News

Argo Blockchain PLC Announces 1st Quarter Results

Published

6 months ago

17 July, 2024

Argo Blockchain PLC announces the notice of its annual general meeting

Q1 2024 Results (Unaudited)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESSWIRE / May 23, 2024 / Argo Blockchain plc (LSE:ARB)(NASDAQ:ARBK), a global leader in cryptocurrency mining, is pleased to announce its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended 31 March 2024. All $ amounts are in United States Dollars (“USD”) unless otherwise stated.

Q1 2024 Financial Results

● The Company ended the quarter with cash of $12.4 million and held 11 Bitcoin (“BTC”) or Bitcoin Equivalent

● Reduced debt by $12.4 million during the quarter, a 19% reduction of the December 31, 2023 balance

● Revenue of $16.8 million, an increase of 4% compared to Q4 2023

● Total BTC mined in the quarter was 319, or 3.5 BTC per day

● Mining margin percentage for the quarter was 38% an increase on the 34% mining margin percentage achieved in Q4 2023

● Gain on sale of Mirabel facility of $3.0 million, net of tax

● Net loss of $3.2 million

● Adjusted EBITDA of $3.8 million

Management Commentary

Thomas Chippas, Chief Executive Officer of Argo, said: “The Argo team’s continued focus on financial discipline and operational excellence can be seen in this quarter’s results. Q1 was strong in terms of revenue and earnings, both of which increased compared to Q4 2023. We exited the Bitcoin halving with cash of over $12 million, Q1 debt reduction of over $12 million and streamlined Quebec operations resulting from the sale of Mirabel. We are enthusiastic about Argo’s future growth and development, and are dedicated to delivering value to our shareholders.”

Earnings Conference Call

Argo will host a conference call to discuss its results at 10:00 ET / 15:00 BST today, Thursday 23 May 2024. The live webcast of the call can be accessed via the Investor Meet Company platform.

Investors can sign up to Investor Meet Company and add Argo Blockchain via the following link: https://www.investormeetcompany.com/argo-blockchain-plc/register-investor

Investors already following Argo Blockchain on the Investor Meet Company platform will be invited automatically.

Inside Information and Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains inside information and includes forward-looking statements which reflect the Company’s current views, interpretations, beliefs or expectations with respect to the Company’s financial performance, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations. These statements include forward-looking statements both with respect to the Company and the sector and industry in which the Company operates. Statements which include the words “remains confident”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “projects”, “anticipates”, “will”, “targets”, “aims”, “may”, “would”, “could”, “continue”, “estimate”, “future”, “opportunity”, “potential” or, in each case, their negatives, and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events that may or may not occur in the future, including the risk that the Company may receive the benefits contemplated by its transactions with Galaxy, the Company may be unable to secure sufficient additional financing to meet its operating needs, and the Company may not generate sufficient working capital to fund its operations for the next twelve months as contemplated. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results, prospects and performance to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. In addition, even if the Company’s actual results, prospects and performance are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this document, those results may not be indicative of results in subsequent periods. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Subject to any obligations under the Prospectus Regulation Rules, the Market Abuse Regulation, the Listing Rules and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules and except as required by the FCA, the London Stock Exchange, the City Code or applicable law and regulations, the Company undertakes no obligation publicly to update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. For a more complete discussion of factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those described in this announcement, please refer to the filings that Company makes from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, including the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F.

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Non-IFRS Measures

Bitcoin and Bitcoin Equivalent Mining Margin and Adjusted EBITDA are financial measures not defined by IFRS. We believe Bitcoin and Bitcoin Equivalent Mining Margin and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools. In particular, Bitcoin and Bitcoin Equivalent Mining Margin excludes the depreciation of mining equipment and so does not reflect the full cost of our mining operations, and it also excludes the effects of fluctuations in the value of digital currencies and realized losses on the sale of digital assets, which affect our IFRS gross profit. Further, Adjusted EBITDA removes such effects of our capital structure, asset base and tax consequences, but additionally excludes any unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses, stock-based compensation charges and other one-time impairments and costs that are not expected to be repeated in order to provide greater insight into the cash flow being produced from our operating business, without the influence of extraneous events. These measures should not be considered as an alternative to gross margin or net income/(loss), as applicable, determined in accordance with IFRS, or other IFRS measures. These measures are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. As a result, you should not consider these measures in isolation from, or as a substitute analysis for, our gross margin or net income/(loss), as applicable, as determined in accordance with IFRS.

GROUP STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Figures in ‘000 except per share	Three Months Ended March 31, 2024			Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
	$			$

Revenues		16,840			11,264
Direct costs		(10,439	)		(6,058	)
Mining margin		6,401			5,206
Depreciation of mining equipment		(4,833	)		(6,015	)
Change in fair value of digital currencies		293			(77	)
Gross profit (loss)		1,861			(886	)

Operating costs and expenses		(3,152	)		(3,558	)
Restructuring and transaction related fees		(561	)		(797	)
Foreign exchange		192			634
Loss on hedging		(397	)		–
Depreciation/amortisation		(232	)		(319	)
Share based compensation		(1,911	)		(984	)
Operating profit (loss)		(4,200	)		(5,910	)

Gain on sale of subsidiary (Mirabel)		3,397			–
Gain on disposal of fixed assets		75			–
Finance costs		(2,317	)		(3,283	)
Other income		230			1
Profit/(loss) before taxation		(2,815	)		(9,192	)

Tax credit / (expense)		(340	)		–

Profit/(loss) after taxation		(3,155	)		(9,192	)

Other comprehensive income
Items which may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss:
Currency translation reserve		728			(401	)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		728			(401	)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to the equity holders of the Company		(2,426	)		(9,593	)
Earnings per share attributable to equity owners
Basic loss per share	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.02	)
Diluted loss per share	$	(0.01	)	$	(0.02	)

The income statement has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.

GROUP STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

	As at March 31, 2024			As at December 31, 2023
Figures in ‘000	$			$

ASSETS
Non-current assets
Investments at fair value through profit or loss		400			400
Investments accounted for using the equity method		–			–
Intangible fixed assets		1,044			888
Property, plant and equipment		53,771			59,728
Right of use assets		–			–
Total non-current assets		55,215			61,016

Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		12,444			7,443
Trade and other receivables		2,214			3,835
Assets held for sale		–			3,261
Digital assets		810			385
Total current assets		15,468			14,924

Total assets		70,683			75,940

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Equity
Share Capital		763			712
Share Premium		219,522			209,779
Share based payment reserve		12,680			11,844
Currency translation reserve		(30,858	)		(30,129	)
RSU/PSU Reserve		1,156			322
Accumulated surplus / (deficit)		(195,525	)		(192,370	)
Total equity		7,738			158

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables		10,670			11,175
Loans and borrowings		12,680			14,320
Corporation Tax		449			–
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale		–			2,090
Total current liabilities		23,799			27,585
Non-current liabilities
Issued debt – bond		38,346			38,170
Loans		800			10,027
Total liabilities		62,945			75,782

Total equity and liabilities		70,683			75,940

GROUP STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2024			Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
Figures in ‘000	$			$
Cash flows from operating activities
Loss before tax		(2,815	)		(9,192	)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation/Amortisation		5,065			6,334
Foreign exchange		(192	)		(634	)
Fair value change in digital assets through profit or loss		(293	)		78
Revenue from digital assets		(16,840	)		(11,438	)
Loss on hedging		397			–
Finance cost		2,317			3,283
Gain on disposal of fixed assets		(75	)		–
Proceeds from sale of digital assets		16,423			11,783
Share based compensation		1,911			984
Gain on sale of subsidiary		(3,397	)		–
Cash flow from operating activities before working capital changes		2,500			1,197

Working capital changes:
Increase in trade and other receivables		1,086			(514	)
Decrease in trade and other payables		(307	)		(3,359	)
Income taxes paid		–			(213	)
Net cash used in operating activities		3,279			(2,889	)

Investing activities
Interest received		126			–
Proceeds from sale of tangible fixed assets		894			–
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary and investment		6,119			–
Net cash used in investing activities		7,139			–

Financing activities
Lease payments		–			–
Loan repayments		(12,617	)		(245	)
Interest paid		(1.966	)		(2,424	)
Proceeds from shares issued – net of issue costs		9,349			–
Net cash generated used in financing activities		(5,234	)		(2,669	)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		5,185			(5,558	)
Effect of foreign exchange on cash		(184	)		16
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		7,443			20,092
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		12,444			14,550

The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to net income/(loss), the most directly comparable IFRS measure, for the three months ended 31 March 2024 and three months ended 31 March 2023.

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2024			Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
Figures in ‘000	$			$

Net income/(loss)		(3,155	)		(9,192	)

Interest expense		2,317			3,283
Depreciation / amortisation		5,065			6,334
Income tax (credit) / expense		340			–
EBITDA		4,567			425
Restructuring and transaction related fees		561			797
Foreign exchange gain		(192	)		(634	)
Share based payment charge		1,911			984
Gain on sale of investment		(3,397	)		–
Loss on hedging		397			–
Adjusted EBITDA		3,847			1,572

For further information please contact:

About Argo:

Argo Blockchain plc is a dual-listed (LSE: ARB; NASDAQ: ARBK) blockchain technology company focused on large-scale cryptocurrency mining. With mining facilities in Quebec, mining operations in Texas, and offices in the US, Canada, and the UK, Argo’s global, sustainable operations are predominantly powered by renewable energy. In 2021, Argo became the first climate positive cryptocurrency mining company, and a signatory to the Crypto Climate Accord. For more information, visit www.argoblockchain.com.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Argo Blockchain PLC

View the original press release on accesswire.com

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News

Ether Drops Further After ETF Launch

Published

6 months ago

23 July, 2024

Blocksight Staff

Bitcoin Surpasses $66,000 Thanks to Strong ETF Flows

Key points

Spot ether ETFs began trading in the U.S. today, with the funds initially having more than $10 billion in collective assets under management.
Analysts expect the launch of spot ether ETFs to have a net negative impact on the underlying price of ether in the near term, due to expected outflows from the pre-existing Grayscale Ethereum Trust.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs continue to see strong inflows, with BlackRock’s IBIT alone seeing more than $500 million in inflows on Monday.
Franklin Templeton, a spot ETF issuer on bitcoin and ether, has invested in a project that intends to bring Ethereum technology to Bitcoin.

Nine-point ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs)) started trading on the stock market on Tuesday, but all the optimism ahead of their approval did not translate into gains for the cryptocurrency markets.

Ether (ETH), the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain, dropped less than 1% around the $3,400 level as of 1:30 PM ET, while Bitcoin (BTC) fell more than 2% to around $66,000.

Ether ETFs’ Debut Isn’t as Flashy as Bitcoin ETFs’

Spot ether ETFs began trading at just over $10 billion assets under management (AUM)), according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart, most of that money is in the current Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE) which has now been converted into an ETF.

“In the long term, Grayscale will simultaneously have the highest and lowest fees in the market. The asset manager’s decision to keep its ETHE fee at 2.5% could lead to outflows from the fund,” Kaiko Research said in a note on Monday.

Outflows from ETHE, if they occur, would be similar to those faced by Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) after spot bitcoin ETFs began trading in January of this year, most likely due to high fees for the two original funds. Grayscale’s existing fund charges 2.5% fees, while a new “mini” ether ETF will charge 0.15% and commissions for other ETFs are set at 0.25% or less.

Such outflows could impact the price of ether and market sentiment.

“There could be a pullback shortly after the launch of Ethereum spot ETFs, i.e. outflows from Grayscale Ether Trust could dampen market sentiment in the short term,” Jupiter Zheng, a partner at Hashkey Capital’s liquid fund, told The Block.

But Grayscale remains optimistic.

“Compared to the splashy debut of spot bitcoin ETPs in January, the launch of ethereum ETPs has been relatively muted,” said Zach Pandl, Grayscale’s head of research, adding that investors may be “undervaluing” ether ETFs that are “coming to the U.S. market in tandem with a shift in U.S. cryptocurrency policy and the adoption of tokenization by major financial institutions.”

Bitcoin ETF Inflows Continue to Rise

As for bitcoin, there is clearly no lack of demand for spot ETFs, such as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBITS) recorded its sixth-largest day of inflows in its short history on Monday, at $526.7 million, according to data from Farside Investors. Daily inflows for the overall spot bitcoin ETF market also hit their highest level since June 5.

In particular, asset manager Franklin Templeton, which has issued both bitcoin and ether ETFs, appears to have decided to cover its back when it comes to Ethereum by investing in Bitlayer, a way to implement Ethereum technology on a second-layer Bitcoin network, according to CoinDesk.

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News

Spot Ether ETFs Start Trading Today: Here’s What You Need to Know

Published

6 months ago

23 July, 2024

Blocksight Staff

Spot Ether ETFs Start Trading Today: Here's What You Need to Know

Key points

Spot ether ETFs will begin trading on U.S. exchanges on Tuesday. Nine ETFs will trade on Cboe BZX, Nasdaq and NYSE Arca.
Ether ETFs offer investors exposure to the price of their underlying assets.
Commissions on these new ETFs generally range from 0.15% to 0.25%.
These ETFs do not provide exposure to Ethereum staking.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially approved nine ether spots (ETH)exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for trading on U.S. exchanges. Trading for these new cryptocurrency investment vehicles begins today. Here’s everything you need to know.

What new ether ETFs are starting to trade today?

Spot ether ETFs starting trading today can be found at Quotation, NYSE Arkand Cboe BZX. Here’s a breakdown of each ETF you can find on these three exchanges, along with the fund tickers:

Cboe BZX will list the Invesco Galaxy Ethereum ETF (QETH), the 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF (CETH), the Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH), the Franklin Ethereum ETF (EZET) and the VanEck Ethereum ETF (ETHV).

Nasdaq will have the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) created by BlackRock, which also operates the largest spot bitcoin ETF under the ticker IBIT.

NYSE Arca will list the Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW) and the Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE). The Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust (ETH), which will begin trading on the same exchange.

How does an ether ETF work?

Spot ether ETFs are intended to offer exposure to the price of ether held by the funds. Ether is the underlying cryptocurrency of the Ethereal network, the second largest crypto network by market capitalization.

ETF buyers are buying shares of funds that hold ether on behalf of their shareholders. Different spot ether ETFs use different data sources when it comes to setting the price of ether. Grayscale Ethereum Trust, for example, uses the CoinDesk Ether Price Index.

None of the ETFs launching today include pointed etherwhich represents a potential opportunity cost associated with choosing an ETF over other options such as self-custody or a traditional cryptocurrency exchange.

Ether staking currently has an annual return of 3.32%, according to the Compass Staking Yield Reference Index Ethereum. However, it is possible that the SEC will eventually approve Ether staking held by ETFs.

How can I trade Ether ETFs?

ETFs can simplify the trading process for investors. In the case of cryptocurrencies, instead of taking full custody of the ether and taking care of your own private keysSpot ether ETFs allow investors to purchase the cryptocurrency underlying the Ethereum network through traditional brokerage accounts.

Today, not all brokers may offer their clients spot ETFs on cryptocurrencies.

What are the fees for ether ETFs?

The fees associated with each individual spot ether ETF were previously revealed In the S-1 OR S-3 (depending on the specific ETF) deposit associated with the offerings. These fees are 0.25% or less for all but one.

The Grayscale Ethereum Trust, which converts to an ETF, has a fee of 2.5%. The Grayscale Mini Ethereum Trust has the lowest fee at 0.15%. These fees are charged on an annual basis for the provider’s management of the fund and are in line with what was previously seen with spot bitcoin ETFs.

Brokers may also charge their own fees for cryptocurrency trading.

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News

Kamala Harris Odds Surge Amid $81M Fundraise. What Does It Mean for Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies?

Published

6 months ago

23 July, 2024

Blocksight Staff

Kamala Harris Odds Surge Amid $81M Fundraise. What Does It Mean for Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies?

Market odds and memecoins related to US Vice President Kamala Harris have soared as the latest round of donations tied to the Democratic campaign raised $81 million in 24 hours, bolstering sentiment among some traders.

The odds of Harris being declared the Democratic nominee have risen further to 90% on cryptocurrency betting app Polymarket, up from 80% on Monday and setting a new high.

Previously, in early July, bettors were only betting on 8%, but that changed on Saturday when incumbent President Joe Biden announced he would no longer run in the November election. Biden then approved Harris as a candidate.

Polymarket traders placed $28.6 million in bets in favor of Harris, the data showsThe second favorite is Michelle Obama.

Somewhere else, Memecoin KAMA based on Solanaa political meme token modeled after Harris, has jumped 62% to set a new all-time high of 2 cents at a market cap of $27 million. The token is up a whopping 4,000% from its June 18 low of $0.00061, buoyed primarily by the possibility of Harris becoming president.

As such, Harris has yet to publicly comment on cryptocurrencies or her strategy for the growing market. On the other hand, Republican candidate Donald Trump has expressed support for the cryptocurrency market and is expected to appear at the Bitcoin 2024 conference on Saturday.

However, some expect Harris or the Democratic Party to mention the sector in the coming weeks, which could impact price action.

“While he has not yet received the official nomination, there is consensus that last night’s development is in line with current Democratic strategy,” cryptocurrency trading firm Wintermute said in a Monday note emailed to CoinDesk. “Keep an eye on Democrats’ comments on this issue in the coming days.

“The prevailing assumption is that Harris will win the nomination and any deviation from this expectation could cause market volatility,” the firm added.

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Top 30x Cryptocurrency and Coin Presales Today: Artemis Coin at #1, Others Are: BlockDAG, 99Bitcoin, eTukTuk, and WienerAI

Published

6 months ago

23 July, 2024

Blocksight Staff

Top 30x Cryptocurrency and Coin Presales Today: Artemis Coin at #1, Others Are: BlockDAG, 99Bitcoin, eTukTuk, and WienerAI

The cryptocurrency market has seen a lot of growth and imagination lately, with new ventures popping up regularly. A critical pattern in this space is the rise of crypto pre-sales, which give backers the opportunity to get involved with promising projects early on. Artemis is a standout option for crypto investors looking to expand their portfolios amid the many pre-sales currently underway.

Cryptocurrency presales, commonly referred to as initial coin offerings (ICOs), allow blockchain ventures to raise capital by offering their local tokens to early backers before they become available on open exchanges. Investors can take advantage of these presales by purchasing tokens at a lower price. If the project is successful and the token’s value increases, investors stand to receive significant returns.

>>> Explore the best cryptocurrency pre-sales to buy now <<

The Ultimate List of the Top 5 Cryptocurrency Pre-Sales to Invest In

Artemis: The aim of Artemis (ARTMS) will become the cryptocurrency equivalent of eBay or Amazon. The upcoming Phase 4 will see the launch of the Artemis Framework, which will serve as a stage for digital money exchanges where buyers, sellers, specialized organizations and those seeking administration can participate in coherent exchanges.
DAG Block: uses Directed Acyclic Graph technology to increase blockchain scalability.
99bitcoin: operates as a crypto learning platform
WienerAI uses AI-powered trading bots for precise market analysis.
eTukTuk focuses on environmentally sustainable transportation options, such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

We have determined that Artemis is the best new cryptocurrency presale for investment after conducting extensive research. It presents itself as the unrivaled cryptocurrency presale choice currently open.

>> Visit the best cryptocurrency pre-sale to invest in now <<

Top 5 Crypto Pre-Sales and Best Cryptocurrencies for Investment Today

Artemis (ARTMS) is attempting to establish itself as the cryptocurrency version of eBay or Amazon. The Artemis Crypto System, which will act as a platform for cryptocurrency transactions, will be launched in Phase 4. Buyers, sellers, service providers, and requesters will all benefit from seamless trading with this system. Customers will be able to purchase things, such as mobile phones using digital money, as well as sell products such as involved bicycles and get paid in cryptocurrency. Additionally, crypto money can be used to pay for administrations such as clinical consultations, legitimate care, and freelance work. Artemis Coin will act as the main currency of the ecosystem, with Bitcoin and other well-known cryptocurrencies from various blockchain networks backing it.

Artemis Coin has increased in price from 0.00055 to 0.00101 from 0.00094. Artemis may be attractive to individuals looking to recoup losses in Bitcoin, as predicted by cryptocurrency analysts. At this point, it seems to present an interesting presale opportunity.

>>> Visit the best cryptocurrency pre-sale to invest in now <<

The world of digital currency pre-sales is an exciting and exciting opportunity that could open the door to game-changing blockchain projects. Projects in this article, like Artemis Coin, offer the opportunity to shape the future of various industries and the potential for significant returns as the industry develops.

However, it is imperative to approach these investments with caution, thorough research, portfolio diversification, and awareness of the risks. You can explore the digital currency pre-sale scene with greater certainty and increase your chances of identifying and profiting from the most promising venture opportunities by following the advice and methods in this article.

>>> Join the best cryptocurrency pre-sale to invest in now <<

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