Hut 8 Repays $38M Loan, Launches AI Computing Service

TLDR

• Hut 8 paid off $38M loan from Anchorage Digital through stock conversion
• Conversion price was at 51% premium to recent average share price
• Hut 8 still carries around $290M in debt, including $150M convertible note
• Company launching GPU-as-a-service program for AI developers
• Hut 8 operates 10 Bitcoin mining facilities and 5 high-performance computing data centers

Cryptocurrency mining company Hut 8 has made a significant move to strengthen its financial position and expand its operations into the artificial intelligence (AI) computing market.

The company recently paid off a $38 million loan from Anchorage Digital through a stock conversion deal, while also launching a new GPU-as-a-service program aimed at AI developers.

The loan repayment was executed by converting the debt into common stock at a price of $16.395 per share. This conversion rate represented a 51% premium over the 20-day volume-weighted average price of Hut 8’s stock through September 26.

For comparison, Hut 8’s stock opened at $12.30 on October 1, highlighting the favorable terms of the conversion for Anchorage Digital.

Prior to this transaction, Hut 8 had used 21,000 mining machines as collateral when it restructured the Anchorage Digital loan in February 2023.

The recent stock conversion has freed up these assets, potentially providing the company with more flexibility in its operations.

Despite this debt reduction, Hut 8 still carries a significant amount of debt on its books, totaling around $290 million.

A large portion of this remaining debt includes a $150 million convertible note agreed upon in June with Coatue Management.

Importantly, this convertible note is earmarked for Hut 8’s expansion into the artificial intelligence computing capacity market, signaling the company’s strategic shift beyond traditional cryptocurrency mining.

Hut 8 CEO Asher Genoot commented on the loan repayment, stating,

“With a strengthened balance sheet and decreased leverage, we believe we are even better positioned to advance discussions with prospective counterparties and execute on the development of next-generation mining and AI data centers.”

The company’s move into the AI space was further solidified with the recent announcement of its GPU-as-a-service program.

Launched on September 26 in partnership with AI developers AdvizeX, the program offers access to Hewlett Packard Enterprise supercomputers powered by a cluster of 1,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs.

$HUT 8 Converts $38M #Bitcoin Mining Debt into Equity#BTC #Bitcoinmininghttps://t.co/t3GIaagIny

— TheMinerMag (@TheMinerMag_) October 1, 2024

This initiative represents a significant step for Hut 8 in diversifying its operations beyond cryptocurrency mining.

The shift towards AI and high-performance computing aligns with broader industry trends, as many crypto mining companies seek to adapt to changing market conditions.

The upcoming Bitcoin halving event and the rapid rise of AI technologies have prompted miners to explore new revenue streams and optimize their operations.

Hut 8’s current infrastructure includes 10 Bitcoin mining facilities spread across Alberta, New York, and Texas. Additionally, the company operates five high-performance computing data centers in British Columbia and Ontario, as well as four power generation facilities in Ontario.

This diverse portfolio of assets positions Hut 8 to capitalize on both the cryptocurrency mining sector and the growing demand for AI computing resources.

However, the company has faced some challenges in recent months. In March, Hut 8 closed a facility in Drumheller, Alberta, citing rising energy costs and frequent outages.

To offset this closure and expand its operations, the company has plans to open a new power generation asset in Texas.