Arkon Energy Raises $28M, Completes Hydrokraft Acquisition to Expand Bitcoin Mining

Arkon Energy, which claims to be a “100% renewable” data center infrastructure company, has announced the completion of a US $28M raise.

The Australia-based company has also “completed the acquisition of Hydrokraft AS, a leading renewable energy-based data center in Norway.”

The Hydrokraft purchase is “part of an ambitious plan to create a vertically integrated green bitcoin mining platform that has power sovereignty, benefits from geographic diversification, and a robust balance sheet.” This will “enable Arkon to avoid the pitfalls that have constrained other leading actors in the space.”

Arkon Energy uses renewable electricity “to mine bitcoin.” Its sustainable data centers “utilize excess renewable power in constrained electricity markets, ensuring one of the lowest average production costs in the sector.” The company also claims that it “employs state-of-the-art immersion cooling technology to maximize efficiency of its equipment.”

The company is “led by CEO Josh Payne and COO Nathan Townsend, both of whom have significant experience in Bitcoin operation, capital markets and energy infrastructure.”

They are “complemented by a team of seasoned executives with significant experience across bitcoin mining and energy infrastructure development.”

Hydrokraft is “one of the largest data centers in Europe with a current operating capacity of 30MW and a maximum of 60MW.” Powered by 100% sustainable low-cost hydro electricity, the facility was “completed in 2021.” Arkon plans to immediately “begin work to build out incremental infrastructure to utilize the facility’s full capacity.”

Arkon CEO Josh Payne said:

“The current market climate, with low prices for bitcoin and mining equipment, offers a compelling opportunity to take advantage of our unique profitability and access to growth capital. We are excited to have completed this transaction and we look forward to executing on several additional growth opportunities in the near future.”

Barry Kupferberg, Managing Partner of Barkers Point Capital Advisors which helped finance the deal, added:

“In a period in which the largest bitcoin miners in the world are struggling with high costs and over-leveraged balance sheets, the ability of Arkon Energy to attract capital highlights its unique value proposition. Distressed cycles produce winners and losers and Arkon is well positioned to be a winner.”

Arkon Energy financed the transaction “with a combination of senior debt and equity capital. Equity investors were led by Blue Sky Capital and included Kestrel 0x1 (previous round lead investors), Shima Capital, and a number of other parties.”

As part of this transaction, partners from Blue Sky, Kestrel 0x1, and Barkers Point Capital Advisors “will be joining the main board.”

The current market downturn “has deleteriously affected mining companies that did not establish a sufficient runway.”

Their situation has been “compounded by having taken on excessive debt through borrowing off future revenues.” As a result, many mining companies “have been forced to shutter operations or dramatically scale back.”

Having prioritized a low-debt financial model from the outset, Arkon Energy is primely positioned “to capitalize on the economic outlook that’s seen competitors struggle to stay afloat.”

Its strong balance sheet, low debt, and low cost base for power enable Arkon “to gain market share through acquiring distressed assets and companies.”


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