Dive into Cipher Mining’s Q3 2024 efficiency. From income challenges to strategic funding in fleet upgrades, information middle growth and plans for AI/HPC. Uncover what’s subsequent for this Bitcoin miner!
The next visitor put up comes from Bitcoinminingstock.io, offering complete information, in-depth analysis, and analyses on Bitcoin mining shares. Initially printed on Nov. 21, 2024, it was penned by Bitcoinminingstock.io writer Cindy Feng.
Cipher Mining (NASDAQ: CIFR) has delivered one of many strongest YTD performances amongst public Bitcoin miners as of November 19, 2024. Inside funding circles, comparisons between TeraWulf and Cipher have sparked curiosity, with some noting the latter’s stronger efficiency in particular areas. Having concluded TeraWulf as a rising Bitcoin miner in my earlier evaluation, now it’s time to take a detailed take a look at Cipher, a miner that has quietly carved out its place out there.
Primary Profile
Cipher Mining is a U.S.-based Bitcoin mining firm that positions itself as a knowledge middle developer. Its operations are primarily positioned in Texas, leveraging the state’s favorable power infrastructure. The corporate’s working services embody:
- Odessa Knowledge Middle: A completely owned facility in Odessa, Texas, accounting for 7.1 EH/s, representing 76% of Cipher’s complete hash fee.
- Joint Ventures with WindHQ LLC: Alborz, Bear and Chief services positioned in Comfortable and Andrews, Texas, contributing an extra 2.2 EH/s to the corporate’s general capability.
Picture Background Supply: ciphermining.com/websites
Past Bitcoin mining, Cipher additionally participates in grid curtailment applications to optimize profitability. Much like Riot Platforms, Cipher leverages ERCOT’s low-cost power grid and applications just like the 4 Coincident Peak (4CP) to handle electrical energy utilization throughout high-demand durations. In Q3 2024, Cipher reported $1.4M in energy gross sales, generated by promoting electrical energy to ERCOT when worthwhile. This extra income stream helps the corporate’s working prices.
Not So Fairly Q3 2024 Efficiency
In Q3 2024, Cipher reported $24.1M in income, a 35% QoQ and 20.5% YoY decline. This drop was primarily pushed by decreased Bitcoin manufacturing. The corporate mined 493 BTC in Q3, down from 638 BTC in Q2. Seasonal surges in electrical energy charges throughout ERCOT’s summer time 4CP durations additional compounded the influence.
Throughout this era, Cipher’s price of income rose to $15.1M, up from $13.0M in Q3 2023. Internet losses widened to $87M, a stark distinction to the $19M loss in Q3 2023. Contributing components included larger depreciation prices related to new mining rigs and services, in addition to spinoff losses linked to energy contracts. Because of this, Cipher’s gross margin declined considerably, from 57.1% in Q3 2023 to 37.5% in Q3 2024.
Cipher Mining: Quarterly Income, Price of Income, and Gross Margin Tendencies (Q3 2023 – Q3 2024)
These numbers collectively painted an undesirable operational strain for Cipher.
A Change of Perspective
Amid operational challenges, Cipher’s complete property grew to $775.4M as of Q3 2024, up from $566.1M firstly of the 12 months. This development displays vital investments in its Bitcoin treasury and mining infrastructure.
Bitcoin Treasury Technique: Maintain Some and Promote Some
As of September 30, 2024, Cipher held 1,512 Bitcoin valued at roughly $138.1M, up from 796 Bitcoin valued at $32.98M on the finish of final 12 months. Nonetheless, in comparison with Q2, Cipher had a 33.4% (923 BTC) QoQ decline attributable to strategic gross sales. In September, Cipher bought portion of its Bitcoin holdings, elevating $67.5M to finance the acquisition of the 300 MW Barber Lake facility. This method permits the corporate to leverage its Bitcoin treasury for liquidity whereas minimizing fairness issuance.
Cipher Mining’s Bitcoin holdings (August 2023- October 2024)
Fleet Improve: Strengthening Operational Effectivity
Investments in fleet upgrades considerably impacted Cipher’s price construction. Since This autumn 2023, Cipher entered agreements with Bitmain and Canaan to amass cutting-edge mining rigs:
- The Bitmain settlement includes 7.1 EH/s of miners, initially scheduled for supply for 2025 however accelerated to This autumn 2024 via an modification in June 2024. Cipher paid $97.5M in deposits throughout the 9 months ended September 30, 2024, with $26.9M remaining.
- The Canaan settlement contains 1.25 EH/s of miners, with supply anticipated in This autumn 2024. Cipher paid $13.1M upfront in Q2, with $3.3M remaining. As a part of this settlement, Cipher secured an choice to amass further miners equal to 160 MW of capability by June 30, 2025, by paying $5.3M as deposit (paid in Q2).
Cipher Mining entered agreements with Bitmain and Canaan to amass mining rigs
Bitmain’s Antminer S21 Professional and Canaan’s A1566 will likely be utilized to switch much less environment friendly machines at Cipher’s Odessa facility, fairly than being deployed on the Black Pearl Facility.
To align with these upgrades, Cipher revised the helpful lives of its mining rigs from 5 years to a few years efficient from June 1, 2024. This alteration added $9.4M and $12.2M in depreciation amortization expense for Q3 2024, which closely contributed to the web loss. In Q3 2024, the corporate built-in Bitmain’s Antminer S21 Professional and Canaan’s A1566 miners at its Odessa facility, Cipher’s largest wholly-owned information middle.
Nonetheless, these upgrades are important for Cipher to achieve its goal of 13.5 EH/s self-mining capability by year-end 2024, up from 9.3 EH/s as of Q3. By making these upgrades, Cipher is laying the muse for improved operational effectivity and profitability.
Cipher Mining’s Hash Price Goal (screenshot from its presentation)
Ahead Trying Progress Potential
Knowledge Middle Enlargement Pipeline
Trying forward, Cipher is endeavor substantial growth of its information middle capability. The Black Pearl facility (acquired final Dec), a 300 MW information middle below growth in Winkler County, Texas, is predicted to be energized by Q2 2025, including roughly 21.5 EH/s of mining capability. Equally, they lately acquired a Barber Lake facility in Colorado Metropolis, Texas, boasting 300 MW of capability and is prepared for development. The 70 MW Reveille website positioned in Cotulla, Texas was one other latest acquisition. This website has the potential to be expanded right into a 200 MW information middle, pending regulatory approval (notice: Cipher hasn’t issued a proper PR about this acquisition, however it was talked about of their latest 10-Okay submitting).
On Oct 15, 2024, Cipher introduced buying choices for 1.5 GW of further information middle capability in West and North Texas. This brings their lively portfolio and growth pipeline to a complete of 2.5 GW throughout 10 websites. Upcoming services like Mikeska, Milsing, and McLennan services, every have 500 MW of potential energy capability pending regulatory approvals.
AI and HPC Ventures
In response to the extremely aggressive mining atmosphere, like many different miners I beforehand mentioned, Cipher can be diversifying into AI/HPC internet hosting to cut back reliance on Bitcoin mining. As of Q3 there isn’t any income reported from this enterprise sector, however we are able to see information facilities within the pipeline that are strategically designed to assist each Bitcoin mining and HPC actions.
Based on a latest firm presentation, their crew contains veterans from Google, Vantage, and Meta, bringing deep experience to its AI infrastructure and tier-3 information facilities. On Oct 31, its CEO Tyler Web page stated the corporate has “made nice progress in our discussions with hyperscalers in latest weeks as we search our first HPC tenants”. This appears to sign promising income potential in HPC internet hosting for Cipher within the close to future, presenting a major long-term development alternative.
Some Issues Stay Unclear
As of September 30, 2024, Cipher reported $39.7M in money and money equivalents (together with $14.4 M restricted money). Whereas this gives some liquidity, it raises considerations about whether or not the corporate has enough assets to satisfy its bold growth plans. With over $30.2M funds due for brand new mining rigs and vital capital necessities for information middle developments and HPC enterprise ventures, Cipher could must discover further financing choices.
Cipher’s latest financing actions spotlight its capability to boost capital, producing $213.5M throughout 9 months ended September 30, 2024. These funds have been primarily raised via the issuance of widespread inventory. Nonetheless, reliance on inventory issuance might result in shareholder dilution if it continues within the long-run. Now, the query is whether or not Cipher can diversify its funding technique to stability its development ambitions and protect shareholder worth.
Ultimate Ideas
Cipher Mining’s Q3 2024 outcomes mirror the challenges of working in an more and more aggressive Bitcoin mining atmosphere, particularly throughout summer time months for these positioned in Texas.
Nonetheless, Cipher’s forward-looking technique and impressive growth plans might place it nicely for future development. If these initiatives are executed successfully and supported by ample assets, Cipher has the potential to emerge as a compelling participant within the present market cycle.
