424B3
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Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration Statement No. 333-262283

Prospectus Supplement No. 3

(To Prospectus dated May 2, 2022)

 

LOGO

Cipher Mining Inc.

 

 

This prospectus supplement updates, amends and supplements the prospectus dated May 2, 2022 (the “Prospectus”), which forms a part of our registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-262283). Capitalized terms used in this prospectus supplement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings specified in the Prospectus.

This prospectus supplement is being filed to update, amend and supplement the information included in the Prospectus with the information contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 9, 2022, which is set forth below.

This prospectus supplement is not complete without, and may not be delivered or utilized except in combination with, the Prospectus, including any amendments or supplements thereto. This prospectus supplement should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus and if there is any inconsistency between the information in the Prospectus and this prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

Our common stock and warrants are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “Nasdaq”) under the symbols “CIFR” and “CIFRW,” respectively. On August 8, 2022, the closing price of our common stock was $2.12 and the closing price for our warrants was $0.26.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 of the Prospectus to read about factors you should consider before buying our securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the Prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is August 9, 2022


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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022

OR

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                  to                 .

Commission File Number: 001-39625

 

 

CIPHER MINING INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   85-1614529

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1 Vanderbilt Avenue, Floor 54, Suite C

New York, New York

  10017
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (332) 262-2300

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share   CIFR   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per whole share   CIFRW   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

As of August 5, 2022, the registrant had 247,518,966, shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.

 

 

 


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         Page  

PART I.

  FINANCIAL INFORMATION      3  

Item 1.

  Financial Statements (Unaudited)      3  
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets      3  
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations      4  
  Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholder’s Equity (Deficit)      5  
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows      7  
  Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements      8  

Item 2.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      24  

Item 3.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      35  

Item 4.

  Controls and Procedures      35  

PART II.

  OTHER INFORMATION   

Item 1.

  Legal Proceedings      36  

Item 1A.

  Risk Factors      36  

Item 2.

  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds      36  

Item 3.

  Defaults Upon Senior Securities      36  

Item 4.

  Mine Safety Disclosures      36  

Item 5.

  Other Information      36  

Item 6.

  Exhibits      37  

Signatures

     38  

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Quarterly Report”) contains forward-looking statements. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report include, but are not limited to statements regarding:

 

   

our planned buildout of cryptocurrency mining sites;

 

   

our ability to raise financing in the future;

 

   

our future results of operations and financial position, industry and business trends, equity compensation, business strategy, plans, market growth and our objectives for future operations;

 

   

our commercial partnerships and supply agreements;

 

   

the ability to maintain the listing of our common stock and warrants on Nasdaq, and the potential liquidity and trading of such securities;

 

   

our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors;

 

   

the effects of competition and regulation on our business;

 

   

the effects of price fluctuations in the wholesale and retail power markets;

 

   

the effects of global economic, business or political conditions, such as the global coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic and the disruption caused by various countermeasures to reduce its spread;

 

   

the value and volatility of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies; and

 

   

other factors discussed in other sections of this Quarterly Report, including the section titled “Risk Factors.”

The forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the important factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 4, 2022 *(the “2021 Form 10-K”), Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report and our future reports filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report are based upon information available to us as of the date of this Quarterly Report, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.

You should read this Quarterly Report and the documents that we reference in this Quarterly Report and have filed as exhibits to this Quarterly Report with the understanding that our actual future results, performance and achievements may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Our corporate website address is https://www.ciphermining.com/ (“Corporate Website”). The contents of, or information accessible through, our Corporate Website are not part of this Quarterly Report.

The company maintains a dedicated investor website at https://investors.ciphermining.com/investors (“Investors’ Website”) which is similarly not part of this Quarterly Report. We make our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports, available free of charge on our Investors’ Website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file such reports with, or furnish such reports to, the SEC.

We may use our Investors’ Website as a distribution channel of material information about the Company including through press releases, investor presentations, sustainability reports, and notices of upcoming events. We intend to utilize our Investors’ Website as a channel of distribution to reach public investors and as a means of disclosing material non-public information for complying with disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.

Any reference to our Corporate Website or Investors’ Website addresses do not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on or available through those websites, and you should not consider such information to be a part of this Quarterly Report or any other filings we make with the SEC.

 

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

CIPHER MINING INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands except for share and per share amounts)

 

     June 30, 2022     December 31, 2021  
              
     (unaudited)        

ASSETS

    

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 37,042     $ 209,841  

Receivables, related party

     467       —    

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     9,554       13,819  

Cryptocurrencies

     787       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     47,850       223,660  

Deposits on equipment

     196,707       114,857  

Property and equipment, net

     23,637       5,124  

Security deposits

     11,417       10,352  

Investment in equity investee

     56,828       —    

Right-of-use asset

     5,512       —    

Deferred investment costs

     —         174  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 341,951     $ 354,167  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities

    

Accounts payable

   $ 4,739     $ 242  

Accounts payable, related party

     12,038       —    

Operating lease liability, current portion

     975       —    

Accrued expenses

     5,811       257  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     23,563       499  

Operating lease liability, net of current portion

     5,023       —    

Warrant liability

     26       137  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     28,612       636  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)

    

Stockholders’ equity

    

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 251,001,072 and 252,131,679 shares issued as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, and 247,489,582 and 249,279,420 shares outstanding as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively

     251       252  

Additional paid-in capital

     431,966       425,438  

Treasury stock, at par, 3,511,490 and 2,852,259 shares at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively

     (4     (3

Accumulated deficit

     (118,874     (72,156
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     313,339       353,531  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 341,951     $ 354,167  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands except for share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended     Five Months Ended  
     June 30, 2022     June 30, 2021     June 30, 2022     June 30, 2021  
                          

Costs and expenses

        

General and administrative

   $ 16,704     $ 546     $ 34,094     $ 659  

Depreciation

     8       1       15       1  

Impairment of cryptocurrencies

     535       —         539       —    

Equity in loss of equity investment

     12,079       —         12,232       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

     29,326       547       46,880       660  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating loss

     (29,326     (547     (46,880     (660

Other income (expense)

        

Interest income

     44       —         51       —    

Interest expense

     —         (1     —         (1

Change in fair value of warrant liability

     63       —         111       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income (expense)

     107       (1     162       (1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (29,219   $ (548   $ (46,718   $ (661
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net loss per share

   $ (0.12   $ —       $ (0.19   $ —    

Basic and diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding

     247,730,410       200,000,000       248,945,581       200,000,000  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(in thousands except for share amounts)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30, 2022

 

     Common Stock     Additional     Treasury Stock     Accumulated    

Total

Stockholders’

 
     Shares     Amount     Paid-in Capital     Shares     Amount     Deficit     Equity  
                                            

Balance as of March 31, 2022

     253,685,763     $ 254     $ 431,899       (3,511,490   $ (4   $ (89,655   $ 342,494  

Common stock cancelled

     (2,890,173     (3     (9,997     —         —         —         (10,000

Delivery of common stock underlying restricted stock units

     205,482       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Share-based compensation

     —         —         10,064       —         —         —         10,064  

Net loss

     —         —         —         —         —         (29,219     (29,219
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of June 30, 2022

     251,001,072     $ 251     $ 431,966       (3,511,490   $ (4   $ (118,874   $ 313,339  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2021

 

                               Total  
     Common Stock      Additional     Accumulated     Stockholders’  
     Shares      Amount      Paid-in Capital     Deficit     Deficit  
                                  

Balance as of March 31, 2021

     200,000,000      $ 200      $ (200   $ (116   $ (116

Net loss

     —          —          —         (548     (548
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of June 30, 2021

     200,000,000      $ 200      $ (200   $ (664   $ (664
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(in thousands except for share amounts)

(unaudited)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2022

 

     Common Stock     Additional     Treasury Stock     Accumulated    

Total

Stockholders’

 
     Shares     Amount     Paid-in Capital     Shares     Amount     Deficit     Equity  

Balance as of December 31, 2021

     252,131,679     $ 252     $ 425,438       (2,852,259   $ (3   $ (72,156   $ 353,531  

Delivery of common stock underlying restricted stock units, net of shares settled for tax withholding settlement

     1,759,546       2       (3,053     (659,231     (1     —         (3,052

Warrants exercised

     20       —         —         —         —         —         —    

Common stock cancelled

     (2,890,173     (3     (9,997     —         —         —         (10,000

Share-based compensation

     —         —         19,578       —         —         —         19,578  

Net loss

     —         —         —         —         —         (46,718     (46,718
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of June 30, 2022

     251,001,072     $ 251     $ 431,966       (3,511,490   $ (4   $ (118,874   $ 313,339  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Five Months Ended June 30, 2021

 

                               Total  
     Common Stock      Additional     Accumulated     Stockholders’  
     Shares      Amount      Paid-in Capital     Deficit     Deficit  

Balance as of January 31, 2021

     200,000,000      $ 200      $ (200   $ (3   $ (3

Net loss

     —          —          —         (661     (661
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of June 30, 2021

     200,000,000      $ 200      $ (200   $ (664   $ (664
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Six Months Ended     Five Months Ended  
     June 30, 2022     June 30, 2021  
              

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net loss

   $ (46,718   $ (661

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation

     15       —    

Amortization of right-of-use assets

     347       —    

Change in fair value of warrant liability

     (111     —    

Share-based compensation

     19,578       —    

Equity in loss of equity investment

     12,232       —    

Impairment of cryptocurrencies

     539       —    

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Receivables, related party

     (467     —    

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     4,134       (18

Security deposits

     (1,065     (441

Accounts payable

     104       27  

Accounts payable, related party

     —         44  

Accrued expenses

     1,209       46  

Lease liability

     271       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (9,932     (1,003
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Deposits on equipment

     (156,811     —    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (13,069     —    

Capital distribution from equity investee

     10,065       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (159,815     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Repurchase of common shares to pay employee withholding taxes

     (3,052     —    

Proceeds from borrowings on related party loan

     —         4,300  

Payments for deferred offering costs

     —         (132
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (3,052     4,168  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (172,799     3,165  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period

     209,841       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period

   $ 37,042     $ 3,165  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

    

Cash paid for interest

   $ —       $ —    

Cash paid for income taxes, net

   $ —       $ —    

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities

    

Equity method investment acquired for non-cash consideration

   $ 75,933     $ —    

Common stock cancelled

   $ 10,000     $ —    

Deposits on equipment in accounts payable, related party

   $ 10,612     $ —    

Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for operating lease liability

   $ 5,859     $ —    

Investment in equity investee in accrued expenses

   $ 4,345     $ —    

Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable

   $ 4,033     $ —    

Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable, related party

   $ 1,426     $ 3  

Cryptocurrencies received from equity method investment

   $ 1,326     $ —    

Reclassification of deferred investment costs to equity method investment

   $ 174     $ —    

Property and equipment purchases in related party loan

   $ —       $ 109  

Deposits on equipment in accounts payable

   $ 360     $ —    

Deferred offering costs included in accrued expenses

   $ —       $ 1,791  

Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable

   $ —       $ 20  

Deferred investment costs included in accrued expenses

   $ —       $ 187  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS

Organization

On August 27, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), Good Works Acquisition Corp. (“GWAC”), a special purpose acquisition company, consummated the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 4, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among GWAC, Currency Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”), a wholly owned direct subsidiary of GWAC, and Cipher Mining Technologies Inc. (“Cipher Mining Technologies”).

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into Cipher Mining Technologies, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub ceasing and Cipher Mining Technologies being the surviving corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of GWAC (the “Merger” and, together with the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the “Business Combination”). Following the Business Combination, the combined company was named Cipher Mining Inc. (“Cipher” or the “Company”). The Company comprises all of GWAC’s and Cipher Mining Technologies’ operations.

Business

The Company is an emerging technology company that operates in the Bitcoin mining ecosystem in the United States. Specifically, the Company is developing and growing a cryptocurrency mining business specializing in Bitcoin. As a stand-alone, U.S.-based cryptocurrency mining business, the Company has begun its buildout of cryptocurrency mining sites in the United States that will include both wholly-owned sites and partially-owned sites acquired through investments in joint ventures. The Company began deployment of capacity in the first quarter of 2022, with mining operations beginning at the Alborz facility, located in Texas, in February 2022 (the “Alborz facility”). See additional information about the Alborz facility in Note 8.

Cipher Mining Technologies was established on January 7, 2021, in Delaware, by Bitfury Top Holdco B.V. and its subsidiaries (“Bitfury Top Holdco” and, with its subsidiaries, the “Bitfury Group”), a global full-service blockchain and technology specialist and one of the leading private infrastructure providers in the blockchain ecosystem. Bitfury Top HoldCo (together with Bitfury Holding B.V., a subsidiary of Bitfury Top HoldCo, and referred to herein as “Bitfury Holding”) beneficially owned approximately 81.6% and 83.4% of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (”Common Stock”) as of June 30, 2022 and upon completion of the Business Combination (as defined above), respectively, with sole voting and sole dispositive power over those shares and, as a result, the Bitfury Group has control of the Company as defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810, “Consolidation.”

Risks and uncertainties

Liquidity and capital resources and limited business history

The Company incurred net losses of $46.7 million and cash flow used in operations of $9.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had approximate balances of cash and cash equivalents of $37.0 million, working capital of $24.3 million, total stockholders’ equity of $313.3 and an accumulated deficit of $118.9 million. To date, the Company has, in large part, relied on proceeds from the consummation of the Business Combination to fund its operations. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company paid approximately $156.8 million of deposits for miners and mining equipment. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had transferred equipment with a total cost of $75.9 million from deposits on equipment related to the contribution of a total of 10,578 miners and other mining equipment to the Alborz facility, which was recorded to investment in equity investee on its condensed consolidated balance sheet, with the exception of the $11.6 million loss discussed below. In June 2022, the Company contributed 6,629 miners to the Alborz facility, which are included in the 10,578 total of miners contributed. At the time of the June contribution, these miners had a fair value that was lower than the cost paid by the Company to obtain them and the Company recognized a loss of $11.6 million within equity in loss of equity investment on its condensed consolidated statement of operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.

As of June 30, 2022, the Company had $196.7 million of deposits on equipment on its condensed consolidated balance sheet, primarily for miners, and has significant future commitments related to these deposits as detailed in Note 6, for which the Company will need additional capital in order to meet these commitments in accordance with the existing contractual terms. Management believes that the Company’s existing financial resources, combined with its ability to delay certain equipment orders, projected distributions of cash and cryptocurrencies from its partially-owned sites, projected revenues from cryptocurrency mining operations at its wholly-owned site, as well as the ability to sell cryptocurrency received or earned, will be sufficient to meet its operating and capital requirements for at least 12 months from the date these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are issued.

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

There is limited historical financial information about the Company upon which to base an evaluation of its performance and the Company has not generated any revenues from its business to date. The business is subject to risks inherent in the establishment of a new business enterprise, including limited capital resources, possible delays in exploration and/or development, and possible cost overruns due to price and cost increases in services. Management of the Company has no current intention of entering into a merger or acquisition within the next 12 months. The Company is in the process of an active operational buildout and anticipates that additional capital will be required to implement the buildout. The Company may also require additional capital to pursue certain business opportunities or respond to technological advancements, competitive dynamics or technologies, customer demands, challenges, acquisitions or unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, the Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs related to becoming a public company. Accordingly, the Company may engage in equity or debt financings or enter into credit facilities for the above-mentioned or other reasons; however, the Company may not be able to timely secure additional debt or equity financings on favorable terms, if at all. If the Company raises additional funds through equity financing, its existing stockholders could experience significant dilution. Furthermore, any debt financing obtained by the Company in the future could involve restrictive covenants relating to the Company’s capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for the Company to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities. If the Company is unable to obtain adequate financing on terms that are satisfactory to the Company, when the Company requires it, the Company’s ability to continue to grow or support the business and to respond to business challenges could be significantly limited. If the Company is unable to obtain adequate debt or equity financing for its planned buildout, the Company may be required to delay or change its planned buildout steps, which may adversely affect the Company’s business plan.

COVID-19

Results of operations could be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy and in the global financial markets, including conditions that are outside of the Company’s control, such as the outbreak and global spread of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”). The COVID-19 pandemic that was declared on March 11, 2020 has caused significant economic dislocation in the United States and globally as governments, including the United States, introduced measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. The spread of COVID-19 and the imposition of related public health measures have resulted in, and are expected to continue to result in, increased volatility and uncertainty in the cryptocurrency space. Any severe or prolonged economic downturn, as result of the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, could result in a variety of risks to the Company’s business and management cannot anticipate all the ways in which the current economic climate and financial market conditions could adversely impact the Company’s business.

The Company may experience disruptions to its business operations resulting from supply delays or interruptions, quarantines, self-isolations, or other movement and restrictions on the ability of its employees or its counterparties to perform their jobs. The Company may also experience delays in construction and obtaining necessary equipment in a timely fashion. For example, in early January 2022, construction at the Alborz facility was temporarily shut down in response to employees being impacted by COVID-19. The temporary shut down was less than a week, and construction resumed at the site immediately after. If the Company is unable to effectively set up and service its miners, the Company’s ability to mine Bitcoin will be adversely affected. The future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is still highly uncertain and there is no assurance that the COVID-19 pandemic or any other pandemic, or other unfavorable global economic, business or political conditions, will not materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of presentation and principles of consolidation

The Company prepares its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) as determined by the FASB and pursuant to the accounting and disclosure rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its controlled subsidiary, Cipher Mining Technologies. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. The most significant estimates inherent in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements include, but are not limited to, those related to equity instruments issued in share-based compensation arrangements, valuation of the warrant liability, useful lives of property and equipment, and the valuation allowance associated with the Company’s deferred tax assets, among others. Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

Unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which consist of only normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the balances and results for the periods presented. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statement results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any future period.

A description of the Company’s significant accounting policies in included in the Company’s 2021 Form 10-K. You should read the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in the Company’s 2021 Form 10-K. Except as disclosed herein, there has been no material change in the information disclosed in the notes to the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s 2021 Form 10-K.

Change in fiscal year

Cipher Mining Technologies assumed GWAC’s financial calendar for the combined entity with the third fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2021 and its fiscal year ending December 31, 2021. This change to the fiscal year end was approved by the Company’s board of directors (“Board”) on September 23, 2021. Cipher Mining Technologies’ fiscal year previously ended on January 31.

Investment in equity investee

The Company accounts for investments using the equity method of accounting if the investment provides the Company the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over an investee. Significant influence is generally deemed to exist if the Company has an ownership interest in the voting stock of an investee of between 20 percent and 50 percent, or an ownership interest greater than three to five percent in certain partnerships, unincorporated joint ventures and limited liability companies, although other factors are considered in determining whether the equity method of accounting is appropriate. Under this method, an investment in the common stock of an investee (including a joint venture) shall be initially measured and recorded at cost; however, an investor shall initially measure at fair value an investment in the common stock of an investee (including a joint venture) recognized upon the derecognition of a distinct nonfinancial asset at the time that control over the distinct nonfinancial asset is transferred to the equity investee, such as that which occurs upon the transfer of miners and mining equipment to the joint venture from Cipher.

The Company’s investment is subsequently adjusted to recognize the Company’s share of net income or losses as they occur. The Company also adjusts its investment upon receipt of cryptocurrency from the equity investee, which is accounted for as a distribution-in-kind. The Company’s share of investee earnings or losses is recorded, net of taxes, within equity in loss of equity investment in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. Additionally, the Company’s interest in the net assets of its equity method investee is reflected in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. If, upon the contribution of nonfinancial assets to the joint venture from Cipher, there is any difference between the cost of the investment and the amount of the underlying equity in the net assets of an investee, the difference is required to be accounted for as if the investee were a consolidated subsidiary. If the difference is assigned to depreciable or amortizable assets or liabilities, then the difference should be amortized or accreted in connection with the equity earnings based on the Company’s proportionate share of the investee’s net income or loss. If the investor is unable to relate the difference to specific accounts of the investee, the difference should be considered goodwill.

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

The Company considers whether the fair value of its equity method investment has declined below its carrying value whenever adverse events or changes in circumstances indicate that recorded values may not be recoverable. If the Company considered any such decline to be other than temporary (based on various factors, including historical financial results, success of the mining operations and the overall health of the investee’s industry), then the Company would record a write-down to estimated fair value.

Property and equipment, net

Property and equipment consists primarily of construction-in-progress at the Company’s wholly-owned site in Texas, as well as office and computer equipment, software that is being developed for internal use, and several miners obtained for testing purposes. Property and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which is generally three years for office and computer-related assets and five years for miners. Construction-in-progress consists primarily of leasehold improvements which, when placed into service, will be depreciated in accordance with the lease term of five years.

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (amounts in thousands):

 

     June 30, 2022      December 31, 2021  

Office and computer equipment

   $ 92      $ 60  

Software

     238        —    

Furniture and fixtures

     45        —    

Miners and mining equipment

     26        —    

Construction-in-progress

     23,256        5,069  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cost of property and equipment

     23,657        5,129  

Less: accumulated depreciation

     (20      (5
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

   $ 23,637      $ 5,124  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation expense was immaterial during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and also during the three and five months ended June 30, 2021.

Capitalized software costs

The Company accounts for the costs of software developed for internal use by capitalizing costs incurred during the application development stage to property and equipment, net on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Costs related to preliminary project activities and post-implementation activities are expensed as incurred. The Company plans to amortize the capitalized costs of internal-use software on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset, which is expected to be 3 years. The Company will recognize the amortization in the consolidated statements of operations once the software is technologically feasible.

Leases

The Company accounts for leases in accordance with ASC 842, “Leases”. Accordingly, the Company determines whether an arrangement contains a lease at the inception of the arrangement. If a lease is determined to exist, the term of such lease is assessed based on the date on which the underlying asset is made available for the Company’s use by the lessor. The Company’s assessment of the lease term reflects the non-cancelable term of the lease, inclusive of any rent-free periods and/or periods covered by early-termination options which the Company is reasonably certain of not exercising, as well as periods covered by renewal options which the Company is reasonably certain of exercising. The Company also determines lease classification as either operating or finance at lease commencement, which governs the pattern of expense recognition and the presentation reflected in the consolidated statements of operations over the lease term.

A lease liability is recorded on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at lease commencement reflecting the present value of its fixed minimum payment obligations over the lease term. A corresponding right-of-use (“ROU”) asset equal to the initial lease liability will also be recorded, adjusted for any accrued or prepaid rents and/or unamortized initial direct costs incurred in connection with execution of the lease and reduced by any lease incentives received. For purposes of measuring the present value of its fixed payment obligations for a given lease, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate, determined based on information available at lease commencement, as rates implicit in its leasing arrangements are typically not readily determinable. The Company’s incremental borrowing rate reflects the rate it would pay to borrow on a secured basis and incorporates the term and economic environment of the associated lease. ROU assets will be reviewed for impairment, consistent with other long-lived assets, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

For the Company’s operating leases, fixed lease payments will be recognized as lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease costs are expensed as incurred and are not included in the measurement of ROU assets and lease liabilities.

ASC 842 provides practical expedients for an entity’s ongoing accounting. The Company has elected the practical expedient not to separate lease and non-lease components for all leases, which means all consideration that is fixed, or in-substance fixed, relating to the non-lease components will be captured as part of the Company’s lease components for balance sheet purposes.

The Company entered into a series of agreements with affiliates of Luminant ET Services Company LLC (“Luminant”), including the Lease Agreement dated June 29, 2021, with amendment and restatement on July 9, 2021 (as amended and restated, the “Luminant Lease Agreement”). Once the Company has control over the applicable leased asset, the Company will record both a ROU asset and a corresponding lease liability in accordance with ASC 842 for each lease component as applicable under the agreements.

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, are included in current assets on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Cryptocurrencies awarded to the Company through its wholly-owned mining activities will be accounted for in connection with the Company’s revenue recognition policy. Cryptocurrencies awarded to the Company as distributions-in-kind from equity investees are accounted for in accordance with ASC 845, “Nonmonetary Transactions” and recorded at fair value upon receipt.

Cryptocurrencies will be accounted for as intangible assets with indefinite useful lives. An intangible asset with an indefinite useful life is not amortized but assessed for impairment annually, or more frequently, when events or changes in circumstances occur indicating that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived asset is impaired. Impairment exists when the carrying amount exceeds its fair value, which is measured using the quoted price of the cryptocurrency at the time its fair value is being measured. In testing for impairment, the Company has the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that an impairment exists. If it is determined that it is not more likely than not that an impairment exists, a quantitative impairment test is not necessary. If the Company concludes otherwise, it is required to perform a quantitative impairment test. The Company has elected to bypass the optional qualitative impairment assessment and will track its cryptocurrency activity daily for impairment assessment purposes. The Company determines the fair value of its cryptocurrencies on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, based on quoted prices on the active trading platform that the Company determines is its principal market for Bitcoin (Level 1 input). The Company performs an analysis each day to identify whether events or changes in circumstances, principally decreases in the quoted prices on its active trading platform, indicate that it is more likely than not that its cryptocurrencies are impaired. For impairment testing purposes, daily fair value of the cryptocurrencies is based on the next day’s beginning market price of the cryptocurrency (UTC 00:00), at the single Bitcoin level (one Bitcoin). The excess, if any, of the current carrying amount of the cryptocurrency assets over the daily fair value represents an impairment loss. To the extent an impairment loss is recognized, the loss establishes the new cost basis of the asset. Subsequent reversal of impairment losses is not permitted. The Company recognized an impairment charge of $0.5 million on its cryptocurrency assets during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.

Cryptocurrencies awarded to the Company through its mining activities will be included as an adjustment to reconcile net income to cash used in operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. The receipt of cryptocurrency as distributions-in-kind from equity investees and sales, if any, of cryptocurrencies are included within investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows and any realized gains or losses from such sales will be included in operating income (loss), net in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company will account for its sale of cryptocurrencies in accordance with the first in first out (“FIFO”) method of accounting.

Recently issued and adopted accounting pronouncements

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”, which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. The new guidance removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2022 with no impact to the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, “Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt-Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50), Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)”. ASU 2021-04 reduces diversity in an issuer’s accounting for modifications or exchanges of freestanding equity-classified written call options (for example, warrants) that remain equity classified after modification or exchange. ASU 2021-04 provides guidance for a modification or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option that is not within the scope of another Topic. It specifically addresses: (1) how an entity should treat a modification of the terms or conditions or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option that remains equity classified after modification or exchange; (2) how an entity should measure the effect of a modification or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option that remains equity classified after modification or exchange; and (3) how an entity should recognize the effect of a modification or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call option that remains equity classified after modification or exchange. An entity should apply the amendments prospectively to modifications or exchanges occurring on or after the effective date of the amendments. ASU 2021-04 was effective for the Company on January 1, 2022 and there was no impact on the Company’s financial statements or disclosures upon adoption.

No other new accounting pronouncement issued or effective during the fiscal year had or is expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

NOTE 3. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities subject to fair value measurement on a recurring basis and the level of inputs used for such measurements were as follows as of the dates indicated (amounts in thousands):

 

     Fair Value Measured as of June 30, 2022  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets included in:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

           

Money market securities

   $ 21,055      $ —        $ —        $ 21,055  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 21,055      $ —        $ —        $ 21,055  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities included in:

           

Warrant liability

   $ —        $ —        $ 26      $ 26  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ —        $ —        $ 26      $ 26  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     Fair Value Measured as of December 31, 2021  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets included in:

           

Cash and cash equivalents

           

Money market securities

   $ 101,004      $ —        $ —        $ 101,004  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 101,004      $ —        $ —        $ 101,004  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities included in:

           

Warrant liability

   $ —        $ —        $ 137      $ 137  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ —        $ —        $ 137      $ 137  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Fair values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate the recorded value due to the short-term nature of these items. The Company’s Private Placement Warrants are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because the fair value is based on significant inputs that are unobservable in the market.

The valuation of the Private Placement Warrants uses assumptions and estimates the Company believes would be made by a market participant in making the same valuation. The Company assesses these assumptions and estimates on an on-going basis as additional data impacting the assumptions and estimates are obtained.

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

The Company engaged a valuation firm to determine the fair value of the Private Placement Warrants using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the quoted price of the Company’s Common Stock. The following table presents significant assumptions utilized in the valuations of the Private Placement Warrants as of the dates indicated:

 

     June 30, 2022     December 31, 2021  

Risk-free rate

     2.96     1.20

Dividend yield rate

     0.00     0.00

Volatility

     77.0     58.8

Contractual term (in years)

     4.2       4.7  

Exercise price

   $ 11.50     $ 11.50  

The following table presents changes in the fair value of the Private Placement Warrants for the six months ended June 30, 2022 (amounts in thousands):

 

Balance, January 1, 2022

   $ 137  

Change in fair value

     (111
  

 

 

 

Balance, June 30, 2022

   $ 26  
  

 

 

 

NOTE 4. PREPAID EXPENSES AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had $9.6 million and $13.8 million, respectively, of prepaid expenses and other current assets on its unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, which was almost entirely related to prepaid insurance as of both dates.

The Company’s accrued expenses consisted of the following as of the dates indicated (amounts in thousands):

 

     June 30, 2022      December 31, 2021  

Taxes

   $ 5,177      $ —    

Legal

     567        100  

Accounting and audit

     67        153  

Other

     —          4  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accrued expenses

   $ 5,811      $ 257  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE 5. CRYPTOCURRENCIES

The following table presents information about the Company’s cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin) (amounts in thousands):

 

Balance, December 31, 2021

   $ —    

Cryptocurrencies received from equity investee

     1,326  

Impairment of cryptocurrencies

     (539
  

 

 

 

Balance, June 30, 2022

   $ 787  
  

 

 

 

The Company’s cryptocurrency activity for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was all from Bitcoin. The Company had no cryptocurrency activity during the five months ended June 30, 2021.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company recorded impairment charges of $0.5 million on its cryptocurrency holdings as shown in the table above.

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

NOTE 6. DEPOSITS ON EQUIPMENT

As of June 30, 2022, the Company had outstanding executed purchase agreements for the purchase of (1) 27,000 Antminer S19j Pro (100 TH/s) miners from Bitmain Technologies Limited (“Bitmain”) and (2) 60,000 MicroBT M30S, M30S+ and M30S++ miners from SuperAcme Technology (Hong Kong) Limited (“SuperAcme”). The Company entered into an Amended and Restated Framework Agreement on Supply of Blockchain Servers with SuperAcme (the “Amended SuperAcme Agreement”) on May 6, 2022, which amended that certain Framework Agreement on Supply of Blockchain Servers with SuperAcme, dated September 2, 2021, to purchase 60,000 MicroBT M30S, M30S+ and M30S++ miners (the “Original SuperAcme Agreement”).

The Amended SuperAcme Agreement established a new delivery quantity ratio of miners, as well as new fixed subtotal pricing. In connection with the Original SuperAcme Agreement, the Company previously paid an initial deposit of $22.2 million. No additional initial deposit was required as a result of the execution of the Amended SuperAcme Agreement. The expected final purchase price under the Amended SuperAcme Agreement is subject to both the new fixed price terms and certain floating price terms, with advance payment due in advance of certain batches of supply being delivered. The Company is in discussions with SuperAcme regarding the possibility of adjusting the payment and delivery schedules for the mining rigs originally scheduled for November 2022 and December 2022 to a date in 2023 to be agreed upon between the Company and SuperAcme.

The Company entered into two agreements with Bitfury USA Inc., a subsidiary of Bitfury Top HoldCo, made under, and as a part of, the Master Services and Supply Agreement between the Company and Bitfury Top HoldCo dated August 26, 2021, to purchase a total of 240 units of BlockBox air-cooled containers (each a “BBAC”), the modular data centers that house mining machines. The delivery of those containers commenced in the first quarter of 2022 and is anticipated to be completed in 2022, as expected. See Note 9 for more information on the Master Services and Supply Agreement.

The Company previously had an agreement for the purchase of between 28,000 to 56,000 mining rigs from Bitfury Top HoldCo, also made under, and as a part of, the Master Services and Supply Agreement. Upon execution of the agreement, the Company paid a $10.0 million deposit to Bitfury Top HoldCo; however, the agreement for the purchase of mining rigs was a non-binding commitment unless and until confirmed by a mutually executed order confirmation. No order confirmations were executed under this agreement and, as further described in Note 9, shares of the Company’s Common Stock held by Bitfury Top HoldCo were returned to the Company as consideration for, or repayment of, the $10.0 million deposit.

The purchase agreement commitments, deposits paid and expected delivery timing (remaining balances are payable in advance of shipping) are summarized below as of June 30, 2022 (amounts in thousands):

 

Vendor

  

Agreement
Dates

   Original
Maximum
Purchase
Commitment*
     Open
Purchase
Commitment
     Deposits
Paid
    

Expected
Shipping for
Open Purchase
Commitments

Bitmain Technologies Limited**

   August 20, 2021 and August 30, 2021    $ 171,135      $ 69,885      $ 69,885      April 2022 - September 2022

SuperAcme Technology (Hong Kong)**/***

   May 6, 2022      222,401        222,401        88,868      July 2022 - December 2022

Bitfury USA Inc. and other vendors (primarily for BBACs)****

   Various         43,746        37,954     
        

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

         $ 336,032      $ 196,707     
        

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

*

Maximum purchase commitment does not consider discounts that the Company may qualify for with the respective vendors, which could reduce the total cost.

**

Pursuant to the Company’s agreements with Bitmain and SuperAcme, the Company is responsible for all logistics costs related to transportation, packaging for transportation and insurance related to the delivery of the miners.

***

See Note 16 for further developments with SuperAcme.

****

See Notes 9 and 16 for additional information regarding payments for BBACs.

During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company paid approximately $156.8 million of deposits for miners and mining equipment. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had removed equipment with a total cost of $75.9 million from deposits on equipment related to the contribution of a total of 10,578 miners and other mining equipment to the Alborz facility, which was recorded to investment in equity investee on its condensed consolidated balance sheet, with the exception of the $11.6 million loss discussed below. In June 2022, the Company contributed 6,629 miners to the Alborz facility, which are included in the 10,578 total of miners contributed. At the time of the June contribution, these miners had a fair value that was less than the cost paid by the Company to obtain them and the Company recognized a loss of $11.6 million within equity in loss of equity investment on its condensed consolidated statement of operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. See additional information in Note 8.

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

NOTE 7. SECURITY DEPOSITS

Security deposits are shown in the table below as of the dates indicated (amounts in thousands):

 

     June 30, 2022      December 31, 2021  

Luminant Power Purchase Agreement Independent Collateral Amount (see Note 9)

   $ 6,277      $ 6,277  

Luminant Purchase and Sale Agreement collateral (see Note 9)

     3,063        3,063  

Office lease security deposit

     922        922  

Other deposits

     1,155        90  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total security deposits

   $ 11,417      $ 10,352  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE 8. INVESTMENT IN EQUITY INVESTEE

On June 10, 2021, the Company and WindHQ, LLC (“WindHQ”) signed a binding definitive framework agreement with respect to the construction, buildout, deployment and operation of one or more data centers (“Data Centers”) in the United States (the “WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement”). See additional information regarding the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement in Note 11.

On January 28, 2022, in connection with the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement, Cipher Mining Technologies and Alborz Interests DC LLC (a subsidiary of WindHQ), as members, entered into the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Alborz LLC (the “Alborz LLC Agreement”). On May 16, 2022, in connection with the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement, Cipher Mining Technologies and Bear Interests DC LLC (a subsidiary of WindHQ), as members, entered into the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Bear LLC (the “Bear LLC Agreement”). The Alborz LLC Agreement and the Bear LLC Agreement delineate the rights and obligations of the members related to the construction, operation and management of the Alborz facility and the Bear facility, respectively, each located in Texas. The Company is required to support and monitor (remotely) the operations of the hardware at the Alborz and Bear facilities (particularly the mining servers) under the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement.

The Company uses the equity method of accounting to account for its 49% equity interest in Alborz LLC. The Company also reclassified approximately $0.2 million of legal costs associated with the joint venture formation to investment in equity investee during the six months ended June 30, 2022. The Company recognized approximately $0.5 million and $0.6 million as equity in the net loss of Alborz LLC in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company received distributions-in-kind of Bitcoin of approximately $1.3 million from Alborz LLC.

The Company also recognized a loss of $11.6 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 as the cost of two batches of miners contributed to Alborz LLC in June 2022 had a fair value that was less than the cost paid by the Company to obtain the miners. This loss was recorded within equity in loss of equity investment on the condensed consolidated statement of operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, and represents a basis difference related to its investment in Alborz LLC as Alborz LLC recorded the equipment at the historical cost paid by the Company to obtain it. As Alborz LLC depreciates the historical cost of the miners on its financial statements over the expected depreciation period of five years, the Company will accrete this basis difference over the same period, and will record the accretion amount for each reporting period within equity in earnings (loss) of equity investment on its condensed consolidated statements of income until the miners are fully depreciated and the corresponding basis difference is fully accreted.

NOTE 9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Waiver, Lock-up and Board Observer Agreements

On April 8, 2022, the Company entered into a waiver agreement with Bitfury Top HoldCo (the “Waiver Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company waived certain restrictions on transfer of the Company’s Common Stock under (a) that certain Lock-up Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2021, by and between GWAC and Bitfury Top HoldCo and (b) those certain Lock-up Agreements, dated August 26, 2021, by and between GWAC and each of (i) I-B Goodworks, LLC, (ii) Magnetar Financial LLC, (iii) Mint Tower Capital Management B.V., (iv) Periscope Capital, Inc. and (v) Polar Asset Management Partners Inc., respectively (the stockholders contemplated by clauses (a)-(b), the “Stockholders”) imposing similar restrictions on the Stockholders (collectively, the “Lock-up Agreements” and each a “Lock-up Agreement”).

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

The Waiver Agreement was negotiated and approved by an independent committee of the Board. The Waiver Agreement (i) permits each Stockholder to pledge or otherwise hypothecate the Lock-up Shares (as defined in the Lock-up Agreements) held by such Stockholder as of the date of the Waiver Agreement (the shares that are actually pledged or otherwise hypothecated, the “Pledged Shares”) as collateral or security in connection with any loan meeting certain criteria set forth in the Waiver Agreement and (ii) transfer the Pledged Shares upon foreclosure by such pledgee in accordance with the terms of the applicable pledge or hypothecation; provided that such waiver will only apply and be effective if certain conditions specified in the Waiver Agreement are satisfied or waived. Additionally, effective as of the date of consummation of any pledge or hypothecation, and solely in regard to any pledged shares, the Lock-up Period, as defined in the applicable Lock-up Agreement, shall be extended an additional three months to November 26, 2023. Furthermore, the Waiver Agreement provides for a cancellation of 2,890,173 shares of the Company’s Common Stock held by Bitfury Top HoldCo and subject to the Lock-up Agreements as consideration for the $10.0 million deposit paid by the Company for Bitfury Top HoldCo mining rigs under the agreement dated October 11, 2021, for which no order confirmation was made, as discussed in Note 6.

On April 8, 2022, the Company also entered into an observer agreement (the “Board Observer Agreement”) with Bitfury Holding and Bitfury Top HoldCo (together with Bitfury Holding, the “Investors”), which provides that the Investors have the right to designate a representative to serve as an observer of the Board and any committees thereof (subject to exceptions and limitations specified in the Board Observer Agreement). The Board Observer Agreement was negotiated and approved by an independent committee of the Board.

Master Services and Supply Agreement

In connection with the Business Combination, Bitfury Top HoldCo and Cipher entered into the Master Services and Supply Agreement on August 26, 2021. The initial term of the agreement is 84 months, with automatic 12-month renewals thereafter (unless either party provides sufficient notice of non-renewal). Pursuant to this agreement, Cipher can request and Bitfury Top HoldCo is required to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide, or procure the provision of, certain equipment and/or services, such as construction, engineering and operations, in each case as may be required to launch and maintain Cipher’s mining centers in the United States. The Master Services and Supply Agreement is not exclusive to Bitfury Top HoldCo or any of its affiliates, and Cipher may retain any other parties to manufacture and deliver any equipment or perform any of the services required. Cipher is not obligated to order any equipment or services from the Bitfury Group under the Master Services and Supply Agreement.

In addition to the Master Services and Supply Agreement, Cipher and Bitfury Holding also entered into a fee side letter, which sets out the basic pricing framework applicable under the Master Services and Supply Agreement for any services. Under the fee side letter, monthly fees for any potential future services, if any, would be determined by reference to two groups of services, which may be provided under the Master Services and Supply Agreement: (i) Bitfury Top HoldCo’s “onsite” services fee would be calculated on a straight cost +5% basis (plus applicable duties and taxes); and (ii) Bitfury Top HoldCo’s “remote services” would be calculated on a ratchet basis applying a management fee of $1000/MW up to 445MW (capped at $200,000/month) and $450USD/MW above 445MW (plus applicable duties and taxes).

Purchase commitments, deposits on equipment and related party payables

As discussed above in Note 6, the Company entered into agreements with Bitfury Top HoldCo providing the Company an option to purchase mining rigs, but did not end up purchasing any Bitfury mining rigs, and with Bitfury USA Inc., a subsidiary of Bitfury Top HoldCo, to purchase BBACs. Such agreements are pursuant to the Master Services and Supply Agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company paid a total of $21.7 million to Bitfury USA Inc., which is recorded on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as deposits on equipment until receipt and deployment of the equipment. The Company did not make any payments to Bitfury USA Inc. during the five months ended June 30, 2021. As of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had a total of $26.7 million and $5.1 million, respectively, of deposits on equipment on its condensed consolidated balance sheets related to the Bitfury USA Inc. agreements.

Additionally, prior to the Business Combination, Bitfury USA Inc. contracted with third-party vendors for the purchase of equipment and the receipt of services related to Cipher’s future mining operations. Prior to December 31, 2021, Bitfury USA Inc. made payments under these arrangements totaling approximately $2.4 million. The Company reimbursed Bitfury USA Inc. for these amounts plus a 7% service fee upon completion of the Business Combination and, as a result, recorded the amounts reimbursed to Bitfury (including

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

the service fee) as follows: approximately $2.5 million was recorded to deposits on equipment and approximately $0.1 million was recorded to construction-in-progress on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021. Pursuant to one of these arrangements between Bitfury USA Inc. and a third-party vendor, Paradigm Controls of Texas, LLC (”Paradigm”), Cipher recorded an accrual of approximately $7.3 million, or $7.8 million including the 7% service fee owed to Bitfury USA Inc., to accounts payable, related party on its June 30, 2022 condensed consolidated balance sheet related to mining equipment and services received by the Company prior to June 30, 2022 for which Bitfury had not yet paid the third-party vendor. The total balance owed to Bitfury USA Inc. recorded in accounts payable, related party was $12.0 million as of June 30, 2022 and includes other amounts invoiced by Bitfury USA Inc. to the Company in addition to the $7.8 million accrual discussed above. See Note 16 for additional information regarding the disposition of the $7.3 million accrual after June 30, 2022.

The Company is currently in discussions with Bitfury USA Inc. to assign Cipher Mining Technologies Inc. certain service contracts related to the production of BBACs originally entered into between Bitfury USA Inc. and Paradigm. Going forward, the Company will work directly with Paradigm or other vendors on any remaining BBACs that would have been purchased from Bitfury USA Inc. under the Master Services and Supply Agreement. In connection with these discussions as of August 2022, the Company paid $10.5 million to Paradigm and the Company’s obligations to Bitfury USA Inc. under the Master Services and Supply Agreement were reduced by the same amount.

Related party receivables

The Company recorded a related party receivable of approximately $0.5 million as of June 30, 2022 related to expenses paid on behalf of Alborz LLC for which it expects to be reimbursed.

NOTE 10. LEASE

The Company entered into an operating lease for office space located in New York. The lease has an initial term of 64 months, commencing on February 1, 2022. The lease does not provide the Company with renewal options.

Total rent expense was approximately $0.4 million and $0.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, and consisted entirely of operating lease costs as the Company did not incur any variable lease costs or short-term lease costs during the period.

Supplemental information related to the lease was as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):

 

     Six Months Ended  
     June 30, 2022  

Operating cash flows - operating leases

   $ —    

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities

   $ 5,859  

Weighted-average remaining lease term – operating leases (in years)

     4.9  

Weighted-average discount rate – operating leases

     10.9

As of June 30, 2022, future minimum operating lease payments during the next five years are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

Remaining Period Ended December 31, 2022

   $ 791  

Year Ended December 31, 2023

     1,581  

Year Ended December 31, 2024

     1,581  

Year Ended December 31, 2025

     1,581  

Year Ended December 31, 2026

     1,581  

Year Ended December 31, 2027

     659  
  

 

 

 

Total

     7,774  

Less present value discount

     (1,776
  

 

 

 

Operating lease liabilities

   $ 5,998  
  

 

 

 

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

NOTE 11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation

The Company is not a party to any material legal proceedings and is not aware of any pending or threatened claims. From time to time, the Company may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities.

Commitments

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications with its employees, licensors, suppliers and service providers. The Company’s maximum exposure under these arrangements, if any, is unknown as of June 30, 2022. The Company does not anticipate recognizing any significant losses relating to these arrangements.

Power and hosting arrangements

The Company is party to several power and hosting arrangements, as described below.

Luminant power arrangement

On June 23, 2021, the Company entered into a power purchase agreement, which was subsequently amended and restated on July 9, 2021 and further amended on February 28, 2022, with Luminant for the supply of electric power to the Company’s wholly-owned site in Texas for a term of five years with a subsequent automatic annual renewal provision (as amended, the “Luminant Power Agreement”).

The Luminant Lease Agreement leases the Company a plot of land where the planned data center, ancillary infrastructure and electrical system (the “Interconnection Electrical Facilities” or “substation”) will be set up for the Texas site. The Company also entered into the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated June 28, 2021, with amendment and restatement on July 9, 2021 (as amended and restated, the “Luminant Purchase and Sale Agreement”) with another Luminant affiliate. The Company entered into the Luminant Lease Agreement and the Luminant Purchase and Sale Agreement to build the infrastructure necessary to support its planned operations. The Company determined that the Luminant Lease Agreement and the Luminant Purchase and Sale Agreement should be combined for accounting purposes under the new lease guidance (collectively, the “Combined Luminant Lease Agreement”) and that amounts exchanged under the combined contract should be allocated to the various components of the overall transaction based on relative fair values.

Under the Luminant Power Agreement, the Company is required to provide Luminant with collateral of approximately $12.6 million (the “Independent Collateral Amount”). Half, or approximately $6.3 million, of the Independent Collateral Amount was paid to Luminant on September 1, 2021 and is recorded in security deposits as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, as the Company received notice that Luminant had commenced construction of the Interconnection Electrical Facilities. The other half will be due 15 days prior to the date on which the Interconnection Electrical Facilities are completed and made operational. The Independent Collateral Amount will remain in place throughout the term of the Luminant Power Agreement. Details of the construction of the Interconnection Electrical Facilities, including collateral arrangements that are in addition to the Independent Collateral Amount, are set out in the Luminant Purchase and Sale Agreement. Under the Luminant Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Company provided approximately $3.1 million as collateral separate from the Independent Collateral Amount, which is also recorded in security deposits as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

The Combined Luminant Lease Agreement is effective from the date of the Company’s notification of the Effective Date of the Business Combination, which was August 27, 2021, and shall continue for five years following completion of the substation, subject to renewal provisions aligned with the Luminant Power Agreement. Financing for use of the land and substation is provided by Luminant affiliates, with monthly installments of principal and interest due over a five-year period starting upon transfer of legal title of the substation to the Company (estimated total undiscounted principal payments of $13.1 million). At the end of the lease term for the Interconnection Electrical Facilities, the substation will be sold back to Luminant’s affiliate, Vistra Operations Company, LLC at a price to be determined based upon bids obtained in the secondary market.

Standard Power hosting agreement

Under the Standard Power Hosting Agreement entered into on February 3, 2021 by the Company and 500 N 4th Street LLC, doing business as Standard Power (“Standard Power”), the Company agrees to provide Standard Power with Bitcoin miners with a specified energy utilization capacity necessary to generate computational power at three Ohio facilities (the “Miners”). Standard Power, in turn, is obligated to (i) host the Miners in specialized containers and provide the electrical power and transmission and connection equipment necessary for the mining and (ii) host, operate and manage the Miners there, in each case in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Standard Power Hosting Agreement.

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

The Standard Power Hosting Agreement provides that Standard Power shall provide an electric power infrastructure, including containers, necessary to operate Miners with a specified energy utilization capacity at facility 1 in Ohio in accordance with the specifications and power availability date set out in the availability schedule.

Thereafter, Standard Power shall provide the hosting capacity, housing and equipment for Miners with the specified energy utilization capacities that will be delivered to the facilities in accordance with the availability schedule, as may be amended and supplemented. Standard Power also undertakes to be responsible for the proper installation and the costs of work for hosting the Miners in the specialized containers in each facility and for the proper care and maintenance of the Miners, the facilities and the containers in which the Miners are installed.

Under the Standard Power Hosting Agreement, the Company is obligated to pay a hosting fee and an operational service fee. The Company’s payment obligations under the Standard Power Hosting Agreement become effective on a pro rata basis according to the number of Miners in operation in accordance with the terms of this agreement. The Standard Power Hosting Agreement provides for a term of five years with automatic five-year renewal provisions. The associated fees paid under the Standard Power Hosting Agreement will be expensed as services are received.

WindHQ power arrangement and joint venture

The WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement provides that the parties shall collaborate to fund the construction and buildout of certain specified Data Centers at locations already identified by the parties (“Initial Data Centers”). Each Initial Data Center will be owned by a separate limited liability company (each, an “Initial Data Center LLC”), and WindHQ and the Company will each own 51% and 49%, respectively, of the initial membership interests of each Initial Data Center LLC.

The WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement includes a development schedule for additional electrical power capacity through the joint identification, procurement, development and operation of additional Data Centers (“Future Data Centers”). Each Future Data Center will be owned by a separate limited liability company (each, a “Future Data Center LLC”, and collectively with the Initial Data Center LLCs, the “Data Center LLCs”), and the Company and WindHQ, or respective affiliates of the Company or WindHQ, shall become a member of each Data Center LLC by entering into a limited liability company agreement for each such Data Center LLC (“LLC Agreement”). WindHQ will own at least 51% of the initial membership interests of each Data Center LLC and the Company will own a maximum of 49% of the initial membership interests of each Data Center LLC. Furthermore, under the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement, WindHQ is required to procure energy for Future Data Centers at the most favorable pricing then available. Similarly, the Company is required to procure the applicable equipment needed for the Future Data Centers at the most favorable pricing then available.

Under the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement, WindHQ agrees to provide a series of services to each of the Data Centers, including but not limited to: (i) the design and engineering of each of the Data Centers; (ii) the procurement of energy equipment and other related services such as logistics for each of the Data Centers; and (iii) the construction work for each of the Data Centers. Furthermore, the Company is required to support and monitor (remotely) the operations of the hardware at each Data Center (particularly the mining servers) as required under the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement.

A development fee equal to 2% of capital expenditures in respect of the initial development of each Data Center shall be paid 50% to WindHQ and 50% to the Company. Furthermore, a fee equal to 2% of the gross revenues of each of the Data Center LLCs will be payable monthly, based on the immediately prior month gross revenue of such Data Center, 50% to WindHQ and 50% to the Company.

For each Data Center, WindHQ and the Company will cooperate to prepare a financial model incorporating the relevant economic factors of such Data Center, and both WindHQ and the Company will provide the initial funding required for each Data Center on a pro rata basis in accordance with the parties’ respective ownership interests in the applicable Data Center LLC.

In the absence of any material breaches by either party, the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement may only be terminated by mutual written consent of both parties.

Currently, it is not anticipated by management of the Company that the Company’s investment in any of the individual Data Center LLCs will meet the definition of a variable interest entity in accordance with ASC 810, and the Company will not have a controlling voting interest in any of the Data Center LLCs. Based upon the Company’s expectation that they will have significant influence over the operations and major decisions of the Data Center LLCs, the Company’s 49% ownership in each individual Data Center LLC will be separately accounted for under the equity method of accounting, as the Company does not expect to exercise control over the Data Center LLCs.

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

See discussion of the Alborz LLC Agreement entered into on January 28, 2022 between the Company and Alborz Interests DC LLC (a subsidiary of WindHQ) and the Bear LLC Agreement entered into on May 16, 2022 between the Company and Bear Interests DC LLC (a subsidiary of WindHQ) above in Note 8.

NOTE 12. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

As of June 30, 2022, 510,000,000 shares with a par value of $0.001 per share are authorized, of which, 500,000,000 shares are designated as Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares are designated as Preferred Stock.

Common Stock

Holders of each share of Common Stock are entitled to dividends when, as and if declared by the Board. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had not declared any dividends. The holder of each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote. The voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and powers of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights, powers and preferences of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock.

The Company repurchased 659,231 shares of its Common Stock related to tax withholding settlements for restricted stock units (“RSUs”) that vested during the six months ended June 30, 2022.

As disclosed above in Notes 6 and 9, on April 8, 2022, the Company accepted the return of 2,890,173 shares of its Common Stock held by Bitfury Top HoldCo as consideration for the $10.0 million deposit paid to Bitfury Top HoldCo for mining rigs under the agreement dated October 11, 2021. The returned shares were cancelled by the Company upon return.

NOTE 13. WARRANTS

Upon consummation of the Business Combination, the Company assumed Common Stock warrants that were originally issued in GWAC’s initial public offering (the “Public Warrants”), as well as warrants that were issued in a private placement that closed concurrently with GWAC’s initial public offering (the “Private Placement Warrants”). The Public and Private Placement Warrants entitle the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. There were 8,500,000 Public Warrants and 114,000 Private Placement Warrants outstanding as of the Closing Date of the Business Combination. The exercise price and number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary dividend or the Company’s recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of shares of Common Stock at a price below their respective exercise prices. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrants.

NOTE 14. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

Upon Closing of the Business Combination, the Board approved the Cipher Mining Inc. 2021 Incentive Award Plan (the “Incentive Award Plan”). The Incentive Award Plan provides for the grant of stock options, including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, RSUs and other stock or cash-based awards to employees, consultants and directors. Upon vesting of an award, the Company may either issue new shares or reissue treasury shares.

Initially, up to 19,869,312 shares of Common Stock were available for issuance under awards granted pursuant to the Incentive Award Plan. In addition, the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Incentive Equity Plan will be increased on January 1 of each calendar year beginning in 2022 and ending in 2031 by an amount equal to the lesser of (a) three percent (3%) of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (b) such smaller number of shares determined by the Board. On January 1, 2022, this resulted in an increase of 7,478,382 shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Incentive Award Plan. As of June 30, 2022, 6,656,920 shares of Common Stock are available for issuance under the Incentive Award Plan.

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

The Company recognized total share-based compensation for the following categories of awards during the periods indicated (amounts in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30, 2022
     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
 

Service-Based RSUs

   $ 6,685      $ 12,858  

Performance-Based RSUs

     3,379        6,720  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total share-based compensation expense

   $ 10,064      $ 19,578  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Service-Based RSUs

A summary of the Company’s unvested Service-Based RSU activity for the six months ended June 30, 2022 is shown below:

 

     Number of Shares      Weighted Average Grant
Date Fair Value
 

Unvested at January 1, 2022

     6,798,238      $ 8.04  

Granted

     3,884,260        2.16  

Forfeited

     (205,048      6.34  

Vested

     (1,759,546      7.54  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unvested at June 30, 2022

   $ 8,717,904      $ 5.56  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2022, there was approximately $33.7 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested Service-Based RSUs, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average vesting period of approximately 1.9 years.

If not fully-vested upon grant, Service-Based RSUs awarded generally vest in equal installments on the first four anniversaries of the vesting commencement date as determined by the Board, which will generally coincide with the timing when the employee or consultant began to provide services to the Company, and which may precede the grant date. Vesting is subject to the award recipient’s continuous service on the applicable vesting date; provided, that if the award recipient’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause”, due to award recipient’s death or permanent disability, or, for some award recipients, by the award recipient for “good reason” (if applicable, as such term or similar term may be defined in any employment, consulting or similar service agreement between award recipient and the Company), all unvested Service-Based RSUs will vest in full. In addition, in the event of a change in control, any unvested Service-Based RSUs will vest subject to the award recipient’s continuous service to the Company through such change in control. In addition, if the $10 billion market capitalization milestone (described further below) is achieved and the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) remains in continuous service through such achievement, any then-unvested Service-Based RSUs awarded to the CEO will also vest.

Performance-Based RSUs

There was no activity for unvested Performance-Based RSUs during the six months ended June 30, 2022. There were 4,257,710 unvested Performance-Based RSUs at a weighted average grant date fair value of $7.76 as of both June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. There was approximately $24.6 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested Performance-Based RSUs, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average derived service period of approximately 1.9 years.

One-third of the Performance-Based RSUs will vest upon the Company achieving a market capitalization equal to or exceeding $5 billion, $7.5 billion and $10 billion, in each case over a 30-day lookback period and subject to the CEO’s continuous service through the end of the applicable 30-day period. In the event of a change in control and CEO’s continuous service through such change in control, the per share price (plus the per share value of any other consideration) received by the Company’s stockholders in such change in control will be used to determine whether any of the market capitalization milestones are achieved (without regard to the 30-day lookback period). Any Performance-Based RSUs that do not vest prior to the CEO’s termination of service or, if earlier, in connection with a change in control will be forfeited for no consideration.

 

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CIPHER MINING INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

NOTE 15. NET LOSS PER SHARE

Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss allocable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per common share adjusts net loss and net loss per common share for the effect of all potentially dilutive shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Basic net loss per common share is the same as dilutive net loss per common share for all periods presented as the inclusion of all potential common shares would have been antidilutive. Potential common shares consist of Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants to purchase Common Stock (using the treasury stock method) that were sold by GWAC in its initial public offering or concurrent with its initial public offering, respectively, and assumed by the Company as of the Effective Date of the Business Combination, as well as unvested RSUs.

The following table presents the common shares that are excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per common share for the six months ended June 30, 2022 because including them would have been antidilutive. There were no potentially dilutive securities during the five months ended June 30, 2021.

 

Public Warrants

     8,499,980  

Private Placement Warrants

     114,000  

Unvested RSUs

     12,975,614  
  

 

 

 
     21,589,594  
  

 

 

 

NOTE 16. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

After June 30, 2022, but before the issuance of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company made payments totaling approximately $11.1 million to SuperAcme for miners. These payments were related to purchase commitments disclosed above in Note 6 and increased the Company’s deposits on equipment on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The Company is in discussions with SuperAcme regarding the possibility of adjusting the payment and delivery schedules for the mining rigs originally scheduled for November 2022 and December 2022 to a date in 2023 to be agreed upon between the Company and SuperAcme.

After June 30, 2022, but before the issuance of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company made payments totaling approximately $10.5 million directly to Paradigm in place of Bitfury, in respect of manufacturing services for BBACs. The Company’s payment obligations to Bitfury entities under the Master Services and Supply Agreement and recorded in accounts payable, related party on the Company’s June 30, 2022 condensed consolidated balance sheet were reduced by $7.3 million for amounts related to these payments to Paradigm.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, as well as our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes as disclosed in our 2021 Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon current plans, expectations and beliefs involving risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth in the “Risk Factors” sections of our 2021 Form 10-K and this Quarterly Report and other factors set forth in other parts of this Quarterly Report.

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Quarterly Report to the “Company,” “Cipher,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Cipher Mining Technologies Inc., prior to the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Closing” and, such date of the consummation of the Business Combination, the “Closing Date”) and to Cipher Mining Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries following the Business Combination. References to “GWAC” or “Good Works” refer to our predecessor company prior to the consummation of the Business Combination.

Overview

We are an emerging technology company that operates in the Bitcoin mining ecosystem in the United States. Specifically, we plan to develop and grow a cryptocurrency mining business, specializing in Bitcoin. Our key mission is to become a leading Bitcoin mining company in the United States.

We were established by the Bitfury Group, a global full-service blockchain and technology specialist and one of the leading private infrastructure providers in the blockchain ecosystem. On August 27, 2021, we consummated the Business Combination with Good Works. As a stand-alone, U.S.-based cryptocurrency mining business, specializing in Bitcoin, we have begun our buildout of cryptocurrency mining sites in the United States. We began deployment of capacity in the first quarter of 2022, with mining operations beginning at the Alborz facility in February 2022.

In connection with our planned buildout, we entered into the Standard Power Hosting Agreement, the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement and the Luminant Power Agreement, all of which, together, are expected to cover at least four sites where we expect to begin our buildout. Pursuant to these agreements, we expect to have access, for at least five years, to an average cost of electricity of approximately 2.7 c/kWh. We expect that this will help competitively position us to achieve our goal of becoming a leading Bitcoin mining operator in the United States.

On January 28, 2022, in connection with the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement, Cipher Mining Technologies and Alborz Interests DC LLC (a subsidiary of WindHQ), as members, entered into the Alborz LLC Agreement. The Alborz LLC Agreement delineates the rights and obligations of the members related to the construction, operation and management of the Alborz facility located in Texas (the “Alborz facility”). Pursuant to the terms of the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement, our investment and ownership of 49% of the data center referred to as “Alborz LLC” is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. A total of 10,578 Bitmain miners have been received and deployed at the Alborz facility during the first half of 2022. For additional discussion regarding the accounting treatment for the Alborz LLC, please see Notes 2, 8 and 11 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.

On May 16, 2022, in connection with the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement, Cipher Mining Technologies and Bear Interests DC LLC (a subsidiary of WindHQ), as members, entered into the Bear LLC Agreement. The Bear LLC Agreement delineates the rights and obligations of the members related to the construction, operation and management of the Bear facility located in Texas (the “Bear facility”). Pursuant to the terms of the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement, our investment and ownership of 49% of the data center referred to as “Bear LLC” is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. No Bitmain miners have been received and deployed at Bear during the first half of 2022. For additional discussion regarding the accounting treatment for the Bear LLC, please see Notes 2, 8 and 11 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.

We expect that in the near-term the substantial majority of our capital expenditures will be devoted to the buildout of our mining sites and the acquisition of mining hardware. In August 2021, we entered into an agreement with Bitmain to purchase 27,000 Antminer S19j Pro (100 TH/s) miners, which were expected to be delivered in nine batches on a monthly basis between January 2022 and September 2022. As of June 30, 2022, a total of 10,578 miners had been received and deployed at the Alborz facility.

On May 6, 2022, we entered into an Amended and Restated Framework Agreement on Supply of Blockchain Servers with SuperAcme Technology (Hong Kong) Limited (the “Amended SuperAcme Agreement”), which amended that certain Framework Agreement on Supply of Blockchain Servers with SuperAcme, dated September 2, 2021, to purchase 60,000 MicroBT M30S, M30S+ and M30S++ miners (the “Original SuperAcme Agreement”). The Amended SuperAcme Agreement establishes a new delivery quantity ratio of miners as well as new fixed subtotal pricing. In connection with the Original SuperAcme Agreement, we previously paid an initial deposit of $22.2 million. No additional initial deposit was required as a result of the execution of the Amended SuperAcme Agreement. The expected final purchase price under the Amended SuperAcme Agreement is subject to both the new fixed price terms and certain floating price terms, with advance payment due in advance of certain batches of supply being delivered.

 

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For further details on these and other agreements, see —“Liquidity and Capital Resources—Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments.”

We aim to deploy the computing power that we will create to mine Bitcoin and validate transactions on the Bitcoin network. We believe that Cipher will become an important player in the Bitcoin network due to our planned large-scale operations, best-in-class technology, market-leading power and hosting arrangements and a seasoned, dedicated senior management team.

As of August 5, 2022, Bitfury Top HoldCo (together with Bitfury Holding) beneficially owns approximately 81.6% of our common stock with sole voting and sole dispositive power over those shares and, as a result, Bitfury Top HoldCo has the power to elect all of our directors and we are a “controlled company” under Nasdaq corporate governance standards. For additional information, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to our Common Stock and Warrants—We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq listing rules and, as a result, can rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that provide protection to shareholders of other companies” in our 2021 Form 10-K.

The Business Combination

On August 27, 2021, as contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 4, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among GWAC, a Delaware corporation, Currency Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of GWAC, and the Company, the parties entered into the business combination transaction pursuant to which Merger Sub merged with and into the Company, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub ceasing and the Company being the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of GWAC (the “Merger” and, together with the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the “Business Combination”). Following the Business Combination, the combined company was named Cipher Mining Inc. (“Cipher Mining”). Cipher Mining comprises all of GWAC’s and Cipher Mining Technologies’ operations.

Upon the consummation of the Business Combination, all holders of Cipher common stock received shares of our common stock of $10.00 per share after giving effect to the Exchange Ratio, resulting in 200,000,000 shares of our common stock to be immediately issued and outstanding to Bitfury Top HoldCo (in addition to 8,146,119 shares of our common stock held by GWAC), 32,235,000 shares of our common stock held by the PIPE Investors and 6,000,000 shares of our common stock received by Bitfury Holding B.V., an affiliate of Bitfury Top HoldCo, under the Bitfury Private Placement, based on the following events contemplated by the Merger Agreement:

 

   

the cancellation of each issued and outstanding share of Cipher common stock; and

 

   

the conversion into the right to receive a number of shares of our common stock based upon the Exchange Ratio.

In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, GWAC entered into: (i) the PIPE Subscription Agreements to sell to certain investors (the “PIPE Investors”), an aggregate of 32,235,000 shares of GWAC Common Stock, immediately following the Closing, for a purchase price of $10.00 per share and at an aggregate gross proceeds of $322.4 million (the “PIPE Financing”) and (ii) the Bitfury Subscription Agreement to sell to Bitfury Top HoldCo (or an affiliate of Bitfury Top HoldCo), an aggregate of 6,000,000 shares of GWAC Common Stock, following the Closing, for a purchase price of $10.00 per share and Bitfury Top HoldCo’s payment in cash and/or forgiveness of outstanding indebtedness for aggregate gross proceeds of $60.0 million (the “Bitfury Private Placement”).

Upon the consummation of the Business Combination, GWAC Common Stock and GWAC Warrants ceased trading on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange (the “Nasdaq”), and our common stock and Public Warrants began trading on August 30, 2021 on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbols “CIFR” and “CIFRW,” respectively. The Business Combination resulted in cash proceeds, net of issuance costs, of approximately $384.9 million.

On April 8, 2022, we, as successor-in-interest to GWAC, and Cipher Mining Technologies, with respect to certain sections (collectively, the “Company”), entered into a Waiver Agreement, with Bitfury (the “Waiver Agreement”), pursuant to which we waived certain restrictions on transfer of shares under (a) that certain Lock-up Agreement, dated as of August 26, 2021, by and between Good Works Acquisition Corp. and Bitfury and (b) those certain Lock-up Agreements, dated as of August 26, 2021, by and between Good Works Acquisition Corp. and each of (i) I-B Goodworks, LLC, (ii) Magnetar Financial LLC, (iii) Mint Tower Capital Management B.V., (iv) Periscope Capital, Inc. and (v) Polar Asset Management Partners Inc., respectively (the stockholders contemplated by clauses (a)-(b), the “Stockholders”) imposing similar restrictions on the Stockholders (collectively, the “Lock-up Agreements” and each a “Lock-up Agreement”). The Waiver Agreement was negotiated and approved by an independent committee of our Board of Directors (the “Board”). The Waiver Agreement permits each Stockholder to pledge or otherwise hypothecate up to

 

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one hundred percent (100%) of the Lock-up Shares (as defined in the Lock-Up Agreements) held by such Stockholder as of the date of the Waiver Agreement (the shares that are actually pledged or otherwise hypothecated, the “Pledged Shares”) as collateral or security in connection with any loan meeting certain criteria set forth in the Waiver Agreement and (ii) transfer the Pledged Shares upon foreclosure by such pledgee in accordance with the terms of the applicable pledge or hypothecation; provided that the Waiver will only apply and be effective if the following conditions are satisfied or waived: (i) any pledgee executes a joinder to the Lock-up Agreements and therefore be bound by the Transfer Restrictions as defined in the Lock-up Agreements, (ii) the pledgee in receipt of any pledged shares be in compliance with all Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer laws and regulations in effect in the United States of America and be a nationally, internationally or regionally recognized bank or bona fide financial institution, private equity fund or other lender, (iii) any pledgee not be a competitor of the Company, and (iv) any loan for pledged shares be a bona fide loan containing customary market terms and have an initial 25% maximum loan-to-value ratio. Additionally, effective as of the date of consummation of any pledge or hypothecation, and solely in regard to any Pledged Shares, the Lock-Up Period, as defined in the applicable Lock-up Agreement, shall be extended an additional three months to November 26, 2023. Furthermore, the Waiver Agreement provides for a cancellation of 2,890,173 shares of our common stock held by Bitfury Top HoldCo and subject to the Lock-up Agreements (the “Cancelled Shares”) as consideration for the $10.0 million deposit paid by us for Bitfury mining rigs under our agreement dated October 11, 2021, for which no order confirmation was made. The Cancelled Shares were part of the tranche of Lock-Up Shares with a Lock-Up Period during the period beginning on the date that is eighteen months after the Closing Date and ending on the date that is two years after the Closing Date.

Also on April 8, 2022, we entered into an Observer Agreement (the “Board Observer Agreement”) with Bitfury Holding B.V. (“Bitfury Holding”) and Bitfury (together with “Bitfury Holding,” the “Investors”), which provides that the Investors have the right to designate a representative to serve as an observer (the “Observer”) of our Board and any committees thereof (subject to exceptions specified therein). The Observer has the right to attend and observe meetings of the Board, including any meetings of the committees of the Board, and to participate in discussions of matters brought to the Board or any committee thereof, in each case, subject to certain exceptions specified in the Board Observer Agreement. The Investors’ rights under the Board Observer Agreement will terminate upon the date that the Investors no longer beneficially own at least 10% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. As of the date of this Quarterly Report, the Investors have not designated an Observer pursuant to the Board Observer Agreement.

The Board Observer Agreement was negotiated and approved by an independent committee of the Board.

Recent Developments

On May 16, 2022, in connection with the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement, Cipher Mining Technologies and Bear Interests DC LLC (a subsidiary of WindHQ), as members, entered into the Bear LLC Agreement. The Bear LLC Agreement delineates the rights and obligations of the members related to the construction, operation and management of the Bear facility located in Texas.

In August 2022, we completed the Alborz facility. The Alborz facility has mining rigs installed that are capable of generating approximately 1.3 EH/s (of which we expect to own approximately 0.64 EH/s, with the remainder going to WindHQ pursuant to the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement). Pursuant to the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement, the Bear facility and an additional facility named the Chief facility are both nearing completion and the mining rigs for those sites are currently in transit to the sites. Combined, the Bear facility and Chief facility are expected to generate approximately 0.65 EH/s (of which we expect to own approximately 0.32 EH/s).

By early 2023, we plan to deploy approximately 265MW of electrical power capacity with a corresponding hashrate of approximately 7.9 EH/s, of which we expect to own approximately 6.9 EH/s, with the remainder going to WindHQ pursuant to the WindHQ Joint Venture Agreement.

We have completed payments in respect of the purchase agreement for the purchase of 27,000 Antminer S19j Pro (100 TH/s) miners from Bitmain.

We have completed approximately $101 million of payments of an estimated approximately $200 million of the Amended SuperAcme Agreement. We are currently in discussions with SuperAcme to adjust the payment and delivery terms under the Amended SuperAcme Agreement. We are also in discussions with SuperAcme regarding the possibility of adjusting the payment and delivery schedules for the mining rigs originally scheduled for November 2022 and December 2022 to a date in 2023 to be agreed upon between us and SuperAcme. We can make no assurances as to the outcome of these discussions and if we are unable to agree upon terms, we risk forfeiting certain deposits previously paid pursuant to the Amended SuperAcme Agreement.

We are currently in discussions with Bitfury USA Inc. to assign Cipher Mining Technologies Inc. certain service contracts related to the production of BBACs originally entered into between Bitfury USA Inc. and Paradigm. Going forward, we will work directly with Paradigm on any remaining BBACs that would have been purchased from Bitfury USA Inc. under the Master Services and Supply Agreement. In connection with these discussions, as of August 2022 we paid $10.5 million to Paradigm and our obligations to Bitfury USA Inc. under the Master Services and Supply Agreement were reduced by the same amount.

 

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Known Trends or Future Events

Impact of COVID-19

Our results of operations could be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy and in the global financial markets, including conditions that are outside of our control, such as the outbreak and global spread of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic that was declared on March 11, 2020 has caused significant economic dislocation in the United States and globally as governments, including the United States, introduced measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. The spread of COVID-19 and the imposition of related public health measures have resulted in, and are expected to continue to result in, increased volatility and uncertainty in the cryptocurrency space. Any severe or prolonged economic downturn, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, could result in a variety of risks to our business and we cannot anticipate all the ways in which the current economic climate and financial market conditions could adversely impact our business.

We may experience disruptions to our business operations resulting from supply interruptions, quarantines, self-isolations, or other movement and restrictions on the ability of our employees or our counterparties to perform their jobs. We may also experience delays in construction and obtaining necessary equipment in a timely fashion. For example, in early January 2022, we had to temporarily shut down the construction at the Alborz facility in response to employees being impacted by COVID-19. The temporary shutdown was less than a week, and we resumed the construction at the site immediately after. If we are unable to effectively set up and service our miners, our ability to mine Bitcoin will be adversely affected. The future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is still highly uncertain and there is no assurance that the COVID-19 pandemic or any other pandemic, or other unfavorable global economic, business or political conditions, will not materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, and operating results.

Change in Fiscal Year

Starting with the three and eight months ended September 30, 2021, we assumed GWAC’s financial calendar for our third fiscal quarter ending September 30 and our fiscal year ending December 31. This change to the fiscal year end was approved by the Board on September 23, 2021. Cipher Mining Technologies’ fiscal year previously ended on January 31.

Results of Operations

Since our inception on January 7, 2021 and until the time of the Business Combination, our activities were primarily organizational and those necessary to prepare for the Business Combination. Following the Business Combination, our activities have been focused on the set-up of cryptocurrency mining data centers as part of our planned buildout, including entry into agreements with Bitmain, SuperAcme and the Bitfury Group for supply of miners and other equipment and services. For further details, see “—Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments.” We expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance). Our plan of operation for the next 12 months is to develop our initial portfolio comprised of select sites in the United States in which to construct Bitcoin mining facilities for our operations.

Comparative Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

We generated no revenue during the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021. We incurred general and administrative expenses of $16.7 million and $0.5 million during the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Share-based compensation costs of $10.1 million were recognized in total general and administrative expenses during the three months ended June 30, 2022, related to restricted stock units (”RSUs”), awarded to our employees. The remaining $6.6 million of general and administrative expenses incurred during the three months ended June 30, 2022 was recognized predominantly as follows: $2.5 million for business insurance, $0.8 million for payroll and payroll-related benefits for employees, $0.6 million for accounting and audit services, $0.6 million combined for state, local and franchise taxes, $0.4 million for rent expense at the Company’s headquarters, and $0.3 million for each of the following expense categories: board fees, consulting fees, legal expenses and specific costs of operating as a public company. Comparatively, general and administrative expenses recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2021 were mainly related to compensation and benefits of approximately $0.3 million, as well as approximately $0.1 million for both investor relations and consulting expenses.

We recognized a loss of $11.6 million related to our contribution of miners to Alborz LLC in June 2022 due to the fair value at the time of the contribution being less than the cost paid for the miners, which is included in equity in loss of equity investment along with our share of the loss of Alborz LLC for the three months ended June 30, 2022. Additionally, we recognized $0.5 million of impairment during the three months ended June 30, 2022 on Bitcoin that we received from the Alborz facility.

 

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We paid $59.9 million for deposits on miners and mining equipment during the three months ended June 30, 2022, increasing total deposits on equipment on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet to approximately $196.7 million as of June 30, 2022. Additionally, during this period we also paid $6.0 million for purchases of property and equipment, which was principally related to construction-in-progress at one of our planned wholly-owned sites under development in Texas.

Comparative Results for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 and the Five Months Ended June 30, 2021

We generated no revenue during the six months ended June 30, 2022 and the five months ended June 30, 2021. We incurred general and administrative expenses of $34.1 million and $0.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022 and the five months ended June 30, 2021, respectively. Share-based compensation costs of $19.6 million were recognized in total general and administrative expenses during the six months ended June 30, 2022, related to RSUs awarded to our employees. The remaining $14.5 million of general and administrative expenses incurred during the six months ended June 30, 2022 was recognized predominantly as follows: $4.9 million for business insurance, $1.9 million for taxes, $1.6 million for payroll and payroll-related benefits for employees, $1.5 million for legal expenses, $1.0 million each for accounting and audit services, $0.7 million for consulting expenses, $0.6 million for rent expense at the Company’s headquarters, $0.5 million for board fees, $0.5 million of specific costs of operating as a public company, as well as $0.3 million for recruiting fees and office supplies. Comparatively, general and administrative expenses recognized during the five months ended June 30, 2021 were mainly related to compensation and benefits of approximately $0.3 million, as well as approximately $0.1 million for each of the following: accounting and audit, investor relations and consulting expenses, with smaller expenses incurred for legal and other miscellaneous costs.

On March 15, 2022, we formed the Special Independent Committee to review, consider, deliberate, investigate, analyze, explore, evaluate, monitor and exercise general oversight of any and all activities of the Company directly or indirectly involving entry into the Waiver Agreement and the Observer Agreement. For more information about the Special Independent Committee, the Waiver and the Observer Agreements, see Notes 2 and 9 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Our legal expenses during the six months ended June 30, 2022 totaled $1.5 million and the expenses related to the Special Independent Committee and legal and advisory expenses related to entry into the Waiver Agreement and the Observer Agreement were a significant part of our total legal expenses during this period.

We recognized a loss of $11.6 million related to the contribution of miners to Alborz LLC in June 2022 due to the fair value being less than the cost that the Company paid for the miners, which is included in equity in loss of equity investment along with our share of the loss of Alborz LLC for the six months ended June 30, 2022. Additionally, we recognized $0.5 million of impairment during the six months ended June 30, 2022 on Bitcoin that we received from Alborz.

We paid $156.8 million for deposits on miners and mining equipment during the six months ended June 30, 2022, increasing total deposits on equipment on our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet to approximately $196.7 million as of June 30, 2022. Additionally, during this period we also paid $13.1 million for purchases of property and equipment, which was principally related to construction-in-progress at one of our planned wholly-owned sites under development in Texas.

Factors Expected to Affect Our Future Results

There have been no material changes to the “Factors Expected to Affect Our Future Results” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis section of our 2021 Form 10-K. Our financial position and results of operations depend to a significant extent on those factors.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We incurred a net loss of $46.7 million and negative cash flows from operations of $9.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. As of June 30, 2022, we had working capital of approximately $24.3 million, which included cash and cash equivalents of $37.0 million, total stockholders’ equity of $313.3 million and an accumulated deficit of $118.9 million. To date, we have relied in large part on proceeds from the consummation of the Business Combination to fund our operations. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, we paid approximately $156.8 million as deposits on equipment, primarily for miners, and have significant future commitments related to these deposits as detailed below under “—Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments,” for which we will need additional capital in order to meet these commitments in accordance with the existing contractual terms. Management believes that our existing financial resources, combined with our ability to delay or change our planned buildout steps, are sufficient to meet our operating and capital requirements for at least 12 months from the date these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are issued.

 

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Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash (in thousands):

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30, 2022
     Five Months Ended
June 30, 2021
 

Net cash used in operating activities

   $ (9,932    $ (1,003

Net cash used in investing activities

     (159,815      —    

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (3,052      4,168  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (172,799    $ 3,165  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $9.9 million, resulting from a net loss of $46.7 million, less non-cash items of $32.6 million, consisting primarily of share-based compensation expense of $19.6 million, equity in loss of equity investment of $12.2 million, which includes the loss on our June 2022 contribution of equipment of $11.6 million, cryptocurrency impairment of $0.5 million and amortization of $0.3 million; partially offset by a gain from the change in the fair value of our warrant liability of $0.1 million. The change in assets and liabilities of $4.2 million consisted primarily of a decrease in prepaid and other current assets of $4.1 million primarily for insurance costs, increases in accrued expenses and lease liability of $1.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively; partially offset by a $1.1 increase in security deposits mainly due to a bond covering the shipment of miners and a $0.5 million increase in related party receivables related to amounts that we will be reimbursed for by the Alborz LLC.

Net cash used in operating activities for the five months ended June 30, 2021 was approximately $1.0 million, resulting from a net loss of $0.7 million, an increase in security deposits of $0.4 million and a combined decrease of $0.1 million in accounts payable and accrued expenses totaling $0.1 million.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $159.8 million, primarily related to $156.8 million for deposits on equipment and $13.1 million for purchases of property and equipment primarily related to construction-in-progress at one of our planned Texas sites; partially offset by cash distributions of $10.1 million from the Alborz LLC.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $3.1 million, which was used to repurchase shares to cover the tax obligations of employees resulting from the vesting of RSUs.

Net cash provided by financing activities for the five months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily related to the receipt of $4.3 million borrowed from Bitfury Top HoldCo to provide us funding for our expenses prior to the Business Combination, offset by deferred offering costs paid of $0.1 million.

Limited Business History; Need for Additional Capital

There is limited historical financial information about the Company upon which to base an evaluation of our performance. Our business is subject to risks inherent in the establishment of a new business enterprise, including limited capital resources, possible delays in exploration and/or development, and possible cost overruns due to price and cost increases in services. We have no current intention of entering into a merger or acquisition within the next 12 months and we have a specific business plan and timetable to complete our 12-month plan of operation. We are in the process of an active operational buildout and anticipate that additional capital will be required to implement the buildout. See also “—Liquidity and Capital Resources.” We may also require additional capital to progress our buildout plan, pursue certain business opportunities or respond to technological advancements, competitive dynamics or technologies, customer demands, challenges, acquisitions or unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs related to becoming a public company. Accordingly, we may in the future engage in equity or debt financings or enter into credit facilities for the above-mentioned or other reasons; however, we may not be able to timely secure additional debt or equity financings on favorable terms, if at all. If we raise additional funds through equity financing, our existing stockholders could experience significant dilution. Furthermore, any debt financing obtained by us in the future could involve restrictive covenants relating to our capital raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities. If we are unable to obtain adequate financing on terms

 

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that are satisfactory to us, when we require it, our ability to continue to grow or support the business and to respond to business challenges could be significantly limited. If the Company is unable to obtain adequate debt or equity financing for its planned buildout, we may be required to delay or change our planned buildout steps, which may adversely affect our business plan. For risks associated with this, see “Risks Factors—Risks Related to Our Business, Industry and Operations—We will need to raise additional capital, which may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all” in our 2021 Form 10-K.

Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments

We have a lease agreement for executive office space, with an effective term that commenced on February 1, 2022 and monthly rent payments of approximately $0.1 million commencing on June 1, 2022. The initial lease term is for a period of five years and four months.

Mining and Mining Equipment

As of June 30, 2022, we had the following contractual obligations and other commitments for miners and other mining equipment (amounts in thousands):

 

Vendor

   Agreement
Dates
   Original
Maximum
Purchase
Commitment*
     Open
Purchase
Commitment
     Deposits
Paid
     Expected
Shipping for Open
Purchase
Commitments

Bitmain Technologies Limited**

   August 20,
2021 and
August 30,
2021
   $ 171,135      $ 69,885      $ 69,885      April 2022 -
September
2022

SuperAcme Technology (Hong Kong)**/***

   May 6, 2022      222,401        222,401        88,868      July 2022 -
December 2022

Bitfury USA Inc. and other vendors (primarily for BBACs)****

   Various         43,746        37,954     
        

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

         $ 336,032      $ 196,707     
        

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

*

Maximum purchase commitment does not consider discounts that we may qualify for with the respective vendors, which could reduce the total cost of the miners.

**

Pursuant to our agreements with Bitmain and SuperAcme, we are responsible for all logistics costs related to transportation, packaging for transportation and insurance related to the delivery of the miners.

***

See “—Recent Developments” above for further developments with SuperAcme.

****

See “—Recent Developments” for additional information regarding payments for BBACs.

On August 20, 2021 and on August 30, 2021, we and Bitmain entered into a Non-Fixed Price Sales and Purchase Agreement and a Supplemental Agreement to Non-Fixed Price Sales and Purchase Agreement, respectively, (together, the “Bitmain Agreement”) for us to purchase 27,000 Antminer S19j Pro (100 TH/s) miners, which were expected to be delivered in nine batches on a monthly basis between January 2022 and September 2022. As of June 30, 2022, 10,578 miners have been received. The original purchase price under the Bitmain Agreement is $171.1 million (the “Total Purchase Price”) with (i) 25% of the Total Purchase Price due paid within five days of execution of the Bitmain Agreement, (ii) 35% of the purchase price of each batch due five months prior to each delivery, and (iii) the remaining 40% of the purchase price of each batch due 15 days prior to each delivery. As of June 30, 2022, we had paid total deposits of $134.2 million for the miners (some of which are no longer reflected in the table above due to their receipt and deployment during the six months ended June 30, 2022).

On September 2, 2021, we entered into the Original SuperAcme Agreement to purchase 60,000 MicroBT M30S, M30S+ and M30S++ miners, which were expected to be delivered in six batches on a monthly basis between July 2022 and December 2022. On May 6, 2022, we entered into the Amended SuperAcme Agreement, which establishes a new delivery quantity ratio of miners as well as new fixed subtotal pricing. In connection with the Original SuperAcme Agreement, we previously paid an initial deposit of $22.2 million. No additional initial deposit was required as a result of the execution of the Amended SuperAcme Agreement. The expected final purchase price under the Amended SuperAcme Agreement is subject to both the new fixed price terms and certain floating price terms. Each batch of miners will continue to be paid in full prior to delivery. As of June 30, 2022, we had paid deposits of $88.9 million for the miners.

 

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On October 11, 2021, we entered into an agreement with Bitfury Top HoldCo B.V., made under, and as a part of, the Master Services and Supply Agreement, to purchase a total of between 28,000 to 56,000 mining rigs, to be delivered in seven batches on a monthly basis between June 2022 and December 2022. Generally, under this agreement, we agreed to pay a maximum price of $6,250 per machine, with an advance payment of $10.0 million due on or before the third business day following the execution of the agreement, and advance payments for each monthly batch due thereafter in accordance with the terms of the agreement. The $10.0 million advance payment was paid by us prior to December 31, 2021. The agreement was a non-binding commitment unless and until confirmed by a mutually executed order confirmation. We did not enter into any such order confirmations and, as mentioned above, we executed the Waiver Agreement with Bitfury Top HoldCo in April 2022, which provided for the Cancelled Shares as consideration for the $10.0 million deposit.

We also entered into two agreements with Bitfury USA Inc., a subsidiary of Bitfury Top HoldCo, made under, and as a part of, the Master Services and Supply Agreement, to purchase a total of 240 units of BlockBox air-cooled containers (each a “BBAC”), the modular data centers that house mining machines. The delivery of the first 20 containers were received in the first quarter of 2022 and the remainder are expected to be delivered in 20 batches between May 2022 and October 2022.

We are also party to several power and hosting arrangements. Under the Luminant Power Agreement, the other half of the Independent Collateral Amount, or approximately $6.3 million, is due 15 days prior to the date on which the Interconnection Electric Facilities are completed and made operational. See “Business—Material Agreements—Power Arrangements and Hosting Arrangements” for more information.

On May 2, 2022, Alborz LLC, as borrower, entered into a facility and security agreement with BlockFi Lending LLC (“BlockFi”), as lender. Pursuant to this agreement, BlockFi agreed to provide a secured credit facility in the amount of up to $46,907,216 which is available in up to three tranches, maturing on May 2, 2024 (the “BlockFi Facility”) to finance the purchase, installation and operation of Bitmain miners (“Mining Equipment”) at the Alborz facility. The proceeds from the BlockFi Facility will be used by Alborz LLC to purchase Mining Equipment from us pursuant to that certain contribution agreement entered into between us and Alborz LLC on May 2, 2022 (the “Contribution Agreement”). Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, Cipher Mining Technologies agreed to acknowledge and consent to the use of the Mining Equipment as well as any digital currency mined using the Mining Equipment as collateral in respect of the BlockFi Facility. Alborz LLC completed all of the three contemplated disbursements under the BlockFi Facility. The principal amount of the loan is $26,804,124.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We are providing supplemental financial measures for (i) non-GAAP loss from operations that excludes the impact of depreciation of fixed assets, stock compensation expense and (ii) non-GAAP net loss and non-GAAP diluted loss per share that exclude the impact of depreciation of fixed assets, change in fair value of warrant liability and stock compensation expense. These supplemental financial measures are not measurements of financial performance under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and, as a result, these supplemental financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally to help understand, manage, and evaluate our business performance and to help make operating decisions.

We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are also useful to investors in comparing our performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis. Non-GAAP loss from operations excludes non-cash operational expenses that we believe are not reflective of our general business performance such as (i) depreciation of fixed assets and (ii) stock compensation expense that could vary significantly in comparison to other companies.

Non-GAAP net loss and non-GAAP diluted loss per share exclude the impact of (i) depreciation of fixed assets, (ii) change in fair value of warrant liability and (iii) stock compensation expense. We believe the use of these non-GAAP financial measures can also facilitate comparison of our operating results to those of our competitors.

Non-GAAP financial measures are subject to material limitations as they are not in accordance with, or a substitute for, measurements prepared in accordance with GAAP. For example, we expect that share-based compensation expense, which is excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures, will continue to be a significant recurring expense over the coming years and is an important part of the compensation provided to certain employees, officers and directors. Similarly, we expect that depreciation of fixed assets will continue to be a recurring expense over the term of the useful life of the assets. Our non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. We rely primarily on such consolidated financial statements to understand, manage and evaluate our business performance and use the non-GAAP financial measures only supplementally.

 

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The following is a reconciliation of our non-GAAP loss from operations, which excludes the impact of (i) depreciation of fixed assets and (ii) stock compensation expense, to its most directly comparable GAAP measure for the periods indicated:

 

     Three Months Ended      Six Months
Ended
     Five Months
Ended
 
     June 30, 2022      June 30, 2021      June 30, 2022      June 30, 2021  

Reconciliation of non-GAAP loss from operations:

           

Operating loss

   $ (29,326    $ (547    $ (46,880    $ (660

Depreciation

     8        1        15        1  

Stock compensation expense

     10,064        —          19,578        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-GAAP loss from operations

   $ (19,254    $ (546    $ (27,287    $ (659
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following are reconciliations of our non-GAAP net loss and non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per share, in each case excluding the impact of (i) depreciation of fixed assets (ii) change in fair value of warrant liability and (iii) stock compensation expense, to the most directly comparable GAAP measures for the periods indicated:

 

     Three Months Ended      Six Months
Ended
     Five Months
Ended
 
     June 30, 2022      June 30, 2021      June 30, 2022      June 30, 2021  

Reconciliation of non-GAAP net loss:

           

Net loss

   $ (29,219    $ (548    $ (46,718    $ (661

Non-cash adjustments to net loss:

           

Depreciation

     8        1        15        1  

Change in fair value of warrant liability

     63        —          111        —    

Stock compensation expense

     10,064        —          19,578        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total non-cash adjustments to net loss

     10,135        1        19,704        1  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-GAAP net loss

   $ (19,084    $ (547    $ (27,014    $ (660
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Reconciliation of non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per share:

           

Basic and diluted net loss per share

   $ (0.12    $ —        $ (0.19    $ —    

Depreciation of fixed assets (per share)

     —          —          —          —    

Change in fair value of warrant liability (per share)

     —          —          —          —    

Stock compensation expense (per share)

     0.04        —          0.08        —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per share

   $ (0.08    $ —        $ (0.11    $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. A description of our significant accounting policies in included in our 2021 Form 10-K. You should read the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in our 2021 Form 10-K. Except as disclosed below, there has been no material change in the information disclosed in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2021 Form 10-K.

Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, will be included in current assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Cryptocurrencies awarded to us through our wholly-owned mining activities will be accounted for in connection with our revenue recognition policy disclosed above. Cryptocurrencies awarded to us as distributions-in-kind from equity investees are accounted for in accordance with ASC 845, “Nonmonetary Transactions” and recorded at fair value upon receipt.

Cryptocurrencies will be accounted for as intangible assets with indefinite useful lives. An intangible asset with an indefinite useful life is not amortized but assessed for impairment annually, or more frequently, when events or changes in circumstances occur indicating that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived asset is impaired. Impairment exists when the carrying amount exceeds its fair value, which is measured using the quoted price of the cryptocurrency at the time its fair value is being measured. In testing for impairment, we have the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that an impairment exists. If it is determined that it is not more likely than not that an impairment exists, a quantitative impairment test is

 

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not necessary. If we conclude otherwise, it is required to perform a quantitative impairment test. We have elected to bypass the optional qualitative impairment assessment and will track our cryptocurrency activity daily for impairment assessment purposes. We will determine the fair value of our cryptocurrencies on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, based on quoted prices on the active trading platform that we determine is our principal market for Bitcoin (Level 1 input). We will perform an analysis each day to identify whether events or changes in circumstances, principally decreases in the quoted prices on active trading platforms, indicate that it is more likely than not that our cryptocurrencies are impaired. For impairment testing purposes, daily fair value of the cryptocurrencies is based on the next day’s beginning market price of the cryptocurrency (UTC 00:00), at the single Bitcoin level (one Bitcoin). The excess, if any, of the current carrying amount of the cryptocurrency assets over the daily fair value represents an impairment loss. To the extent an impairment loss is recognized, the loss establishes the new cost basis of the asset. Subsequent reversal of impairment losses is not permitted.

Cryptocurrencies awarded to us through our mining activities will be included as an adjustment to reconcile net income to cash used in operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. The receipt of cryptocurrency as distributions-in-kind from equity investees and sales, if any, of cryptocurrencies are included within investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows and any realized gains or losses from such sales will be included in operating income (loss), net in the consolidated statements of operations. We will account for our sale of cryptocurrencies in accordance with the first in first out (“FIFO”) method of accounting.

Investment in equity investee

We account for investments using the equity method of accounting if the investment provides us with the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over an investee. Significant influence is generally deemed to exist if we have an ownership interest in the voting stock of an investee of between 20 percent and 50 percent, or an ownership interest greater than three to five percent in certain partnerships, unincorporated joint ventures and limited liability companies, although other factors are considered in determining whether the equity method of accounting is appropriate. Under this method, an investment in the common stock of an investee (including a joint venture) shall be initially measured and recorded at cost.; however, an investor shall initially measure at fair value an investment in the common stock of an investee (including a joint venture) recognized upon the derecognition of a distinct nonfinancial asset at the time that control over the distinct nonfinancial asset is transferred to the equity investee, such as that which occurs upon the transfer of miners and mining equipment to the joint venture from us.

Our investment is subsequently adjusted to recognize our share of net income or losses as they occur. We also adjust our investment upon receipt of cryptocurrency from the equity investee, which is accounted for as a distribution-in-kind. Our share of investee earnings or losses is recorded, net of taxes, within earnings (losses) of equity method investment in the consolidated statements of operations. Additionally, our interest in the net assets of its equity method investee is reflected in the consolidated balance sheets. If, upon the contribution of nonfinancial assets to the joint venture from us, there is any difference between the cost of the investment and the amount of the underlying equity in the net assets of an investee, the difference is required to be accounted for as if the investee were a consolidated subsidiary. If the difference is assigned to depreciable or amortizable assets or liabilities, then the difference should be amortized or accreted in connection with the equity earnings based on our proportionate share of the investee’s net income or loss. If the investor is unable to relate the difference to specific accounts of the investee, the difference should be considered goodwill.

We consider whether the fair value of its equity method investment has declined below its carrying value whenever adverse events or changes in circumstances indicate that recorded values may not be recoverable. If we consider any such decline to be other than temporary (based on various factors, including historical financial results, success of the mining operations and the overall health of the investee’s industry), then we would record a write-down of our investment to estimated fair value.

Leases

We account for leases in accordance with ASC 842, Leases. Accordingly, management determines whether an arrangement contains a lease at the inception of the arrangement. If a lease is determined to exist, the term of such lease is assessed based on the date on which the underlying asset is made available for our use by the lessor. Our assessment of the lease term reflects the non-cancelable term of the lease, inclusive of any rent-free periods and/or periods covered by early-termination options which we are reasonably certain of not exercising, as well as periods covered by renewal options which we are reasonably certain of exercising. We also determine lease classification as either operating or finance at lease commencement, which governs the pattern of expense recognition and the presentation reflected in the consolidated statements of operations over the lease term.

A lease liability is recorded on our consolidated balance sheet at lease commencement reflecting the present value of our fixed minimum payment obligations over the lease term. A corresponding right-of-use (“ROU”) asset equal to the initial lease liability will also be recorded, adjusted for any accrued or prepaid rents and/or unamortized initial direct costs incurred in connection with execution of the lease and reduced by any lease incentives received. For purposes of measuring the present value of its fixed payment obligations for a given lease, we use our incremental borrowing rate, determined based on information available at lease

 

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commencement, as rates implicit in its leasing arrangements are typically not readily determinable. Our incremental borrowing rate reflects the rate it would pay to borrow on a secured basis and incorporates the term and economic environment of the associated lease. ROU assets will be reviewed for impairment, consistent with other long-lived assets, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

For our operating leases, fixed lease payments will be recognized as lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease costs are expensed as incurred and are not included in the measurement of ROU assets and lease liabilities.

ASC 842 provides practical expedients for an entity’s ongoing accounting. We have elected the practical expedient not to separate lease and non-lease components for all leases, which means all consideration that is fixed, or in-substance fixed, relating to the non-lease components will be captured as part of our lease components for balance sheet purposes.

The Company entered into a series of agreements with affiliates of Luminant ET Services Company LLC (“Luminant”), including the Lease Agreement dated June 29, 2021, with amendment and restatement on July 9, 2021 (as amended and restated, the “Luminant Lease Agreement”). Once the Luminant Lease Agreement is effective and we have control over the applicable leased asset, we will record both a ROU asset and a corresponding lease liability in accordance with ASC 842 for each lease component as applicable under the agreement.

Emerging Growth Company

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period to enable us to comply with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information under this item.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Limitations on effectiveness of controls and procedures

In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In addition, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that management is required to apply judgment in evaluating the benefits of possible controls and procedures relative to their costs.

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of June 30, 2022, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level and that the previous material weaknesses of GWAC no longer applied to the Company.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended June 30, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

We are not a party to any material pending legal proceedings. From time to time, we may be subject to legal proceedings and claims arising in the ordinary course of business.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Our business, financial condition and operating results can be affected by a number of factors, whether currently known or unknown, including but not limited to the risk factors as previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our 2021 Form 10-K and as updated in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference. Other than such updates, there have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our 2021 Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Equity Securities

None.

Use of Proceeds

On October 22, 2020, GWAC completed its initial public offering (the “GWAC IPO”). All shares sold were registered pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-248333), as amended (the “GWAC Registration Statement”), declared effective by the SEC on October 19, 2020. Simultaneous with the consummation of the GWAC IPO, GWAC consummated a private placement of units to certain another investors.

There has been no material change in the expected use of the net proceeds from the GWAC IPO and private placement as described in our 2021 Form 10-K.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

Not applicable.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits. 

 

         

Incorporated by Reference

   Filed/

Exhibit
Number

  

Exhibit Description

  

From

  

File No.

  

Exhibit

  

Filing
Date

  

Furnished

Herewith

2.1†    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 4, 2021, by and among Good Works Acquisition Corp., Currency Merger Sub, Inc. and Cipher Mining Technologies Inc.    8-K    001-39625    2.1    3/5/2021   
3.1    Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cipher Mining Inc.    8-K    001-39625    3.1    8/31/2021   
3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Cipher Mining Inc.    8-K    001-39625    3.2    8/31/2021   
4.1    Specimen Warrant Certificate of Good Works Acquisition Corp.    S-1/A    333-248333    4.3    10/9/2020   
4.2    Warrant Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2020, by and between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and Good Works Acquisition Corp.    8-K    001-39625    4.1    10/28/2020   
10.1    Amended and Restated Framework Agreement on Supply of Blockchain Servers, dated May 6, 2022.    8-K    001-39625    10.1    5/10/2022   
10.2    Waiver Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2022.    8-K    001-39625    99.1    4/14/2022   
10.3    Board Observer Agreement, dated as of April 8, 2022.    8-K    001-39625    99.2    4/14/2022   
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).                *
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).                *
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.                **
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.                **
101.INS    Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document                *
101.SCH    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document                *
101.CAL    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document                *
101.DEF    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document                *
101.LAB    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document                *
101.PRE    Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document                *
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)                *

 

*

Filed herewith.

**

Furnished herewith.

Certain of the exhibits and schedules to this Exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(5). The Registrant agrees to furnish a copy of all omitted exhibits and schedules to the SEC upon its request.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

    CIPHER MINING INC.
   
Date: August 9, 2022     By:  

/s/ Tyler Page

      Tyler Page
      Chief Executive Officer
      (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: August 9, 2022     By:  

/s/ Edward Farrell

      Edward Farrell
      Chief Financial Officer
      (Principal Financial Officer)

 

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Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Tyler Page, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Cipher Mining Inc.;

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

  (a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  (b)

[Omitted];

 

  (c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  (d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  (b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: August 9, 2022     By:  

/s/ Tyler Page

      Tyler Page
      Chief Executive Officer


Table of Contents

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Edward Farrell, certify that:

 

1.

I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Cipher Mining Inc.;

 

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

 

  (a)

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  (b)

[Omitted];

 

  (c)

Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  (d)

Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a)

All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  (b)

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: August 9, 2022     By:  

/s/ Edward Farrell

      Edward Farrell
      Chief Financial Officer


Table of Contents

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Cipher Mining Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2022 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

  (1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

  (2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: August 9, 2022     By:  

/s/ Tyler Page

      Tyler Page
      Chief Executive Officer


Table of Contents

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Cipher Mining Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2022 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

  (1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

  (2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: August 9, 2022     By:  

/s/ Edward Farrell

      Edward Farrell
      Chief Financial Officer