Hut 8 to fund Bitcoin reserve plan via $500 million equity offering
The equity offering will also be used to bolster Hut 8's operations, which is a necessity following the latest Bitcoin halving.
Bitcoin miner Hut 8 has unveiled a $500 million equity offering to bolster its operations and create a Bitcoin (BTC) strategic reserve. The company will sell shares of its common stock over time to fund its growth initiatives.
The net proceeds from this offering will support Hut 8’s ongoing expansion, including developing data centers and other infrastructure crucial for its mining operations and the BTC acquisition.
Hut 8 CEO Asher Genoot stated that Bitcoin represents a critical strategic reserve asset, and the firm is excited to make a material commitment to this belief. He added:
“The launch of this equity offering and our Bitcoin reserve strategy will strengthen our balance sheet and help us navigate the market’s volatility while fueling our expansion efforts.”
According to its third-quarter performance report, Hut 8 held 9,106 BTC in reserve as of Sept. 30, making it the public-traded company with the sixth-largest Bitcoin stash — worth roughly $865 million as of Dec. 1.
In addition to the equity offering, Hut 8 announced the launch of a $250 million stock repurchase program to return value to shareholders. The firm intends to buy back nearly 5% of its outstanding shares, around 4.68 million shares.
Moreover, Genoot highlighted that the company’s strategy aims to provide flexibility in response to the fluctuating market conditions characteristic of the crypto market, adding:
“We are entering a new era of corporate Bitcoin adoption. With this capital strategy, Hut 8 is well-positioned to drive long-term growth, support the continued maturation of the digital asset ecosystem, and create value for our stakeholders.”
Adapting post-halving
Data from Hut 8’s latest quarterly report revealed that the cost to mine a Bitcoin went up by 82% year over year, while the BTC mining output fell 65%. These negative changes happened even after the mining firm ramped up its energy capacity.
As a result, one way Bitcoin mining companies are finding to tackle these issues is by acquiring BTC. Recently, Marathon Digital revealed plans to raise $700 million through a private offering of unsecured convertible senior notes.
The move follows Marathon’s mid-November acquisition of 6,474 BTC, worth roughly $615 million. The investment used the capital raised in a previous convertible note offering.