Bitcoin Miner Bit Digital Hits Back at ‘False Accusations’ of Fraud

Nasdaq-listed bitcoin mining company Bit Digital (BTBT) dismissed allegations of fraud against the company made in a recently published report by J Capital Research.

Without specifically naming the report, a press release from the mining company responded to “false accusations� about its business. It repeated financial disclosures from Q3 2020 on the size and scale of its operations, noting that “an overview of our bitcoin mining operations� is all publicly available on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) website. 

Among other allegations, the report from J Capital called Bit Digital’s filings, which showed it operates nearly 23,000 bitcoin mining machines in China, “simply a lie.� 

In December, Bit Digital announced a $13.9 million agreement to buy nearly 18,000 Whatsminer and Antminer ASICs. Whatsminer manufacturer MicroBT did not respond to a request for comment from CoinDesk. 

J Capital also called Bit Digital a “sham bitcoin business,� claiming to have verified with local Chinese government officials that Bit Digital has “no bitcoin miners� there, casting doubt over the legitimacy of its Asia-based mining operations in China. 

Bit Digital said all of its mainland China mining operations are managed by XMAX Hong Kong, and all “utility bills and other expenses� are paid to Hong Kong suppliers.

The company’s stock soared over 400% between Dec. 28, 2020, to Jan. 4, 2021, peaking above $32 and pushing the company above a $1 billion market value. J Capital published its report one week later on Jan. 11. Since then, Bit Digital shares have dropped over 35% to around $16. 

Bit Digital responded to none of CoinDesk’s emails seeking comment. CoinDesk was also unable to contact facility managers of Bit Digital’s Asia-based mining operations. 

The company also mines in the U.S., however. In Texas and Nebraska, Bit Digital owns a total of 2,100 machines in facilities managed by Minnesota-based mining infrastructure company Compute North. 

Compute North CEO Dave Perrill told CoinDesk his company has always had a “very healthy partnership� with Bit Digital, confirming the 2,000 machines in Nebraska and 100 in Texas that his company manages.  

On a phone call, Perrill said his team is also “in talks about significantly scaling up operations� with Bit Digital. He said he could not speak to his client’s Asian mining facilities. 

Bit Digital started mining bitcoin in February 2020.