Bankrupt Celsius Aims to Raise $14.4 Million From Bitcoin Mining Rig Credits and Coupons
Defunct cryptocurrency lender Celsius aims to secure more than $14 million from credits and coupons backed by Bitmain, according to an interim CEO Christopher Ferraro in a bankruptcy court filing dated Feb. 9, 2023. Ferraro stated in the filing that the “coupons currently provide no utility to the debtors’ mining business.” Celsius Interim CEO Outlines Plan to Raise Funds Through Bitmain Credits and Coupons
According to Christopher Ferraro, interim CEO of Celsius, the bankrupt cryptocurrency lending firm is seeking to raise $14.4 million from a cache of Bitmain credits and coupons worth millions. The company intends to sell the coupons for $7.4 million and the credits for $7 million. The Bitmain coupons offer the holder a 10-30% discount on future purchases from the company, while the credits provide the owners with 100% face value cash redemption from the mining rig manufacturer.
“I do not foresee the debtors being interested in using the Bitmain Coupons to acquire mining rigs,” Ferraro wrote in the court filing. “Therefore, the Bitmain Coupons provide no utility to the debtors’ estates because the debtors do not intend to use these Bitmain Coupons to purchase new mining rigs prior to their expiration. The sale of the Bitmain Coupons, on the other hand, would allow the debtors to realize approximately $7.4 million at a time when liquidity is needed the most,” the Celsius interim CEO added.
Ferraro continued: The value of Bitmain Coupons on the secondary market depreciates significantly as the Bitmain Coupons’ expiration dates near, with the rate of depreciation accelerating as the expiration nears.
The interim CEO of Celsius stated that the debtors are currently in discussions with “six potential buyers.” While the Bitmain credits do not have an expiration date like the coupons, they are not transferable due to Bitmain’s updated 2023 terms of service that restrict the transfer of the credits. “As the Bitmain credits cannot be assigned directly, the debtors plan to use the credits to purchase mining rigs on behalf of third-party buyers,” Ferraro told the court. This third-party approach will allow Celsius to “realize approximately 85-88% of the face value” of the Bitmain credits.”
Ferraro argues that it wouldn’t be prudent to retain the Bitmain credits, due to the potential loss in value from fluctuations in energy and bitcoin prices, and the possibility that Bitmain may alter the rules for using these credits. Ferraro views it as a “golden opportunity” for the debtors to sell the credits for immediate liquidity, rather than retaining something that might ultimately hold no value for them in the long run. Tags in this story $14 million, $14.4 million, $7.4 million, 10-30% discount, 100% face value cash redemption, 2023 terms of service, 7 million, 85-88% face value, bankruptcy court filing, bitcoin prices, Bitmain, Bitmain coupons, Bitmain credits, Bitmain Miners, cache, Celsius, Christopher Ferraro, coupons, Court Filing, Credits, cryptocurrency lender, debtors, depreciation, discussions, energy prices, expiration date, future purchases, golden opportunity, holder, immediate liquidity, interim CEO, mining business, mining rig manufacturer, Secondary Market, six potential buyers, third-party approach, transferable, utility
What are your thoughts on Celsius’s plan to raise funds through Bitmain credits and coupons? Share your thoughts about this subject in the comments section below. Jamie Redman
Jamie Redman is the News Lead at Bitcoin.com News and a financial tech journalist living in Florida. Redman has been an active member of the cryptocurrency community since 2011. He has a passion for Bitcoin, open-source code, and decentralized applications. Since September 2015, Redman has written more than 6,000 articles for Bitcoin.com News about the disruptive protocols emerging today. Report: Paypal Puts Stablecoin Plans on Hold as US Regulators Crack Down on Crypto Industry NEWS | 4 hours ago Ordinal Inscriptions Take the NFT World by Storm: Over 50,000 Added to the Bitcoin Blockchain in 2023 NEWS | 6 hours ago
Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Previous articleKenyan AI and Blockchain Startup Receives Investment From Swiss VC Firm Next articleBitcoin, Ethereum Technical Analysis: ETH Nears $1,500 Level to Start the Weekend Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article. Read disclaimerShow comments More Popular NewsIn Case You Missed ItTony Hawk"s Latest NFTs to Come With Signed Physical Skateboards
Last December, the renowned professional skateboarder Tony Hawk released his “Last Trick” non-fungible token (NFT) collection via the NFT marketplace Autograph. Next week, Hawk will be auctioning the skateboards he used during his last tricks, and each of the NFTs ... read more.Bill ‘On Digital Currency’ Caps Crypto Investments for Russians, Opens Door for Payments Privacy-Centric Monero Plans for July Hard Fork, Plans Include Ring Signature, Bulletproof Upgrade FBI Issues Alert Concerning Malicious State-Sponsored North Korean Hackers Targeting Crypto Firms Terra"s Algorithmic Dollar-Pegged Crypto UST Is Now the Third-Largest Stablecoin