Riot’s Relentless Pursuit: 14% Stake in Bitfarms Despite Poison Pill Defense

Riot Platforms, a major Bitcoin mining company, has further increased its stake in Bitfarms to 14%, escalating its hostile takeover bid


Riot Platforms, a major Bitcoin mining company, has further increased its stake in Bitfarms to 14%, escalating its hostile takeover bid despite Bitfarms’ defensive “poison pill” strategy.

Riot’s Persistent Pursuit

Riot’s latest acquisition of 1,432,063 shares for $3.87 million signifies a determined effort to gain control of Bitfarms. This move follows a failed $950 million takeover attempt last month, which Bitfarms rebuffed with a poison pill defence mechanism.

Riot CEO Jason Les expressed frustration with Bitfarms’ tactics, stating, “Instead of engaging with us privately and in good faith, Bitfarms has responded by implementing an off-market Poison Pill with a trigger well below the customary 20% threshold.”

Bitfarms’ Poison Pill Defense

Bitfarms’ poison pill strategy aims to deter hostile takeovers by making the company less attractive to potential acquirers. It works by issuing new shares, diluting the ownership stake of any entity exceeding a certain threshold, currently set at 15% until September 10th, after which it increases to 20%.

The Battle for Control

Despite these challenges, Riot remains undeterred. The company plans to requisition a special meeting of Bitfarms’ shareholders to nominate independent directors to the board, seeking to influence the company’s direction.

Interestingly, Bitfarms’ stock rose 15% following the announcement of its ambitious U.S. expansion plans, with a projected hash rate exceeding 35 EH/s by 2025. This development could make Bitfarms an even more attractive target for Riot, whose market cap dwarfs Bitfarms’ by over $2 billion.

The ongoing battle between Riot and Bitfarms highlights the competitive nature of the Bitcoin mining industry and the growing interest from larger players in consolidating their market positions.

As the saga unfolds, investors and industry watchers will be closely monitoring the outcome, which could significantly impact the landscape of Bitcoin mining.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Arslan Butt
Lead Markets Analyst – Multi-Asset (FX, Commodities, Crypto)
Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics. His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker. His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.

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