Bitcoin miner Core Scientific says it may seek bankruptcy

CORE Scientific, one of the world’s largest miners of Bitcoin, warned that it may run out of cash by the end of the year and could seek relief through bankruptcy protection.

Operating performance and liquidity have been severely impacted by the prolonged drop in the price of Bitcoin, a rise in electricity costs, increased competition and litigation with bankrupt Celsius Networks, the Austin, Texas-based company said in a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Thursday (Oct 27). Shares of Core Scientific plunged as much as 77 per cent, its largest decline since going public earlier this year through a merger.

Bitcoin mining companies such as Core Scientific had recently been increasingly opting to sell equity, resorting to one of their least attractive options to raise money as profits dry up and higher interest rates makes borrowing more expensive. The company entered into a US$100 million common stock purchase agreement with B Riley Principal Capital II in July. Bitcoin has slumped almost 70 per cent since reaching a record high in November 2021.

“We could see similar filings within the sector,” said Brian Dobson, an analyst at Chardan Capital, who had a ‘buy’ rating on the shares. “This is going to weigh on all of the publicly traded crypto miners.”

Should Core Scientific file for bankruptcy, it would likely be the first large publicly traded Bitcoin miner to do so, Dobson said.

A slew of bankruptcies has already hit the digital asset space. Compute North Holdings, a provider of data services for miners and blockchain companies, filed for bankruptcy in September. This summer, crypto broker Voyager Digital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

“It’s no secret that the space has been struggling in general with the low Bitcoin prices,” said Chase White, an analyst at Compass Point Research & Trading who also has a ‘buy’ rating on Core Scientific shares. “They are running out of options here with their ability to raise additional liquidity.”

Core Scientific said it won’t make payments coming due in late October and early November with respect to several of equipment and other financings, including two bridge promissory notes. The company is exploring alternatives, including hiring strategic advisers, raising additional capital or restructuring its existing capital structure.

Core Scientific held 24 Bitcoins and approximately US$26.6 million in cash as of Thursday. That’s compared with 1,051 Bitcoins and about US$29.5 million in cash as of September, the company said in the filing.

The shares, which traded as much as US$14.32 late last year, are now down to around 33 cents. They’ve tumbled 97 per cent since the start of the year.

Riot Blockchain fell about 1 per cent to US$7, while Marathon Digital Holdings was little changed at around US$13.75. The companies are down about 69 per cent and 58 per cent this year, respectively. BLOOMBERG