Core Viewpoint - Riot Platforms, Inc. has appointed Jason Chung as the new Chief Financial Officer, effective March 1, 2026, succeeding Colin Yee, who will transition to a Senior Advisor role to ensure continuity [1][2]. Group 1: Leadership Transition - Jason Chung, currently the EVP, Head of Corporate Development & Strategy, will take over as CFO, bringing two decades of experience in investment banking and corporate finance [3]. - Colin Yee will continue in his role until March 1, 2026, after which he will support the company in a Senior Advisor capacity [2][4]. Group 2: Strategic Alignment - Chung's appointment is aimed at aligning Riot's financial framework with its long-term strategic objectives, as he will lead the finance organization while overseeing Corporate Development and Investor Relations [3][5]. - The consolidation of finance and strategy functions under Chung is expected to enhance Riot's ability to execute its ambitious growth plans [5]. Group 3: Company Overview - Riot Platforms, Inc. is a leader in the Bitcoin-driven industry, focusing on large-scale data centers and bitcoin mining applications [7]. - The company operates mining facilities in central Texas and Kentucky and is expanding into data center development to support high-density computing demands [7].

Core Viewpoint - Bitfarms Ltd. is strategically selling its 70 MW site in Paraguay to focus entirely on North American energy and digital infrastructure, particularly in high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors [1][2]. Transaction Details - The sale involves a definitive share purchase agreement with the Sympatheia Power Fund, valuing the operating site at up to $30 million [3][6]. - Bitfarms will receive $9 million in cash upon closing, including a $1 million non-refundable deposit, and up to $21 million over the following 10 months based on payment milestones [6]. Strategic Rebalancing - The transaction allows Bitfarms to rebalance its energy assets portfolio to 100% North American, enhancing its liquidity profile and accelerating the monetization of operations [6]. - The updated energy portfolio includes 341 MW of energized capacity, 430 MW under active development, and a total multi-year pipeline of 2.1 GW in North America, with approximately 90% based in the U.S. [6]. Company Overview - Bitfarms is a North American energy and digital infrastructure company that operates state-of-the-art data centers and energy infrastructure for Bitcoin mining and HPC/AI [4][5]. - The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in New York and Toronto, trading on both the Nasdaq and Toronto Stock Exchange [5].

Core Insights - Bitcoin mining equities are experiencing a sell-off at the start of 2026, raising questions about the profitability of Bitcoin mining despite infrastructure expansions and partnerships [1][3] - Bitcoin's price is hovering around $88,900, showing a modest increase but a decline of approximately 2.8% month-over-month, negatively impacting publicly traded miners [2][3] Company Developments - Companies like Marathon Digital, CleanSpark, and Riot Platforms have seen their stock prices decline despite ongoing expansion news, with Marathon and CleanSpark reporting modest weekly losses and Riot's stock slipping even with a bullish outlook from JPMorgan Chase [3][4] - Cipher Mining has added a 200-megawatt site in Ohio, increasing its total development pipeline to 3.4 gigawatts, while TeraWulf secured $1.3 billion in debt financing for high-performance computing infrastructure in Texas [4] - Hut 8 has entered a long-term hosting agreement with Fluidstack to support AI workloads, projected to generate $7 billion over 15 years [4] Industry Challenges - The Bitcoin mining industry faces a significant challenge in 2026, characterized by cash-flow optimism that is insufficient to counteract short-term pressures from Bitcoin's price stagnation [5] - The perception of miner firms is shifting; they are increasingly viewed as leveraged beta rather than growth infrastructure plays or security for Bitcoin [5][6] - Newer entrants like DL Holdings Group reported production of 25.2 BTC in December and aim to reach 600-700 BTC annually by 2026, but the overall sentiment remains cautious until Bitcoin establishes a clear upward trend [6]

Core Viewpoint - Rosen Law Firm is reminding investors who purchased Bitdeer Technologies Group securities between June 6, 2024, and November 10, 2025, of the upcoming lead plaintiff deadline on February 2, 2026 [1] Group 1: Class Action Details - Investors who purchased Bitdeer securities during the specified Class Period may be entitled to compensation without any out-of-pocket fees through a contingency fee arrangement [2] - A class action lawsuit has already been filed, and interested parties can join by contacting Rosen Law Firm [3] - Investors wishing to serve as lead plaintiff must file with the Court by February 2, 2026 [3] Group 2: Law Firm Credentials - Rosen Law Firm has a strong track record in securities class actions, having achieved the largest securities class action settlement against a Chinese company [4] - The firm was ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for the number of settlements in 2017 and has consistently ranked in the top 4 since 2013, recovering hundreds of millions for investors [4] - In 2019, the firm secured over $438 million for investors, and its founding partner was recognized as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 in 2020 [4] Group 3: Case Specifics - The lawsuit alleges that Bitdeer provided misleading information regarding its SEALMINER Bitcoin mining machine, specifically about the mass production and energy efficiency of its SEAL04 chip technology [5] - Defendants are accused of failing to disclose that the SEAL04 chip, projected to have an energy efficiency of 5 J/TH, would not be ready for use in the A4 rigs until mass production was expected to begin in Q2 2025 [5] - These misleading statements led to investors purchasing Bitdeer securities at artificially inflated prices, resulting in damages when the true information became public [5]

Core Insights - Blockchain investing presents a dilemma between individual mining stocks and ETFs, with the Global X Blockchain ETF (BKCH) gaining 31.6% in 2025 while individual miners faced declines [2][6] - Bitcoin trades above $87,000, down 16.5% from its November peak of $105,316, but remains positive for the year [2] - The key question for 2026 is whether institutional adoption can drive Bitcoin and blockchain equities higher or if mining economics will continue to pressure profitability [2] Institutional Adoption - Corporate Bitcoin adoption is a crucial macro factor for BKCH in 2026, with a 59% probability that another S&P 500 company will add Bitcoin to its balance sheet by year-end 2026 [3] - BKCH holds a 12% position in Coinbase, which benefits from institutional trading volume and custody fees, making broader corporate adoption significant for the ETF's portfolio [3] - Monitoring quarterly earnings calls from S&P 500 companies, especially in technology and financial sectors, for mentions of Bitcoin treasury strategies can create momentum for Bitcoin prices and blockchain equities [4] Mining Economics - Bitcoin mining difficulty reached a record 148.2 trillion at the end of 2025 and continues to rise, increasing the need for more computing power and electricity for mining operations [5] - Mining payback periods now exceed 1,000 days for many operations, which pressures margins and makes profitability reliant on Bitcoin price appreciation [5][6] - BKCH has 78.5% of its assets in its top 10 holdings, with significant investments in companies like Bitmine Immersion Technologies (13%), Iren Ltd (10.9%), and Applied Digital (8.7%) [6]

Core Viewpoint - Riot Platforms has initiated a $500 million at-the-market offering, replacing a previous equity sale agreement established in August 2024 [1] Group 1: Financial Developments - The new $500 million facility allows Riot discretion over the timing and volume of sales [1] - Prior to the cancellation of the 2024 agreement, Riot sold approximately $600.5 million worth of stock, with about $149.5 million in unsold capacity remaining [2] Group 2: Market Projections - Institutional analysts project growth for Riot's infrastructure, with J.P. Morgan forecasting a "45% upside" for Riot shares through 2026 [2] - Analysts expect the company to sign a "600 MW colocation deal" at its Corsicana site by the end of 2026 [2] Group 3: Operational Capacity - Riot owns 1.7 GW of power capacity across two large-scale sites in Texas, which are located in tier-1 markets, considered "rare" for the Bitcoin mining industry [3]

Company Overview - OnyxPoint Global Management acquired a new stake in Riot Platforms, purchasing 232,206 shares valued at approximately $4.42 million during the third quarter [2][3][7] - Riot Platforms reported record revenue of $180.2 million and net income of $104.5 million in the third quarter, a significant improvement from a loss of $154.4 million in the same period last year [12] - The company mined 1,406 bitcoin at an average cash cost of $46,324 per coin, benefiting from power curtailment credits that offset energy costs [12] Financial Metrics - Riot Platforms has a total revenue (TTM) of $637.16 million and a net income (TTM) of $164.00 million [5] - As of September 30, Riot held 19,287 bitcoin worth approximately $2.2 billion and $330.7 million in unrestricted cash, providing significant financial flexibility [13] Market Performance - Riot's shares were priced at $13.20, reflecting a 26% increase over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500, which rose about 17% [4] - The stake in Riot represents 2.38% of OnyxPoint's total reportable U.S. equity holdings, which amount to $185.59 million across eight positions [3] Business Model and Strategy - Riot Platforms operates as a leading U.S.-based Bitcoin mining company, focusing on institutional-scale operations and power distribution equipment [9][10] - The company is expanding its operations beyond mining, with ongoing construction of 112 megawatts of capacity at its Corsicana campus, indicating ambitions in large-scale data center development [13]

Market Overview - Bitcoin mining equities experienced a downward trend as the price of bitcoin struggled for momentum following a monthly decline [1] - Major operators such as Marathon, CleanSpark, and Riot reported losses despite infrastructure and financing updates in the sector [1] Bitcoin Price Movement - As of the latest update, bitcoin is priced at $88,900, reflecting a 1.5% increase on the day and a 1.3% increase week-over-week, but still down 2.8% month-over-month [2] - The stagnation in bitcoin's price is impacting mining stocks as investors react to new developments [2] Company Performance - Marathon (NASDAQ: MARA) shares fell 0.21% week-over-week [2] - CleanSpark (NASDAQ: CLSK) dropped 1.79% over the same period [2] - Riot (NASDAQ: RIOT) declined by 1.23% week-over-week [5] - Cipher (NASDAQ: CIFR) saw a 2.90% decrease week-over-week despite expanding its development pipeline with a new site in Ohio [3] - TeraWulf (NASDAQ: WULF) shares slid 3.79% after finalizing a $1.3 billion debt financing agreement for a joint venture in Texas [4] - Hut 8 (NASDAQ: HUT) dropped 3.08% week-over-week, entering a hosting agreement expected to generate $7 billion in revenue over 15 years [6] - Core Scientific (NASDAQ: CORZ) declined 2.42% week-over-week, with Two Seas Capital increasing its ownership stake following a failed acquisition [7] Development and Financing Updates - Cipher's acquisition of a new site in Ohio aims to provide 200 megawatts of capacity, increasing its total development pipeline to 3.4 gigawatts across eight sites [3] - TeraWulf's $1.3 billion debt financing is designated for constructing high-performance computing infrastructure in Texas [4] - Hut 8's partnership with Fluidstack is projected to significantly boost revenue over a long-term contract [6] - Analysts at J.P. Morgan forecast a 45% upside for Riot's stock through 2026, anticipating a significant colocation deal [5]

Core Viewpoint - Defiance ETFs has launched the Defiance Daily Target 2X Long BITF ETF (BTFL), aimed at active traders seeking amplified exposure to Bitfarms Ltd. (BITF) [1][2] Group 1: Fund Overview - The BTFL ETF is designed to provide 200% of the daily percentage change in the share price of Bitfarms Ltd., allowing investors to express short-term bullish views on the stock [2][3] - The fund is not a direct investment in Bitfarms Ltd. but offers a leveraged exposure through financial instruments [5] Group 2: Underlying Company - Bitfarms Ltd. is a global energy and computer infrastructure company based in Toronto, Canada, focusing on bitcoin mining through energy-efficient data centers [4] - The company operates server farms that validate transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain, emphasizing vertically integrated operations [4] Group 3: Investment Strategy - The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective on a daily basis, meaning it is designed for short-term use and may not perform as expected over longer periods due to compounding effects [3][6] - The fund's strategy involves entering into swap contracts and options contracts based on the share price of Bitfarms Ltd., exposing it to similar risks as owning the underlying security [9][10]

Core Insights - MARA Holdings is recognized as a significant player in Bitcoin mining, holding approximately 53,000 Bitcoins, which positions it as the second largest holder globally [1] Company Overview - The company is primarily associated with Bitcoin mining activities, distinguishing itself from traditional cryptocurrency investments [1]