• Cipher Mining Provides First Quarter 2022 Business Update

    Source: Nasdaq GlobeNewswire / 10 May 2022 06:00:04   America/Chicago

    Began Bitcoin Mining in February 2022

    Reaching Significant Milestones for Build Out Plan     

    NEW YORK, May 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cipher Mining Inc. (NASDAQ: CIFR) ("Cipher" or the "Company"), a U.S.-based Bitcoin mining company, today announced results for its first quarter ending March 31, 2022, along with an update on its operations and deployment strategy.

    “Our first quarter was marked by significant milestones, including the start of rig installation and mining of our first bitcoins,” said Tyler Page, CEO of Cipher. "I am pleased to say we are meeting our goals, and we are scaling quickly as we continue to build Cipher into a leading U.S.-based Bitcoin mining enterprise."

    Operations Updates

    • Began Bitcoin mining in February at its first data center at Alborz.
    • First 0.3 EH/s (2,949 mining rigs) installed at Alborz facility.
    • 400 PH/s added to 2022 delivery forecast, bringing new Cipher hashrate forecast to 7.5 EH/s of equipment scheduled for delivery in 2022, with a highly efficient machine fleet averaging 32.1 J/TH.
    • Four sites in development with an expected 275 MW of power availability by the end of 2022.
    • Cipher’s weighted average power price is 2.73 c/kWh and anticipated weighted average cost for mining rigs is expected to be $45.01 per TH/s.
    • Closed $46.9 million debt financing for Alborz from BlockFi Lending LLC on May 2, 2022.

    Business Update Call and Webcast

    Cipher will host a conference call and webcast today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the first quarter results for 2022 and management’s outlook for future financial and operational performance. The live webcast and a webcast replay of the conference call can be accessed from the investor relations page of Cipher's website at https://investors.ciphermining.com. To access this conference call, dial (844) 689-1757 or (929) 517-0940 and use the conference ID 2635904.

    About Cipher

    Cipher is an industrial-scale Bitcoin mining company dedicated to expanding and strengthening the Bitcoin network's critical infrastructure. Cipher aims to leverage its best-in-class technology, market-leading power purchase arrangements, and a seasoned, dedicated senior management team to become a market leader in Bitcoin mining. To learn more about Cipher, please visit https://www.ciphermining.com/.

    Forward Looking Statements     

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws of the U.S. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Any statements made in this press release or during the business update conference call that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about our beliefs and expectations regarding our performance, strategy, expansion plans, future operations, future operating results, projected costs, prospects, plans, and objectives of our management, are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business plan and strategies. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "forecast," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions (including the negative versions of such words or expressions).

    These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Cipher and its management, are inherently uncertain. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to: volatility in the price of Cipher's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and regulated industry in which Cipher operates, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Cipher's business, and the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations and to identify and realize additional opportunities. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 4, 2022 and in Cipher's subsequent filings with the SEC including Cipher’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on May 10, 2022. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Cipher assumes no obligation and, except as required by law, does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Contacts:
    Investor Contact:
    Lori Barker
    Blueshirt Group Investor Relations
    cipher@blueshirtgroup.com

    Media Contact:
    Ryan Dicovitsky / Kendal Till
    Dukas Linden Public Relations
    CipherMining@DLPR.com

    CIPHER MINING INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (in thousands except for share and per share amounts)
    (unaudited)

     March 31, 2022  December 31, 2021 
     (unaudited)    
    ASSETS     
    Current assets     
    Cash and cash equivalents$99,495  $209,841 
    Prepaid expenses 11,400   13,819 
    Cryptocurrencies 191   - 
    Total current assets 111,086   223,660 
          
    Deposits on equipment 207,164   114,857 
    Property and equipment, net 15,178   5,124 
    Security deposits 11,362   10,352 
    Investment in equity investee 7,373   - 
    Right-of-use asset 5,718   - 
    Deferred investment costs -   174 
    Total assets$357,881  $354,167 
          
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     
    Current liabilities     
    Accounts payable$1,991  $242 
    Accounts payable, related party 3,863   - 
    Operating lease liability, current portion 557   - 
    Accrued expenses 3,611   257 
    Total current liabilities 10,022   499 
          
    Operating lease liability, net of current portion 5,276   - 
    Warrant liability 89   137 
    Total liabilities 15,387   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 March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 -   - 
    Common stock, $0.001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 253,685,763 and 252,131,679 shares issued as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, and 250,174,273 and 249,279,420 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively 254   252 
    Additional paid-in capital 431,899   425,438 
    Treasury stock, at par, 3,511,490 and 2,852,259 shares at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively (4)  (3)
    Accumulated deficit (89,655)  (72,156)
    Total stockholders’ equity 342,494   353,531 
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$357,881  $354,167 

    CIPHER MINING INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (in thousands except for share and per share amounts)
    (unaudited)

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2022  Two Months Ended March 31, 2021 
    Costs and expenses     
    General and administrative$17,390  $113 
    Depreciation 7   - 
    Impairment of cryptocurrencies 4   - 
    Total costs and expenses 17,401   113 
    Operating loss (17,401)  (113)
    Other income     
    Interest income 7   - 
    Change in fair value of warrant liability 48   - 
    Equity in loss of equity investment (153)  - 
    Total other income (98)  - 
    Net loss$(17,499) $(113)
    Basic and diluted net loss per share$(0.07) $- 
    Basic and diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding 250,174,255   200,000,000 

    CIPHER MINING INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
    (in thousands)
    (unaudited)

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2022  Two Months Ended March 31, 2021 
    Cash flows from operating activities     
    Net loss$(17,499) $(113)
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:     
    Depreciation 7   - 
    Amortization of right-of-use assets 140   - 
    Change in fair value of warrant liability (48)  - 
    Share-based compensation 9,514   - 
    Equity in earnings (loss) of equity investment 153   - 
    Impairment of cryptocurrencies 4   - 
    Changes in assets and liabilities:     
    Prepaid expenses 2,288   - 
    Security deposits (1,010)  - 
    Accounts payable 120   67 
    Accounts payable, related party -   2 
    Accrued expenses 2,904   (1)
    Lease liability 106   - 
    Net cash used in operating activities (3,321)  (45)
    Cash flows from investing activities     
    Deposits on equipment (96,914)  - 
    Purchases of property and equipment (7,059)  - 
    Net cash used in investing activities (103,973)  - 
    Cash flows from financing activities     
    Proceeds from borrowings on related party loan -   100 
    Repurchase of common shares to pay employee withholding taxes (3,052)  - 
    Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (3,052)  100 
    Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (110,346)  55 
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period 209,841   - 
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period$99,495  $55 
          
    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$7,118  $- 
    Right-of-use asset obtained in exchange for operating lease liability$5,859  $- 
    Deposits on equipment in accounts payable, related party$2,506  $- 
    Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable$1,624  $3 
    Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable, related party$1,357  $- 
    Investment in equity investee in accrued expenses$428  $- 
    Cryptocurrencies received from equity method investment$195  $- 
    Reclassification of deferred investment costs to equity method investment$174  $- 
    Property and equipment purchases in accrued expenses$22  $- 
    Deposits on equipment in accounts payable$5  $- 
    Deferred offering costs included in accrued expenses$-  $1,525 
    Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable$-  $98 
    Deferred investment costs included in accrued expenses$-  $97 

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    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
    March 31, 2022    		  Two Months Ended March 31, 2021 
    Reconciliation of non-GAAP loss from operations:      
    Operating loss $(17,401) $(113)
    Depreciation  7   - 
    Impairment of cryptocurrencies  4   - 
    Stock compensation expense  9,514   - 
    Non-GAAP loss from operations $(7,876) $(113)

    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
    March 31, 2022    		  Two Months Ended March 31, 2021 
    Reconciliation of non-GAAP net loss:      
    Net loss $(17,499) $(113)
    Non-cash adjustments to net loss      
    Depreciation  7   - 
    Change in fair value of warrant liability  48   - 
    Impairment of cryptocurrencies  4   - 
    Stock compensation expense  9,514   - 
    Total non-cash adjustments to net loss  9,573   - 
    Non-GAAP net loss $(7,926) $(113)
      
      
    Reconciliation of non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per
    share:    		      
    Basic and diluted net loss per share $(0.07) $- 
    Depreciation of fixed assets (per share)  -   - 
    Change in fair value of warrant liability (per share)  -   - 
    Impairment of cryptocurrencies (per share)  -   - 
    Stock compensation expense (per share)  0.04   - 
    Non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per share $(0.03) $- 



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