BlockFi begins selling $160 million worth of miner-backed loans
In total, there are about 68 000 bitcoin mining rigs in the collateral
24.01.2023 - 12:15
329
2 min
0
Bankrupt crypto lender BlockFi Inc. plans to sell about $160 million of loans backed by around 68,000 Bitcoin mining machines, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The Jersey City, New Jersey-based company, which filed for protection from creditors in November, started on the bidding process for the loans last year, the people said. Some of the loans have already defaulted and appear to be undercollateralized given the current prices of Bitcoin mining equipment, according to the people. BlockFi didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.
BlockFi is among several digital-asset lenders that have filed for bankruptcy due to the collapse of major crypto firms such as exchange FTX, hedge fund Three Arrows Capital and stablecoin project Terra Luna in the past year. The lender was a major financier for Bitcoin miners, which have been battered by low Bitcoin prices and soaring electricity costs, through loans backed by the computer rigs.
While traditional lenders stayed away from Bitcoin mining companies due to the high volatility in Bitcoin prices, crypto-native lenders filled that void. Almost $4 billion was raised through such loans since the last bull run in the crypto market. Other major lenders for crypto-mining companies include New York Digital Investment Group, Celsius Network, Galaxy Digital and Digital Currency Group’s Foundry.
Struggling Bitcoin miners and bankrupt lenders have created a expanding market for distressed assets. Crypto-mining firm Bitdeer backed by Chinese billionaire Jihan Wu set up a $250 million distressed fund, while the largest digital asset manager Grayscale launched an entity to invest in Bitcoin mining hardware with its sister company Foundry to capitalize on the distressed mining sector.
This material is taken from the website bloomberg.com.
Useful material?
Market
Analysts point to the growing popularity of the first cryptocurrency as a safe haven asset
Nov 13, 2024
Market
The product will begin trading on the Swiss Exchange on November 19
Nov 12, 2024
Market
The company’s unrealized profits from investing in the first cryptocurrency approached $13 billion
Nov 12, 2024
Market
The company predicts that the rate of the first cryptocurrency will grow to $200 000 by the end of next year
Nov 11, 2024
Technologies
The company also unveiled its own blockchain adoption index
Nov 11, 2024
Mining
Along with this, the company will reduce non-mining business units
Nov 8, 2024