Bitfarms Earns 357 BTC in January 2024
Bitfarms Ltd. provides an update on their aggressive growth plan, aiming to reach hashrates of 12 EH/s in 1H 2024 and 21 EH/s in 2H 2024. The company is expanding its operations in Paraguay and Quebec, with fleet upgrades and new farm developments. January production saw a decrease in BTC earned compared to December, attributed to higher energy curtailment due to winter storms. The company also provided financial updates, including the sale of 357 BTC generating $15.3 million in proceeds and a reduction in total outstanding indebtedness by $2.0 million.
Bitfarms Ltd.'s announcement of its aggressive growth plan, targeting substantial increases in hashrate, is a significant development within the cryptocurrency mining industry. The strategy to enhance production capacity and improve energy efficiency through new installations and fleet upgrades is likely to have a notable impact on the company's market positioning. The focus on becoming one of the lowest cost producers during a Halving year is particularly noteworthy, as the Bitcoin Halving event typically reduces the reward for mining new blocks, thereby increasing competition and potentially driving up the cost of mining.
However, the decrease in BTC production in January 2024 compared to December 2023 and January 2023 raises questions about operational efficiency and the ability to meet future targets. This downturn could be interpreted as a short-term challenge due to seasonal factors, but investors will be closely monitoring subsequent performance to ensure the company's growth trajectory aligns with its stated objectives.
The financial update provided by Bitfarms Ltd. reveals a strategic decision to maintain BTC in treasury despite a decrease in monthly BTC production. This choice to hold rather than sell a larger portion of assets could be indicative of the company's confidence in the long-term value of Bitcoin. Moreover, the reduction of outstanding indebtedness to a negligible amount by the end of January 2024 is a positive signal of financial health and prudent debt management.
From an investment perspective, the company's approach to managing its crypto assets and liabilities, alongside its growth plan, will be critical in assessing its financial stability and potential for future profitability. The reported figures suggest a disciplined approach to capital allocation and debt reduction, which could be attractive to investors seeking companies with strong balance sheets in the volatile cryptocurrency sector.
The mention of hydropower as the primary source of energy for Bitfarms Ltd. underscores the company's commitment to sustainable mining practices. The use of renewable energy sources is increasingly important in the cryptocurrency mining industry, both from an environmental standpoint and for reducing operational costs. The company's expansion into Paraguay, with the development of a new 100 MW facility, is strategically aligned with this focus on sustainability and cost efficiency.
Energy curtailment, as experienced during the winter storms, highlights the need for mining operations to be adaptable and resilient to external energy market fluctuations. Bitfarms Ltd.'s ability to navigate these conditions and its investment in energy-efficient mining technology will be crucial in maintaining competitiveness and profitability, especially given the energy-intensive nature of Bitcoin mining.
02/01/2024 - 07:00 AM
- On track to begin production at Paso Pe, Paraguay and to initiate fleet upgrades and expansion in Q1 2024 -
TORONTO, Ontario and BROSSARD, Québec, Feb. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bitfarms Ltd. (NASDAQ: BITF//TSX: BITF ), a global vertically integrated Bitcoin mining company, provides an update for the month ended January 31, 2024.
“In 2024, we are embarking on an aggressive growth plan, targeting hashrates of 12 EH/s in 1H 2024 and 21 EH/s in 2H 2024,” said Geoff Morphy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bitfarms. “The new farm development in Paraguay is expected to drive much of this growth. With land purchased for our 100 MW facility in Yguazu and shipment of the main transformer for Paso Pe, our expansion projects continued on schedule in January. This transformative fleet upgrade and growth plan are being undertaken to position Bitfarms to gain market share and be among the lowest cost producers during this Halving year, which is anticipated to be an inflection point for the industry.”
Ben Gagnon, Chief Mining Officer of Bitfarms, said, “January mining operations generated 357 BTC compared to 446 BTC in December. This reflects the typical higher curtailment during the coldest months and a return to more normal transaction fees as compared to the temporary spike experienced in December 2023.”
“Our fleet upgrade commences with the first batch of 11,600 Bitmain T21 miners scheduled to begin shipping to Quebec in February. Our construction of air-cooled warehouses and installation of 1,920 MicroBT M53S+ hydro-cooled miners and containers at Paso Pe are scheduled for February and March, respectively. We are on track to initiate production at that farm by late Q1 2024. Those new installations along with fleet upgrades elsewhere in our portfolio throughout 1H 2024 should drive rapid increases in our hashrate and increased energy efficiency,” Gagnon added.
Mining Review
January production of 357 BTC represented a decrease of 20.0% from December as powerful winter storms across North America drove significantly higher energy curtailment, which is part of the grid stability programs in Quebec, and offsetting a network difficulty decrease of 2.3% during January.
Key Performance Indicators January 2024 December 2023 January 2023 Total BTC earned 357 446 486 Month End Operating EH/s 6.5 6.5 4.7 BTC/Avg. EH/s 60 72 110 Operating Capacity (MW) 240 240 188 Hydropower MW 186 186 178 Watts/Terahash Efficiency (w/TH) 35 35 40 BTC Sold 357 444 486
January 2024 Select Operating Highlights
6.5 EH/s online as of January 31, 2024, up 38% from January 31, 2023, and level with December 31, 2023. 5.9 EH/s average online, down 4.8% from December 2023. 60.6 BTC/average EH/s, down 15.5% from 71.7 in December 2023. 357 BTC earned, 20.0% lower than December 2023 and 26.5% lower than January 2023. 11.5 BTC earned daily on average, equal to approximately $495,200 per day based on a BTC price of $43,000 at January 31, 2024. 80 MW main transformer is in transit on schedule for the Paso Pe, Paraguay farm. Purchased land for development of up to 100 MW production facility at Yguazu, Paraguay. Bitfarms’ BTC Monthly Production
Month BTC Earned 2024 BTC Earned 2023 January 357 486
January 2024 Financial Update
Sold 357 BTC of the 357 BTC earned, generating total proceeds of $15.3 million . Maintained BTC held in treasury at 804, representing approximately $34.6 million based on a BTC price of $43,000 at January 31, 2024. Held Synthetic HODL™ of 135 long-dated BTC call options at January 31, 2024. Reduced total outstanding indebtedness during the month by $2.0 million , resulting in a remaining balance of $2.0 million at January 31, 2024 which is scheduled to be fully repaid in February 2024. About Bitfarms Ltd.
Founded in 2017, Bitfarms is a global, publicly traded (NASDAQ/TSX: BITF) Bitcoin mining company that contributes its computational power to one or more mining pools from which it receives payment in Bitcoin. Bitfarms develops, owns, and operates vertically integrated mining farms with in-house management and company-owned electrical engineering, installation service, and multiple onsite technical repair centers. The Company’s proprietary data analytics system delivers best-in-class operational performance and uptime.
Bitfarms currently has 11 farms in production, one in expansion, one under construction, and one in development, in four countries: Canada, the United States, Paraguay, and Argentina. Powered by predominantly environmentally friendly hydro-electric and long-term power contracts, Bitfarms is committed to using sustainable, locally based, and often underutilized energy infrastructure.
To learn more about Bitfarms’ events, developments, and online communities:
Website: www.bitfarms.com
https://www.facebook.com/bitfarms/
Glossary of Terms
BTC BTC/day = Bitcoin or Bitcoin per day EH or EH/s = Exahash or exahash per second MW or MWh = Megawatts or megawatt hour PH or PH/s = Petahash or petahash per second TH or TH/s = Terahash or terahash per second w/TH = Watts/Terahash efficiency (includes cost of powering supplementary equipment Synthetic HODL™ = the use of instruments that create bitcoin equivalent exposure Cautionary Statement
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.
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 projected growth, target hashrate, opportunities relating to the Company’s geographical diversification and expansion, upgrading and deployment of miners as well as the timing therefor, improved financial performance and balance sheet liquidity, other growth opportunities and prospects, 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 and are intended to identify forward-looking information.
This forward-looking information is based on assumptions and estimates of management of the Company 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 the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to: the construction and operation of the facility 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 hydroelectricity 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 Bitfarms from operating its business; 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 the Company’s filings on www.SEDAR.com (which are also available on the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov), including the annual information form for the year-ended December 31, 2022, filed on March 21, 2023. Although the Company 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. 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. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than as required by law .
Contacts:
Investor Relations Tracy Krumme (Bitfarms) +1 786-671-5638 tkrumme@bitfarms.com
David Barnard (LHA) +1 415-433-3777 Investors@bitfarms.com
Actual Agency Khushboo Chaudhary +1 646-373-9946 mediarelations@bitfarms.com
Québec Media: Tact Louis-Martin Leclerc +1 418-693-2425 lmleclerc@tactconseil.ca
What are Bitfarms' aggressive growth targets for 2024?
Bitfarms aims to reach hashrates of 12 EH/s in 1H 2024 and 21 EH/s in 2H 2024.
Where is Bitfarms expanding its operations?
Bitfarms is expanding its operations in Paraguay and Quebec.
Why did January production see a decrease in BTC earned compared to December?
The decrease was attributed to higher energy curtailment due to winter storms.
What were the financial updates provided by Bitfarms?
Bitfarms sold 357 BTC generating $15.3 million in proceeds and reduced total outstanding indebtedness by $2.0 million.
What is the ticker symbol for Bitfarms Ltd.?
The ticker symbol for Bitfarms Ltd. is BITF.
