Bitfarms Appoints Former AWS Executive Wayne Duso to Board of Directors

Rhea-AI Summary

Bitfarms (NASDAQ/TSX: BITF) has appointed former Amazon Web Services (AWS) executive Wayne Duso to its Board of Directors, expanding the board to seven members, with six being independent. During his 12-year tenure at AWS, Duso scaled AWS Boston and launched businesses exceeding $1B in annual recurring revenue.

Duso brings over 25 years of experience in enterprise technologies, particularly in cloud storage systems and data center management. His appointment aligns with Bitfarms' strategic expansion into HPC/AI infrastructure, supported by their 1.3 GW energy pipeline, including 1 GW of potential capacity in Pennsylvania.

Positive

• Strategic addition of experienced AWS executive with proven track record of scaling billion-dollar businesses
• Strengthened board independence with 6 out of 7 directors being independent
• Alignment with company's strategic pivot to HPC/AI infrastructure
• Access to significant energy capacity of 1.3 GW pipeline attractive to hyperscalers

Negative

• None.

TORONTO, Ontario and NEW YORK, N.Y., Aug. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitfarms Ltd. (Nasdaq/TSX: BITF) (the “Company”), a global energy and compute infrastructure company, today announced that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) has unanimously approved the appointment of Wayne Duso to the Company’s Board, effective immediately. With the appointment of Mr. Duso, Bitfarms’ Board is now comprised of seven directors, six of whom are independent.

Mr. Duso is a distinguished senior engineering and product executive with over 25 years’ experience developing enterprise technologies. He is renowned for his leadership in cloud storage systems that support large-scale data centers, making it easier to manage data for AI training, HPC, and hybrid cloud environments.

Mr. Duso most recently spent 12 years at Amazon Web Services (“AWS”) where he established and scaled AWS Boston from startup to thousands of employees, leading product, development, operations, P&L, and go-to-market results. During his tenure at AWS, Mr. Duso launched and scaled (to >$1B ARR) several unicorn businesses across data storage, data protection, data integration, and hybrid-edge cloud infrastructure, serving millions of customers globally. Prior to AWS, Mr. Duso spent nearly 20 years at EMC Corporation (acquired by Dell) during which he held multiple executive and senior leadership roles focused on product development, product management, business development, and engineering.

Mr. Duso received a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a M.S. in Systems Engineering from Boston University, and has attended executive education programs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Babson College.

“I am thrilled to welcome Mr. Duso to the Bitfarms Board of Directors," said Brian Howlett, Independent Chairman. "Wayne’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Bitfarms as we accelerate the development of our HPC/AI business across North America. With over 25 years’ experience launching and leading data center teams and developing cloud solutions at AWS and Dell, Wayne will be an invaluable resource as we pursue aggressive growth in our HPC/AI business.”

"I am excited to join the Bitfarms Board of Directors at such a transformative time for the Company and overall digital infrastructure industry," said Mr. Duso. "Bitfarms' strategic pivot to HPC/AI aligns perfectly with my passion for building scalable, innovative enterprise and data center technologies. With a robust 1.3 GW energy pipeline, including over 1 GW of high-value potential capacity in Pennsylvania, Bitfarms has what hyperscalers want: power, and lots of it. I look forward to leveraging my expertise to help Bitfarms capitalize on the surging demand for HPC/AI infrastructure and to drive sustainable, long-term value for Bitfarms and its stakeholders."

About Bitfarms Ltd.
Bitfarms is a North American energy and digital infrastructure company that builds and operates vertically integrated, state-of-the-art data centers and energy infrastructure for high-performance computing and Bitcoin mining.

With a focus on U.S. growth, Bitfarms’ 1.3 GW energy pipeline is more than 80% U.S.-based and clustered in data center hotspots with robust access to power and fiber infrastructure.

Bitfarms was founded in 2017 and is a proven leader in digital infrastructure with operations throughout the Americas. Bitfarms is headquartered in New York, NY and Toronto, ON and traded on the Nasdaq and Toronto Stock Exchange.

To learn more about Bitfarms’ events, developments, and online communities:

www.bitfarms.com
https://www.facebook.com/bitfarms/
http://x.com/Bitfarms_io
https://www.instagram.com/bitfarms/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitfarms/

Forward-Looking Statements  
This news release contains certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release and are covered by safe harbors under Canadian and United States securities laws. The statements and information in this release regarding the expansion of the Board with additional skills and experience to support the HPC/AI business strategy, and other statements regarding future growth, plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking information.

Any statements that involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “prospects”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on assumptions and estimates of management of Bitfarms at the time they were made, and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Bitfarms to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors, risks and uncertainties include, among others: an inability to apply the Company’s data centers to HPC/AI opportunities on a profitable basis; a failure to secure long-term contracts associated with HPC/AI customers on terms which are economic or at all; the construction and operation of new facilities may not occur as currently planned, or at all; expansion of existing facilities may not materialize as currently anticipated, or at all; an inability to satisfy the Panther Creek location related milestones which are conditions to loan drawdowns under the Macquarie Group financing facility; an inability to deploy the proceeds of the Macquarie Group financing facility to generate positive returns at the Panther Creek location; the construction and operation of new facilities may not occur as currently planned, or at all; expansion of existing facilities may not materialize as currently anticipated, or at all; new miners may not perform up to expectations; revenue may not increase as currently anticipated, or at all; the ongoing ability to successfully mine digital currency is not assured; failure of the equipment upgrades to be installed and operated as planned; the availability of additional power may not occur as currently planned, or at all; expansion may not materialize as currently anticipated, or at all; the power purchase agreements and economics thereof may not be as advantageous as expected; potential environmental cost and regulatory penalties due to the operation of the former Stronghold plants which entail environmental risk and certain additional risk factors particular to the former business and operations of Stronghold including, land reclamation requirements may be burdensome and expensive, changes in tax credits related to coal refuse power generation could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and future development efforts, competition in power markets may have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, cash flows and the market value of the assets, the business is subject to substantial energy regulation and may be adversely affected by legislative or regulatory changes, as well as liability under, or any future inability to comply with, existing or future energy regulations or requirements, the operations are subject to a number of risks arising out of the threat of climate change, and environmental laws, energy transitions policies and initiatives and regulations relating to emissions and coal residue management, which could result in increased operating and capital costs and reduce the extent of business activities, operation of power generation facilities involves significant risks and hazards customary to the power industry that could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and results of operations, and there may not have adequate insurance to cover these risks and hazards, employees, contractors, customers and the general public may be exposed to a risk of injury due to the nature of the operations, limited experience with carbon capture programs and initiatives and dependence on third-parties, including consultants, contractors and suppliers to develop and advance carbon capture programs and initiatives, and failure to properly manage these relationships, or the failure of these consultants, contractors and suppliers to perform as expected, could have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects or operations; the digital currency market; the ability to successfully mine digital currency; 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 hydroelectricity for the purposes of cryptocurrency mining in the applicable jurisdictions; the inability to maintain reliable and economical sources of power to operate cryptocurrency mining assets; the risks of an increase in 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 Bitfarms operates and the potential adverse impact on profitability; future capital needs and the ability to complete current and future financings, including Bitfarms’ ability to utilize an at-the-market offering program ( “ATM Program”) and the prices at which securities may be sold in such ATM Program, as well as capital market conditions in general; share dilution resulting from an ATM Program and from other equity issuances; the risks of debt leverage and the ability to service and eventually repay the Macquarie Group financing facility; volatile securities markets impacting security pricing unrelated to operating performance; the risk that a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting could result in a misstatement of financial position that may lead to a material misstatement of the annual or interim consolidated financial statements if not prevented or detected on a timely basis; risks related to the Company ceasing to qualify as an “emerging growth company”; risks related to unsolicited investor interest, takeover proposals, shareholder activism or proxy contests relating to the election of directors; risks relating to lawsuits and other legal proceedings and challenges; historical prices of digital currencies and the ability to mine digital currencies that will be consistent with historical prices; and the adoption or expansion of any regulation or law that will prevent Bitfarms from operating its business, or make it more costly to do so. For further information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to Bitfarms’ filings on www.sedarplus.ca (which are also available on the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC") at www.sec.gov), including the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2024, management’s discussion & analysis for the year-ended December 31, 2024 and the management's discussion and analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. Although Bitfarms has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including factors that are currently unknown to or deemed immaterial by Bitfarms. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Bitfarms does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than as required by law. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, or any other securities exchange or regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Investor Relations Contact:
Laine Yonker
lyonker@bitfarms.com

Media Contact:
Caroline Brady Baker
cbaker@bitfarms.com

FAQ

Who is Wayne Duso and why did Bitfarms (BITF) appoint him to the board?

Wayne Duso is a former AWS executive with 25 years of experience in enterprise technologies. He was appointed to help Bitfarms capitalize on HPC/AI opportunities, having previously scaled AWS Boston and launched businesses exceeding $1B in annual recurring revenue.

What is Bitfarms' (BITF) current energy pipeline capacity?

Bitfarms has a 1.3 GW energy pipeline, including over 1 GW of high-value potential capacity in Pennsylvania, positioning them to serve hyperscaler demands.

How many independent directors does Bitfarms (BITF) now have?

Following Wayne Duso's appointment, Bitfarms' board consists of seven directors, of which six are independent.

What is Bitfarms' (BITF) strategic focus for 2025?

Bitfarms is strategically pivoting to HPC/AI infrastructure development across North America, leveraging their substantial energy pipeline to meet growing hyperscaler demand.

What was Wayne Duso's role at Amazon Web Services?

During his 12-year tenure at AWS, Duso established and scaled AWS Boston from startup to thousands of employees, launching and scaling several businesses to over $1B ARR in data storage, protection, and hybrid-edge cloud infrastructure.