- A recent analysis found that more than eleven Bitcoin miners could face profitability issues after the April 2024 halving
- Miners may resort to alternative financial strategies to hedge against Bitcoin’s price volatility
Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services company, is in the news today after its latest research report on Bitcoin. According to the same, there are significant challenges dogging some of the largest publicly traded Bitcoin (BTC) mining companies after the upcoming halving.
This event, scheduled for April 2024, will feature a 50% reduction in block rewards for Bitcoin miners, a change that could dramatically impact their profitability.
Bitcoin mining soon unprofitable
Cantor’s recent report on Bitcoin mining – Image via Cantor Fitzgerald
The report highlighted the concerns of eleven major Bitcoin miners – Argo Blockchain, Hut 8 Mining, Marathon Digital, Riot Platforms, Core Scientific and many more. The critical issue for these companies is their “all-in” cost per coin, which is currently higher than the prevailing Bitcoin price of around $40,000.
This disparity raises serious questions about their ability to remain profitable if Bitcoin’s price does not show a significant increase after the halving. If Bitcoin’s price does not experience a sudden surge, companies may even face challenges covering the basic costs of mining BTC.
Not all hope is lost
However, the scenario is not uniformly grim for all Bitcoin miners. The Cantor Fitzgerald report pointed out that certain miners, such as Singapore-based Bitdeer and US-based CleanSpark, can maintain profitability under current conditions.
This assessment assumes a stable Bitcoin price of $40,000 and no significant changes in the hash rate. CleanSpark has estimated the cost per coin at $36,896, which is relatively lower than Bitcoin’s current price, indicating a more favorable outcome for these companies after the halving.
This is a testament to the intrinsic link between Bitcoin miners’ income and the volatile nature of Bitcoin prices. While the halving appears to be a positive event for Bitcoin’s value in the long term due to the reduced supply, it also brings to the forefront the operational challenges for miners, especially those with higher fees.
These miners risk making their operations unprofitable if the price of Bitcoin does not rise enough to offset reduced block rewards and cover operational costs.
Revealing the measures to combat these challenges
To counter these risks, Bitcoin miners employ various strategies. Dan Rosen of Luxor, a Bitcoin mining company, explained that miners often resort to derivatives such as hash rate futures contracts and Bitcoin-related options. These financial instruments help hedge against Bitcoin price volatility and provide a buffer against potential losses.
Market analysts and commentators are speculating about the potential impact of the halving on Bitcoin’s price, with many expecting a significant increase in the months following the event. However, the outcome remains uncertain and the market’s reaction to the halving could have far-reaching implications for the profitability of Bitcoin mining operations.
This situation reminds us of the inherent uncertainties and risks associated with the cryptocurrency market. Particularly for entities whose revenues are highly dependent on the fluctuating value of digital assets such as Bitcoin.
