Mining companies

CoinShares: Listed mining companies' average Bitcoin mining cost in Q3 rose to $55,950, a year-on-year increase of 13%

ChainCatcher news, CoinShares' latest research report shows that the average cash mining cost of publicly listed mining companies for Bitcoin in the third quarter rose to $55,950, an increase of 13% from $49,500 in the second quarter. When accounting for non-cash costs such as depreciation and stock-based compensation, the average mining cost will reach $106,000.The report points out that the rise in mining costs is mainly influenced by three factors: the AI boom has diverted expansion funds from mining companies; some mining companies are focusing on a holding strategy (HODL) rather than expanding their operations; and the summer electricity costs in Texas have impacted mining production.In terms of specific mining company performance, Marathon has become the mining company with the lowest cash costs, mainly benefiting from increased Bitcoin production and tax incentives; TeraWulf saw a significant decrease in debt expenses by 92%, reducing costs by 20%, ranking third; Riot, despite improving operational efficiency, has dropped to seventh place.Looking ahead to 2025, the report predicts that AI business may bring new opportunities for mining companies like TeraWulf and Cipher; machine costs may increase with the rise in Bitcoin prices; and some mining companies may face financial pressure, suggesting a focus on risks.

Data: 16 listed cryptocurrency mining companies have spent 3.6 billion dollars on facility, property, and equipment upgrades so far this year

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, based on year-to-date data, 16 publicly listed crypto mining companies have spent a total of $3.6 billion on property, plant, and equipment (PP&E) upgrades, including new mining hardware. So far in 2024, these 16 mining companies have raised over $5 billion, with the third quarter being the highest period for PP&E spending since the first quarter of 2022. Spending on mining hardware accounts for the majority of PP&E expenditures. Since 2023, publicly listed mining companies have spent a total of $2 billion on hardware upgrades. The report explains that the lifespan of crypto mining hardware typically averages 3-5 years and must be upgraded regularly to maintain profitability. Additionally, crypto companies are shifting from equity financing to debt financing.Regarding the PP&E expenditures of mining companies in November 2024, Bitfarms signed a miner hosting agreement with Stronghold on November 1, which includes terms for hosting an additional 10,000 Bitcoin mining devices at its facility in Pennsylvania. Around the same time, CleanSpark, a company focused on renewable Bitcoin mining, announced plans to build 400 megawatts of mining infrastructure after acquiring mining company GRIID in October 2024. On November 11, Hive Digital purchased 6,500 application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for the company's upcoming facility in Paraguay.

Bitcoin mining companies are facing the choice of expanding market share or fully investing in AI

According to ChainCatcher news, as reported by CoinDesk, Bitcoin mining companies are at a critical crossroads: they can choose to pivot towards artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) to boost their stock prices, or they can stick to their core Bitcoin mining business and expand their market share while facing sluggish stock prices.In September, the largest market cap mining companies, MARA Holdings (MARA), Riot Platforms (RIOT), and CleanSpark (CLSK), all increased their share of the total Bitcoin mined. These companies have stronger balance sheets and larger mining operations, which help them cope with the decline in profitability following the Bitcoin halving in April. However, investors have not rewarded these companies' stocks with a premium, and their performance remained lackluster in September.In contrast, mining companies focusing on AI and HPC, such as Core Scientific (CORZ), TerraWulf (WULF), and IREN (IREN), have seen their stock prices outperform Bitcoin. The halving in April reduced Bitcoin mining rewards by 50%, intensifying competition in mining and narrowing profit margins.Additionally, the recently approved spot Bitcoin ETF in the U.S. has also diminished investors' interest in mining stocks. Instead, investors are rewarding those mining companies that utilize part of their data centers to host AI and HPC-related machines for revenue diversification.AI and HPC computing require a significant amount of electricity, and Bitcoin miners have already secured these resources, making them ideal candidates for rapidly expanding AI and HPC companies. In September, the stock prices of large-cap mining companies rose by 4% to 9%, while those associated with AI and HPC saw price increases of up to 25%.
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