases, authoritative literature, or other statement that support the Swedish Tax Agency's position. The cases are currently in the County Administrative Court.
It is not yet known when these disputes will be resolved; the due process following appeals and the court ruling could extend well beyond a year. Furthermore, given that the industry is rapidly developing, there can be no guarantee that changes to the laws or policies of Sweden will not have a negative impact on the Company's tax position with respect to the eligibility of the claimed VAT.
If the Company is unsuccessful in its appeals, the full amount could be payable including other items such as penalties and interest that may continue to accrue. The Company will continue to assess these matters.
In the spring budget of 2023, the Swedish Parliament abolished the reduced energy tax for data centers, effective as of July 1, 2023. As a result of this decision, the Company's cost of energy at its HIVE Sweden facilities has increased by 0.29 Swedish Krona ("SEK") per kWh. Prior to the effective date of the abolishment of the energy tax reduction, HIVE's cost of energy at the HIVE Sweden facilities was approximately 0.30 to 0.50 SEK per kWh. Revenues from HIVE's operations at these facilities typically ranges from 0.80 to 1.00 SEK per kWh. The HIVE Sweden facilities currently represents approximately 26% of the Company's global production of Bitcoin per day. Even with this change, we feel that the HIVE Sweden facilities undertook positive actions to reduce the negative impact through the supplemental power pricing arrangement that was entered into in order to fix 18 MW of electricity consumption for the months of January through March 2023 at a set price, as well as 25 MW for the period of April through June 2023, 24 MW for the period July through September 2023, and 25 MW for the period of October through December 2023, at set prices. These set prices allowed the facility to operate profitably in today's market economics, at times when other facilities who buy all their energy at spot prices may otherwise be unprofitable. Furthermore, the HIVE Sweden facilities have secured 31 MW of power at an average price of about 0.34 SEK per KWh for the calendar year 2024. The Company has been exploring and will continue to explore strategies for minimizing the impact.
On February 4, 2022, the Canadian Department of Finance released for public comment a set of draft legislative proposals to implement certain tax measures. These tax measures include restricting the ability of cryptocurrency mining companies to claim back the consumption taxes they incur on purchases of goods and services made in Canada and imports into Canada. The Company expects that the restriction on the Company's ability to claim back its consumption taxes, namely the Goods and Services Tax and Harmonized Sales Tax, which apply at combined rates from 5% to 15% on the cost of goods and services, could significantly add to the Company's ongoing operating costs and the costs of its capital expenditures and imports into Canada. The measures obtained royal assent on June 22, 2023. The Company has recorded a provision in the quarter in the amount of $4.9 million, for our ability to claim back our consumption taxes. The Company will continue to work with our consultants and the Canadian authorities in resolving the disputed amounts.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
ASSET ACQUISITION
On November 29, 2023, the Company acquired a data center in Sweden ("Boden 2"). In consideration, the Company issued 345,566 common shares of the Company to the vendor, made a cash payment totalling $647 and $500 in holdback common shares payable that are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities as at December 31, 2023. The Company also incurred $140 in acquisition costs.
The $500 holdback common shares payable shall be paid at the later of: (i) the six month anniversary of the closing date; and (ii) the date on which any claims made by the Company within six months of the closing date relating to a breach of warranty under the property transfer agreement have been finally settled, and shall be composed of such number of Common Shares equal to $500,000 less any amount payable by the Vendor to the Company in respect of such claim.
The Company determined that this transaction is an asset acquisition as the assets acquired did not constitute a business as defined by IFRS 3. The following table summarizes the consideration transferred, the estimated fair value of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as the date of the acquisition:
Cash paid | $ | 647 | |
Shares issued | 1,089 | ||
Holdback payable | 500 | ||
Acquisition costs | 140 | ||
Total consideration | $ | 2,376 | |
Land | $ | 86 | |
Building | 1,587 | ||
Equipment | 446 | ||
VAT receivables | 360 | ||
Total assets | 2,479 | ||
Current liabilities | (103 | ) | |
Net assets acquired | $ | 2,376 |
INTEL SUPPLY AGREEMENT
On March 7, 2022, the Company entered into a Supply Agreement with Intel Corporation for the purchase of its new generation of application specific integrated circuits ("ASICs") designed specifically for processing SHA-256 cryptographic hash functions and associated software, known as Intel's "Blockscale".
The Company has also entered into a manufacturing agreement with an original design manufacturer ("ODM") that has expertise in electronics manufacturing and experience manufacturing integrated systems for Intel. The ODM integrated Intel's Blockscale ASICs into an air-cooled Bitcoin mining system. The Company's engineering team drew on its expertise in hardware and software implementation and worked closely with Intel and the ODM partner on the systems integration. The majority of these miners have been delivered and the remaining units are expected to be delivered in the coming quarter. This target reflects a revised hashrate from previous estimates, as the Company has adjusted capital allocation targets for the interim period, focusing on near term growth.
Intel has since discontinued the Blockscale chip program.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURE
On January 12, 2021, the Company closed its non-brokered private placement of unsecured debentures (the "Debentures"), for aggregate gross proceeds of $15,000,000 with U.S. Global Investors, Inc. ("U.S. Global"). The Executive Chairman of the Company is a director, officer and controlling shareholder of U.S. Global, but the transaction was exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements in Multilateral Instrument 61-10 Protection of Minority Holders in Special Transactions, because the fair market value of the transaction did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.
The Debentures will mature on the date that is 60 months from the date of issuance, bearing interest at a rate of 8% per annum. The Debentures were issued at par, with each Debenture being redeemable by HIVE at any time, and convertible at the option of the holder into common shares (each, a "Share") in the capital of the Company at a conversion price of C$15.00 per Share. Interest is payable monthly, and principal is payable quarterly. In addition, U.S. Global was issued 5 million common share purchase warrants (the "January 2021 Warrants"). Each five whole January 2021 Warrants entitles U.S. Global to acquire one common Share at an exercise price of C$15.00 per Share for a period of three years from closing. On January 12, 2024, the January 2021 Warrants expired unexercised. The Company has been paying down this debt on a quarterly basis and the total outstanding amount as of period ended December 31, 2023 is $6.6 million.
AT-THE-MARKET EQUITY PROGRAM
On September 2, 2022, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement ("2022 Equity Distribution Agreement") with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC. Under the 2022 Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company was provided the option to sell up to $100 million of common shares in the capital of the Company at their discretion (the "2022 ATM Equity Program"). The 2022 Equity Distribution Agreement was terminated as of February 6, 2023.
For the year ended March 31, 2023, the Company issued 1,306,476 common shares (the "2022 ATM Shares") pursuant to the 2022 ATM Equity Program for gross proceeds of $3.9 million. The 2022 ATM Shares were sold at prevailing market prices, for an average price per ATM Share of C$4.01. Pursuant to the 2022 Equity Distribution Agreement, a cash commission of $0.1 million on the aggregate gross proceeds raised was paid to the agent in connection with its services under the 2022 Equity Distribution Agreement.
The Company is using the net proceeds from the 2022 Equity Distribution Agreement for the purchase of data center equipment and strategic investments especially in building BTC assets on our balance sheet and ended the March 31, 2023, period with 2,332 BTC, and general working capital.
On May 10, 2023, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement ("May 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement") with Stifel GMP and Canaccord Genuity Corp. Under the May 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company may, from time to time, sell up to $100 million of common shares in the capital of the Company (the "May 2023 ATM Equity Program"). The May 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement was terminated as of August 16, 2023.
For the period ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued 1,374,700 common shares (the "May 2023 ATM Shares") pursuant to the May 2023 ATM Equity Program for gross proceeds of C$9.0 million ($6.8 million). The May 2023 ATM Shares were sold at prevailing market prices, for an average price per May 2023 ATM Share of C$6.55. Pursuant to the May 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement, a cash commission of $0.2 million on the aggregate gross proceeds raised was paid to the agent in connection with its services under the May 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement. In addition, the Company incurred $162 in fees related to its May 2023 ATM Equity Program.
On August 17, 2023, the Company entered into an equity distribution agreement ("August 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement") with Stifel GMP and Canaccord Genuity Corp. Under the August 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company may, from time to time, sell up to $90 million of common shares in the capital of the Company (the "August 2023 ATM Equity Program").
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
For the period ended December 31, 2023, the Company issued 6,175,140 common shares (the "August 2023 ATM Shares") pursuant to the August 2023 ATM Equity Program for gross proceeds of C$32.9 million ($24.4 million). The August 2023 ATM Shares were sold at prevailing market prices, for an average price per August 2023 ATM Share of C$5.33. Pursuant to the August 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement, a cash commission of $0.7 million on the aggregate gross proceeds raised was paid to the agent in connection with its services under the August 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement. In addition, the Company incurred $246 in fees related to its August 2023 ATM Equity Program.
The Company is using the net proceeds from the May 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement and the August 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement for the purchase of data center equipment, strategic investments including building BTC assets on our balance sheet and general working capital. HIVE ended the December 31, 2023, period with 1,704 BTC.
SPECIAL WARRANT FINANCING
On December 28, 2023, the Company completed a bought-deal financing of 5,750,000 special warrants of the Company (the "2023 Special Warrants") at a price of C$5.00 per Special Warrant for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of C$28.75 million (the "Offering"). Each 2023 Special Warrant entitles the holder to receive without payment of additional consideration, one unit of the Company upon exercise consisting of one common share and one-half of common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$6.00 per whole warrant until December 28, 2026.
In consideration of services, the Underwriters received a cash commission of C$1.725 million, and 345,000 broker warrants. Each broker warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$5.00 per broker warrant until December 28, 2026. The broker warrants were valued at $1.28 million using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: a risk-free interest rate of 3.51%, an expected volatility of 100%, an expected life of 3 years, a forfeiture rate of zero; and an expected dividend of zero. The Company also incurred C$257 in professional and other fees associated with the 2023 Special Warrant financing.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company plans to use the net proceeds from the 2023 Special Warrants offering to support the growth of its Bitcoin mining footprint. Specifically, the Company intends to use the net proceeds to fund the purchase of 7,000 S21 Antminer ASIC units announced on December 22, 2023 which are expected to expand the Company's Bitcoin mining capacity by 1.4 ExaHash. The Company has allocated C$19.5 million from the net proceeds to this acquisition, which includes C$0.2 million for supplemental expenses (which includes an update or expansion of power-distribution units to support the 7,000 S21 Antminer ASICs). This will result in an upgrade at the New Brunswick facility from the existing 38 J/TH miners to new 17 J/TH Bitmain S21 miners, which is anticipated to increase the Company's mining efficiency and improve the break-even cost of mining Bitcoin in anticipation of the 2024 Halving. The remaining proceeds from the offering have been allocated for general working capital and overhead costs at this time.
The Company also anticipates being able to hold all of its Bitcoin until the 2024 Halving Event. As of the date of this document, approximately half of the proceeds from the offering have been spent on the use of proceeds described above.
Prior Use of Proceeds
The Company previously raised aggregate gross proceeds of $3.9 million (C$5.2 million) pursuant to the 2022 ATM Equity Program; $6.8 million (C$9.0 million) pursuant to the May 2023 ATM Equity Program; and, as of the date hereof, has raised $24.4 million (C$32.9 million) pursuant to the August 2023 ATM Equity Program. The following chart summarizes the proceeds raised pursuant to these offerings, and the amount spent on the Company's various facilities during the time such offerings were active:
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
Agreement | Proceeds (USD) | Use of Proceeds Per Facility(1) |
2022 ATM Equity Program(2) | $3.9 million | Purchase of $5.5 million in data center equipment for New Brunswick Facility. |
Purchase of $0.7 million in data center equipment for Lachute (Québec) Facility | ||
Purchase of $26.0 million in data center equipment for Sweden (Boden) Facility | ||
Purchase of $1.0 million in data center equipment for Iceland Facilities. | ||
May 2023 ATM Equity Program (3) | $6.8 million | Purchase of $5.2 million in data center equipment for Lachute (Québec) Facility |
Purchase of $12.9 million in data center equipment for New Brunswick Facility | ||
August 2023 ATM Equity Program (4) |
$18,560,039 | Purchase of $14.8 million in data center equipment for Lachute (Québec) Facility |
Purchase of $5.4 million in data center equipment for Sweden (Boden) Facility | ||
Purchase of $27.4 million data center equipment for New Brunswick Facility |
Notes:
(1) Note that the use of proceeds per facility is not in exact alignment with the proceeds under the various at-the-market offerings, as the Company funds acquisitions through a number of methods, including private placements and operating revenues.
(2) Proceeds raised through shares distributed at-the-market qualified by a prospectus supplement dated September 2, 2022 to a short form base shelf prospectus dated January 4, 2022.
(3) Proceeds raised through shares distributed at-the-market qualified by a prospectus supplement dated May 3, 2023 to a short form base shelf prospectus dated May 1, 2023.
(4) Proceeds raised through shares distributed at-the-market qualified by an amended and restated prospectus supplement dated August 17, 2023 to a short form base shelf prospectus dated May 1, 2023.
Business Objectives and Milestones
The Company's business objectives are to increase shareholder value and continue its operations as one of the globally diversified publicly traded data center companies with a focus on digital asset mining and HPC, powered by green energy. The Company's expectations are based on significant assumptions and are subject to significant risks.
The following table sets forth the business objectives contemplated by the Company as at the date hereof, the amount of proceeds from the Offering allocated to the objective, and an estimated completion date.
Business Objective | Amount of Gross Proceeds Allocated (CAD) |
Estimated Completion Date |
Purchase of 7,000 S21 Antminer ASIC units | $19.5 million | June 1, 2024(1) |
General Working Capital & Overhead(2) | $7.4 million | N/A |
TOTAL: | $26.9 million(3) | - |
Note:
(1) As per the Company's press release dated December 22, 2023, the units are to be delivered over the period form January 2024 to June 1, 2024. The Company currently expects all units to be delivered by June 1, 2024.
(2) The largest general working capital and overhead expenses for the Company are related to electricity and rent expenses at the Company's various facilities.
(3) Represents net proceeds of C$28.8 million less the Underwriters' Commission of C$1.7 million and estimated total expenses of C$0.2 million.
The total cost of the 7,000 S21 Antminer ASIC units was approximately $24.5 million. Accordingly, in addition to the gross proceeds raised under the offering, the Company intends to use approximately $10.0 million from the August 2023 ATM Equity Program towards the above-noted business objectives.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
The Company intends to use the available funds as set forth above based on budgets and consultations with the Board of Directors of the Company. However, there may be circumstances where, for sound business reasons, a reallocation of the net proceeds may be necessary in order for the Company to achieve its overall business objectives. Management has, and will continue to have, the discretion to modify the allocation of the Company's available funds, including the net proceeds of the offering, if necessary. Investors are cautioned that the actual amount the Company spends in connection with each of the intended uses of the proceeds may vary significantly from the amounts specified above and will depend on a number of factors, including those referred to under "RISK AND UNCERTAINTIES" below.
The following are the milestones set out by the Company as of the date hereof:
1 Based on an average price of Bitcoin of $42,546.89 and an average Network Difficulty of 68.8T during December 2023.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
While the Company has already purchased 38,000 data-centre grade GPUs which are capable of HPC, the Company must procure data center grade servers in order to operate them. Each data-centre grade server can operate 10 GPUs, and therefore an additional 480 servers can operate 4,800 GPUs and would achieve the Company's goal of 10x growth. Thus this initial investment of $7.5 million would apply to converting 4,800 of the Company's 38,000 GPUs (or approximately only 13% of our Nvidia GPUs) into HPC nodes.
2022 Business Objectives and Milestones
The following table sets forth the business objective and milestones contemplated by the amended and restated short form base shelf prospectus dated January 4, 2022, the progress of achieving these milestones, and a comparison of the actual costs spent against the estimated costs.
Business Objective | Status | Estimated Costs |
Expenditures to Date |
Upgrading the memory cards for all of the Company's miners at each of its data centers from 4 GB to 8 GB. The Company targeted December 2022 as the completion date for this upgrade. | Complete | $22 million | $22 million |
Expanding Company's Bitcoin mining on the cloud. | Complete | $24.5 million | $24.5 million |
Targeting 2 EH/s of Bitcoin cloud mining capacity by the end of March 2022. |
Complete |
N/A | N/A |
Targeting 10.0 EH/s of Bitcoin cloud mining capacity by the end of 2022. REVISED: Having 6 EH/s of Bitcoin cloud mining capacity by March 31, 2024, from its current 3 EH/s. The Company estimates that its revised target of an additional 3 EH/s would cost approximately $100 million, based on prevailing costs including 30 MW of infrastructure and approximately 8200 new generation ASIC miners. |
The Company currently anticipates 5.0 EH/s of mining capacity by March 31, 2024. Once all of the Company's existing infrastructure has been installed (expected on or around June 30, 2024) it is anticipated that it will reach 5.5 EH/s. | $500 million REVISED: $100 million | $100 million |
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
2023 Business Objectives and Milestones
The following table sets forth the business objective and milestones contemplated by the short form base shelf prospectus dated May 1, 2023, the progress of achieving these milestones, and a comparison of the actual costs spent against the estimated costs.
Business Objective / Milestone |
Status | Estimated Costs |
Expenditures to Date |
Upgrade fleet of ASIC Miners to an efficiency of 30 J/TH(1) | Complete, with more machines purchased than initially budgeted due to attractive deals in the market for low $/TH |
$30 million | $37 million which included the purchase of 22,500 ASICs including S19 JPRO, JPRO+, KPRO XP, and will bring the Company's fleet efficiency to 29 J/TH after installation |
Complete approximately 7,345 new BuzzMiner units(2) | Complete | $10.8 million | $10.3 million |
Review sites for potential expansion opportunities with 40 MW of available power capacity |
The Company recently acquired a 6MW site in Sweden, and is continuing to evaluate further sites. | $20 million to $28 million | $2 million |
Expand revenue from HPC line of operations by a factor of 10 | The Company has allocated an additional $1.2 million to this milestone. All equipment required to complete this milestone is installed and operating, and as of the date hereof the Company has expanded the HPC line of operations by a factor of 5. It is anticipated that upon full market utilization (expected on or around December 31, 2024), this milestone will be achieved. | $5.3 million | $7.5 million |
Notes:
(1) Note that there is considerable overlap between the goals of increasing efficiency, increasing hash rate, and acquiring new miners. These goals are also reflected in the 2022 Business Objectives and Milestones, as they are the primary drives of the Company's profitability.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
SHARE CONSOLIDATION
On May 24, 2022, the Company underwent a consolidation of the Common Shares (the "Consolidation") on the basis of five pre-consolidation Common Shares for one post-consolidation Common Share. Unless otherwise stated, all references to Common Shares in this MD&A are to post-Consolidation Common Shares.
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS
Q3 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q1 2024 | Q4 2023 Revised |
Q3 2023 Revised |
|||||||||||
Revenue from digital currency mining | $ | 30,115 | $ | 22,514 | $ | 23,344 | $ | 17,995 | $ | 14,318 | |||||
High performance computing hosting | 1,137 | 253 | 221 | 229 | - | ||||||||||
31,252 | 22,767 | 23,565 | 18,224 | 14,318 | |||||||||||
Operating and maintenance | (19,963 | ) | (18,134 | ) | (15,585 | ) | (14,198 | ) | (10,703 | ) | |||||
Depreciation | (16,423 | ) | (16,567 | ) | (16,483 | ) | (11,315 | ) | (20,340 | ) | |||||
(5,134 | ) | (11,934 | ) | (8,503 | ) | (7,289 | ) | (16,725 | ) | ||||||
Gross operating margin | 11,289 | 4,633 | 7,980 | 4,026 | 3,615 | ||||||||||
Gross operating margin % (1) | 36% | 20% | 34% | 22% | 25% | ||||||||||
Gross margin % | (16%) | (52%) | (36%) | (40%) | (117%) | ||||||||||
Revaluation of digital currencies (2) | 422 | (422 | ) | - | 23,427 | (5,997 | ) | ||||||||
Gain (loss) on sale of digital currencies | 5,818 | (2,254 | ) | (575 | ) | 5,263 | (3,448 | ) | |||||||
General and administrative | (3,698 | ) | (3,563 | ) | (2,767 | ) | (3,392 | ) | (3,250 | ) | |||||
Foreign exchange (loss) gain | (374 | ) | (354 | ) | 1,445 | (4,205 | ) | 2,017 | |||||||
Share based compensation | (633 | ) | (4,044 | ) | (1,973 | ) | (2,921 | ) | (2,556 | ) | |||||
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments | 4,247 | 34 | (665 | ) | (2,675 | ) | (1,073 | ) | |||||||
Change in fair value of derivative liability | (129 | ) | 417 | (143 | ) | (390 | ) | 715 | |||||||
Impairment of equipment | - | - | - | 1,007 | (38,844 | ) | |||||||||
Impairment of deposits | - | - | - | - | (22,653 | ) | |||||||||
Provision on sales tax receivables | (4,931 | ) | - | - | - | - | |||||||||
Gain (loss) on sale of mining assets | 6 | 26 | (267 | ) | (118 | ) | (1,292 | ) | |||||||
Other (expenses) income | 47 | (11 | ) | (111 | ) | (381 | ) | 240 | |||||||
Finance expense | (843 | ) | (838 | ) | (879 | ) | (774 | ) | (1,004 | ) | |||||
Tax (expense) recovery | (1,749 | ) | (1,605 | ) | (1,814 | ) | (831 | ) | 411 | ||||||
Net (loss) income from continuing operations | $ | (6,951 | ) | $ | (24,548 | ) | $ | (16,252 | ) | $ | 6,721 | $ | (93,459 | ) | |
EBITDA (1) | $ | 12,064 | $ | (5,538 | ) | $ | 2,924 | $ | 19,641 | $ | (72,526 | ) | |||
Adjusted EBITDA (1) | $ | 17,329 | $ | (1,515 | ) | $ | 5,307 | $ | (1,364 | ) | $ | (1,899 | ) |
(1) Non-IFRS measure. A reconciliation to its nearest IFRS measures is provided under "Reconciliations of Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures" below.
(2) Revaluation is calculated as the change in value (gain or loss) on the coin inventory. When coins are sold, the net difference between the proceeds and the carrying value of the digital currency (including the revaluation), is recorded as a gain (loss) on the sale of digital currencies.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
RESULTS FOR THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022
Revenue:
Revenue from digital currency mining was $30.1 million for the current period compared to $14.3 million in the prior period. The increase was primarily driven by the Company's digital currency mining revenue, where the Company mined 830 BTC and generated $30.1 million compared to 787 BTC in the comparative prior period generating $14.3 million in revenue. The main reason for the increase was a higher average Bitcoin price during the current period of $36,119 compared to $18,067 in the comparative prior period.
The Company's new HPC business contributed $1.1 million for the current period compared to $nil in the prior period.
Cost of sales:
Operating and maintenance costs for digital currency mining were $18.8 million for the current period compared to $10.7 million in the prior period. These costs consisted of fees paid to suppliers (including local electricity providers), as well as service providers to operate our data centers. These costs include daily monitoring and maintenance and all other costs directly related to the maintenance and operation of the data center equipment. The main reason for the increase was an increase in the Company's global hashrate resulting in an increase in electricity costs during the period. Also contributing to the cost was the abolishment of the energy tax reduction in Sweden for data centers which occurred on July 1, 2023.
Operating and maintenance costs for high performance computing hosting were $1.2 million for the current period compared to $nil in the prior period. These costs consisted of fees paid to suppliers, service providers to operate our data centers and all other costs directly related to the maintenance and operation of the data center equipment.
Depreciation was $16.4 million for the current period compared to $20.3 million in the prior period. Depreciation is mainly related to the Company's data center equipment and right of use assets. The decrease was mainly attributable to the impairment taken on plant and equipment during the interim periods in the previous fiscal year of $70.4 million which resulted in a lower fixed asset base in the current period to depreciate, net of additions and disposals in the current period. The impairment was taken to reflect a decline in market value of certain computing assets due to the rapid evolution of this technology.
Gross operating margin and gross margin:
The gross operating margin was $11.3 million in the current period compared to $3.6 million in the prior period. Gross operating margin is directly impacted by digital currency prices and the network difficulty level as this impacts revenue from mining operations. The main reason for the increase was a higher average Bitcoin price during the current period of $36,119 compared to $18,067 in the comparative prior period.
The gross margin was a loss of $5.1 million in the current period compared to a loss of $16.7 million in the comparative prior period. The increase in the gross margin is mainly due to higher revenue from mining operations because of a higher average Bitcoin price during the current period as mentioned above.
Revaluation of digital currencies:
The Company recorded a non-cash gain of $0.4 million in the current period compared to a non-cash loss of $6.0 million in the comparative period. The gain is related to the quarterly revaluation of the Company's portfolio of digital currencies in the consolidated statements of profit or loss. The revaluation incorporated an increase in the price of Bitcoin relative to the comparative periods.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
Gain on sale of digital currencies:
The Company sold digital currencies and received proceeds of $30.7 million during the current period which resulted in the recording of a gain on such sale of $5.8 million. In the prior comparative period the Company recorded proceeds of $30.9 million and recognized a loss on such sales of $3.4 million.
Other items:
General and administrative expenses were $3.7 million in the current period compared to $3.3 million in the prior period. Office and administrative expenses increased by $0.3 million, management fees, salaries and wages increased by $0.1 million. Other expenses such as professional, advisory and consulting expenses and marketing were comparable between the periods.
Foreign exchange loss was $0.4 million in the current period compared to a gain of $2.0 million in the prior period due to the movement in exchange rates. The Company operates in multiple jurisdictions and is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations.
Share based compensation expense was $0.6 million in relation to the options and restricted share units vested in the period compared to $2.6 million in the prior comparative period. The decrease is on the account of the amortization of previous grants in prior periods.
Unrealized gain on investments was $4.25 million compared to an unrealized loss of $1.1 million in the prior period. The Company holds a number of investments some of which are traded in the active markets which fluctuate from time to time in value. The Company did not purchase or sell any investment holdings in the current period.
Change in fair value of derivative liability was a loss of $0.1 million compared to a gain of $0.7 million in the prior period. The derivative component is re-valued each reporting period using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The main reason for the change is due to the increase in the Company's stock price at the current period compared to the prior comparative period end.
Impairment of equipment was $nil in the current period compared $38.8 million in the prior period. During the prior fiscal year, as digital currency prices declined and the ETH merge occurred, the Company determined that these factors were indicators of impairment. The Company performed impairment assessments during the prior fiscal year using both the value in use and fair value less costs to dispose models to determine the recoverable value and as a result recorded impairment on its equipment.
Impairment of deposits was $nil in the current period compared $22.7 million in the prior period. The impairment is based on the counterparty risk of delivery, efficiency of machines expected use of the machines and the expected quantity and quality of the equipment to be received.
Sales tax receivable provision was $4.9 million in the current period compared to $nil in the prior period. The Company performed an assessment over Sales tax receivables, examining the history of claims and payments received from various authorities, together with regulatory challenges. As a result, the Company determined that there is uncertainty over the collection of certain amounts and recorded a provision of $4.9 million for these receivables.
Gain on equipment sales were $6 compared to a loss of $1.3 million in the prior period. The Company disposes of older generation ASIC mining equipment and legacy GPU cards as opportunities present themselves as part of upgrading its fleet of mining equipment.
Other income was $47 in the current period compared to $240 in the prior period.
Finance expense was $0.8 million in the current period compared to $1.0 million in the prior period. This includes interest and accretion on the convertible debt, interest on lease liabilities and loans payable.
Tax expense was $1.8 million in the current period compared to a recovery of $0.4 million in the prior period. The main reason for the increase is due to the limited tax losses available in some entities as they have been utilized in prior periods.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS ON A PERIOD END BASIS
Nine months ended December 31, | ||||||
2023 | 2022 Revised |
|||||
Revenue from digital currency mining | $ | 75,973 | $ | 88,094 | ||
High performance computing hosting | 1,611 | - | ||||
77,584 | 88,094 | |||||
Operating and maintenance | (53,682 | ) | (41,521 | ) | ||
Depreciation | (49,473 | ) | (70,415 | ) | ||
(25,571 | ) | (23,842 | ) | |||
Gross operating margin | 23,902 | 46,573 | ||||
Gross operating margin % (1) | 31% | 53% | ||||
Gross margin % | (33%) | (27%) | ||||
Revaluation of digital currencies (2) | - | (79,207 | ) | |||
Gain (loss) on sale of digital currencies | 2,989 | (22,199 | ) | |||
General and administrative | (10,028 | ) | (9,851 | ) | ||
Foreign exchange gain | 717 | 5,451 | ||||
Share based compensation | (6,650 | ) | (5,457 | ) | ||
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments | 3,616 | (10,757 | ) | |||
Change in fair value of derivative liability | 145 | 4,894 | ||||
Impairment of equipment | - | (71,417 | ) | |||
Impairment of deposits | - | (27,331 | ) | |||
Provision on sales tax receivables | (4,931 | ) | - | |||
Loss on sale of mining assets | (235 | ) | (1,277 | ) | ||
Other (expenses) income | (75 | ) | 240 | |||
Finance expense | (2,560 | ) | (2,932 | ) | ||
Tax (expense) recovery | (5,168 | ) | 542 | |||
Net loss from continuing operations | $ | (47,751 | ) | $ | (243,143 | ) |
(1) Non-IFRS measure. A reconciliation to its nearest IFRS measures is provided under "Reconciliations of Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures" below.
(2) Revaluation is calculated as the change in value (gain or loss) on the coin inventory. When coins are sold, the net difference between the proceeds and the carrying value of the digital currency (including the revaluation), is recorded as a gain (loss) on the sale of digital currencies.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
RESULTS FOR NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 COMPARED TO NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022
Revenue:
Revenue from digital currency mining revenue was $76.0 million for the current period compared to $88.1 million in the prior period. The decrease was primarily driven by the Company's digital currency mining revenue, where the Company mined 2,465 BTC and nil ETH and generated $76.0 million in the current period compared to 2,466 BTC and 14,984 ETH in the comparative prior period generating $88.1 million in revenue. The main reasons for the decrease were our cessation of Ether mining following the Merge on September 15, 2022, and increased network difficulty as compared with the prior period.
The Company's new HPC business contributed $1.6 million compared to $nil in the prior period.
Cost of sales:
Operating and maintenance costs for digital currency mining were $51.9 million for the current period compared to $41.5 million in the prior period. These costs consist of fees paid to suppliers including local electricity providers, as well as service providers to operate our data centers which includes daily monitoring and maintenance and all other costs directly related to the maintenance and operation of the data center equipment. The main reason for the increase is due to the increase in the Company's global hashrate resulting in a correlated increase in electricity costs during the period and the abolishment of the energy tax reduction in Sweden for data centers which occurred on July 1, 2023.
Operating and maintenance costs for high performance computing hosting were $1.8 million for the current period compared to $nil in the prior period. These costs consisted of fees paid to suppliers, service providers to operate our data centers and all other costs directly related to the maintenance and operation of the data center equipment.
Depreciation was $49.5 million for the current period compared to $70.4 million in the prior period. Depreciation is mainly related to the Company's data center equipment and right of use assets. The decrease is mainly attributed to the impairment taken on plant and equipment during the interim periods in the previous fiscal year of $70.4 million which resulted in a lower fixed asset base in the current period to depreciate, net of additions and disposals in the current period. The impairment was taken to reflect a decline in market value of certain computing assets due to the rapid evolution of this technology.
Gross operating margin and gross margin:
The gross operating margin was $23.9 million in the current period compared to $46.6 million in the prior period. Gross operating margin is directly impacted by digital currency prices and network difficulties as this impacts revenue from mining operations. The decrease is mainly attributed to the increase in the Bitcoin network difficulty versus the prior year, combined with the Company not mining Ether since the merge on September 15, 2022.
The gross margin was a loss of $25.6 million in the current period compared to a loss of $23.8 million in the comparative prior period. The increase is mainly due to lower revenue from mining operations, increase in operating and maintenance costs, net of the decrease in depreciation expense as discussed above.
Revaluation of digital currencies:
The Company recorded a non-cash loss of $nil in the current period compared to a non-cash loss of $79.2 million related to the quarterly revaluation of its portfolio of digital currencies in the consolidated statements of profit or loss because of a decrease in the price of Bitcoin in the prior period compared to an increase in the current period.
Gain on sale of digital currencies:
The Company sold digital currencies and received proceeds of $92.4 million during the current period and the Company recorded a gain on sale of $3.0 million in relation to the sale of digital currencies compared to proceeds of $102.7 million and recognizing loss on sale of $22.2 million in the prior period.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
Other items:
General and administrative expenses were $10.0 million in the current period compared to $9.9 million in the prior period. Office, administrative, and regulatory expenses increased by $0.1 million, and marketing expenses increased by $0.2 million, offset by a decrease in professional fees, advisory and consulting expenses by $0.2 million.
Foreign exchange gain was $0.7 million in the current period compared to a gain of $5.5 million in the prior period due to the movement in exchange rates. The Company operates in multiple jurisdictions and is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations.
Share based compensation expense was $6.7 million in relation to the stock options and restricted share units granted or vested in the period as compared to $5.5 million in the prior comparative period mainly as a result of stock option grants made in the current period.
Unrealized gain on investments was $3.6 million compared to an unrealized loss of $10.8 million in the prior period. The Company holds a number of investments some of which are traded in the active markets which fluctuate from time to time in value. The Company purchased an investment of $250 in the current period and did not sell any investment holdings.
Change in fair value of derivative liability was a gain of $0.1 million compared to gain of $4.9 million in the prior period. The derivative component is re-valued each reporting period using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The main reason for the change is due to the decrease in the Company's stock price at the prior comparative period end compared to the current period.
Impairment of equipment was $nil in the current period compared $71.4 million in the prior period. During the prior fiscal year, as digital currency prices declined and the ETH merge occurred, the Company determined that these factors were indicators of impairment. The Company performed impairment assessments during the prior fiscal year using both the "value in use" and "fair value less costs to dispose" models to determine the recoverable value and as a result recorded impairment on its equipment.
Impairment of deposits was $nil in the current period compared $27.3 million in the prior period. The impairment on deposits are based on the counterparty risk of delivery, efficiency of machines, expected use of the machines and the expected quantity and quality of the equipment to be received.
Provision on Sales tax receivable was $4.9 million in the current period compared to $nil in the prior period. The Company performed an assessment over Sales tax receivables, examining the history of claims and payments received from various authorities, together with regulatory challenges. As a result, the Company determined that there is uncertainty over the collection of certain amounts and recorded a provision of $4.9 million for these receivables.
Loss on sale of mining assets was $0.2 million in the current period compared to $1.3 million in the prior period. The Company disposes of older generation ASIC mining equipment and legacy GPU cards as opportunities present themselves as part of upgrading its fleet of mining equipment.
Other expenses was $0.1 million compared to other income of $0.24 million in the comparative period.
Finance expense was $2.6 million in the current period compared to $2.9 million in the prior period. This amount includes interest and accretion on the convertible debt, interest on lease liabilities and loans payable.
Tax expense was $5.2 million in the current period compared to a recovery of $0.5 million in the prior period. The main reason for the increase is due to the limited tax attributes available as they have been utilized in prior periods.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
The following is a summary of key balance sheet items:
December 31, | March 31, | |||||
2023 | 2023 | |||||
Cash | $ | 17,824 | $ | 4,373 | ||
Amounts receivable and prepaids | 8,194 | 9,354 | ||||
Investments | 6,900 | 2,866 | ||||
Digital currencies | 71,894 | 65,899 | ||||
Plant and equipment | 91,877 | 87,228 | ||||
Long term receivable | 2,366 | 5,815 | ||||
Deposits, net of provision | 23,181 | 9,542 | ||||
Right of use asset | 8,999 | 10,973 | ||||
Intangible assets | - | 67 | ||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 231,235 | $ | 196,117 | ||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $ | 11,813 | $ | 9,354 | ||
Current portion of convertible loan - liability component | 1,532 | 1,175 | ||||
Current portion of lease liability | 2,528 | 2,330 | ||||
Term loan | 6,176 | 7,139 | ||||
Current portion of loans payable | 2,828 | 1,224 | ||||
Current income tax liability | 4,977 | 1,846 | ||||
Convertible loan - liability component | 2,352 | 3,554 | ||||
Convertible loan - derivative component | 337 | 482 | ||||
Loans payable | 11,004 | 11,854 | ||||
Lease liability | 6,454 | 8,138 | ||||
Deferred tax liability | 1,181 | 206 | ||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | $ | 51,182 | $ | 47,302 |
Cash
Amounts receivable and prepaids
Amounts receivable and prepaids decreased by $1.2 million as a result of a provision on sales tax receivables, net of an increase for prepaid expenses and other sales tax and vat receivables as part of normal course of operations.
Investments
The Company holds a number of investments some of which are traded in active markets. As a result, these investments fluctuate in value from time to time. Investments increased by $4.0 million from the prior year mainly due to a mark to market on these investments, net of additions. In the current period, the Company purchased an investment of $250 and did not sell any investment holdings.
Digital currencies
Digital currencies at December 31, 2023 mainly consisted of 1,704 Bitcoin (March 31, 2023 - 2,332 Bitcoin). The increase in digital currencies was mainly due to a higher BTC price at period end compared to March 31, 2023.
Plant and equipment
Plant and equipment increased by $4.7 million mainly due to additions to upgrade the Company's ASIC fleet before the upcoming halving and expanding the HPC business totalling $48.2 million, offset by depreciation of $47.3 million during the period. The Company also completed a property asset acquisition that added $2.1 million in assets during the current period. The remainder of the change is a result of foreign exchange and disposals of equipment.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
Long term receivable
Long term receivable consists of value added tax receivables and a receivable on the sale of a subsidiary. The decrease of $3.5 million is due to the application of certain prior amounts of value added tax receivables being applied against energy taxes payable in Sweden during the period.
Deposits
Deposits mainly consist of equipment deposits and increased by $13.6 million during the period. The increase is mainly due to amounts paid for an ASIC miner order placed near the end of the current period as the Company upgrades its ASIC fleet before the halving, net of equipment received during the period.
Right of use assets
Right of use assets decreased by $2.0 million mainly due to depreciation expense.
Intangible assets
The Company's intangible assets is $nil at period end. The decrease is due to depreciation expense of $0.07 million.
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased by $2.5 million mainly due to the timing of payments to vendors.
Term loan
As part of the Atlantic acquisition the Company acquired a term loan. The facility bears interest at 3.33% per annum and has a maturity date of June 30, 2024. The term loan decreased by $1.0 million as a result of the repayment of principal amounts during the period. The Company has not yet renegotiated the term loan.
The term loan has financial ratios and minimum tangible asset covenants that must be maintained by HIVE Atlantic Datacentres Ltd. As at December 31, 2023 the covenant to maintain a ratio of total debt to tangible net worth equal to or less than 2:1 was not met. The outstanding balance is presented as a currently liability as at December 31, 2023. The lender has not declared a default or requested early repayment of the loan as of the date when these financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors. The term loan includes an unlimited guarantee from the Company.
Current income tax liability
The Company's current income tax liability increased by $3.1 million as a result of taxable income in its operations in Sweden, Iceland and Canada after the use of its tax attributes within those jurisdictions.
Convertible loan
The convertible loan liability component decreased by $0.9 million as a result of repayments toward the principal portion of the loan during the period.
The convertible loan derivative component is re-valued each reporting period using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The main reason for the decrease of $0.1 million has been due to the lower amount of common shares the note can be converted to due to repayments. The Company has been repaying the principal portion of the convertible loan amount quarterly.
Loans payable
The Company incurred a loan as part of the sale of the net assets of Boden Technologies AB. The loan facility bears interest at the Swedish government borrowing rate plus 1% per annum and has a maturity date of December 31, 2035. The increase of $0.8 million is due to a foreign exchange on the loan amount as result of a fluctuation of currencies and the added interest accrual for the period.
Lease liability
The lease liabilities decreased by $1.5 million mainly as a result of lease payments made during the period.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
Deferred tax liability
The Company's deferred tax liability at December 31, 2023 increased by $1.0 million as a result of the changes in the tax attributes and balances within the jurisdictions for the operational subsidiaries in which they operate.
SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY RESULTS
The following tables summarize the Company's financial information for the last eight quarters in accordance with IFRS:
Revised | ||||||||||||
Q3 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q1 2024 | Q4 2023 | |||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Revenue | 31,252 | 22,767 | 23,565 | 18,224 | ||||||||
Net (loss) income | (6,951 | ) | (24,548 | ) | (16,252 | ) | 6,721 | |||||
Basic (loss) income per share | (0.08 | ) | (0.29 | ) | (0.19 | ) | 0.08 | |||||
Diluted (loss) income per share | (0.08 | ) | (0.29 | ) | (0.19 | ) | 0.08 | |||||
Revised | Revised | Revised | ||||||||||
Q3 2023 | Q2 2023 | Q1 2023 | Q4 2022 | |||||||||
$ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Revenue | 14,318 | 29,597 | 44,179 | 49,784 | ||||||||
Net loss | (93,459 | ) | (33,657 | ) | (116,027 | ) | (33,972 | ) | ||||
Basic loss per share | (1.14 | ) | (0.41 | ) | (1.41 | ) | (0.43 | ) | ||||
Diluted loss per share | (1.14 | ) | (0.41 | ) | (1.41 | ) | (0.43 | ) |
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company commenced earning revenue from digital currency mining in mid-September 2017. The Company has been reliant on external financing to take advantage of growth opportunities while preserving its cryptocurrency assets. The Company's ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on the Company's ability to efficiently mine and liquidate digital currencies and its profitability in its new HPC business segment.
As at December 31, 2023, the Company had a working capital balance of $75.0 million (March 31, 2023 - $59.4 million) and has sufficient cash to fund its current operating and administrative costs.
The net change in the Company's cash position as at December 31, 2023 as compared to March 31, 2023 was an increase of $13.5 million as a result of the following cash flows:
As at December 31, 2023, the contractual maturities of financial and other liabilities, including estimated interest payments, are as follows:
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
Contractual | |||||||||||||||
cash flows | within 1 year | 1 to 3 years | 3 to 5 years | 5+ years | |||||||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 8,811 | $ | 8,811 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | |||||
Term loan | 6,176 | 6,176 | - | - | - | ||||||||||
Convertible loan | 6,635 | 3,406 | 3,229 | - | - | ||||||||||
Lease commitments | 9,910 | 2,967 | 5,392 | 1,551 | - | ||||||||||
Loans payable and interest | 16,202 | 2,828 | 4,014 | 2,524 | 6,836 | ||||||||||
Total | $ | 47,734 | $ | 24,188 | $ | 12,635 | $ | 4,075 | $ | 6,836 |
DIVIDENDS
The Company has never paid dividends. Payment of future dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors after taking into account many factors, including operating results, financial condition, and current and anticipated cash needs. All of the common shares in the capital of Company would be entitled to an equal share in any dividends declared and paid on a per share basis.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
As of the date of this report, the Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future effect on the results of operations or financial condition of the Company.
OUTSTANDING SHARE DATA
At December 31, 2023 and at the date of this report, the following securities were outstanding:
December 31, | Date of this | Exercise price | |
Total Outstanding as of: | 2023 | report: | range: |
Shares outstanding | 92,543,767 | 100,523,895 | |
Restricted Share Units | 1,470,580 | 1,562,806 | |
Stock options | 3,465,915 | 3,465,915 | C$1.35 - C$25.35 |
Special warrants | 5,750,000 | - | |
Warrants | 3,368,727 | 5,243,727 | C$5.00 - C$30.00 |
RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-IFRS FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES
The Company has presented certain non-IFRS measures in this document. The Company believes that these measures, while not a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers.
Gross Operating Margin
The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, it is helpful to investors to use the gross operating margin to evaluate the Company's performance and its ability to generate cash flows and service debt. The gross operating margin is defined as total revenue less direct cash costs, being operating and maintenance costs. Accordingly, this measure does not have a standard meaning and is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.
Gross mining margin is directly impacted by Bitcoin price and Bitcoin network Difficulty (which are both publicly available statistics). The Difficulty is an integer value that is proportional to the number of hashes required to solve a block. Revenue is directly proportional to Bitcoin price, and inversely proportional to Difficulty.
The following table provides illustration of the calculation of the gross operating margin for the last five quarters:
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
Calculation of Gross Operating Margin: | Q3 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q1 2024 | Q4 2023 | Q3 2023 | ||||||||||
Revenue (1) | $ | 31,252 | $ | 22,767 | $ | 23,565 | $ | 18,224 | $ | 14,318 | |||||
Less: | |||||||||||||||
Operating and maintenance costs: | (19,963 | ) | (18,134 | ) | (15,585 | ) | (14,198 | ) | (10,703 | ) | |||||
Gross Operating Margin | $ | 11,289 | $ | 4,633 | $ | 7,980 | $ | 4,026 | $ | 3,615 | |||||
Gross Operating Margin % | 36% | 20% | 34% | 22% | 25% |
(1) As presented on the statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss).
EBITDA & Adjusted EBITDA
The Company uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a metric that is useful for assessing its operating performance on a cash basis before the impact of non-cash items and acquisition related activities.
EBITDA is net income or loss from operations, as reported in profit and loss, before finance income and expense, tax and depreciation and amortization.
Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA adjusted for by removing other non-cash items, including share-based compensation, non-cash effect of the revaluation of digital currencies and one-time transactions.
The following table provides illustration of the calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the last five quarters:
Revised | Revised | ||||||||||||||
Calculation of EBITDA & Adjusted EBITDA: | Q3 F2024 | Q2 F2024 | Q1 F2024 | Q4 F2023 | Q3 F2023 | ||||||||||
Net (loss) income (1) | (6,951 | ) | (24,548 | ) | (16,252 | ) | 6,721 | (93,459 | ) | ||||||
Add the impact of the following: | |||||||||||||||
Finance expense | 843 | 838 | 879 | 774 | 1,004 | ||||||||||
Depreciation | 16,423 | 16,567 | 16,483 | 11,315 | 20,340 | ||||||||||
Tax expense (recovery) | 1,749 | 1,605 | 1,814 | 831 | (411 | ) | |||||||||
EBITDA | 12,064 | (5,538 | ) | 2,924 | 19,641 | (72,526 | ) | ||||||||
Revaluation of digital currencies | (422 | ) | 422 | - | (23,427 | ) | 5,997 | ||||||||
Revaluation of derivative liability | 129 | (417 | ) | 143 | 390 | (715 | ) | ||||||||
Impairment of equipment | - | - | - | (1,007 | ) | 38,844 | |||||||||
Impairment of deposits | - | - | - | - | 22,653 | ||||||||||
Provision on sales tax receivables | 4,931 | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||
(Gain) loss on sale of mining assets | (6 | ) | (26 | ) | 267 | 118 | 1,292 | ||||||||
Share-based compensation | 633 | 4,044 | 1,973 | 2,921 | 2,556 | ||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | 17,329 | (1,515 | ) | 5,307 | (1,364 | ) | (1,899 | ) |
(1) As presented on the statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss).
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company entered into the following related party transactions not otherwise disclosed in these consolidated financial statements:
(a) As at December 31, 2023, the Company had $9.5 due to the CFO (March 31, 2023 - $12 combined due to the CEO and CFO) for the reimbursement of expenses included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
(b) As at December 31, 2023, the Company had $nil (March 31, 2023 - $nil) due to a company controlled by Frank Holmes, a director of the Company included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. For the three and nine months period ended December 31, 2023, the Company paid $60 and $188, respectively (December 31, 2022 - $74 and $252, respectively) to this company for marketing services.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
Key Management Compensation
Key management personnel include those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Company as a whole. The Company has determined that key management personnel consist of members of the Company's Board of Directors and corporate officers.
For the three and nine months period ended December 31, 2023, key management compensation includes salaries and wages paid to key management personnel and directors of $335 and $944, respectively (December 31, 2022 - $489 and $1.2 million, respectively) and share-based payments of $443 and $4.4 million, respectively (December 31, 2022 - $2.1 million and $3.3 million, respectively).
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The Company has prepared the consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS. Significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 of the Company's financial statements as at and for the year ended March 31, 2023.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual outcomes could differ from these estimates.
The Company's significant judgements are detailed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2023, and include: functional currency, digital currencies accounting, and assessment of transactions as an asset acquisition or business combination.
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
The Company is exposed, in varying degrees, to a variety of financial related risks. The fair value of the Company's financial instruments, including cash, amounts receivable and accounts payable approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature. The type of risk exposure and the way in which such exposure is managed is provided in Note 24 to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2023.
DIGITAL CURRENCY AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Digital currencies are measured using level two fair values, determined by taking the rate from quoted price from the exchanges which the Company most frequently uses, with no adjustment.
Digital currency prices are affected by various forces including global supply and demand, interest rates, exchange rates, inflation or deflation and the global political and economic conditions. The profitability of the Company is directly related to the current and future market price of coins; in addition, the Company may not be able liquidate its inventory of digital currency at its desired price if required. A decline in the market prices for coins could negatively impact the Company's future operations. The Company has not hedged the conversion of any of its coin sales or future mining of digital currencies.
Digital currencies have a limited history and their fair value historically has been very volatile. Historical performance of digital currencies is not indicative of their future price performance. The Company's digital currencies currently consist of Bitcoin, and Ethereum Classic. The table below shows the impact for every 5% variance in the price of each of these digital currencies on the Company's earnings before tax, based on their closing prices as at December 31, 2023.
Impact of 5% variance in price | |||
Bitcoin | $ | 3,583 | |
Ethereum Classic | 6 |
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
The Company faces multiple risks that are related to both the general cryptocurrency business as well as the Company's business model. The risk factors described below summarize and supplement the risk factors contained in the Company's continuous disclosure filings including its annual information form for the year ended March 31, 2023, and this MD&A, all of which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the SEC's EDGAR system at www.SEC.gov/EDGAR, and should be read in conjunction with the more detailed risk factors outlined therein. These risk factors are not a definitive list of all risk factors associated with an investment in the Company or in connection with its operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company, or that are currently deemed immaterial, may also impair operations. If any such risks occur, the financial condition, liquidity and results of operations of the Company could be materially adversely affected.
The Company is exposed to risk related to the volatility/momentum pricing of any digital currency mined by the Company and held in inventory. Wide fluctuations in price, speculation, negative media coverage (highlighting for example, financial scandals related to crypto exchanges, regulatory actions and lawsuits against industry participants) and downward pricing may adversely affect investor confidence, and ultimately, the value of the Company's digital currency inventory which may have a material adverse affect on the Company, including an adverse effect on the Company's profitability from current operations. The Company currently holds Bitcoin primarily. Other coins that we mine using our GPU-based systems yield mining rewards in those cryptocurrencies, however, those coins are regularly exchanged for Bitcoin. As a result, the Company is more exposed to volatility in the Bitcoin market.
The Company may also be exposed to volatility in the cryptocurrency industry generally, including in sectors of the crypto industry that do not directly apply to the Company's mining business but that are integral to the cryptocurrency industry as a whole. Negative developments in any aspect of the crypto industry, including trading platforms, individual coins and exposure of scams, appear to affect the market perception of the industry as a whole. As a result, the value of our stock and our Bitcoin assets may be subject to greater volatility stemming from industry developments not directly related to our mining business.
Regulatory action, particularly in the United States, may negatively affect the value of Bitcoin, which is the focus of our mining operations. Enforcement actions by the SEC or other regulators against trading platforms and exchanges may indirectly negatively affect the Company if these actions have the effect of limiting access to Bitcoin.
The Company is also at risk due to the volatility of network hashrates (and lag between network hashrate and underlying cryptocurrency pricing), which may have an adverse effect on the Company's costs of mining.
A key factor in the Company's profitability of its mining operations is the cost of electricity in the regions where the Company has mining operations. Energy costs generally are subject to government regulation, natural occurrences (including weather) and local supply and demand for energy. The availability and pricing of energy may be negatively affected by governmental or regulatory changes in energy policies in the countries and Provinces where we operate. In addition, the Company is exposed to negative impacts of changes in tax policy, such as, but not limited to, being precluded from claiming deductions for back input taxes or other specific taxes imposed on cryptocurrency mining, as well as risks of losing any existing energy rebates or tax rebates across all jurisdictions.
In particular, the Russian invasion Ukraine which began on February 24, 2022, is affecting the supply of oil and natural gas in Europe. While it is impossible to predict what affect the war in Ukraine could have on the Company's operations in Sweden, our energy pricing is currently buffered partially by our ability to enter into forward energy agreements for the purchase of electricity. Our Swedish operation utilizes approximately 37.5 MW of renewable hydroelectric energy, which represents approximately 25% of our global overall utilization of hydroelectric and geothermal energy.
As a measure of security against hackers, the Company holds its Bitcoin in segregated, secure storage wallets, maintained by Fireblocks, a leading provider of crypto asset secure storage and management, which specializes in securely storing cryptocurrencies. HIVE has not pledged or staked our Bitcoin assets as collateral against debt or other obligations of any kind. HIVE's Bitcoin is not stored on any exchange. HIVE's Bitcoin is never "staked" for mining purposes (See our definition of "Proof-of-Stake") or loaned to any third party.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
Notwithstanding our proactive arrangements to protect our Bitcoin from hackers, there is no guarantee that our security measures, or the security measures of Fireblocks, will be effective. The Company may not be able to access or liquidate its digital currency inventory at economic values, or, if one or more such storage solutions failed or was compromised, at all. In addition, due to the relative newness of the cryptocurrency industry and the regulatory environment in which conventional financial service providers operate, the Company may have restricted access to services available to more mainstream businesses (for example, banking services). The general acceptance and use of digital currencies may never gain widespread or significant acceptance in the broader financial services industry, which may materially adversely affect the value of the Company's digital currency inventory and the Company's long-term prospects.
From time to time, we liquidate BTC in order to generate cash for working capital. For brief periods, our Bitcoin must be transferred to an exchange in order to facilitate the sale. During such times when our BTC, or the cash proceeds of our BTC, is held by an exchange, there is risk related to the exchange, itself. A financial failure by the exchange could result in our losing some or all of the BTC and/or cash that is held by the exchange at the time of the failure. The Company makes best efforts to transact using exchanges that are most reliable and financially secure, however, there remains a risk of an exchange failure at a time when the Company's assets are in the exchange's custody.
The Company was negatively impacted by the Ethereum Merge on September 15, 2022 (the "Merge"), when Ethereum shifted from a "proof-of-work" mining protocol to a "proof-of-stake" blockchain. Since that date, the Company has ceased mining Ethereum and has liquidated its Ethereum holdings. While it appears unlikely that the Bitcoin blockchain, which is central to our business, could be modified in a fashion similar to the Merge, there is no assurance that subsequent technology or innovations will not negatively affect the Bitcoin blockchain or the profitability of mining Bitcoin.
There is also a risk that the Company could be negative affected by a Bitcoin halving event. Halving is a process designed to control the overall supply and reduce the risk of inflation in Bitcoin. At a predetermined block, the mining reward is cut in half. The Bitcoin blockchain has undergone three Halvings since its inception. Most recently, in May 2020, the Bitcoin Block Reward decreased from 12.5 to 6.25 BTC per block and, consequently, the number of new Bitcoin issued to miners as a subsidy decreased to 900 per day, excluding transaction fees. While Halvings may thus have a significant negative short- to medium-term impact on miners such as the Company, it is expected that market variables of Bitcoin price will adjust over time to ensure that mining remains profitable. The period of market normalization after the next Bitcoin Halving to incentivizing profitability levels is unknown. A Bitcoin Halving is scheduled to occur once every 210,000 blocks, or roughly every four years, until the total amount of Bitcoin rewards issued reaches 21 million, which is expected to occur around 2140. The next Bitcoin Halving is expected to occur in April 2024. While Bitcoin prices have had a history of price fluctuations around Bitcoin Halvings, there is no guarantee that the price change will be favorable or would compensate for the reduction in mining reward. If Bitcoin price and difficulty do not maintain or continue their trend of adjusting to pre-Bitcoin halving profitability levels over time, or the period of market normalization after the Bitcoin Halving to pre-Bitcoin Halving profitability levels is too long, there is a risk that the Bitcoin Halving will render the Company unprofitable for a sustained time period such that it could be unable to continue as a going concern.
The Company also faces risk relating to the impact of the timing and exchange rate fluctuations resulting from the remittance and receipt back of value added taxes where applicable, as well as risks related to the imposition and quantum of value added taxes in jurisdictions where the Company operates. Due to the newness of the industry, there exists the possibility that the tax treatment of digital currencies becomes less favourable, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
The Company may be required to sell its digital currency inventory (principally Bitcoin) in order to pay for its ongoing expenses. In particular, such expenses could include contractual obligations for equipment purchases and the cost of maintaining the Company's facilities. Such sales of our cryptocurrency assets may not be available at economic values. The sale of our digital currency assets to pay expenses may reduce the attractiveness of the Company as an investment, which would negatively impact our share price.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
In recent years, the securities markets have experienced a high level of price and volume volatility, and the market price of securities of many companies, particularly those in cryptocurrency-focused businesses and those considered development stage companies (such as the Company), have experienced wide fluctuations in price. The market price of the Company's common shares ranged from C$1.36 to C$7.53 on the TSXV from May 24, 2022 (the date of the Company's 1:5 share consolidation) to March 31, 2023. The market price of the Company's common shares fluctuates significantly in response to a number of factors, most of which the Company cannot control and many of which have not necessarily been related to the operating performance, underlying asset values or prospects of the Company.
Given the relative novelty of digital currency mining and associated businesses as compared with traditional industry sectors, historical data required by insurance carriers and designers of insurance products is insufficient. As a result, insurance covering crypto assets is generally not available, or uneconomical for the Company to obtain. Consequently, we may have inadequate insurance coverage as compared to companies in traditional long-standing industries. While the Company takes measures to mitigate against losses of physical equipment, facility damage and mined digital currency held in inventory, our insurance may be inadequate to cover such losses, especially the loss of digital currency. In particular, we may be unduly exposed to loss as a result of cybercrime (hacking).
In terms of regulatory risks, governments may take action in the future that prohibit or restrict the right to acquire, own, hold, sell, use, mine or trade digital currencies or exchange digital currencies for fiat currency. Such restrictions, while impossible to predict, could result in the Company liquidating its digital currencies inventory at unfavorable prices or constricting its mining operations or even relocating its operations to friendlier jurisdictions which may entail additional security risks. The Company may liquidate a portion of its digital currency inventory, partially, to mitigate the aforementioned risk.
The Company also has risks associated with the continually evolving tax and regulatory environments in the countries where we operate, as described more fully in this report. Any final decisions by tax or regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over the Company may have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial position and operations.
Some jurisdictions have taken steps to limit or disallow entirely the use of fossil fuels to generate energy for cryptocurrency mining. Some jurisdictions have indicated that in the event their electrical grids are over-taxed by demand for electricity, allocation of power to cryptocurrency mining would be one of the first allocations to be curtailed or eliminated during such periods of high demand. While the Company's facilities are located in jurisdictions that have historically been friendly to crypto mining and have adequately robust electrical grids, there is no assurance that such policies will continue. We note an increased preponderance of anti-crypto and anti-crypto-mining sentiment in many jurisdictions. In particular, the political environment in some jurisdictions may be subject to change as aging electrical grids are called upon to carry more electricity to meet seasonal demands and evolving demands related to the growth in electric vehicles increase in significance.
To the extent that cryptocurrency exchanges or other trading venues are involved in fraud or experience security failures or other operational issues, this could result in a reduction in cryptocurrency prices. Cryptocurrency market prices depend, directly or indirectly, on the prices set on exchanges and other trading venues, which are new and, in most cases, largely unregulated as compared to established, regulated exchanges for securities, derivatives and other currencies.
The Company cautions that global uncertainty with respect to the COVID-19 virus and its effect on the broader global economy continues to be a concern. Future rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus may have a material adverse effect on global economic activity and could result in volatility and disruption to global supply chains, operations, mobility of people and the financial markets, which could affect interest rates, credit ratings, credit risk, inflation, business, financial conditions, results of operations and other factors relevant to the Company.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
This Management Discussion and Analysis contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities legislation. Forward-looking information is based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Forward-looking information in this Management Discussion and Analysis includes information about the Company's use and profitability of the Company's computing power; plans for growth and scaling up strategies; development of a new high performance computing business, the Company's strategic partnerships; the cost of energy in each of the jurisdictions where we conduct mining operations; potential and existing regulation of the availability of electricity; potential regulatory developments, the Company's strategy to acquire, develop and operate data centers and potential alternative computing services; expected mining capacity; the Company's plans to manage its data centers and trading operations from Bermuda; the value of the Company's digital currency inventory; projected growth and estimates for the high performance computing business, the overall business goals and objectives of the Company, and other forward-looking information including but not limited to information concerning the intentions, plans and future actions of the Company.
The forward-looking information in this Management Discussion and Analysis reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this Management Discussion and Analysis, historical prices of digital currencies; electricity pricing; the ability of the Company to mine digital currencies in an environment consistent with historical prices; and that there will be no regulation or law that will prevent the Company from operating its business as it currently is operated. The Company has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of the Company's normal course of business. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
This Management Discussion and Analysis also contains a "financial outlook" in the form of gross operating margins, which are intended to provide additional information only and may not be an appropriate or accurate predictions of future performance and should not be used as such. The gross operating margins disclosed in this Management Discussion and Analysis are based upon management's best estimates but are inherently speculative and there is no guarantee that such assumptions and estimates will prove to be correct.
Risk factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements and financial outlook are described in the "Risk Factors" section contained in this Management Discussion and Analysis, and the Risk Factors contained the Company's various filings on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov/EDGAR). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or financial outlook, which speak only as of the date hereof or thereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to forward-looking information or financial outlook that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by law.
INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Management of the Company, under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") of the Company, have designed, or caused to be designed under their supervision, disclosure controls and procedures ("DC&P"), to provide reasonable assurance that:
i) material information relating to the Company is made known to them by others, particularly during the period in which the Annual Filings were prepared; and
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
ii) information required to be disclosed by the Company in the Annual Filings, interim filings or other reports filed or submitted by the Company under securities legislation was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in securities legislation.
Management, under the supervision of the Company's CEO and CFO, evaluated, or caused to be evaluated, the effectiveness of the Company's DC&P as defined in National Instrument 52-109 - Certification of Disclosure in Issuer's Annual and Interim Filings as of March 31, 2023, and concluded that such DC&P were effective.
Internal control over financial reporting
Management, under the supervision of the CEO and CFO, is also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial reporting ("ICFR"). Management, under the supervision of the CEO and CFO, have designed, or caused to be designed under their supervision, ICFR to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS.
Management, under the supervision of the CEO and CFO of the Company, have evaluated the effectiveness of its ICFR as defined in National Instruments 52-109 - Certification of Disclosure in Issuer's Annual and Interim Filings. The control framework used for this evaluation was the Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission Management, under the supervision of the Company's CEO and CFO, concluded that, as of March 31, 2023, the ICFR were effective and had no material weakness.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting
There were no changes in the Company's ICFR that materially affected, or were reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's ICFR during the period beginning on October 1, 2023 and ended December 31, 2023.
Limitation of DC&P and ICFR
All control systems contain inherent limitations, no matter how well designed. As a result, the Company's management acknowledges that its internal control over financial reporting will not prevent or detect all misstatements due to error or fraud. In addition, management's evaluation of controls can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that all control issues that may result in material misstatements, if any, have been detected.
Additional information relating to the Company is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/EDGAR.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Additional information relating to the Company, including filings that the Company has made and may make in the future with applicable securities authorities, may be found on or through SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, EDGAR at www.sec.gov/EDGAR or the Company's website at www.hivedigitaltechnologies.com. Additional information, including directors' and officers' remuneration and indebtedness, principal holders of Company's securities and securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans, is also contained in the Company's most recent management information circular for the most recent annual meeting of Shareholders of the Company. In addition to press releases, securities filings and public conference calls and webcasts, the Company intends to use its investor relations page on its website as a means of disclosing material information to its investors and others and for complying with its disclosure obligations under applicable securities laws. Accordingly, investors and others should monitor the website in addition to following the Company's press releases, securities filings, and public conference calls and webcasts. This list may be updated from time to time.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (formerly, HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd.) Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023 (In thousands of US Dollars, except share amounts) |
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Subsequent to December 31, 2023, the Company issued 2,064,378 common shares (the "August 2023 ATM Shares") pursuant to the August 2023 ATM Equity Program for gross proceeds of C$11.1 million ($8.3 million). The August 2023 ATM shares were sold at prevailing market prices, for an average price per August 2023 ATM Share of C$5.37. Pursuant to the August 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement, a cash commission of $248 on the aggregate gross proceeds raised was paid to the agent in connection with its services under the August 2023 Equity Distribution Agreement.
Subsequent to December 31, 2023, the Company issued 165,750 common shares under the RSU plan upon the exercise of restricted share units.
On January 5, 2024, the Company granted 241,976 restricted share units to a employees, consultants and officers of the Company with a fair value of C$5.56 per share and vesting on January 5, 2025.
On January 12, 2024, the Company granted 16,000 restricted share units to an officer of the Company with a fair value of C$4.84 per share and vesting on January 12, 2025.
On February 2, 2024, each 2023 Special Warrant was deemed to be exercised into one unit comprised of one common share of the Company and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$6.00 per whole warrant until December 28, 2026.
FORM 52-109F2
CERTIFICATION OF INTERIM FILINGS
INTERIM CERTIFICATE
I, Aydin Kilic, Chief Executive Officer of HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd., certify the following:
1. Review: I have reviewed the interim financial report and interim MD&A (together, the "interim filings") of HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (the "issuer") for the interim period ended December 31, 2023.
2. No misrepresentations: Based on my knowledge, having exercised reasonable diligence, the interim filings do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement not misleading in light of the circumstances under which it was made, with respect to the period covered by the interim filings.
3. Fair presentation: Based on my knowledge, having exercised reasonable diligence, the interim financial report together with the other financial information included in the interim filings fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, financial performance and cash flows of the issuer, as of the date of and for the periods presented in the interim filings.
4. Responsibility: The issuer's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (DC&P) and internal control over financial reporting (ICFR), as those terms are defined in National Instrument 52-109 Certification of Disclosure in Issuers' Annual and Interim Filings, for the issuer.
5. Design: Subject to the limitations, if any, described in paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3, the issuer's other certifying officer(s) and I have, as at the end of the period covered by the interim filings:
a. designed DC&P, or caused it to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance that:
i. material information relating to the issuer is made known to us by others, particularly during the period in which the interim filings are being prepared; and
ii. information required to be disclosed by the issuer in its annual filings, interim filings or other reports filed or submitted by it under securities legislation is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in securities legislation; and
b. designed ICFR, or caused it to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with the issuer's GAAP.
5.1 Control framework: The control framework the issuer's other certifying officer(s) and I used to design the issuer's ICFR is the Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
5.2 ICFR - material weakness relating to design: N/A
5.3 Limitation on scope of design: N/A
6. Reporting changes in ICFR: The issuer has disclosed in its interim MD&A any change in the issuer's ICFR that occurred during the period beginning on April 1, 2023 and ended December 31, 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the issuer's ICFR.
DATED the 12th day of February, 2024.
/s/ Aydin Kilic
Aydin Kilic
Chief Executive Officer
FORM 52-109F2
CERTIFICATION OF INTERIM FILINGS
INTERIM CERTIFICATE
I, Darcy Daubaras, Chief Financial Officer of HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd., certify the following:
1. Review: I have reviewed the interim financial report and interim MD&A (together, the "interim filings") of HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (the "issuer") for the interim period ended December 31, 2023.
2. No misrepresentations: Based on my knowledge, having exercised reasonable diligence, the interim filings do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement not misleading in light of the circumstances under which it was made, with respect to the period covered by the interim filings.
3. Fair presentation: Based on my knowledge, having exercised reasonable diligence, the interim financial report together with the other financial information included in the interim filings fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, financial performance and cash flows of the issuer, as of the date of and for the periods presented in the interim filings.
4. Responsibility: The issuer's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (DC&P) and internal control over financial reporting (ICFR), as those terms are defined in National Instrument 52-109 Certification of Disclosure in Issuers' Annual and Interim Filings, for the issuer.
5. Design: Subject to the limitations, if any, described in paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3, the issuer's other certifying officer(s) and I have, as at the end of the period covered by the interim filings:
a. designed DC&P, or caused it to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance that:
i. material information relating to the issuer is made known to us by others, particularly during the period in which the interim filings are being prepared; and
ii. information required to be disclosed by the issuer in its annual filings, interim filings or other reports filed or submitted by it under securities legislation is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in securities legislation; and
b. designed ICFR, or caused it to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with the issuer's GAAP.
5.1 Control framework: The control framework the issuer's other certifying officer(s) and I used to design the issuer's ICFR is the Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
5.2 ICFR - material weakness relating to design: N/A
5.3 Limitation on scope of design: N/A
6. Reporting changes in ICFR: The issuer has disclosed in its interim MD&A any change in the issuer's ICFR that occurred during the period beginning on April 1, 2023 and ended December 31, 2023 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the issuer's ICFR.
DATED the 12th day of February, 2024.
/s/ Darcy Daubaras
Darcy Daubaras
Chief Financial Officer
HIVE Digital Provides January 2024 Production Update Increasing Bitcoin HODL by 14%
This news release constitutes a "designated news release" for the purposes of the Company's amended and restated prospectus supplement dated August 17, 2023, to its short form base shelf prospectus dated May 1, 2023.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2024) - HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: HIVE) (NASDAQ: HIVE) (FSE: YO0) (the "Company" or "HIVE") is pleased to announce the unaudited production figures from the Company's global Bitcoin operations for the month of January 2024, with 234.6 Bitcoin produced in January. The Company has maintained over 3.88 Exahash ("EH/s") of Bitcoin mining capacity on average for January 2024, including ASIC and GPU BTC hashrate (all amounts in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated).
Summary Overview:
The Company's HODL position at the end of January 2024 was 1,939 BTC, which was 234.6 BTC higher than the prior month, representing a 14% increase. All BTC produced was HODL during the month.
Arctic Cold Weather
HIVE mines Bitcoin sourcing geothermal and hydroelectric renewable energy in Sweden, Iceland and Canada. There have been a few days of conserving electricity consumption due to cold weather. The Company's software system to balance the grid has worked smoothly and HIVE expects, based on seasonal weather patterns, milder weather in March.
Cold weather in Northern Sweden, where the Company's facilities are 100 miles south of the Arctic Circle, hit negative 40 degrees Celsius. Fortunately, this seasonal pattern appears to be behind us. In addition, HIVE does hedge its cost of energy in Sweden.
Bitcoin Halving Strategy
Frank Holmes, Executive Chairman, of the Company stated "We have upgraded our fleet of ASICs, to improve our global fleet efficiency to reduce our average production cost per Bitcoin. In addition to this, we have been HODL'ing our Bitcoin reserves ahead of the Halving. With the Halving event in April 2024, the global daily Bitcoin block reward will reduce from 900 Bitcoin per day to 450 Bitcoin per day. This underscores the scarcity of Bitcoin, and thus we believe increasing our HODL will put HIVE in a strong position."
Bitcoin ASIC Upgrade with S21
Aydin Kilic, President & CEO of HIVE stated "We are thrilled to announce that we have received and installed our January batch of Bitmain S21 Antminers, the latest and most efficient machines on the market. These miners each have 200 TH/s and efficiency of 17.5 J/TH. To put this into perspective, this means that at current Bitcoin network difficulty of 75.5T these machines can produce a Bitcoin at a cost of approximately $10,000, assuming a power price of $0.04 per KWHR. HIVE has purchased 7,000 of these machines, which in total will provide 1.4 EH/s of high efficiency mining capacity to our fleet. Additionally, we note that our February batch will ship before Chinese New Year, and we anticipate receiving and installing them before the February month end."
January 2024 Production Figures
The Company's total Bitcoin production in January 2024 was:
Bitcoin Global Network Mining Difficulty Is Volatile
Network difficulty factors are a significant variable in the Company's gross profit margins. The Bitcoin network difficulty was 72.0T as of January 1, and decreased to 70.3 T as of January 31. Accordingly, Bitcoin mining difficulty ended the month about 2% lower than the beginning of the month.
The Bitcoin network difficulty is a publicly available statistic, which reflects the total number of Bitcoin miners online. This is an important metric in analyzing a company's gross profit margins, along with the number of Bitcoin produced. This data is publicly available on many websites, including www.Blockchain.com.
As more Bitcoin is mined (difficulty increases), the daily Bitcoin block reward (which presently is fixed at 900 Bitcoin per day), gets split amongst more miners; thus, each miner receives a smaller portion of the block reward. Conversely, as Bitcoin prices fall, many miners may lose money and power down, thus taking their hashrate off the network, causing network difficulty to decrease.
Those miners with the lowest costs of production, by virtue of having more efficient machines and/or lower energy costs, are able to continue production during these volatile cycles. Not all miners will continuously mine during the month. As a result, some miners will produce less Bitcoin than expected, relative to their advertised hashrate. For the foregoing reasons, HIVE will self-curtail part of its operations if the unhedged spot energy prices are uneconomical, thereby leaving part of its total gross hashrate unutilized.
Bitcoin miners are striving to use the most efficient Bitcoin ASIC chips, and HIVE is happy that it has been able to upgrade its global fleet during this crypto market downturn.
About HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. went public in 2017 as the first cryptocurrency mining company listed for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange with a sustainable green energy focus.
HIVE is a growth-oriented technology stock in the emergent blockchain industry. As a company whose shares trade on a major stock exchange, we are building a bridge between the digital currency and blockchain sector and traditional capital markets. HIVE owns green energy-powered data centre facilities in Canada, Sweden, and Iceland, where we endeavour to source geothermal and hydroelectric energy to mine digital assets such as Bitcoin on the cloud. Since the beginning of 2021, HIVE has held in secure storage the majority of its treasury of ETH and BTC derived from mining rewards. Our shares provide investors with exposure to the operating margins of digital currency mining, as well as a portfolio of Bitcoin. Because HIVE also owns hard assets such as data centers and advanced multi-use servers, we believe our shares offer investors an attractive way to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency space.
We encourage you to visit HIVE's YouTube channel here to learn more about HIVE.
For more information and to register to HIVE's mailing list, please visit www.HIVEdigitaltechnologies.com. Follow @HIVEDigitalTech on Twitter and subscribe to HIVE's YouTube channel.
On Behalf of HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd.
"Frank Holmes"
Executive Chairman
For further information please contact:
Frank Holmes
Tel: (604) 664-1078
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Forward-Looking Information
Except for the statements of historical fact, this news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation and regulations that is based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. "Forward-looking information" in this news release includes but is not limited to: business goals and objectives of the Company; the results of operations for January 2024; the acquisition, deployment and optimization of the mining fleet and equipment; the continued viability of its existing Bitcoin mining operations; and other forward-looking information concerning the intentions, plans and future actions of the parties to the transactions described herein and the terms thereon.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such forward looking information include, but are not limited to, the volatility of the digital currency market; the Company's ability to successfully mine digital currency; the Company may not be able to profitably liquidate its current digital currency inventory as required, or at all; a material decline in digital currency prices may have a significant negative impact on the Company's operations; the regulatory environment for cryptocurrency in Canada, the United States and the countries where our mining facilities are located; economic dependence on regulated terms of service and electricity rates; the speculative and competitive nature of the technology sector; dependency on continued growth in blockchain and cryptocurrency usage; lawsuits and other legal proceedings and challenges; government regulations; the global economic climate; dilution; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing, including the Company's ability to utilize the Company's at-the-market equity offering program (the "ATM Program") and the prices at which the Company may sell Common Shares in the ATM Program, as well as capital market conditions in general; risks relating to the strategy of maintaining and increasing Bitcoin holdings and the impact of depreciating Bitcoin prices on working capital; the competitive nature of the industry; currency exchange risks; the need for the Company to manage its planned growth and expansion; the effects of product development and need for continued technology change; the ability to maintain reliable and economical sources of power to run its cryptocurrency mining assets; the impact of energy curtailment or regulatory changes in the energy regimes in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates; protection of proprietary rights; the effect of government regulation and compliance on the Company and the industry; network security risks; the ability of the Company to maintain properly working systems; reliance on key personnel; global economic and financial market deterioration impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital; share dilution resulting from the ATM Program and from other equity issuances; the construction and operation of facilities may not occur as currently planned, or at all; expansion may not materialize as currently anticipated, or at all; the digital currency market; the ability to successfully mine digital currency; revenue may not increase as currently anticipated, or at all; it may not be possible to profitably liquidate the current digital currency inventory, or at all; a decline in digital currency prices may have a significant negative impact on operations; an increase in network difficulty may have a significant negative impact on operations; the volatility of digital currency prices; the anticipated growth and sustainability of electricity for the purposes of cryptocurrency mining in the applicable jurisdictions; the inability to maintain reliable and economical sources of power for the Company to operate cryptocurrency mining assets; the risks of an increase in the Company's electricity costs, cost of natural gas, changes in currency exchange rates, energy curtailment or regulatory changes in the energy regimes in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates and the adverse impact on the Company's profitability; the ability to complete current and future financings, any regulations or laws that will prevent the Company from operating its business; historical prices of digital currencies and the ability to mine digital currencies that will be consistent with historical prices; an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of digital currencies, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains; and, the adoption or expansion of any regulation or lawthat will prevent the Company from operating its business, or make it more costly to do so; and other related risks as more fully set out in the Company's disclosure documents under the Company's filings at www.sec.gov/EDGAR and www.sedarplus.ca.
The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made assumptions about the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, the timing thereof and related matters. The Company has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of the Company's normal course of business. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to its inherent uncertainty. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether because of newinformation, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197364
FORM 51-102F3
MATERIAL CHANGE REPORT
Item 1 Name and Address of Company
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. ("HIVE" or the "Company")
# 855 - 789 West Pender Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 1H2
Item 2 Date of Material Change
February 9, 2024.
Item 3 News Release
The press release attached as Schedule "A" was released on February 9, 2024 by a newswire company in Canada.
Item 4 Summary of Material Change
The material change is described in the press release attached as Schedule "A".
Item 5 Full Description of Material Change
The material change is described in the press release attached as Schedule "A".
Item 6 Reliance of subsection 7.1(2) of National Instrument 51-102
Not applicable.
Item 7 Omitted Information
Not applicable.
Item 8 Executive Officer
Darcy Daubaras
Chief Financial Officer
T: 604-664-1078
Item 9 Date of Report
February 9, 2024.
Schedule "A"
HIVE Digital Provides January 2024 Production Update Increasing Bitcoin HODL by 14%
This news release constitutes a "designated news release" for the purposes of the Company's amended and restated prospectus supplement dated August 17, 2023, to its short form base shelf prospectus dated May 1, 2023.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 9, 2024) - HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: HIVE) (NASDAQ: HIVE) (FSE: YO0) (the "Company" or "HIVE") is pleased to announce the unaudited production figures from the Company's global Bitcoin operations for the month of January 2024, with 234.6 Bitcoin produced in January. The Company has maintained over 3.88 Exahash ("EH/s") of Bitcoin mining capacity on average for January 2024, including ASIC and GPU BTC hashrate (all amounts in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated).
Summary Overview:
The Company's HODL position at the end of January 2024 was 1,939 BTC, which was 234.6 BTC higher than the prior month, representing a 14% increase. All BTC produced was HODL during the month.
Arctic Cold Weather
HIVE mines Bitcoin sourcing geothermal and hydroelectric renewable energy in Sweden, Iceland and Canada. There have been a few days of conserving electricity consumption due to cold weather. The Company's software system to balance the grid has worked smoothly and HIVE expects, based on seasonal weather patterns, milder weather in March.
Cold weather in Northern Sweden, where the Company's facilities are 100 miles south of the Arctic Circle, hit negative 40 degrees Celsius. Fortunately, this seasonal pattern appears to be behind us. In addition, HIVE does hedge its cost of energy in Sweden.
Bitcoin Halving Strategy
Frank Holmes, Executive Chairman, of the Company stated "We have upgraded our fleet of ASICs, to improve our global fleet efficiency to reduce our average production cost per Bitcoin. In addition to this, we have been HODL'ing our Bitcoin reserves ahead of the Halving. With the Halving event in April 2024, the global daily Bitcoin block reward will reduce from 900 Bitcoin per day to 450 Bitcoin per day. This underscores the scarcity of Bitcoin, and thus we believe increasing our HODL will put HIVE in a strong position."
Bitcoin ASIC Upgrade with S21
Aydin Kilic, President & CEO of HIVE stated "We are thrilled to announce that we have received and installed our January batch of Bitmain S21 Antminers, the latest and most efficient machines on the market. These miners each have 200 TH/s and efficiency of 17.5 J/TH. To put this into perspective, this means that at current Bitcoin network difficulty of 75.5T these machines can produce a Bitcoin at a cost of approximately $10,000, assuming a power price of $0.04 per KWHR. HIVE has purchased 7,000 of these machines, which in total will provide 1.4 EH/s of high efficiency mining capacity to our fleet. Additionally, we note that our February batch will ship before Chinese New Year, and we anticipate receiving and installing them before the February month end."
January 2024 Production Figures
The Company's total Bitcoin production in January 2024 was:
Bitcoin Global Network Mining Difficulty Is Volatile
Network difficulty factors are a significant variable in the Company's gross profit margins. The Bitcoin network difficulty was 72.0T as of January 1, and decreased to 70.3 T as of January 31. Accordingly, Bitcoin mining difficulty ended the month about 2% lower than the beginning of the month.
The Bitcoin network difficulty is a publicly available statistic, which reflects the total number of Bitcoin miners online. This is an important metric in analyzing a company's gross profit margins, along with the number of Bitcoin produced. This data is publicly available on many websites, including www.Blockchain.com.
As more Bitcoin is mined (difficulty increases), the daily Bitcoin block reward (which presently is fixed at 900 Bitcoin per day), gets split amongst more miners; thus, each miner receives a smaller portion of the block reward. Conversely, as Bitcoin prices fall, many miners may lose money and power down, thus taking their hashrate off the network, causing network difficulty to decrease.
Those miners with the lowest costs of production, by virtue of having more efficient machines and/or lower energy costs, are able to continue production during these volatile cycles. Not all miners will continuously mine during the month. As a result, some miners will produce less Bitcoin than expected, relative to their advertised hashrate. For the foregoing reasons, HIVE will self-curtail part of its operations if the unhedged spot energy prices are uneconomical, thereby leaving part of its total gross hashrate unutilized.
Bitcoin miners are striving to use the most efficient Bitcoin ASIC chips, and HIVE is happy that it has been able to upgrade its global fleet during this crypto market downturn.
About HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd.
HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. went public in 2017 as the first cryptocurrency mining company listed for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange with a sustainable green energy focus.
HIVE is a growth-oriented technology stock in the emergent blockchain industry. As a company whose shares trade on a major stock exchange, we are building a bridge between the digital currency and blockchain sector and traditional capital markets. HIVE owns green energy-powered data centre facilities in Canada, Sweden, and Iceland, where we endeavour to source geothermal and hydroelectric energy to mine digital assets such as Bitcoin on the cloud. Since the beginning of 2021, HIVE has held in secure storage the majority of its treasury of ETH and BTC derived from mining rewards. Our shares provide investors with exposure to the operating margins of digital currency mining, as well as a portfolio of Bitcoin. Because HIVE also owns hard assets such as data centers and advanced multi-use servers, we believe our shares offer investors an attractive way to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency space.
We encourage you to visit HIVE's YouTube channel here to learn more about HIVE.
For more information and to register to HIVE's mailing list, please visit www.HIVEdigitaltechnologies.com. Follow @HIVEDigitalTech on Twitter and subscribe to HIVE's YouTube channel.
On Behalf of HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd.
"Frank Holmes"
Executive Chairman
For further information please contact:
Frank Holmes
Tel: (604) 664-1078
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Forward-Looking Information
Except for the statements of historical fact, this news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation and regulations that is based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. "Forward-looking information" in this news release includes but is not limited to: business goals and objectives of the Company; the results of operations for January 2024; the acquisition, deployment and optimization of the mining fleet and equipment; the continued viability of its existing Bitcoin mining operations; and other forward-looking information concerning the intentions, plans and future actions of the parties to the transactions described herein and the terms thereon.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such forward looking information include, but are not limited to, the volatility of the digital currency market; the Company's ability to successfully mine digital currency; the Company may not be able to profitably liquidate its current digital currency inventory as required, or at all; a material decline in digital currency prices may have a significant negative impact on the Company's operations; the regulatory environment for cryptocurrency in Canada, the United States and the countries where our mining facilities are located; economic dependence on regulated terms of service and electricity rates; the speculative and competitive nature of the technology sector; dependency on continued growth in blockchain and cryptocurrency usage; lawsuits and other legal proceedings and challenges; government regulations; the global economic climate; dilution; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing, including the Company's ability to utilize the Company's at-the-market equity offering program (the "ATM Program") and the prices at which the Company may sell Common Shares in the ATM Program, as well as capital market conditions in general; risks relating to the strategy of maintaining and increasing Bitcoin holdings and the impact of depreciating Bitcoin prices on working capital; the competitive nature of the industry; currency exchange risks; the need for the Company to manage its planned growth and expansion; the effects of product development and need for continued technology change; the ability to maintain reliable and economical sources of power to run its cryptocurrency mining assets; the impact of energy curtailment or regulatory changes in the energy regimes in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates; protection of proprietary rights; the effect of government regulation and compliance on the Company and the industry; network security risks; the ability of the Company to maintain properly working systems; reliance on key personnel; global economic and financial market deterioration impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital; share dilution resulting from the ATM Program and from other equity issuances; the construction and operation of facilities may not occur as currently planned, or at all; expansion may not materialize as currently anticipated, or at all; the digital currency market; the ability to successfully mine digital currency; revenue may not increase as currently anticipated, or at all; it may not be possible to profitably liquidate the current digital currency inventory, or at all; a decline in digital currency prices may have a significant negative impact on operations; an increase in network difficulty may have a significant negative impact on operations; the volatility of digital currency prices; the anticipated growth and sustainability of electricity for the purposes of cryptocurrency mining in the applicable jurisdictions; the inability to maintain reliable and economical sources of power for the Company to operate cryptocurrency mining assets; the risks of an increase in the Company's electricity costs, cost of natural gas, changes in currency exchange rates, energy curtailment or regulatory changes in the energy regimes in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates and the adverse impact on the Company's profitability; the ability to complete current and future financings, any regulations or laws that will prevent the Company from operating its business; historical prices of digital currencies and the ability to mine digital currencies that will be consistent with historical prices; an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of digital currencies, capital market conditions, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains; and, the adoption or expansion of any regulation or lawthat will prevent the Company from operating its business, or make it more costly to do so; and other related risks as more fully set out in the Company's disclosure documents under the Company's filings at www.sec.gov/EDGAR and www.sedarplus.ca.
The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made assumptions about the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, the timing thereof and related matters. The Company has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of the Company's normal course of business. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to its inherent uncertainty. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether because of newinformation, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/197364