AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2017JULY 2, 2019

REGISTRATION NO. 333- 231915

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TOFORM S-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

MARATHON PATENT GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

01-0949984

I.R.S. Employer Identification Number

 

11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste. 380

Los Angeles, CA 900251180 North Town Center Drive, Suite 100

(703) 232-1701Las Vegas, NV 89144

702-945-2773

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste. 380

Los Angeles, CA 90025

(703) 232-1701

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

 

Harvey J. Kesner,Jolie Kahn, Esq.

Arthur S. Marcus, Esq.

Sichenzia Ross Ference Kesner LLP

1185 Avenue of the Americas, 37th Floor12 E. 49th Street, 11th floor

New York New York 10036, NY 10017

Phone: (212) 930-9700(516) 217-6379

Fax: (212) 930-9725(866) 705-3071

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: [  ]

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plants, check the following box: [X]

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [  ]

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [  ]

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [  ]

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,”filer”, “accelerated filer,”filer”, “smaller reporting company,”company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer [  ]Accelerated filer [  ]

Non-accelerated filer [  ]

(do not check if smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company [X]
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
 Emerging growth company [X][  ]

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each class of
securities to be registered
 Amount
to be
registered(1)
  Proposed
maximum
offering price
per share(2)
  Proposed
maximum
aggregate
offering price(2)
  Amount of
registration fee(2)
 
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share  7,394,000  $0.415  $3,068,510  $355.64 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [  ]

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of each class of Securities to be registered Amount to be
registered(1)
  Proposed
maximum
offering
price per unit(2)
  Proposed
maximum
aggregate
offering price(2)
  Amount of
registration
fee(3)
 
Common stock, no par value per share            
Preferred stock, no par value per share            
Warrants(4)            
Units            
Total(5)         $7,472,417  $905.66 

(1)Pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement shall be deemed to cover anThere are being registered hereunder such indeterminate number of additionalshares of common stock, preferred stock, such indeterminate number of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock and such indeterminate number of units consisting of any combination of the securities registered hereunder, as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to be offeredexceed $7,472,417. The securities registered also include such indeterminate amounts and numbers of common stock and preferred stock as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. The shares may be offeredissued upon conversion of or exchange for resale by the selling stockholderspreferred stock that provide for conversion or exchange, upon exercise of warrants, issuance of units, or pursuant to the shelf prospectus contained herein.anti-dilution provisions of any such securities.
  
(2)Estimated solely forIn no event will the purposeaggregate initial offering price of computing the amount of theall securities issued from time to time pursuant to this registration feestatement exceed $7,472,417.
(3)Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c)457(o) under the Securities Act basedand previously paid with the original filing of this Registration Statement on an averageJune 3, 2019.
(4)Includes warrants to purchase common stock and warrants to purchase preferred stock.
(5)Any of the highsecurities registered hereunder may be sold separately, or as units with other securities registered hereby. We will determine the proposed maximum offering price per unit when we issue the above listed securities. The proposed maximum per unit and low reported salesaggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the registrant’s sharessecurities registered under this registration statement and is not specified as to each class of common stock, as reported onsecurity pursuant to General Instruction II.D of Form S-3 under the NASDAQ Global Market on September 11, 2017 of $0.44 and $0.39, respectively.Securities Act.

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 
 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The selling stockholdersWe may not sell these securities under this prospectus until the registration statement of which it is a part andrelating to these securities that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 13, 2017JULY 2 , 2019

 

MARATHON PATENT GROUP INC.

7,394,000 Shares of

Common Stock

This prospectus relates to the resale of up to 7,394,000 shares of common stock of Marathon Patent Group, Inc. (the “Company”) by the selling stockholders, of which (i) 5,000,000 shares are issuable upon conversion of certain 5% convertible promissory notes issued by the Company in August, 2017, in a private placement of $3,623,700 of 5% convertible promissory notes and five-year warrants to purchase shares of common stock of the Company (the “CommonPreferred Stock”) and (ii) 2,394,000 shares are issuable in exchange for warrants to purchase 2,280,000 shares of Common stock, pursuant to exchange agreements, dated July 16, 2017, by and among the Company and the purchasers of securities in the Company’s April offering.

Warrants

Units

 

The selling stockholdersWe may sell common stock from time to time, in the principal marketone or more offerings at prices and on which the stock is tradedterms that we will determine at the prevailing markettime of each offering, sell common stock, preferred stock, warrants, units or a combination of these securities for an aggregate initial offering price of up to $7,472,417. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer, which is not meant to be a complete description of each of the securities. Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in negotiated transactions.

We will not receivethis prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement as well as the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you purchase any of the proceeds from the sale of common stock by the selling stockholder. We will pay the expenses of registering these shares.securities offered.

 

Investing in our common stock involvesThis prospectus may not be used to offer and sell securities unless accompanied by a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the risk factors beginning on page 3 of this prospectus before purchasing any of the shares offered by this prospectus.supplement.

 

Our common stock is listedcurrently traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “MARA”.

The“MARA.” On June 28 , 2019, the last reported salesales price offor our common stock was $2. 89 per share. We will apply to list any shares of common stock sold by us under this prospectus and any prospectus supplement on the NASDAQ Capital Market. The prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing of the securities on the NASDAQ Capital Market or any other securities market or exchange covered by the prospectus supplement.

The aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 was approximately $22,417,251 based on September 11, 2017 was $0.396,379,985 shares of common stock outstanding, of which 5,660,922 shares were held by non-affiliates, and the average of the bid and ask prices on the NASDAQ Capital Market of $3.96 per share.share on April 10, 2019. We have not sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3 during the prior 12 calendar month period that ends on and includes the date of this prospectus.

We may offer the securities directly or through agents or to or through underwriters or dealers. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in an accompanying prospectus supplement. We can sell the securities through agents, underwriters or dealers only with delivery of a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities. See “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus for further information.

 

The securities offered by this prospectus involve a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus. We may amend oralso include specific risk factors in an applicable prospectus supplement this prospectus from time to time by filing amendments or supplements as required.under the heading “Risk Factors.” You should read the entire prospectus and any amendments or supplements carefully before you make your investment decision.review these Risk Factors prior to investing in our securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is _________, 2017.___________, 2019

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS4
SummarySUMMARY35
Risk FactorsABOUT MARATHON PATENT GROUP65
Forward-Looking StatementsRISK FACTORS21
Use of Proceeds21

Description of Securities
2210
Selling Stockholders24
Plan of Distribution25
Legal MattersCAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS26
Where You Can Find More InformationRATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES26
USE OF PROCEEDS26
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK26
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK27
Incorporation of Documents By ReferenceDESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS2728
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS29
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION30
LEGAL MATTERS32
EXPERTS32
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION32
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE33

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell common shares, preferred shares (including convertible preferred shares), warrants for equity securities, and units comprised of any combination thereof from time to time in one or more offerings up to an initial aggregate offering price of $7,472,417. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer, which is not meant to be a complete description of each of the securities.

Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. A prospectus supplement which contains specific information about the terms of the securities being offered may also include a discussion of certain U.S. Federal income tax consequences and any risk factors or other special considerations applicable to the securities offered under this registration statement. To the extent that any statement that we make in a prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in this prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the prospectus supplement. You should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information” before buying any securities in this offering.

THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE A SALE OF SECURITIES UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

Neither we, nor any agent, underwriter or dealer has authorized any person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf or to which we have referred you. This prospectus, any applicable supplement to this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus, any applicable supplement to this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

 

You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the applicable document. You should also not assume that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is delivered, or securities are sold, on a later date.

This prospectus and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain summaries of provisions of certain other documents, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to in this prospectus have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 32 of this prospectus.

You should only rely on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or that we have referred you to.any related free writing prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different information. Thisfrom what is contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus. If any person does provide you with information that differs from what is contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, you should not constituterely on it. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus, applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information contained in any document we have incorporated by reference therein is accurate only as of the date on its face, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus or any sale of a security under this registration statement. These documents are not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy anythese securities other than the common stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any common stock in any circumstances inunder which suchthe offer or solicitation is unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made in connection with this prospectus shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus or that the information contained by reference to this prospectus is correct as of any time after its date.

 

4

SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights selected information from this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, including the risks of investing in our securities discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained elsewhere in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should also carefully read the entireinformation incorporated by reference into this prospectus, carefully, including our financial statements, and the section entitled “Risk Factors” before decidingexhibits to invest in our common stock. the registration statement of which this prospectus is a component.

The terms “Marathon,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” in this prospectus refer to Marathon Patent Group, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, unless the context suggests otherwise.

 

About Marathon Patent Group, Inc.

 

Marathon Patent Group, Inc. wasWe were incorporated in the State of Nevada on February 23, 2010 under the name “VerveVerve Ventures, Inc. On December 7, 2011, we changed our name to “AmericanAmerican Strategic Minerals Corporation”Corporation and were engaged in exploration and potential development of uranium and vanadium minerals business. DuringIn June 2012, we discontinued our minerals business and began to invest in real estate properties in Southern California. In October 2012, we discontinued our real estate business when our former CEO joined the firm and we commenced our current business,IP licensing operations, at which time the Company’s name was changed to Marathon Patent Group, Inc.

On November 1, 2017, we entered into a merger agreement with Global Bit Ventures, Inc. (“GBV”), which is focused on mining digital assets. We acquire patentspurchased cryptocurrency mining machines and patent rights from owners or other ventures and seekestablished a data center in Canada to monetizemine digital assets. We intend to expand its activities in the mining of new digital assets, while at the same time harvesting the value of our remaining IP assets , to the patents through litigation and licensing strategies, alone or with others. Part ofextent we have the resources to do so .

On June 28, 2018, our acquisition strategy is to acquire or invest in patents and patent rights that cover a wide-range of subject matter which allows us to seek the benefits of a diversified portfolio of assets in differing industries and countries. Generally, the patents and patent rights that we seek to acquire have large identifiable targets who are or have been using technology that we believe infringes our patents and patent rights. We generally monetize our portfolio of patents and patent rights by entering into license discussions, and if that is unsuccessful, initiating enforcement activities against any infringing parties with the objective of entering into comprehensive settlement and license agreements that may include the granting of non-exclusive retroactive and future rights to use the patented technology, a covenant not to sue, a release of the party from certain claims, the dismissal of any pending litigation and other terms. Our strategyBoard has been developed with the expectationdetermined that it will result in a long-term, diversified revenue stream for the Company. As of September 7, 2017, on a consolidated basis, our operating subsidiaries owned 103 patents and had economic rights to over 10,000 additional patents, both of which include U.S. patents and certain foreign counterparts, covering technologies used in a wide variety of industries.

Our principal office is located at 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 380, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Our telephone number is (703) 232-1701. Our internet address is www.marathonpg.com. Information on our website is not incorporated into this report.

About This Offering

This prospectus includes the resale of 7,394,000 shares of Common Stock, of which (i) 5,000,000 shares are issuable upon conversion of 5% convertible promissory notes(the “Convertible Notes”)sold in the Company’s private placement in August 2017 (the “Private Placement”) and (ii) 2,394,000 shares are issuable in exchange for warrants to purchase 2,280,000 sharesbest interests of Common stock (the “Exchange Warrants”), pursuant to exchange agreements, dated July 16, 2017 (the “Exchange Agreements”), by and among the Company and our shareholders to allow the purchasersAmended Merger Agreement with GBV to expire on its current termination date of securities inJune 28, 2018 without further negotiation or extension. The Board approved to issue 750,000 shares of our common stock to GBV as a termination fee for us canceling the Company’s April 2017 offering (the “Offering”).proposed merger between the two companies.

 

Pursuant to the Private Placement,On January 11, 2018, the Company entered into separate unit purchase agreements (the “Unita Patent Rights Purchase Agreement”) with accredited investors (the “Purchasers”) providing for sale of $3,623,700 of a total possible offering of up to $5,500,000 of the Convertible Notes and five-year warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock”), at an exercise price of $0.30 per share. The conversion price for the principal in connection with voluntary conversions shall be equal to the lesser of (i) $0.20 per share, or (ii) the closing bid price of the Common Stock on the day prior to conversion of the Convertible Note; provided that such conversion price may not be less than $0.10 per share, subject to adjustment as set forth therein.

The Convertible Notes bear interest at 5% per annum with interest payable in cash upon maturity or in connection with any voluntary or mandatory conversion.The Convertible Notes are convertible, in whole or in part, into shares of Common Stock at the option of the holder of the Convertible Note (the “Noteholder”), at any time and from time to time after the date of issuance and until the Convertible Note is no longer outstanding, subject to a 4.99% beneficial ownership limitation. Upon not less than 61 days’ prior notice to the Company, the Noteholder may increase the beneficial ownership limitation, provided that the beneficial ownership limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Convertible Note held by the Noteholder.

Pursuant to the Exchange Agreements, on July 17, 2017, the Company and certain institutional investors (the “Investors”) agreed to exchange the Exchange Warrants, which were issued by the Company pursuant to purchase agreements in April, 2017 (the “Purchase Agreements”), for an aggregate of 2,394,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Exchange Shares”). The Company has relied upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 3(a)(9) under the Securities Act of 1933, in connection with the issuance of the Exchange Shares. The issuance of the Exchange Shares is subject to shareholder approval.

The Company issued the Exchange Warrants registered in the name of each Investor to purchase an aggregate of 2,280,000 shares of Common Stock with each Exchange Warrant based upon the number of shares of Common Stock equal to 60% of such Investor’s subscription amount in the Offering. The Exchange Warrants are exercisable at a price of $0.83 per share, subject to adjustment, and expire five years from the date of issuance. The holders may, subject to certain limitations, exercise the Exchange Warrants on a cashless basis. The Company is prohibited from effecting an exercise of any Exchange Warrant to the extent that, as a result of any such exercise, the holder would beneficially own more than 4.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of such Original Warrant.

Under the terms of the Exchange Agreements, each of the Investors agreed to waive (i) its rights under the Purchase Agreements, such that the Investor consents and agrees to any reverse or forward stock split undertaken by the Company since the date of the Purchase Agreements and (ii) any rights of the Investor under the Purchase Agreements with respect to any subsequent financing of the Company of convertible preferred stock described by the Company in its next proxy statement filed with the SEC (collectively, the “Waivers”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Waivers are irrevocably effective upon execution of the Exchange Agreements and will not be subject to the conditions to the closing set forth in the Exchange Agreements.

Recent Developments

On August 3, 2017, the Companyand certain of our operating subsidiaries (such subsidiaries, together with any future guarantor subsidiaries, and the Parent, the “Company”) entered into a First Amendment to Amended and Restated Revenue Sharing and Securities Purchase Agreement and RestructuringAssignment Agreement (the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement“Agreement”), with DBD Credit Funding LLC (referred to as “DBD” or the “Purchaser”) to restructure and replace the obligations of the Company under that certain Amended and Restated Revenue Sharing and Securities Purchase Agreement (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Amended and Restated Agreement”)XpresSpa Group, Inc., dated January 10, 2017, which was originally entered into by the Company and DBD on January 29, 2015a Delaware Corporation (the Original Agreement”).

Pursuant to the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement, certain intellectual property owned by the Company (“IP“Seller”) and originally purchased by theCrypto Currency Patent Holdings Company from various parties (the “Designated IP”) is to be assigned to one or more newly created special purpose entity (the “SPE”) elected by DBD, which SPE is under the management and control of an affiliate of DBD (the “IP Monetization Manager”). All intellectual property owned by the Company that will not be assigned to one or more newly created special purpose entities shall be referred to as “Non-Designated IP.” The patents that are part of the Designated IP are referred to as the “Designated Patents”. Prior to the date of the restructuring, all Monetization Revenues arising from the Designated IP and Non-Designated IP shall be paid to an account that is under the sole and exclusive control of the Collateral Agent as the IP Monetization Manager. “Monetization Revenues” means the sum of amounts that the Company receives in cash or an amount equal to the fair market value of any in-kind payment the Company receives, prior to expenses, (i) from third parties in respect of the Company’s patents (the “Patents”); (ii) on account of any sale of products or services using the Patents; (iii) the development to order of any software or other products using the Patents, including royalty payments, license fees, settlement payments, judgments or other similar payments in respect of the Patents; and (iv) the purchase price or other amounts received in connection the sale of hardware or software with respect to the Patents, in each case as and when actually received by the Company.

In addition, until the date of the restructuring pursuant to the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the expenses associated with the maintenance, prosecution and enforcement of all of the Company’s intellectual property including the Designated IP and Non-Desisgnated IP owned by the Company which is not to be transferred to the SPE, and for any expenses associated with the pursuit of monetization activities relating to both the Designated IP and the Non-Designated IP. From and after the date upon which the Restructuring becomes effective (the “Restructuring Effective Date”), the SPE shall have sole responsibility for the expenses associated with the Designated IP and the Company shall have sole responsibility for the expenses associated with the Non-Designated IP.

The First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement (a) defers interest payments on the notes held by DBD from May 1, 2017 until the earlier to occur of (i) November 1, 2017 and (ii) the Restructuring Effective Date, and any accrued and unpaid interest as of the end of such deferral period shall be deemed a Cash Advance, and (b) lowers the Company’s minimum liquidity covenant, in each case to permit time for the Company to effect the Restructuring described above. Upon the Restructuring Effective Date, the Company’s note obligations to DBD will be extinguished and the Company will be relieved of any scheduled amortization (instead, payments to DBD will only be required out of Monetization Revenues).

RISK FACTORS

There are numerous and varied risks, known and unknown, that may prevent us from achieving our goals. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operation may be materially adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of our Common Stock could decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment.

Risks Related to Our Company

We may not be able to successfully monetize Non-Designated IP and thus we may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions.

There is no assurance that we will be able to continue to successfully acquire, develop or monetize our patent portfolio. The acquisition of patents could fail to produce anticipated benefits or there could be other adverse effects that we do not currently foresee. Failure to successfully monetize our patents would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, the acquisition of patent portfolios is subject to a number of risks, including, but not limited to the following:

There is a significant time lag between acquiring a patent portfolio and recognizing revenue from such patent asset. During such time lag, substantial amounts of costs are likely to be incurred that could have a negative effect on our results of operations, cash flows and financial position;
The monetization of a patent portfolio is a time consuming and expensive process that may disrupt our operations. If our monetization efforts are not successful, our results of operations could be harmed. In addition, we may not achieve anticipated synergies or other benefits from such acquisition; and
We may encounter unforeseen difficulties with our business or operations in the future that may deplete our capital resources more rapidly than anticipated. As a result, we may be required to obtain additional working capital in the future through public or private debt or equity financings, borrowings or otherwise. If we are required to raise additional working capital in the future, such financing may be unavailable to us on favorable terms, if at all, or may be dilutive to our existing stockholders. If we fail to obtain additional working capital, as and when needed, such failure could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Therefore, there is no assurance that the monetization of our patent portfolios will generate enough revenue to recoup our investment.

On August 3, 2017, the Companyand certain of our operating subsidiaries (such subsidiaries, together with any future guarantor subsidiaries, and the Parent, the “Company”) entered into a First Amendment to Amended and Restated Revenue Sharing and Securities Purchase Agreement and Restructuring Agreement (the “First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement”) with DBD Credit Funding LLC (“DBD”) to restructure and replace the obligations of the Company under that certain Amended and Restated Revenue Sharing and Securities Purchase Agreement, dated January 10, 2017, which was originally entered into by the Company and DBD on January 29, 2015. Pursuant to the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement, certain intellectual property owned by the Company (“IP”) and originally purchased by the Company from various parties (the “Designated IP”) is to be assigned to one or more newly created special purpose entity (the “SPE”) elected by DBD, which SPE is under the management and control of an affiliate of DBD. Once the Designated IP is assigned to the SPE, DBD will have full, direct control over the Patents under through the SPE structure. The Company’s sole remaining interest in the Designated IP will be the contractual right to 45% of the sum of amounts that the Company receives from third parties, on account of any sale of products or services, and development to order of any software or other products in respect of the Company’s patents, after payments set forth in the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement. Regardless of the success of the monetization of the Designated IP, the Company will have no control over, ownership of, or recourse to, the Designated IP. As a result, it may take longer to generate income off of the Patents.

We presently rely upon the patent assets we acquire from other patent owners. If we are unable to monetize such assets and generate revenue and profit through those assets or by other means, there is a significant risk that our business would fail.

When we commenced our current line of business in 2012, we acquired a portfolio of patent assets from Sampo IP, LLC (“Sampo”), a company affiliated with our Chief Executive Officer, Douglas Croxall, from which we have generated revenue from enforcement activities and for which we plan to continue to generate enforcement related revenue. On April 16, 2013, we acquired a patent from Mosaid Technologies Incorporated, a Canadian corporation. On April 22, 2013, we acquired a patent portfolio through a merger between our wholly-owned subsidiary, CyberFone Acquisition Corp., a Texas corporation and CyberFone Systems LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“CyberFone Systems”). In June 2013, in connection with the closing of a licensing agreement with Siemens Technology, we acquired a patent portfolio from that company. In September 2013, we acquired a portfolio from TeleCommunication Systems and an additional portfolio from Intergraph Corporation. In October 2013, we acquired a patent portfolio from TT IP, LLC. In December 2013 we engaged in three transactions: (i) in connection with a licensing agreement with Zhone, we acquired a portfolio of patents from that company; (ii) we acquired a patent portfolio from Delphi Technologies, Inc.; and (iii) in connection with a settlement and license agreement, we agreed to settle and release a defendant for past and future use of our patents, whereby the defendant agreed to assign and transfer two U.S. patents and rights to us. In May 2014, we acquired ownership rights of Dynamic Advances, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, IP Liquidity Ventures, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and Sarif Biomedical, LLC,wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“CCPHC”). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Seller agreed to irrevocably assign, sell, grant, transfer and convey, and CCPHC agreed to accept and acquire, the exclusive right, title and interest in and to four patents owned by the Seller (“Assigned IP”), subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement. As consideration for the Assigned IP, the Seller received (i) payment in the amount of $250,000 from CCPHC and (ii) 62,500 shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Consideration Shares”), with piggyback registration rights. In addition, the Company agreed to issue 6,250 shares of the Company’s common stock to Andrew Kennedy Lang, one of the named inventors of the patents, in exchange for consulting services, and 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock to another individual in exchange for consulting services, in connection with the acquisition of the Assigned IP. The Assigned IP relates to the transfer of Bitcoin on mobile to mobile payments, and given the trend of commercial enterprises adding mobile payment using crypto currencies to their payment methodologies, we believe that the Assigned IP may have commercial applicability.

We do not actively operate a Delaware limited liability company,patent licensing or enforcement business, nor do we expect to generate material amounts of revenue related to our intellectual property business. As for the 56 Patents for which we own a 100% interest (which includes the Assigned IP described above), we have not had the resources to attempt to monetize them. In the future, we may (i) seek monetize some or all of which hold patent portfolios or contract rights to the revenue generated from patent portfolios. In June 2014, we acquired Selene Communication Technologies, LLC, which holds multiplethese patents, in the search and network intrusion field. In August 2014, we acquired patents from Clouding IP LLC,(ii) partner with such patents related to network and data management technology. In September 2014, we acquired TLI Communications, which owns a single patent in the telecommunication field. In October 2014, we acquired three patent portfolios from MedTech Development, LLC, which owns medical technology patents. In June 2016, one of our subsidiaries, Munitech S.a.r.l. (“Munitech”), acquired two patent portfolios from Siemens covering W-CDMA and GSM cellular technology. In July 2016, one of our subsidiaries, Magnus GmbH (“Magnus”), acquired a patent portfolio from Siemens covering internet-of-things technology. In August 2016, we entered into two transactions. In the first, we acquired a patent portfolio from CPT IP Holdings, LLC covering battery technology and in the second, we entered into a Patent Funding and Exclusive License Agreement with a Fortune 50another company to monetize more than 10,000the patents, or (iii) may sell some or all of the patents. However, any such efforts are a secondary priority to operation of our digital asset business, and even if we determine to make such efforts, which is not a substantial eventuality, there is no assurance that we would be successful or would recover any proceeds from the patents we own.

We also have a 30% “waterfall” on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's US Patent 7,177,798 (“'798 Patent”) titled "Natural language interface using constrained intermediate dictionary of results." This ‘798 Patent is exclusively licensed to Dynamic Advances, LLC which is a subsidiary of the Company. As previously announced, we transferred ownership of various patents, including the '798 Patent, to a special purpose entity in which we own a 30% interest. The transfers resulted in the cancellation of certain indebtedness owed to Fortress Investment Group, LLC. According to various court filings in the case, plaintiffs (including the special purpose entity) filed an action which was commenced against Amazon claiming that its Alexa software violates certain claims in the patents. If plaintiffs are successful, and if the recoveries or settlement proceeds are sufficient, following litigation expenses and recovery of amounts due in connection with the cancelled loan, the special purpose entity could be entitled to 30% of the net proceeds. There can be no assurance that the plaintiffs will be successful or that any recoveries will exceed amounts due under the debt settlement arrangements or that the Company’s 30% interest in the special purpose entity will have any value even if the plaintiffs are successful in their case against Amazon.

Digital Asset Mining

We intend to power and secure blockchains by verifying blockchain transactions using custom hardware and software. We are currently using our hardware to mine bitcoin (“BTC”) and expect to mine BTC and ether (“ETH”), and potentially other cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin and ether rely on different technologies based on the blockchain. Wherein bitcoin is a digital currency and ether is generally associated with smart contracts and digital tokens, we will be compensated in either BTC or ETH based on the mining transactions we perform for each, which is how we will earn revenue.

Blockchains are decentralized digital ledgers that record and enable secure peer-to-peer transactions without third party intermediaries. Blockchains enable the existence of digital assets by allowing participants to confirm transactions without the need for a central certifying authority. When a participant requests a transaction, a peer-to-peer network consisting of computers, known as nodes, validate the transaction and the user’s status using known algorithms. After the transaction is verified, it is combined with other transactions to create a new block of data for the ledger. The new block is added to the existing blockchain in a way that is permanent and unalterable, and the transaction is complete.

Digital assets (also known as cryptocurrency) are a medium of exchange that uses encryption techniques to control the creation of monetary units and to verify the transfer of funds. Many consumers use digital assets because it offers cheaper and faster peer-to-peer payment options without the need to provide personal details. Every single transaction and the ownership of every single digital asset in circulation is recorded in the blockchain. Miners use powerful computers that tally the transactions to run the blockchain. These miners update each time a transaction is made and ensure the authenticity of information. The miners receive a transaction fee for their service in the form of a portion of the new digital “coins” that are issued.

Competition

Subject to raising additional capital, our digital asset initiatives will compete with other industry vertical. In September 2016, oneparticipants that focus on investing in and securing the Blockchains of bitcoin and other digital assets. Market and financial conditions, and other conditions beyond the Company’s control, may make it more attractive to invest in other entities, or to invest in bitcoin or digital assets directly. Companies have raised substantial capital this year seeking to enter the digital assets business. Our lack of capital is a competitive disadvantage.

Patent Enforcement Litigation

As of March 31, 2019, we were not involved in any active patent enforcement litigation.

Employees

As of March 31, 2019, we had 3 full-time employees. We believe our subsidiaries, Motheye Technologies, LLC (“Motheye”), acquired a patent from Cirrex Systems, LLC, covering LED technology; however, in June 2017, following a decision byemployee relations to be good.

Recent Developments

Reverse Stock Split

On April 8, 2019, the Company noteffected a 1:4 reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding common stock and all equity instrument numbers in this prospectus have been adjusted to enforce such patent, Motheyeaccount for this reverse stock split.

Lease and Purchase of Digital Asset Mining Servers

On February 7, 2018, Marathon Crypto Mining, Inc. (“MCM”), a Nevada corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an agreement whereby such patent held byto acquire 1,400 Bitmain’s Antminer S9 miners (“Antminer S9s”).

On February 12, 2018, in connection with the subsidiary was assigned back to Cirrex Systems, LLC. In September 2017,intended mining operations of MCM, the Company sold Munitech,assumed a lease contract dated November 11, 2017 (the “Lease Agreement”) by and between 9349-0001 Quebec Inc. (the “Lessor”) and Blocespace Inc., formerly known as Cryptoespace Inc. (the “Lessee”). Pursuant to the Lease Agreement, among other things, the Lessee leases a building of 26,700 square feet (the “Property”) in Quebec, Canada, for an initial term of five (5) years (the “Term”), commencing on December 1, 2017 and terminating on November 30, 2022. The Lessee shall pay a monthly rent of $10,012.50 plus tax, or an annual rent of $120,150.00 plus tax (“Yearly Rent”). At the signing of the Lease Agreement, the Lessee paid the Lessor a deposit equal to the Yearly Rent which included both its assets and its liabilities,amount will be dispersed during the Term as set forth in a private transaction to a third party.

We plan to generate revenues from our acquired patent portfolios. However, if our efforts to generate revenue from these assets fail, we will have incurred significant losses and may be unable to acquire additional assets. If this occurs, our business would likely fail.

We have economic interests in patent portfolios that the Company does not control and the decision regarding the timing and amount of licenses are held by third parties, which could lead to outcomes materially different than what the Company intended.Lease Agreement.

 

The Lessee assigned the Lease Agreement to MCM pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the “Assignment”) by and between the Company owns contract rightsand the Lessee’s parent company, Bloctechnologies Canada Inc. Subject to two patent portfolios overthe terms and conditions of the Assignment, MCM agreed to observe all the covenants and conditions of the Lease Agreement, including the payment of all rents due. The Company shall be responsible for all necessary capital expenditures in connection with capital improvements to the Property to set up MCM’s mining operations.

The 1,400 Antminer S9s were delivered to the Property and installation commenced on or about March 7, 2018, with the commencement of digital asset mining shortly thereafter.

GBV Merger Termination

On April 3, 2018, the Company and GBV entered into the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Amended Merger Agreement”), which amends certain terms, among others, in the Merger Agreement, as follows: (i) the Outside Closing Date, as amended, shall be further extended to ninety (90) days from April 3, 2018, subject to consecutive 30-day extensions upon mutual written consent of the Parties; (ii) the Company Shareholders shall receive 17,500,000 Parent Common Shares (reduced from 31,668,639 Parent Common Shares) on a fully diluted basis, which include any Parent Common Shares underlying the Parent’s Series C Preferred Stock issuable in lieu of the Parent Common Shares at the election of the Company Shareholders who would own more than 2.49% of the Parent Common Shares as a result of the Merger; and (iii) in the event that the Merger fails to close by August 9, 2018 or the Company’s Shareholders vote not to approve the Merger, the Parent will issue to the Company, an aggregate of 3,000,000 Parent Common Shares to reimburse GBV for its costs and expenses. All capitalized terms otherwise not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Amended Merger Agreement.

On July 3, 2018, the board has determined that it does not exercise control and cannot determine when and if, and if so, for how much, the patent owner licenses the patents. This could lead to situations where we have dedicated resources, time and money to portfolios that, despiteis in the best interests of the Company provide littleand its shareholders to allow the Amended Merger Agreement to expire on its current termination date of June 28, 2018 without further negotiation or no return on our investment. In these situations,extension. The Board approved to issue 750,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to GBV as a termination fee for the Company would recordcanceling the proposed merger between the two companies.

Feinberg Litigation

On March 27, 2018, Jeffrey Feinberg, purportedly joined by the Jeffrey L. Feinberg Personal Trust and the Jeffrey L. Feinberg Family Trust, filed a losscomplaint against the Company and certain of its former officers and directors. The complaint was filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York. The plaintiffs purported to state claims under Sections 11, 12(a)(2) and 15 of the federal Securities Act of 1933 and common law claims for “actual fraud and fraudulent concealment,” constructive fraud, and negligent misrepresentation, seeking unspecified money damages (including punitive damages), as well as costs and attorneys’ fees, and equitable or injunctive relief. On June 15, 2018, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss all claims asserted in the complaint and, on July 27, 2018, the plaintiffs filed an opposition to that motion. The court heard argument on the motion and, on January 15, 2019, the court granted the motion to dismiss, allowing 30 days for the filing of an amended complaint. On February 15, 2019, Jeffrey Feinberg, individually and as trustee of the Jeffrey L. Feinberg Personal Trust, and Terrence K. Ankner, as trustee of the Jeffrey L. Feinberg Family Trust, filed an amended complaint that purports to state the same claims and seeks the same relief sought in the original complaint. On March 7 and 22, 2019, defendants filed motions to dismiss the amended complaint and on April 5, 2019, plaintiffs filed an opposition to those motions. The court has tentatively scheduled oral argument on the motions to dismiss on July 9, 2019.

Ramirez Litigation

On July 20, 2018, Tony Ramirez filed a complaint against the Company and certain of its investment and incur lossesformer directors. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Mr. Ramirez alleged that contribute to the overall performancehe was a shareholder of the Company and could havepurported to assert a material adverse impactsingle claim under Section 14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and SEC Rule 14a-9 promulgated thereunder. The parties entered into a “Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release” and the case was voluntarily dismissed with prejudice on its financial condition.December 17, 2018.

 

Amazon Litigation

Failure

As part of the cancellation of certain indebtedness owed to effectively manageFortress Investment Group, LLC, we transferred ownership of various patents, including U.S. Patent No. 7,177,798, commonly referred to as “Patent 798.” Fortress created a new Special Purpose Entity, CF Dynamic Advances LLC, in which we own a 30% interest. In May 2018, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and CF Dynamic Advances LLC filed a complaint against Amazon.com, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, which alleges, among other things, that “Alexa Voice Software and Alexa enabled devices” infringe U.S. Patent No. 7,177,798, entitled “Natural Language Interface Using Constrained Intermediate Dictionary of Results.” The complaint seeks an injunction, monetary damages, an ongoing royalty, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs. If plaintiffs are successful, and if the recoveries or settlement proceeds are sufficient following litigation expenses and recovery of amounts due in connection with the cancelled loan, the special purpose entity could be entitled to a portion of the net proceeds. There can be no assurance that the plaintiff will be successful or that any recoveries will exceed amounts due under the debt settlement arrangements or that our growth could place strains on our managerial, operational and financial resources and could adversely affect our business and operating results.30% interest in the special purpose entity will have any value even if the plaintiffs are successful in their case against Amazon.

 

Our growth has placed, and is expected to continue to place, a strain on our limited managerial, operational and financial resources and systems. Further,Other than as our subsidiary companies’ businesses grow,disclosed herein, we will be required to continue to manage multiple relationships. Any further growth by usknow of no other material, active or our subsidiary companies, or an increase in the number of our strategic relationships, may place additional strain on our managerial, operational and financial resources and systems. Although we may not grow as we expect, if we fail to manage our growth effectively or to develop and expand our managerial, operational and financial resources and systems, our business and financial results would be materially harmed.

We initiatepending legal proceedings against potentially infringing companiesus, nor are we involved as a plaintiff in any material proceedings or pending litigation other than in the normal course of our business and we believe that extended litigation proceedings would be time-consuming and costly, which may adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to operate our business.

To monetize our patent assets, we generally initiate legal proceedings against potential infringing companies, pursuant to which we may allege that such companies infringe on one or more of our patents. Our viability could be highly dependent on the outcome of the litigation, and there is a risk that we may be unable to achieve the results we desire from such litigation, which failure would substantially harm our business. In addition, the defendants in the litigations are likely to be much larger than us and have substantially more resources than we do, which could make our litigation efforts more difficult and impact the duration of the litigation which would require us to devote our limited financial, managerial and other resources to support litigation that may be disproportionate to the anticipated recovery.

We anticipate that these legal proceedings may continue for several years and may require significant expenditures for legal fees and other expenses. Disputes regarding the assertion of patents and other intellectual property rights are highly complex and technical. Once initiated, we may be forced to litigate against others to enforce or defend our patent rights or to determine the validity and scope of other party’s patent rights. The defendants or other third parties involved in the lawsuits in which we are involved may allege defenses and/or file counterclaims or commence re-examination proceedings by patenting issuance authorities in an effort to avoid or limit liability and damages for patent infringement, or declare our patents to be invalid or non-infringed. If such defenses or counterclaims are successful, they may preclude our ability to derive monetization revenue from the patents we own. A negative outcome of any such litigation, or an outcome which affects one or more claims contained within any such litigation, could materially and adversely impact our business. Additionally, we anticipate that our legal fees and other expenses will be material and will negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations and may result in our inability to continue our business.

 

Variability in intellectual property laws may adversely affect our intellectual property position.Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Intellectual property laws, and patent laws and regulations in particular,The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been subject to significant variability either through administrative or legislative changes to such laws or regulations or changes or differences in judicial interpretation, andprepared assuming that it is expected that such variability will continue to occur. Additionally, intellectual property lawsas a going concern, which contemplates continuity of operations, realization of assets, and regulations differ among countries. Variationsliquidation of liabilities in the patent laws and regulations or in interpretationsnormal course of patent laws and regulations in the United States and other countries may diminish the value of our intellectual property and may change the impact of third-party intellectual property on us. Accordingly, we cannot predict the scope of patents that may be granted to us, the extent to which we will be able to enforce our patents against third parties, or the extent to which third parties may be able to enforce their patents against us.

We may seek to internally develop additional new inventions and intellectual property, which would take time and be costly. Moreover, the failure to obtain or maintain intellectual property rights for such inventions would lead to the loss of our investments in such activities.

We may in the future seek to engage in commercial business ventures or seek internal development of new inventions or intellectual property. These activities would require significant amounts of financial, managerial and other resources and would take time to achieve. Such activities could also distract our management team from its present business initiatives, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business. There is also the risk that such initiatives may not yield any viable new business or revenue, inventions or technology, which would lead to a loss of our investment in such activities.

In addition, even if we are able to internally develop new inventions, in order for those inventions to be viable and to compete effectively, we would need to develop and maintain, and we would be heavily reliant upon, a proprietary position with respect to such inventions and intellectual property. However, there are significant risks associated with any such intellectual property we may develop principally including the following:

patent applications we may file may not result in issued patents or may take longer than we expect to result in issued patents;
we may be subject to interference proceedings;
we may be subject to opposition proceedings in the U.S. or foreign countries;
any patents that are issued to us may not provide meaningful protection;
we may not be able to develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable;
other companies may challenge patents issued to us;
other companies may have independently developed and/or patented (or may in the future independently develop and patent) similar or alternative technologies, or duplicate our technologies;
other companies may design around technologies we have developed; and
enforcement of our patents would be complex, uncertain and very expensive.

We cannot be certain that patents will be issued as a result of any future patent applications, or that any of our patents, once issued, will provide us with adequate protection from competing products. For example, issued patents may be circumvented or challenged, declared invalid or unenforceable or narrowed in scope. In addition, since publication of discoveries in scientific or patent literature often lags behind actual discoveries, we cannot be certain that we will be the first to make our additional new inventions or to file patent applications covering those inventions. It is also possible that others may have or may obtain issued patents that could prevent us from commercializing our products or require us to obtain licenses requiring the payment of significant fees or royalties in order to enable us to conduct our business. As to those patents that we may acquire, our continued rights will depend on meeting any obligations to the seller and we may be unable to do so. Our failure to obtain or maintain intellectual property rights for our inventions would lead to the loss of our investments in such activities, which would have a material adverse effect on us.

Moreover, patent application delays could cause delays in recognizing revenue from our internally generated patents and could cause us to miss opportunities to license patents before other competing technologies are developed or introduced into the market.

Our future success depends on our ability to expand our organization to match the growth of our activities.

 

As our operations grow,reflected in the administrative demands upon us will grow,consolidated financial statements, the Company had an accumulated deficit of approximately $102.1 and our success will depend upon our ability to meet those demands. We are organized as103.1 million respectively at December 31, 2018 and March 31, 2019 respectively, a holding company, with numerous subsidiaries. Both the parent companynet loss of approximately $12.8 million and each of our subsidiaries require certain financial, managerial$1.0 million, respectively, and other resources, which could create challenges to our ability to successfully manage our subsidiariesapproximately $8.2 million and operations and impact our ability to assure compliance with our policies, practices and procedures. These demands include, but are not limited to, increased executive, accounting, management, legal services, staff support and general office services. We may need to hire additional qualified personnel to meet these demands, the cost and quality of which is dependent in part upon market factors outside of our control. Further, we will need to effectively manage the training and growth of our staff to maintain an efficient and effective workforce, and our failure to do so could adversely affect our business and operating results.

Potential acquisitions may present risks, and we may be unable to achieve the financial or other goals intended at the time of any potential acquisition.

Our future growth depends in part on our ability to acquire patented technologies, patent portfolios or companies holding such patented technologies and patent portfolios. Accordingly, we have engaged in acquisitions to expand our patent portfolios and we intend to continue to explore such acquisitions. Such acquisitions are subject to numerous risks, including, but not limited to the following:

our inability to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to any potential acquisition, or if we are able to enter into such agreement, our inability to consummate the potential acquisition;
difficulty integrating the operations, technology and personnel of the acquired entity including achieving anticipated synergies;
our inability to achieve the anticipated financial and other benefits of the specific acquisition;
difficulty in maintaining controls, procedures and policies during the transition and monetization process;
diversion of our management’s attention from other business concerns; and
failure of our due diligence process to identify significant issues, including issues with respect to patented technologies and patent portfolios and other legal and financial contingencies.

If we are unable to manage these risks effectively as part of any acquisition, our business could be adversely affected.

Our revenues are unpredictable, and this may harm our financial condition.

From November 12, 2012 to the present, our operating subsidiaries have executed our business strategy of acquiring patent portfolios and accompanying patent rights and monetizing the value of those assets. As of September 7, 2017, on a consolidated basis, our operating subsidiaries owned 103 patents and had economic rights to over 10,000 additional patents, both of which include U.S. patents and certain foreign counterparts, covering technologies$0.8 million, respectively, net cash used in a wide variety of industries. These acquisitions continue to expand and diversify our revenue generating opportunities. However, due to the nature of our patent monetization business and uncertainties regarding the amount and timing of the receipt of funds from the monetization of our patent assets resulting in part from uncertainties regarding the outcome of enforcement actions, rates of adoption of our patented technologies, outlookoperating activities for the businesses for defendants, and certain other factors, our revenues may vary substantially from quarter to quarter, which could make our business difficult to manage, adversely affect our business and operating results, cause our quarterly results to fall below expectations and adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock.

Our patent monetization cycle is lengthy and costly, and our marketing, legal and administrative efforts may be unsuccessful.

We expect significant marketing, legal and administrative expenses prior to generating revenue from monetization efforts. We will also spend considerable time and resources educating defendants on the benefits of a settlement, prior to or during litigation, that may include issuing a license to our patents and patent rights. As such, we may incur significant losses in any particular period before revenue streams commence.

If our efforts to convince defendants of the benefits of a settlement arrangement prior to litigation are unsuccessful, we may need to continue with the litigation process or other enforcement action to protect our patent rights and to realize revenue from those rights. We may also need to litigate to enforce the terms of existing license agreements, protect our trade secrets or determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Enforcement proceedings are typically protracted and complex. The costs are typically substantial,year ended December 31, 2018 and the outcomes are unpredictable. Enforcement actions will divert our managerial, technical, legal and financial resources from business operations.

Our exposure to uncontrollable risks, including new legislation, court rulings or actions by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), could adversely affect our activities including our revenues, expenses and results of operations.

Our patent acquisition and monetization business is subject to numerous risks including new legislation, regulations and rules. If new legislation, regulations or rules are implemented either by Congress, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the executive branch, or the courts, that impact the patent application process, the patent enforcement process, the rights of patent holders, or litigation practices, such changes could materially and negatively affect our revenue and expenses and, therefore, our results of operations and the overall success of our Company. Onthree months ended March 16, 2013 the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act or the America Invents Act became effective. The America Invents Act includes a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law. In general, the legislation attempts to address issues surrounding the enforceability of patents and the increase in patent litigation by, among other things, establishing new procedures for patent litigation. For example, the America Invents Act changes the way that parties may be joined in patent infringement actions, increasing the likelihood that such actions will need to be brought against individual allegedly-infringing parties by their respective individual actions or activities. In addition, the America Invents Act enacted a new inter-partes review, or IPR, process at the USPTO which can be used by defendants, and other individuals and entities, to separately challenge the validity of any patent. At this time, it is not clear what, if any, impact the America Invents Act will have on the operation of our patent monetization and enforcement business. However, the America Invents Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the enforcement of our patented technologies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. Patents from nine of our portfolios are currently the subject of inter-partes reviews.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice, or the DOJ, has conducted reviews of the patent system to evaluate the impact of patent assertion entities on industries in which those patents relate. It is possible that the findings and recommendations of the DOJ could impact the ability to effectively monetize and enforce standards-essential patents and could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the enforcement of any such patented technologies. Also, the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, has published its intent to initiate a proposed study under Section 6(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act to evaluate the patent assertion practice and market impact of Patent Assertion Entities, or PAEs. The FTC’s notice and request for public comment relating to the PAE study appeared in the Federal Register on October 3, 2013. The FTC solicited information from the Company regarding its portfolios and activities, and the Company complied with the FTC request for such information. The results of the PAE study by the FTC were provided to Congress and other agencies, such as the DOJ, who could take action, including legislative proposals, based on the results of the study.

Finally, new rules regarding the burden of proof in patent enforcement actions could substantially increase the cost of our enforcement actions and new standards or limitations on liability for patent infringement could negatively impact our revenue derived from such enforcement actions.

The report of our independent registered public accounting firm expresses31, 2019. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Our auditors have indicated in their reportLiquidity is the ability of a company to generate funds to support its current and future operations, satisfy its obligations, and otherwise operate on an ongoing basis. At December 31, 2018, the Company’s financial statements forcash and cash equivalents balances totaled $2.6 million compared to $14.9 million at December 31, 2017. At March 31, 2019, the fiscalCompany’s cash and cash equivalents balances totaled $2.0 million.

Net working capital decreased by $6.6 million, to $0.7 million at December 31, 2018 from $7.4 million at December 31, 2017. Net working capital decreased by $0.6 million, to $0.1 million at March 31, 2019 from $0.7 million at December 31, 2018.

Cash used in operating activities was $8.2 million during the year ended December 31, 20162018 and cash used in operating activities of $10.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2017. Cash used in operating activities was $0.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and cash used in operating activities of $3.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Cash used in investing activities was $4.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 and cash provided by investing activities of $7,788 for the year ended December 31, 2017. Cash used in investing activities was $0.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Cash provided by financing activities was $0 during the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to cash provided by financing activities in the amount of $20.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2017. Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 was $0. Cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 resulted from proceeds from issuance of notes payable, the sale of common stock issued pursuant to an ATM offering, offset by payments made for notes payable.

Based on our current revenue and profit projections, we are uncertain that conditions exist that raiseour existing cash will be sufficient to fund its operations through at least the next twelve months, raising substantial doubt aboutregarding our ability to continue as a going concern due to our recurring losses from operations and substantial decline in our working capital. A “going concern” opinion could impair our ability to finance our operations through the sale of equity, incurring debt, or other financing alternatives. Our ability to continue as a going concern will depend upon the availability and terms of future funding, continued growth in product orders and shipments, improved operating margins and our ability to profitably meet our after-sale service commitments with existing customers. If we are unable to achieve these goals, our business would be jeopardized and the Company may not be able to continue as a going concern. If we do not meet our revenue and profit projections or the business climate turns negative, then we will need to:

raise additional funds to support our operations; provided, however, there is no assurance that we will be able to raise such additional funds on acceptable terms, if at all. If we raise additional funds by issuing securities, existing stockholders may be diluted; and
review strategic alternatives.

If adequate funds are unable to continue as a going concern,not available, we may havebe required to liquidatecurtail our assets andoperations or other business activities or obtain funds through arrangements with strategic partners or others that may receive less than the value at which those assets are carried on our consolidated financial statements, and it is likely that investors will lose allrequire us to relinquish rights to certain technologies or a part of their investment.potential markets.

 

Changes in patent laws could adversely impact our business.Accounting for Digital Currencies

 

Patent laws may continueThe lack of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) instruction regarding the proper accounting treatment of digital currency assets has created uncertainty regarding the reporting and proper asset classification of digital currency holdings. Management intends to changeexercise its business judgment in determining appropriate accounting treatment for the recognition of revenue from mining of digital currencies. Management, in conjunction with its outside public accountants and may alterits auditors, has examined various factors surrounding the historically consistent protections affordedsubstance of the Company’s operations and the available guidance published for public company accounting practices in Accounting Standards Codification.

The Company intends to ownersaccount for its digital currency assets as indefinite life intangible assets. An intangible asset with an indefinite useful life is not amortized, but rather is assessed for impairment annually, or more frequently, when events or changes in circumstances occur which indicate that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived asset is impaired. Impairment exists when the carrying amount exceeds its fair value. In testing for impairment, the Company will have the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that an impairment exists. If it is determined that it is not more likely than not that an impairment exists, a quantitative impairment test is not necessary. If the Company concludes otherwise, it is required to perform a quantitative impairment test. To the extent an impairment loss is recognized, the loss establishes the new cost basis of patent rights. Such changes maythe asset. Subsequent reversal of impairment losses is not be advantageous for us and may make it more difficult for us to obtain adequate patent protection to enforce our patents against infringing parties. Increased focuspermitted. Realized gain or loss on the growing numbersale of patent-related lawsuits may resultdigital currencies is included in legislative changes that increase our costs and related risks of asserting patent enforcement actions. For instance, in December 2013, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill that would require non-practicing entities that bring patent infringement lawsuits to pay defendants’ legal fees if the lawsuits are unsuccessful and certain standards are not met. In May 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a ruling by a federal appeals court that handles patent cases, which had ruled since 1990 that suits could be filed essentially anywhere a business sold products, and held that patent suits should be filedother income or expenses in the state whereCompany’s statements of operations.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should consider carefully the defendant isrisks, uncertainties and all risk factors set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risk factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for patent infringement venue purposes. This could make it more difficultthe year ended December 31, 2018, as amended, and each subsequent filed quarterly report on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to seek damages for infringement.time by the other reports we file with the SEC in the future.

 

Trial judgesIn addition to those risk factors incorporated by reference herein, the Company has identified the following uncertainties and juries often find it difficult to understand complex patent enforcement litigation, and as a result, werisk factors which may need to appeal adverse decisions by lower courts in order to successfully enforceaffect our patent rights.

It is difficult to predict the outcome of litigation, particularly patent enforcement litigation. It is often difficult for juries and trial judges to understand complex, patented technologies and, as a result, there is a higher rate of successful appeals in patent enforcement litigation than more standard business litigation. Such appeals are expensive and time consuming, resulting in increased costs and delayed final non-appealable judgments that can require payment of damages to the Company. Although we diligently pursue enforcement litigation, we cannot predict with significant reliability the decisions that may be made by juries and trial courts.

More patent applications are filed each year resulting in longer delays in getting patents issued by the USPTO.

We hold and continue to acquire pending patents in the application or review phase. We believe there is a trend of increasing patent applications each year, which we believe is resulting in longer delays in obtaining approval of pending patent applications. The application delays could cause delays in monetizing such patents which could cause us to miss opportunities to license patents before other competing technologies are developed or introduced into the market.business:

 

The lengthprice of time required timeour common stock may be influenced by the market price of digital currencies, among other factors, which may be susceptible to litigate an enforcement action is increasing.wide swings in value.

 

Our patent enforcement actions are almost exclusively prosecutedDigital currency market prices, in federal court. Federal trial courtsparticular that hearof bitcoin, which represents our patent enforcement actions also hear criminalprimary digital currency asset, have experienced significant short- and other cases. Criminal cases always take priority over our actions. As a result, itlong-term fluctuations in value. There is difficult to predict the length of time it will take to complete an enforcement action. Moreover, we believe there is a trend in increasing numbers of civil and criminal proceedings and, as a result, we believeno assurance that the riskprice of delays in our patent enforcement actions has grown and will continue to grow and will increasingly affect our business in the future unless this trend changes.

Any reductions in the funding of the USPTO coulddigital currencies (i.e. bitcoin) may not have an adverse impacteffect on the costprice of processing pending patent applications andour common stock, despite management’s best efforts to pursue the Company’s core businesses. This is because the value and price of those pending patent applications.

Our ownershipour common stock, as determined by the investing public, may be influenced by future anticipated adoption or acquisitionappreciation in value of pending patent applications beforedigital currencies or the USPTO isblockchain generally, factors over which the Company has little or no influence or control. The Company’s share price may also be subject to fundingpricing volatility due to supply and other risks applicable to a government agency. The value of our patent portfolio is dependent, in part, on the issuance of patents in a timely manner, and any reductions in the funding of the USPTO could negatively impact the value of our assets. Further, reductions in funding from Congress could result in higher patent application filing and maintenance fees charged by the USPTO, causing an unexpected increase in our expenses.

Our acquisitions of patent assets may be time consuming, complex and costly, which could adversely affect our operating results.

Acquisitions of patentdemand factors associated with few or other intellectual property assets, are often time consuming, complex and costly to consummate. We may utilize many different transaction structures in our acquisitions and the terms of such acquisition agreements tend to be heavily negotiated. As a result, we expect to incur significant operating expenses and may be required to raise capital during the negotiations even if the acquisition is ultimately not consummated. Even if we are able to acquire particular patent assets, there is no guarantee that we will generate sufficient revenue related to those patent assets to offset the acquisition costs. While we will seek to conduct sufficient due diligence on the patent assets we are consideringlimited public company options for acquisition, we may acquire patent assets from a seller who does not have proper title to those assets. In those cases, we may be required to spend significant resources to defend our ownership interest in the patent assets and, if we are not successful, our acquisition may be invalid, in which case we could lose part or all of our investment in the assets.digital currency industry.

 

We may also identify patent or other patent assets that cost more than weDigital currency market prices are prepared to spend. We may incur significant costs to organizedetermined primarily using data from various exchanges, over-the-counter markets, and negotiate a structured acquisition that does not ultimately result in an acquisition of any patent assets or, if consummated, proves to be unprofitable for us. These higher costs could adversely affect our operating results and, if we incur losses, the value of our securities will decline.

In addition, we may acquire patents and technologies that are in the early stages of adoption in the commercial, industrial and consumer markets. Demand for some of these technologies will likely be untested andderivative platforms. Furthermore, such prices may be subject to fluctuation based uponfactors such as those that impact commodities, more so than business activities, which could be subjected to additional influence from fraudulent or illegitimate actors, real or perceived scarcity, and political, economic, regulatory or other conditions. Pricing may be the rate at which our companiesresult of, and may adopt our patented technologies in their products and services. As a result, there can be no assurance ascontinue to whether technologies we acquire or develop will have value that we can monetize.

In certain acquisitions of patent assets, we may seek to defer payment or finance a portion of the acquisition price. This approach may put us at a competitive disadvantage and could result in, harm to our business.

We have limited capital and may seek to negotiate acquisitions of patent or other intellectual property assets where we can defer payments or finance a portion of the acquisition price. These types of debt financing or deferred payment arrangements may not be as attractive to sellers of patent assets as receiving the full purchase price for those assetsspeculation regarding future appreciation in cash at the closing of the acquisition. As a result, we might not compete effectively against other companies in the market for acquiring patent assets, many of whom have substantially greater cash resources than we have. In addition, any failure to satisfy any debt repayment obligations that we may incur, may result in adverse consequences to our operating results.

Any failure to maintain or protect our patent assets could significantly impair our return on investment from such assets and harm our brand, our business and our operating results.

Our ability to operate our business and compete in the patent market largely depends on the superiority, uniqueness and value of our acquired patent assets. To protect our proprietary rights, we rely on and will rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws, confidentiality agreements, common interest agreements and agreements with our employees and third parties, and protective contractual provisions. No assurances can be given that any of the measures we undertake to protect and maintain the value of our assets will be successful.

Followingdigital currencies, or the acquisition of patent assets, we will likely be required to spend significant time and resources to maintain the effectiveness of such assets by paying maintenance feesCompany or its share price, inflating and making filings with the USPTO. We may acquire patent assets, including patent applications that require us to spend resources to prosecute such patent applications with the USPTO. Moreover, there is a material risk that patent related claims (such as, for example, infringement claims (and/their market prices more volatile or claims for indemnification resulting therefrom), unenforceability claims or invalidity claims) will be asserted or prosecuted against us, and such assertions or prosecutions could materially and adversely affect our business. Regardless of whether any such claims are valid or can be successfully asserted, defending such claims could cause us to incur significant costs and could divert resources away from our core business activities.

Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights, anycreating “bubble” type risks. As of the following or similar occurrences may reducedate of this prospectus, the valuetrading price of bitcoin and other digital currencies has experienced significant decline and the trading price of our intellectual property:

our patent applications, trademarks and copyrights may not be granted and, if granted, may be challenged or invalidated;
issued trademarks, copyrights, or patents may not provide us with any competitive advantages when compared to potentially infringing other properties;
our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights may not be effective in preventing misappropriation of our technology; or
our efforts may not prevent the development and design by others of products or technologies similar to or competitive with, or superior to those we acquire and/or prosecute.

Moreover, we may notcommon stock has experienced a similar decline. If the trading price of the Company’s common stock declines below NASDAQ listing standards for an extended period our common stock could be able to effectively protect our intellectual property rights in certain foreign countries where we may do business insuspended or delisted from the future or from which competitors may operate. If we fail to maintain, defend or prosecute our patent assets properly, the value of those assets would be reduced or eliminated, and our business would be harmed.

Weak global economic conditions may cause infringing parties to delay entering into settlement and licensing agreements, which could prolong our litigation and adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.

Our business depends significantly on worldwide economic conditions, and the United States and world economies have recently experienced weak economic conditions. Uncertainty about global economic conditions poses a risk as businesses may postpone spending in response to tighter credit, negative financial news and declines in income or asset values. This response could have a material adverse effect on the willingness of parties infringing on our assets to enter into settlements or other revenue generating agreements voluntarily. Entering into such agreements is critical to our business and our failure to do so could cause material harm to our business.NASDAQ exchange.

 

If we are unableFuture sales and issuances of our equity securities or rights to adequately protectpurchase our patent assets, we may not be able to compete effectivelyequity securities would result in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our stockholders..

 

Our abilitystockholders may experience substantial dilution as we raise additional capital through issuances of equity securities. We may, from time to compete dependstime, sell common stock, preferred stock, warrants, units, options or convertible securities or other equity securities in part upon the strength of the patentsone or more transactions at prices and patent rights that we own or may hereafter acquire. We rely on a combination of U.S. and foreign patents, copyrights, trademark, trade secret laws and other types of agreements to establish and protect our patent, intellectual property and proprietary rights. The efforts we take to protect our patents, intellectual property and proprietary rights may not be sufficient or effective at stopping unauthorized use of our patents, intellectual property and proprietary rights. In addition, effective trademark, patent, copyright and trade secret protection may not be available or cost-effective in every country in which our services are made available. There may be instances where we are not able to fully protect or utilize our patent and other intellectual property in a manner that maximizes competitive advantage.we determine from time to time. If we are unable to protect our patent assets and intellectual property and proprietary rights from unauthorized use, the value of those assetssell common stock, preferred stock, warrants, units, options or convertible securities or other equity securities in more than one transaction, investors may be reduced, which could negatively impact our business. Our inabilityfurther diluted by subsequent sales. Management believes additional capital must be raised to obtain appropriate protections for our intellectual property may also allow competitors to enter marketscontinue executing the Company’s strategic plans. Management believes potential shareholder dilution resulting from the Company’s capital raising activities will be offset by increases in Company value and produce or sellcorresponding increases in the same or similar products. In addition, protecting our patents and patent rights is expensive and diverts critical managerial resources. If any of the foregoing were to occur, or if we are otherwise unable to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights, our business and financial results could be adversely affected.

If we are forced to resort to legal proceedings to enforce our intellectual property rights, the proceedings could be burdensome and expensive. In addition, our patent rights could be at risk if we are unsuccessful in, or cannot afford to pursue, those proceedings. We also rely on trade secrets and contract law to protect sometrading price of our patent rights and proprietary technology. Wecommon stock. Management cannot, however, guarantee that such sales will enter into confidentiality and invention agreements with our employees and consultants. Nevertheless, these agreements may not be honored and they may not effectively protect our rightresult in material dilution to our un-patented trade secretsexisting stockholders, and know-how. Moreover, others may independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and techniques or otherwisefurther notes that new investors could gain accessrights superior to our trade secrets and know-how.existing stockholders.

 

We expectCurrently, there is relatively small use of bitcoins in the retail and commercial marketplace in comparison to relatively large use by speculators, thus contributing to price volatility that we will be substantially dependent on a concentrated number of customers. If we are unable to establish, maintain or replace our relationships with customers and develop a diversified customer base, our revenues may fluctuate and our growth may be limited.could adversely affect an investment in the Company.

 

A significant portion of our revenues will bebitcoin demand is generated by speculators and investors seeking to profit from the short or long-term holding of bitcoins. A lack of expansion by bitcoins into retail and commercial markets, or alternative uses, may result in increased volatility or a limited numberreduction in the price of customersbitcoin, either of which could adversely impact the market price of digital currencies and licenses to such customers. Formay cause the year ended December 31, 2016, the five largest licenses accounted for approximately 97%trading price of our revenue. Therecommon stock to decline. Furthermore, no assurance can be no guaranteemade that, we will be able to obtain additional licensesas markets for the Company’s patents,exchange of digital currencies develop and mature, the inherent insubstantiality of stateless currency will not continue to contribute to the volatility of its conversion price to State-backed fiat currencies.

Banks and financial institutions may not provide banking services, or if we ablemay cut off existing services, to do so,businesses that the licenses will be of the sameprovide digital currency related services or larger size allowing us to sustain or grow our revenue levels, respectively. If we are not able to generate licenses from the limited group of prospective customers that we anticipate may generate a substantial majority of our revenuesaccept payment in the future, or if they do not generate revenues at the levels or at the times that we anticipate,form of digital currencies, including financial institutions of investors in our ability to maintain or grow our revenues and our results of operations will be adversely affected.

We acquired the rights to market and license a patent analytics tool from IP Navigation Group, LLC and will dedicate resources and incur costs in an effort to generate revenues. We may not be able to generate revenues and there is a risk that the time spent marketing and licensing the tool will distract management from the enforcement of the Company’s patent portfolios.

We expect to dedicate resources and incur costs in the marketing and licensing of Opus Analytic, the patent analytics tool, in order to generate revenue, but there are no assurances that our efforts will be successful. We may not generate any revenues from the licensing of Opus Analytic or may not generate enough license revenue to exceed our costs. Our efforts therefore could lead to losses and could have a material adverse affect on our income, expenses or results of operations.

In addition, the time and effort spent marketing and licensing Opus Analytics could distract the Company and its officers from the management of the balance of the Company’s business and have a deleterious effect on results from the enforcement of the Company’s patents and patent rights. This could lead to either sub-par returns from the patent and patent right enforcement efforts or even total losses of the value of such patents and patent rights, leading to considerable losses.

Risks Related to Our Indebtedness

Our cash flows and capital resources may be insufficient to make required payments on our indebtedness and future indebtedness.

As of June 30, 2017, we have $17,121,896 of indebtedness outstanding, net of discounts. Our indebtedness could have important consequences to our shareholders. For example, it could:

make it difficult for us to satisfy our debt obligations;
make us more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
limit our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate requirements;
expose us to interest rate fluctuations because the interest rate on the debt under our existing credit facility is variable;
require us to dedicate a portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our debt, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow for operations and other purposes;
limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate; and
place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to competitors that may have proportionately less debt and greater financial resources.

In addition, our ability to make scheduled payments or refinance our obligations depends on our successful financial and operating performance, cash flows and capital resources, which in turn depend upon prevailing economic conditions and certain financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include, among others:

economic and demand factors affecting our industry;
pricing pressures;
increased operating costs;
competitive conditions; and
other operating difficulties.

If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell material assets or operations, obtain additional capital or restructure our debt. In the event that we are required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations, the value realized on such assets or operations will depend on market conditions and the availability of buyers. Accordingly, any such sale may not, among other things, be for a sufficient dollar amount. Our obligations pursuant to our loan agreement with DBD (as defined below) are secured by a security interest in all of our assets, exclusive of intellectual property. The foregoing encumbrances may limit our ability to dispose of material assets or operations. We also may not be able to restructure our indebtedness on favorable economic terms, if at all.

We may incur additional indebtedness in the future, including pursuant to the DBD Documents (as defined herein). Our incurrence of additional indebtedness would intensify the risks described above.

The DBD Documents contain various covenants limiting the discretion of our management in operating our business.securities.

 

On January 29, 2015,A number of companies that provide digital currency related services have been unable to contract with banks or other similar financial institutions to provide such companies with banking services. Similarly, a number of companies and individuals associated with digital currencies and the provision of digital currency related services have had their existing banking services relationships terminated as a result of their association with digital currencies. Accordingly, the Company and certain ofrecognizes that its subsidiaries entered into a series of agreements including a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “DBD Purchase Agreement”) and a Subscription Agreementrelationships with DBD Credit Funding, LLC (“DBD”), pursuant to which the Company sold to the purchasers: (i) $15,000,000 original principal amount of Senior Secured Notes (the “DBD Notes”), (ii) a right to receive a portion of certain proceeds from monetization net revenues received by the Company (after receipt by the Company of $15,000,000 of monetization net revenues and repayment of the DBD Notes), (iii) a five-year warrant (the “DBD Warrant”) to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock exercisable at $7.44 per share,banking institutions could be subject to adjustment;reconsideration and (iv) 134,409 shares of the Company’s Common Stock. Pursuant to the DBD Purchase Agreement, as security for the paymenteven termination, depending on their internal controls and performance in full of the secured obligations, the Company and certain subsidiaries executed and delivered in favor of the purchasers a Security Agreement and a Patent Security Agreement, including a pledge of the Company’s interests in certain of its subsidiaries (together with the DBD Purchase Agreement, the DBD Notes and the DBD Warrant, the “DBD Documents”). On February 12, 2015, the Company exercised its right to require the purchasers to purchase an additional $5,000,000 of Notes from the Company.practicesvis-à-vis digital currencies.

 

On January 10, 2017, the CompanyMany businesses and certain of its subsidiaries (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively with the Issuer, the “Company”) entered into an amended and restated revenue sharing and securities purchase agreement (the “ARRSSPA”) with DBD, under which the Company and DBD amended and restated the Revenue Sharing and Securities Purchase Agreement dated January 29, 2015 (the “Original Agreement”) pursuant to which (i) DBD purchased $20,000,000 in promissory notes, (ii) an interestindividuals in the Company’s revenues from certain activitiesdigital currencies field may experience difficulty in finding banking services which may have an adverse effect on the usefulness of digital currencies as a payment system, and (iii) warrantsfurther, that such lack of broad based acceptance may cause further harm to purchase 100,000 sharesthe public perception of digital currencies. These acceptance issues pervade the Company’smarket for digital currencies and could act as an artificial deflationary pressure on the price of our digital currency assets and the overall trading price of our common stock. As of the close of the restructuring on January 10, 2017, there was $20,131,351 in outstanding principal and PIK interest accrued.

 

The DBD Documents contain, subjectlack of broad base acceptance of digital currencies by banking institutions could result in increased compliance costs, risk of loss, and adverse governmental regulatory action of our activities such that out business operations and projections may be significantly adversely affected. This risk may also apply to certain carve-outs, various restrictive covenants that limitunderwriters, brokers, and ultimate holders of our management’s discretion in operatingsecurities, as our business. In particular, these instruments limit our ability to, among other things:

incur additional debt;
grant liens on assets;
dispose assets outside the ordinary course of business; and
make fundamental business changes.

On August 3, 2017, the Companyentered into the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement with DBD to restructure and replace the obligations of the Company under theARRSSPA.Pursuant to the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement, certain Designated IP is to be assigned to one or more newly created SPE elected by DBD, which SPE is under the management and control of an affiliate of DBD. Once the Designated IP is assigned to the SPE, DBD will have full, direct control over the Company’s patents under through the SPE structure. The Company’s sole remaining interestinvolvement in the Designated IP willdigital currencies sector may be the contractual right to 45% of the sum of amounts that the Company receives from third parties, on account of any sale of products or services, and development to order of any software or other products in respect of the Company’s patents, after payments set forth in the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement. Regardless of the success of the monetization of the Designated IP, the Company will have no control over, ownership of, or recourse to, the Designated IP.

The First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement requires the Company to contribute and assign the Designated IP to the SPE. At such time, DBD shall continue to have the sole and absolute discretion to make any and all decisions with respect to the Designated IP including by way of example and not limitation (x) the initiation, direction, termination, conclusion or negotiation of any assignment, sale or license (whether directly or through multiple tiers or sub-licensees) of any of the Company’s patent or any other type of a monetization activity of any nature or description; (y) the maintenance or abandonment, in whole or in part, of any one or more of the Designated IP; or (z) the discretion to make or to decline to make cash advances.

The First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement is subject to certain events of default, including, among other things, liquidation or dissolution, change of control, bankruptcy, the Company’s failure to make payments pursuant to the terms of the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement, the Company’s failure to secure necessary consents to permit completion of the structure of the SPE or the Company’s failure to perform or observe certain covenants. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, DBD may proceed to protect and enforce its rights through seeking the Company’s specific performance of any covenant or condition, as set forth in the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement, or may declare the remaining unpaid balance owed under the ARRSSPA, as amended, and any other amounts owed pursuant to the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement to be immediately due and payable.

The rights of the holders of the Company’s Common Stock will be subordinatelinked to our creditors.

On October 16, 2014, we issued convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $5,550,000, which mature on October 16, 2018, of which, $500,000 remains outstanding as of June 30, 2017. On January 29, 2015 and February 12, 2015, we issued to DBD Notes in the principal amounts of $15,000,000 and $5,000,000, respectively, and on January 10, 2017, we enteredinvestors through our securities. Enforcement action by any governmental or quasi-governmental organization that prevents us from readily converting digital currencies into an amendment of the agreement with DBD whereby we restructured the principal amortization scheduled. At the close of the restructuring, the outstanding principal and accrued PIK interest was $15,630,103.

If the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement is approved by the Company’s shareholders and implemented by the Company, it will eliminate the requirement for the Company to make monthly principal and interest payments on the DBD Notes and to pay the DBD Notes at maturity or upon acceleration, will eliminate the liquidity covenant, and will replace the DBD Note obligations and current revenue share with comprehensive revenue share through the structure of the SPE.

If the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement is not approved by the Company’s shareholders, the Company will be in default and an Event of Default under the DBD Notes and the ARRSSPA will occur. In this situation, all of the obligations, including the DBD Note and other amounts payable to DBD under the First Amendment and Restructuring Agreement will then become due and payable, and DBD will have the ability to take control of and dispose of the patent assets to pay the amounts due.

Accordingly, the holders of Common Stock will rank junior to such indebtedness, as well as to other non-equity claims on the Company and our assets, including claims upon liquidation.

Risks Relating to Our Stock

Exercise or conversion of warrants and convertible securities will dilute stockholders’ percentage of ownership.

We have issued convertible securities, options and warrants to purchase shares of our Common Stock to our officers, directors, consultants and certain shareholders. In the future, we may grant additional options, warrants and convertible securities. The exercise or conversion of options, warrants or convertible securities will dilute the percentage ownership of our stockholders. The dilutive effect of the exercise or conversion of these securities may adversely affect our ability to obtain additional capital. The holders of these securities may be expected to exercise or convert such options, warrants and convertible securities at a time when we would be able to obtain additional equity capital on terms more favorable than such securities or when our common stock is trading at a price higher than the exercise or conversion price of the securities. The exercise or conversion of outstanding warrants, options and convertible securities will have a dilutive effect on the securities held by our stockholders.

Our Common Stock may be delisted from The NASDAQ Capital Market (“NASDAQ”) if we fail to comply with continued listing standards.

Our Common Stock is currently traded on NASDAQ under the symbol “MARA”. If we fail to meet any of the continued listing standards of NASDAQ, our Common StockState-backed fiat currencies could be delisted from NASDAQ. These continued listing standards include specifically enumerated criteria, such as:

a $1.00 minimum closing bid price;
stockholders’ equity of $2.5 million;
500,000 shares of publicly-held Common Stock with a market value of at least $1 million;
300 round-lot stockholders; and
compliance with NASDAQ’s corporate governance requirements, as well as additional or more stringent criteria that may be applied in the exercise of NASDAQ’s discretionary authority.

On May 17, 2017, the Company received a written notification from NASDAQ indicating that the Company was not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement set forth in NASDAQ Rules for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) requires listed securities to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share, and Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A) provides that a failure to meet the minimum bid price requirement exists if the deficiency continues for a period of 30 consecutive business days. Based on the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock for the 30 consecutive business days from April 3, 2017 to May 16, 2017, the Company did not meet the minimum bid price requirement. On July 17, 2017, the Company received a second written notification from NASDAQ granting the Company an extension to regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), which requires companies to maintain stockholders’ equity of at least $2.5 million. If the Company fails to evidence compliance upon filing its periodic report for the year ending December 31, 2017, with the SEC and NASDAQ, the Company may be subject to delisting.

We could fail in future financing efforts or be delisted from NASDAQ if we fail to receive stockholder approval when required.

Under the NASDAQ rules, we are required to obtain stockholder approval for any issuance of additional equity securities that would comprise 20% or more of the total shares of our Common Stock outstanding before the issuance of such securities sold at a discount to the greater of book or market value in an offering that is not deemed to be a “public offering” by NASDAQ. Funding of our operations and acquisitions of assets may require issuance of additional equity securities at a discount that would comprise 20% or more of the total shares of our Common Stock outstanding, but we might not be successful in obtaining the required stockholder approval for such an issuance. If we are unable to obtain financing due to stockholder approval difficulties, such failure may have a material adverse effect on our ability to continue operations.Company.

 

Our Common Stock may be affected by limited trading volume and price fluctuations, whichIf we are unable to attract major brokerage firms, we could adversely impacthave difficulty selling our common stock.

If we are unable to attract the interest of major brokerage firms through the value of our Common Stock.Company, we may be unable to secure their confidence and recommendation to purchase our common stock. The absence of such coverage may depress or otherwise slow the development of a robust market for our common stock, slowing our ability to raise capital.

The online nature of the block chain exchanges will expose them to risks of third party hacking attacks, which, due to the nature of Blockchain technologies, may result in irreversible or unrecoverable losses to exchange users.

 

ThereThe online marketplace has long been subject to hackers and other malicious actors. The Company’s business is an online-based platform and will be subject to these same hacking risks. The Company has written and maintains a cybersecurity policy that outlines an extensive list of controls and supervisory practices in place reasonably designed to diligently supervise the risks of unauthorized access or attack of its information technology systems, and to respond appropriately should unauthorized access or cyber-attack occur. The Company, in conjunction with its third party vendors, will continually work to improve existing security protocols and develop new security techniques and software to address future threats to the platform, its users and valuable assets. The Company’s policy of air-gapping its digital assets from the internet to the extent possible means that its digital currency assets should not be reached by an online penetration of its security framework, thereby limiting the impact of a hacking event on the overall Company. The platform will have similar air-gapping and private key protections for its users’ digital currency wallets. As such, similar hacking attacks should have limited success in illegally transferring user data and digital currency assets if they gain illegal access to the platform.

Although the Company will implement these anti-hacking measures, the platform remains exposed to risks from: DDoS attacks to limit the availability of exchange services or otherwise disrupt normal operations; account takeover attempts in which the platform users are targeted by hackers or other illegal actors to gain access to login credentials, which could allow the illicit user to transfer user assets held via the platform or commit other fraud; targeted software exploits designed to take advantage of vulnerabilities and flaws in the underlying software components of the exchange, digital wallets, and web services provided to the platform over which the Company has little to no control in order to gain access to or transfer of user digital currency assets; potential misdirection of funds and assets by online “spoofers” posing as the platform representatives, by man in the middle interceptions of the digital transfers similar to wire-tapping, browser session tampering in which the user’s internet service provider is compromised, and malware that is designed or may be designed to target the digital signal of digital currency exchanges in order to redirect exchanged assets away from their intended recipients; phishing activities in which user login credentials are stolen; natural disasters temporarily or permanently disabling our physical servers; human error and insider threats to our servers and the platform; and other unforeseen or unforeseeable threats to the platform. The occurrence of any one or a number of these risk factors could have a material negative impact on our business, resulting in a decline in the trading price of shares of our common stock. Should this occur, our investors could lose some or all of their investment in our common stock; accordingly, investors in our Company should seriously consider these risk factors when considering investing in our Company.

11

Regulatory action against existing bitcoin and other digital currency exchanges may have a detrimental effect on the acceptance and widespread use of our planned digital currency exchange, the platform.

In recent years, a number of bitcoin exchanges have been closed by governmental regulatory action due to alleged fraud and security breaches. Some investors were not compensated for the loss of their account balances on these exchanges. While our planned exchange is being developed to be licensed by the appropriate U.S. governmental and quasi-governmental regulatory authorities prior to launch, its planned scope will make it a desirable target for malware, DDoS, and other hacking attacks, which could lead to regulatory backlash against the platform. The Company is working with its regulators to ensure alignment with standards set for business in the same sector for compliance, fraud prevention, and cybersecurity. The Company cannot, however, predict or prevent all future threats and acknowledges that digital currency exchanges are possibly exposed to the following risks: denial of service attacks, account takeover attempts, software exploits due to vulnerabilities and flaws, potential misdirection of funds and assets, phishing, natural disasters, human error, insider threats and other factors that can render the exchange of digital currency untrustworthy.

Additionally, international action against bitcoin exchanges has been limited trading in our Common Stockharsh; China has moved to shut down all digital currency exchanges operating within its borders. Until such action was announced, mainland China and there canHong Kong were responsible for a majority of global digital currency transactions. We are aware of the threat posed by governmental and quasi-governmental regulators to the short and long-term success of the platform, and we have taken steps to mitigate these risks by working closely with U.S. and state regulators to obtain all proper licenses and approvals prior to the launch of the platform. The Company cannot mitigate against, or even fully anticipate, all regulatory actions which may be no assurance that an active trading market in our Common Stock will either developtaken against it or be maintained. Our Common Stock has experienced, and is likely to experiencethe digital currency sector as a whole in the future, significant price and volume fluctuations,such risks pose a threat to the success of our business operations. Further, the Company’s efforts to mitigate against hacking attacks are necessarily limited by the present knowledge of various malware designs and other hacking methods; the remains the possibility that future unforeseeable hacking techniques could harm the platform. Furthermore, occurrence of these hacking attacks may trigger regulatory backlash, which could adversely affecttemporarily suspend or even shut down operation of the marketplatform. We believe such regulatory actions will be less common in the future as digital currencies continue to gain acceptance, however, such enforcement actions presently pose a risk to the value of our planned exchange, the platform, and to the trading price of our Common Stock without regard to our operating performance. In addition, we believe thatcommon stock. Should any of these risk factors such as quarterly fluctuations in our financial results and changes in(or other unforeseen risk factors) occur, the overall economy orCompany may suffer substantial material harm, which may have a negative effect on the condition of the financial markets could cause thetrading price of our Common Stock to fluctuate substantially. These fluctuations may also cause short sellers to periodically enter the market in the belief that we will have poor results in the future. We cannot predict the actions of market participants and, therefore, can offer no assurances that the market for our will be stable or appreciate over time.common stock.

 

Holders of the Company’s Common Stock will experience immediateWe may not have adequate recourse against third parties if our bitcoins and substantial dilution upon the conversion of the Company’s outstanding preferred stock, convertible notes, for which the underlying sharesother digital currency assets are registered herein, and the exercise of the Company’s outstanding options and warrants, for which the underlying shares are not being registered hereinlost, stolen or destroyed..

 

AsThe online nature of September 7, 2017:digital currencies such as bitcoins and their immutability poses a unique threat to their security. We have implemented robust security measures to minimize the exposure of our digital currencies to such risks including, without limitation, cold storage procedures to “air-gap” our digital currency keys from the internet. These measures are not perfect and improper access to and transfer of our digital current assets may still occur despite our security measures. By their nature, bitcoin transactions are largely irreversible. Our recourse in the event of theft or other loss is limited to our ability to secure restitution from the improper transferors or transferees of our digital currency assets. Recovery from such individuals may be limited by a number of factors including, without limitation, our ability to locate and identify both the transferors and transferees. This risk may pose a threat to the trading price of our common stock, and the occurrence of such an event could have a materially adverse effect on our business and operations.

Since there has been limited precedence set for financial accounting of digital assets other than digital securities, it is unclear how we will be required to account for digital asset transactions in the future.

Since there has been limited precedence set for the financial accounting of digital assets other than digital securities, it is unclear how we will be required to account for digital asset transactions or assets. Furthermore, a change in regulatory or financial accounting standards could result in the necessity to restate our financial statements. Such a restatement could negatively impact our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operation.

The further development and acceptance of digital asset networks and other digital assets, which represent a new and rapidly changing industry, are subject to a variety of factors that are difficult to evaluate. The slowing or stopping of the development or acceptance of digital asset systems may adversely affect an investment in us.

Digital assets such as bitcoins and ether, that may be used, among other things, to buy and sell goods and services are a new and rapidly evolving industry of which the digital asset networks are prominent, but not unique, parts. The growth of the digital asset industry in general, and the digital asset networks of bitcoin and ether in particular, are subject to a high degree of uncertainty. The factors affecting the further development of the digital asset industry, as well as the digital asset networks, include:

 

 2,367,361sharescontinued worldwide growth in the adoption and use of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options having a weighted average exercise price of $3.46 per share;bitcoins and other digital assets;
 22,850,073 sharesgovernment and quasi-government regulation of our common stock issuable uponbitcoins and other digital assets and their use, or restrictions on or regulation of access to and operation of the exercise of outstanding warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $0.54;digital asset network or similar digital assets systems;
 782,004 sharesthe maintenance and development of common stock issuable upon conversionthe open-source software protocol of 782,004 outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock;the bitcoin network and ether network;
 1,263,750 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of 252,750 outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stockchanges in consumer demographics and public tastes and preferences;
 31,959,320 sharesthe availability and popularity of common stock issuable upon conversionother forms or methods of $3,195,932 in outstanding convertible notes.buying and selling goods and services, including new means of using fiat currencies;

general economic conditions and the regulatory environment relating to digital assets; and

the impact of regulators focusing on digital assets and digital securities and the costs associated with such regulatory oversight.

 

Assuming full conversionA decline in the popularity or acceptance of the Series Bdigital asset networks of bitcoin or ether, or similar digital asset systems, could adversely affect an investment in us.

If we acquire digital securities, even unintentionally, we may violate the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Series D Preferred Stockincur potential third-party liabilities .

As this prospectus discloses, there is an increased regulatory examination of digital assets and digital securities. This has led to regulatory and enforcement activities. In order to limit our acquisition of digital securities to stay within the 40% threshold, we will examine the manner in which digital assets were initially marketed to determine if they may be deemed digital securities and subject to federal and state securities laws. Even if we conclude that a particular digital asset such as ether or bitcoin is not a security under the Securities Act, certain states including California take a stricter view of the term “investment contract” which means the digital asset may have violated applicable state securities laws. This will result in increased compliance costs and legal fees. If our examination of a digital asset is incorrect, we may incur regulatory penalties and private investor liabilities.

Currently, there is relatively small use of digital assets in the retail and commercial marketplace in comparison to relatively large use by speculators, thus contributing to price volatility that could adversely affect an investment in us.

As relatively new products and technologies, digital assets and the convertible notesblockchain networks on which they exist have only recently become widely accepted as a means of payment for goods and exerciseservices by many major retail and commercial outlets, and use of digital assets by consumers to pay such retail and commercial outlets remains limited. Conversely, a significant portion of demand for digital assets is generated by speculators and investors seeking to profit from the short- or long-term holding of such digital assets. A lack of expansion of digital assets into retail and commercial markets, or a contraction of such use, may result in increased volatility or a reduction in the price of all outstanding options and warrants, including those pursuantor any digital asset, either of which could adversely impact an investment in us.

Significant contributors to all or any digital asset network could propose amendments to the registration statement herein,respective network’s protocols and software that, if accepted and authorized by such network, could adversely affect an investment in us.

For example, with respect to bitcoins network, a small group of individuals contribute to the Bitcoin Core project on GitHub.com. This group of contributors is currently headed by Wladimir J. van der Laan, the current lead maintainer. These individuals can propose refinements or improvements to the bitcoin network’s source code through one or more software upgrades that alter the protocols and software that govern the bitcoin network and the properties of bitcoin, including the irreversibility of transactions and limitations on the mining of new bitcoin. Proposals for upgrades and discussions relating thereto take place on online forums. For example, there is an ongoing debate regarding altering the blockchain by increasing the size of blocks to accommodate a larger volume of transactions. Although some proponents support an increase, other market participants oppose an increase to the block size as it may deter miners from confirming transactions and concentrate power into a smaller group of miners. To the extent that a significant majority of the users and miners on the bitcoin network install such software upgrade(s), the bitcoin network would be subject to new protocols and software that may adversely affect an investment in the Shares. In the event a developer or group of developers proposes a modification to the bitcoin network that is not accepted by a majority of miners and users, but that is nonetheless accepted by a substantial plurality of miners and users, two or more competing and incompatible blockchain implementations could result. This is known as a “hard fork.” In such a case, the “hard fork” in the blockchain could materially and adversely affect the perceived value of digital assets as reflected on one or both incompatible blockchains, which may adversely affect an investment in us.

Forks in a digital asset network may occur in the future which may affect the value of digital assets held by us.

For example, on August 1, 2017 bitcoin’s blockchain was forked and Bitcoin Cash was created. The fork resulted in a new blockchain being created with a shared history, and a new path forward. Bitcoin Cash has a block size of 8mb and other technical changes. On October 24, 2017, bitcoin’s blockchain was forked and Bitcoin Gold was created. The fork resulted in a new blockchain being created with a shared history, and new path forward, Bitcoin Gold has a different proof of work algorithm and other technical changes. The value of the newly created Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin Gold may or may not have value in the long run and may affect the price of bitcoin if interest is shifted away from bitcoin to the newly created digital assets. The value of bitcoin after the creation of a fork is subject to many factors including the value of the fork product, market reaction to the creation of the fork product, and the occurrence of forks in the future. As such, the value of bitcoin could be materially reduced if existing and future forks have a negative effect on bitcoin’s value. If a fork occurs on a digital asset network which we are mining or hold digital assets in it may have a negative effect on the value of the digital asset and may adversely affect an investment in us.

For example, the open-source structure of the bitcoin network protocol means that the contributors to the protocol are generally not directly compensated for their contributions in maintaining and developing the protocol. A failure to properly monitor and upgrade the protocol could damage the bitcoin network and an investment in us.

The bitcoin network for example operates based on an open-source protocol maintained by contributors, largely on the Bitcoin Core project on GitHub. As an open source project, bitcoin is not represented by an official organization or authority. As the bitcoin network protocol is not sold and its use does not generate revenues for contributors, contributors are generally not compensated for maintaining and updating the bitcoin network protocol. Although the MIT Media Lab’s Digital Currency Initiative funds the current maintainer Wladimir J. van der Laan, among others, this type of financial incentive is not typical. The lack of guaranteed financial incentive for contributors to maintain or develop the bitcoin network and the lack of guaranteed resources to adequately address emerging issues with the bitcoin network may reduce incentives to address the issues adequately or in a timely manner. Changes to a digital asset network which we are mining on may adversely affect an investment in us.

If a malicious actor or botnet obtains control in excess of 50% of the processing power active on any digital asset network, including the bitcoin network or ether network, it is possible that such actor or botnet could manipulate the blockchain in a manner that adversely affects an investment in us.

If a malicious actor or botnet (a volunteer or hacked collection of computers controlled by networked software coordinating the actions of the computers) obtains a majority of the processing power dedicated to mining on any digital asset network, including the bitcoin network or ether network, it may be able to alter the blockchain by constructing alternate blocks if it is able to solve for such blocks faster than the remainder of the miners on the blockchain can add valid blocks. In such alternate blocks, the malicious actor or botnet could control, exclude or modify the ordering of transactions, though it could not generate new digital assets or transactions using such control. Using alternate blocks, the malicious actor could “double-spend” its own digital assets (i.e., spend the same digital assets in more than one transaction) and prevent the confirmation of other users’ transactions for so long as it maintains control. To the extent that such malicious actor or botnet does not yield its majority control of the processing power or the digital asset community does not reject the fraudulent blocks as malicious, reversing any changes made to the blockchain may not be possible. Such changes could adversely affect an investment in us.

For example, in late May and early June 2014, a mining pool known as GHash.io approached and, during a 24- to 48-hour period in early June may have exceeded, the threshold of 50 percent of the processing power on the bitcoin network. To the extent that GHash.io did exceed 50 percent of the processing power on the network, reports indicate that such threshold was surpassed for only a short period, and there are no reports of any malicious activity or control of the blockchain performed by GHash.io. Furthermore, the processing power in the mining pool appears to have been redirected to other pools on a voluntary basis by participants in the GHash.io pool, as had been done in prior instances when a mining pool exceeded 40 percent of the processing power on the bitcoin network.

The approach towards and possible crossing of the 50 percent threshold indicate a greater risk that a single mining pool could exert authority over the validation of digital asset transactions. To the extent that the digital assets ecosystems do not act to ensure greater decentralization of digital asset mining processing power, the feasibility of a malicious actor obtaining in excess of 50 percent of the processing power on any digital asset network (e.g., through control of a large mining pool or through hacking such a mining pool) will increase, which may adversely impact an investment in us.

If the award of digital assets for solving blocks and transaction fees for recording transactions are not sufficiently high to incentivize miners, miners may cease expending hashrate to solve blocks and confirmations of transactions on the blockchain could be slowed temporarily. A reduction in the hashrate expended by miners on any digital asset network could increase the likelihood of a malicious actor obtaining control in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate hashrate active on such network or the blockchain, potentially permitting such actor to manipulate the blockchain in a manner that adversely affects an investment in us.

As the award of new digital assets for solving blocks declines, and if transaction fees are not sufficiently high, miners may not have an adequate incentive to continue mining and may cease their mining operations. For example, the current fixed reward on the bitcoin network for solving a new block is twelve and a half (12.5) bitcoins per block; the reward decreased from twenty-five (25) bitcoin in July 2016. It is estimated that it will halve again in about four (4) years. This reduction may result in a reduction in the aggregate hashrate of the bitcoin network as the incentive for miners will decrease. Moreover, miners ceasing operations would reduce the aggregate hashrate on the bitcoin network, which would adversely affect the confirmation process for transactions (i.e., temporarily decreasing the speed at which blocks are added to the blockchain until the next scheduled adjustment in difficulty for block solutions) and make the bitcoin network more vulnerable to a malicious actor obtaining control in excess of fifty (50) percent of the aggregate hashrate on the bitcoin network. Periodically, the bitcoin network has adjusted the difficulty for block solutions so that solution speeds remain in the vicinity of the expected ten (10) minute confirmation time targeted by the bitcoin network protocol.

Marathon believes that from time to time there will be further considerations and adjustments to the bitcoin network, and others, including the ether network, regarding the difficulty for block solutions. More significant reductions in aggregate hashrate on digital asset networks could result in material, though temporary, delays in block solution confirmation time. Any reduction in confidence in the confirmation process or aggregate hashrate of any digital asset network may negatively impact the value of digital assets, which will adversely impact an investment in us.

To the extent that the profit margins of digital asset mining operations are not high, operators of digital asset mining operations are more likely to immediately sell their digital assets earned by mining in the digital asset exchange market, resulting in a reduction in the price of digital assets that could adversely impact an investment in us.

Over the past two years, digital asset mining operations have evolved from individual users mining with computer processors, graphics processing units and first-generation servers. Currently, new processing power brought onto the digital asset networks is predominantly added by incorporated and unincorporated “professionalized” mining operations. Professionalized mining operations may use proprietary hardware or sophisticated machines. They require the investment of significant capital for the acquisition of this hardware, the leasing of operating space (often in data centers or warehousing facilities), incurring of electricity costs and the employment of technicians to operate the mining farms. As a result, professionalized mining operations are of a greater scale than prior miners and have more defined, regular expenses and liabilities. These regular expenses and liabilities require professionalized mining operations to more immediately sell digital assets earned from mining operations on the digital asset exchange market, whereas it is believed that individual miners in past years were more likely to hold newly mined digital assets for more extended periods. The immediate selling of newly mined digital assets greatly increases the supply of digital assets on the digital asset exchange market, creating downward pressure on the price of each digital asset.

The extent to which the value of digital assets mined by a professionalized mining operation exceeds the allocable capital and operating costs determines the profit margin of such operation. A professionalized mining operation may be more likely to sell a higher percentage of its newly mined digital assets rapidly if it is operating at a low profit margin—and it may partially or completely cease operations if its profit margin is negative. In a low profit margin environment, a higher percentage could be sold into the digital asset exchange market more rapidly, thereby potentially reducing digital asset prices. Lower digital asset prices could result in further tightening of profit margins, particularly for professionalized mining operations with higher costs and more limited capital reserves, creating a network effect that may further reduce the price of digital assets until mining operations with higher operating costs become unprofitable and remove mining power from the respective digital asset network. The network effect of reduced profit margins resulting in greater sales of newly mined digital assets could result in a reduction in the price of digital assets that could adversely impact an investment in us.

To the extent that any miners cease to record transactions in solved blocks, transactions that do not include the payment of a transaction fee will not be recorded on the blockchain until a block is solved by a miner who does not require the payment of transaction fees. Any widespread delays in the recording of transactions could result in a loss of confidence in that digital asset network, which could adversely impact an investment in us.

To the extent that any miners cease to record transaction in solved blocks, such transactions will not be recorded on the blockchain. Currently, there are no known incentives for miners to elect to exclude the recording of transactions in solved blocks; however, to the extent that any such incentives arise (e.g., a collective movement among miners or one or more mining pools forcing bitcoin users to pay transaction fees as a substitute for or in addition to the award of new bitcoins upon the solving of a block), actions of miners solving a significant number of sharesblocks could delay the recording and confirmation of our Common Stock outstandingtransactions on the blockchain. Any systemic delays in the recording and confirmation of transactions on the blockchain could result in greater exposure to double-spending transactions and a loss of confidence in certain or all digital asset networks, which could adversely impact an investment in us.

The acceptance of digital asset network software patches or upgrades by a significant, but not overwhelming, percentage of the users and miners in any digital asset network could result in a “fork” in the respective blockchain, resulting in the operation of two separate networks until such time as the forked blockchains are merged. The temporary or permanent existence of forked blockchains could adversely impact an investment in us.

Digital asset networks are open source projects and, although there is an influential group of leaders in, for example, the bitcoin network community known as the “Core Developers,” there is no official developer or group of developers that formally controls the bitcoin network. Any individual can download the bitcoin network software and make any desired modifications, which are proposed to users and miners on the bitcoin network through software downloads and upgrades, typically posted to the bitcoin development forum on GitHub.com. A substantial majority of miners and bitcoin users must consent to those software modifications by downloading the altered software or upgrade that implements the changes; otherwise, the changes do not become a part of the bitcoin network. Since the bitcoin network’s inception, changes to the bitcoin network have been accepted by the vast majority of users and miners, ensuring that the bitcoin network remains a coherent economic system; however, a developer or group of developers could potentially propose a modification to the bitcoin network that is not accepted by a vast majority of miners and users, but that is nonetheless accepted by a substantial population of participants in the bitcoin network. In such a case, and if the modification is material and/or not backwards compatible with the prior version of bitcoin network software, a fork in the blockchain could develop and two separate bitcoin networks could result, one running the pre-modification software program and the other running the modified version (i.e., a second “bitcoin” network). Such a fork in the blockchain typically would be addressed by community-led efforts to merge the forked blockchains, and several prior forks have been so merged. This kind of split in the bitcoin network could materially and adversely impact an investment in us and, in the worst case scenario, harm the sustainability of the bitcoin network’s economy.

Intellectual property rights claims may adversely affect the operation of some or all digital asset networks.

Third parties may assert intellectual property claims relating to the holding and transfer of digital assets and their source code. Regardless of the merit of any intellectual property or other legal action, any threatened action that reduces confidence in some or all digital asset networks’ long-term viability or the ability of end-users to hold and transfer digital assets may adversely affect an investment in us. Additionally, a meritorious intellectual property claim could prevent us and other end-users from accessing some or all digital asset networks or holding or transferring their digital assets. As a result, an intellectual property claim against us or other large digital asset network participants could adversely affect an investment in us.

The digital asset exchanges on which digital assets trade are relatively new and, in most cases, largely unregulated and may therefore be more exposed to fraud and failure than established, regulated exchanges for other products. To the extent that the digital asset exchanges representing a substantial portion of the volume in digital asset trading are involved in fraud or experience security failures or other operational issues, such digital asset exchanges’ failures may result in a reduction in the price of some or all digital assets and can adversely affect an investment in us.

The digital asset exchanges on which the digital assets trade are new and, in most cases, largely unregulated. Furthermore, many digital asset exchanges (including several of the most prominent USD denominated digital asset exchanges) do not provide the public with significant information regarding their ownership structure, management teams, corporate practices or regulatory compliance. As a result, the marketplace may lose confidence in, or may experience problems relating to, digital asset exchanges, including prominent exchanges handling a significant portion of the volume of digital asset trading.

For example, over the past 4 years, a number of bitcoin exchanges have been closed due to fraud, failure or security breaches. In many of these instances, the customers of such bitcoin exchanges were not compensated or made whole for the partial or complete losses of their account balances in such bitcoin exchanges. While smaller bitcoin exchanges are less likely to have the infrastructure and capitalization that make larger bitcoin exchanges more stable, larger bitcoin exchanges are more likely to be appealing targets for hackers and “malware” (i.e., software used or programmed by attackers to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information or gain access to private computer systems). Further, the collapse of the largest bitcoin exchange in 2014 suggests that the failure of one component of the overall bitcoin ecosystem can have consequences for both users of a bitcoin exchange and the bitcoin industry as a whole.

More recently, the Wall Street Journal has reported that China will increase 59,222,508 shares from 27,446,312 sharesshut down bitcoin exchanges and other virtual currency trading platforms. The article reported that China has accounted for the bulk of Common Stock outstandingglobal bitcoin trading.

A lack of stability in the digital asset exchange market and the closure or temporary shutdown of digital asset exchanges due to fraud, business failure, hackers or malware, or government-mandated regulation may reduce confidence in the digital asset networks and result in greater volatility in digital asset values. These potential consequences of a digital asset exchange’s failure could adversely affect an investment in us.

Political or economic crises may motivate large-scale sales of digital assets, which could result in a reduction in some or all digital assets’ values and adversely affect an investment in us.

As an alternative to fiat currencies that are backed by central governments, digital assets such as bitcoins, which are relatively new, are subject to supply and demand forces based upon the desirability of September 7,an alternative, decentralized means of buying and selling goods and services, and it is unclear how such supply and demand will be impacted by geopolitical events. Nevertheless, political or economic crises may motivate large-scale acquisitions or sales of digital assets either globally or locally. Large-scale sales of digital assets would result in a reduction in their value and could adversely affect an investment in us.

Demand for ether and bitcoin is driven, in part, by their status as the two most prominent and secure digital assets. It is possible that digital assets other than ether and bitcoin could have features that make them more desirable to a material portion of the digital asset user base, resulting in a reduction in demand for ether and bitcoin, which could have a negative impact on the price of ether and bitcoin and adversely affect an investment in us.

Bitcoins and ether, as assets, hold “first-to-market” advantages over other digital assets. This first-to-market advantage is driven in large part by having the largest user bases and, more importantly, the largest combined mining power in use to secure their respective blockchains and transaction verification systems. Having a large mining network results in greater user confidence regarding the security and long-term stability of a digital asset’s network and its blockchain; as a result, the advantage of more users and miners makes a digital asset more secure, which makes it more attractive to new users and miners, resulting in a network effect that strengthens the first-to-market advantage.

As of November 21, 2017, there were over 1,300 alternate digital assets tracked by CoinMarketCap, having a total market capitalization (including the market capitalization of ether and bitcoin) of approximately $245 billion, using market prices and total available supply of each digital asset. This included digital assets using a “proof of work” mining structure similar to 86,668,820 sharesbitcoin, and those using a “proof of Common Stock outstanding.stake” transaction verification system that is different than bitcoin’s mining system (e.g., Peercoin, Bitshares and NXT). As of November 21, 2017, bitcoin’s $138 billion market capitalization was approximately four (4) times the size of the $35 billion market cap of ether, the second largest proof-of-work digital asset. Despite the marked first-mover advantage of the bitcoin network over other digital asset networks, it is possible that another digital asset could become materially popular due to either a perceived or exposed shortcoming of the bitcoin network protocol that is not immediately addressed by the bitcoin contributor community or a perceived advantage of an altcoin that includes features not incorporated into bitcoin. If a digital asset obtains significant market share (either in market capitalization, mining power or use as a payment technology), this could reduce bitcoin’s market share as well as other digital assets we may become involved in and have a negative impact on the demand for, and price of, such digital assets and could adversely affect an investment in us.

 

Our stock price may be volatile.ability to adopt technology in response to changing security needs or trends poses a challenge to the safekeeping of our bitcoins.

 

The history of digital asset exchanges has shown that exchanges and large holders of digital assets must adapt to technological change in order to secure and safeguard their digital assets. We rely on Bitgo Inc.’s multi-signature enterprise storage solution to safeguard our digital assets from theft, loss, destruction or other issues relating to hackers and technological attack. Our digital assets will also be moved to various exchanges in order to exchange them for fiat currency during which time we’ll be relying on the security of such exchanges to safeguard our digital assets. We believe that it may become a more appealing target of security threats as the size of our bitcoin holdings grow. To the extent that either Bitgo Inc. or we are unable to identify and mitigate or stop new security threats, our digital assets may be subject to theft, loss, destruction or other attack, which could adversely affect an investment in us.

Security threats to us could result in, a loss of our digital assets, or damage to the reputation and our brand, each of which could adversely affect an investment in us.

Security breaches, computer malware and computer hacking attacks have been a prevalent concern in the digital asset exchange markets, for example since the launch of the bitcoin network. Any security breach caused by hacking, which involves efforts to gain unauthorized access to information or systems, or to cause intentional malfunctions or loss or corruption of data, software, hardware or other computer equipment, and the inadvertent transmission of computer viruses, could harm our business operations or result in loss of our digital assets. Any breach of our infrastructure could result in damage to our reputation which could adversely affect an investment in us. Furthermore, we believe that, as our assets grow, it may become a more appealing target for security threats such as hackers and malware.

We primarily rely on Bitgo Inc.’s multi-signature enterprise storage solution to safeguard our digital assets from theft, loss, destruction or other issues relating to hackers and technological attack. Nevertheless, Bitgo Inc.’s security system may not be impenetrable and may not be free from defect or immune to acts of God, and any loss due to a security breach, software defect or act of God will be borne by us. Our digital assets will also be stored with exchanges such as Kraken, Bitfinex, Itbit and Coinbase and others prior to selling them.

The security system and operational infrastructure may be breached due to the actions of outside parties, error or malfeasance of an employee of ours, or otherwise, and, as a result, an unauthorized party may obtain access to our, private keys, data or bitcoins. Additionally, outside parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees of ours to disclose sensitive information in order to gain access to our infrastructure. As the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently, or may be designed to remain dormant until a predetermined event and often are not recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or implement adequate preventative measures. If an actual or perceived breach of our security system occurs, the market priceperception of the effectiveness of our security system could be harmed, which could adversely affect an investment in us.

In the event of a security breach, we may be forced to cease operations, or suffer a reduction in assets, the occurrence of each of which could adversely affect an investment in us.

A loss of confidence in our security system, or a breach of our security system, may adversely affect us and the value of an investment in us.

We will take measures to protect us and our digital assets from unauthorized access, damage or theft; however, it is possible that the security system may not prevent the improper access to, or damage or theft of our digital assets. A security breach could harm our reputation or result in the loss of some or all of our digital assets. A resulting perception that our measures do not adequately protect our digital assets could result in a loss of current or potential shareholders, reducing demand for our Common Stock is likelyand causing our shares to be highly volatile and could fluctuate widelydecrease in price in response to various factors, many of which are beyond our control, including the following:value.

 

● changes in our industry;
● competitive pricing pressures;
● our ability to obtain working capital financing;
● additions or departures of key personnel;
● sales of our Common Stock;
● our ability to execute our business plan;
● operating results that fall below expectations;
● loss of any strategic relationship;
● regulatory developments; and
● economic and other external factors.

Digital Asset transactions are irrevocable and stolen or incorrectly transferred digital assets may be irretrievable. As a result, any incorrectly executed digital asset transactions could adversely affect an investment in us.

 

In addition,Digital asset transactions are not, from an administrative perspective, reversible without the securities markets have from time to time experienced significant priceconsent and volume fluctuationsactive participation of the recipient of the transaction or, in theory, control or consent of a majority of the processing power on the respective digital asset network. Once a transaction has been verified and recorded in a block that are unrelatedis added to the operating performanceblockchain, an incorrect transfer of particular companies. These market fluctuationsdigital assets or a theft of digital assets generally will not be reversible, and we may also materially andnot be capable of seeking compensation for any such transfer or theft. Although our transfers of digital assets will regularly be made to or from vendors, consultants, services providers, etc. it is possible that, through computer or human error, or through theft or criminal action, our digital assets could be transferred from us in incorrect amounts or to unauthorized third parties. To the extent that we are unable to seek a corrective transaction with such third party or are incapable of identifying the third party which has received our digital assets through error or theft, we will be unable to revert or otherwise recover incorrectly transferred Company digital assets. To the extent that we are unable to seek redress for such error or theft, such loss could adversely affect an investment in us.

The limited rights of legal recourse against us, and our lack of insurance protection expose us and our shareholders to the market pricerisk of loss of our Common Stock.digital assets for which no person is liable.

The digital assets held by us are not insured. Therefore, a loss may be suffered with respect to our digital assets which is not covered by insurance and for which no person is liable in damages which could adversely affect our operations and, consequently, an investment in us.

Digital assets held by us are not subject to FDIC or SIPC protections.

We do not hold our digital assets with a banking institution or a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”) and, therefore, our digital assets are not subject to the protections enjoyed by depositors with FDIC or SIPC member institutions.

 

We may not have never paid nor do we expect in the near future to pay cash dividends.

On November 19, 2014, we declared a stock dividend pursuant to which holdersadequate sources of recovery if our common stock as of the close of business on December 15, 2014 received one additional share of Common Stock for each share of common stock held by such holders. Other than as described herein, we have never paid cash dividends on our capital stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our Common Stock for the foreseeable future. While it is possible that we may declare a dividend after a large settlement, investors should not rely on such a possibility, nor should they rely on an investment in us if they require income generated from dividends paid on our capital stock. Any income derived from our Common Stock would only come from rise in the market price of our Common Stock, which is uncertain and unpredictable.

Offersdigital assets are lost, stolen or availability for sale of a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock may cause the price of our Common Stock to decline.destroyed.

 

If our stockholders sell substantial amountsdigital assets are lost, stolen or destroyed under circumstances rendering a party liable to us, the responsible party may not have the financial resources sufficient to satisfy our claim. For example, as to a particular event of our Common Stock inloss, the public market upononly source of recovery for us might be limited, to the expiration ofextent identifiable, other responsible third parties (e.g., a thief or terrorist), any statutory holding period or lockup agreements, under Rule 144, or issued upon the exercise of outstanding warrants or other convertible securities, it could create a circumstance commonly referred to as an “overhang” and in anticipation of which may not have the market pricefinancial resources (including liability insurance coverage) to satisfy a valid claim of our Common Stock could fall. The existence of an overhang, whether or not sales have occurred or are occurring, also could make more difficult our ability to raise additional financing through the sale of equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem reasonable or appropriate. The shares of our restricted Common Stock will be freely tradable upon the earlier of: (i) effectiveness of a registration statement covering such shares and (ii) the date on which such shares may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 (or other applicable exemption) under the Securities Act.

ours.

 

Because we became a public company by means of a reverse merger, we may not be able to attract the attention of major brokerage firms.

There may be risks associated with us becoming a public company through a reverse merger. Securities analysts of major brokerage firms may not provide coverage of us since there is no incentive to brokerage firms to recommend the purchaseThe sale of our Common Stock. No assurance can be given that brokerage firms will,digital assets to pay expenses at a time of low digital asset prices could adversely affect an investment in the future, want to conduct any secondary offerings on our behalf.

Investor relations activities, nominal “float” and supply and demand factors may affect the price of our stock.us.

 

We expectmay sell our digital assets to utilizepay expenses on an as-needed basis, irrespective of then-current prices. Consequently, our digital assets may be sold at a time when the prices on the respective digital asset exchange market are low, which could adversely affect an investment in us.

Regulatory changes or actions may restrict the use of bitcoins or the operation of the bitcoin network in a manner that adversely affects an investment in us.

Until recently, little or no regulatory attention has been directed toward bitcoin and the bitcoin network by U.S. federal and state governments, foreign governments and self-regulatory agencies. As bitcoin has grown in popularity and in market size, the Federal Reserve Board, U.S. Congress and certain U.S. agencies (e.g., the CFTC, the Commission, FinCEN and the Federal Bureau of Investigation) have begun to examine the operations of the bitcoin network, bitcoin users and the bitcoin exchange market.

On July 25, 2017, the Commission issued its Report of Investigation, or “Report,” which concluded that digital assets or tokens issued for the purpose of raising funds may be securities within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The Report focused on the activities of ether, which is a prominent digital asset. The Report emphasized that whether a digital asset is a security is based on the facts and circumstances. Although our activities are not focused on raising capital or assisting others that do so, the federal securities laws are very broad, and there can be no assurances that the Commission will not take enforcement action against us in the future including for the sale of unregistered securities in violation of the Securities Act or acting as an unregistered investment company in violation of the Investment Company Act. The Commission has taken various techniquesactions against persons or entities misusing bitcoin in connection with fraudulent schemes (i.e., Ponzi scheme), inaccurate and inadequate publicly disseminated information, and the offering of unregistered securities. More recently, the Commission suspended trading in three digital asset public companies. The CFTC has determined that bitcoin and other virtual currencies are commodities and the sale of derivatives based on digital currencies must be done in accordance with the provisions of the CEA and CFTC regulations. Also of significance, is that the CFTC appears to have taken the position that bitcoin is not encompassed by the definition of currency under the CEA and CFTC regulations. The CFTC defined bitcoin and other “virtual currencies” as “a digital representation of value” that functions as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, and/or a store of value, but does not have legal tender status in any jurisdiction. Bitcoin and other virtual currencies are distinct from ‘real’ currencies, which are the coin and paper money of the United States or another country that are designated as legal tender, circulate, and are customarily used and accepted as a medium of exchange in the country of issuance.” To the extent that bitcoin itself is determined to be a security, commodity future or other regulated asset, or to the extent that a U.S. or foreign government or quasi-governmental agency exerts regulatory authority over the bitcoin or bitcoin trading and ownership, trading or ownership in bitcoin or an investment in us may be adversely affected.

The CFTC affirmed its approach to the regulation of bitcoin and bitcoin-related enterprises on June 2, 2016, when the CFTC settled charges against Bitfinex, a bitcoin exchange based in Hong Kong. In its Order, the CFTC found that Bitfinex engaged in “illegal, off-exchange commodity transactions and failed to register as a futures commission merchant” when it facilitated borrowing transactions among its users to permit the trading of bitcoin on a “leveraged, margined or financed basis” without first registering with the CFTC. In 2017, the CFTC stated that it would consider bitcoin and other virtual currencies as commodities or derivatives depending on the facts of the offering. The CME Group announced that it will permit trading of bitcoin futures on its exchanges as early as December 2017.

Local state regulators such as non-deal road showsthe New York State Department of Financial Services, or NYSDFS, have also initiated examinations of bitcoin, the bitcoin network and investor relations campaignsthe regulation thereof. In July 2014, the NYSDFS proposed the first U.S. regulatory framework for licensing participants in order“virtual currency business activity.” The proposed regulations, known as the “BitLicense,” are intended to generate investor awareness. These campaignsfocus on consumer protection and, after the closure of an initial comment period that yielded 3,746 formal public comments and a re-proposal, the NYSDFS issued its final “BitLicense” regulatory framework in June 2015. The “BitLicense” regulates the conduct of businesses that are involved in “virtual currencies” in New York or with New York customers and prohibits any person or entity involved in such activity to conduct activities without a license.

Additionally, a U.S. federal magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has ruled that “Bitcoin is a currency or form of money,” a Florida circuit court judge determined that bitcoin did not qualify as money or “tangible wealth,” and an opinion from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois identified bitcoin as “virtual currency.” Additionally, two CFTC commissioners publicly expressed a belief that derivatives based on bitcoin are subject to the same regulation as those based on commodities, and the IRS released guidance treating bitcoin as property that is not currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Taxing authorities of a number of U.S. states have also issued their own guidance regarding the tax treatment of bitcoin for state income or sales tax purposes. On June 28, 2014, the Governor of the State of California signed into law a bill that removed state-level prohibitions on the use of alternative forms of currency or value (including bitcoin). The bill which indirectly authorizes bitcoin’s use as an alternative form of money in the state. In February 2015, a bill was introduced in the California State Assembly to establish a licensing regime for businesses engaging in “virtual currencies.” In September 2015, the bill was ordered to become an inactive file and as of the date of this registration statement there hasn’t been further consideration by the California State Assembly. As of August 2016, the bill was withdrawn from consideration for vote for the remainder of the year. There is a possibility of future regulatory change altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in us or the ability of us to continue our operations.

Digital assets currently face an uncertain regulatory landscape in not only the United States but also in many foreign jurisdictions such as the European Union, China and Russia. While certain governments such as Germany, where the Ministry of Finance has declared bitcoin to be “Rechnungseinheiten” (a form of private money that is recognized as a unit of account, but not recognized in the same manner as fiat currency), have issued guidance as to how to treat bitcoin, most regulatory bodies have not yet issued official statements regarding intention to regulate or determinations on regulation of bitcoin, the bitcoin network and bitcoin users.

Among those for which preliminary guidance has been issued in some form, Canada and Taiwan have labeled bitcoin as a digital or virtual currency, distinct from fiat currency, while Sweden and Norway are among those to categorize bitcoin as a form of virtual asset or commodity. In Australia, a GST (similar to the European value added tax (“VAT”)) is currently applied to bitcoin, forcing a ten (10%) percent markup on top of market price, essentially preventing the operation of any bitcoin exchange. This may include personal, videobe undergoing a change, however, since the Senate Economics References Committee and telephone conferences with investorsthe Productivity Commission recommended that digital currency be treated as money for GST purposes to remove the double taxation. The United Kingdom determined that the VAT will not apply to bitcoin sales. In China, a recent government notice classified bitcoin as legal and prospective investors“virtual commodities;” however, the same notice restricted the banking and payment industries from using bitcoin, creating uncertainty and limiting the ability of bitcoin exchanges to operate in the then-second largest bitcoin market. In January 2016, the People’s Bank of China, China’s central bank, disclosed that it has been studying a state-backed electronic monetary system and potentially had plans for its own state-backed electronic money. In January 2017, the People’s Bank of China announced that it had found several violations, including margin financing and a failure to impose anti-money laundering controls, after on-site inspections of two China-based bitcoin exchanges. In response to the Chinese regulator’s oversight, the three largest China-based bitcoin exchanges, OKCoin, Huobi, and BTC China, started charging trading commission fees to suppress speculative trading and prevent price swings which resulted in a significant drop in volume on these exchanges. Since December 2013, China, Iceland, Vietnam and Russia have taken a more restrictive stance toward bitcoin and, thereby, have reduced the rate of expansion of bitcoin use in each country. In May 2014, the Central Bank of Bolivia banned the use of bitcoin as a means of payment. In the summer and fall of 2014, Ecuador announced plans for its own state-backed electronic money, while passing legislation that prohibits the use of decentralized digital assets such as bitcoin. In July 2016, economists at the Bank of England advocated that central banks issue their own digital currency, and the House of Lords and Bank of England started discussing the feasibility of creating a national virtual currency, the BritCoin. As of July 2016, Iceland was studying how to create a system in which our business practices are described. Weall money is created by a central bank, and Canada was beginning to experiment with a digital version of its currency called CAD-COIN, intended to be used exclusively for interbank payments. On August 24, 2017, Canada issued guidance stating the sale of cryptocurrency may provide compensationconstitute an investment contract in accordance with Canadian law for determining if an investment constitutes a security. In July 2016, the Russian Ministry of Finance indicated it supports a proposed law that bans bitcoin domestically but allows for its use as a foreign currency. Russia recently issued several releases indicating they may begin regulating bitcoin and licensing miners and entities engaging in initial coin offerings. Conversely, regulatory bodies in some countries such as India and Switzerland have declined to investor relations firmsexercise regulatory authority when afforded the opportunity. In April 2015, the Japanese Cabinet approved proposed legal changes that would reportedly treat bitcoin and payother digital assets as included in the definition of currency. These regulations would, among other things, require market participants, including exchanges, to meet certain compliance requirements and be subject to oversight by the Financial Services Agency, a Japanese regulator. In September 2017 Japan began regulating bitcoin exchanges and registered several such exchanges to operate within Japan. In July 2016, the European Commission released a draft directive that proposed applying counter-terrorism and anti-money laundering regulations to virtual currencies, and, in September 2016, the European Banking authority advised the European Commission to institute new regulation specific to virtual currencies, with amendments to existing regulation as a stopgap measure. Various foreign jurisdictions may, in the near future, adopt laws, regulations or directives that affect the bitcoin network and its users, particularly bitcoin exchanges and service providers that fall within such jurisdictions’ regulatory scope. Such laws, regulations or directives may conflict with those of the United States and may negatively impact the acceptance of bitcoin by users, merchants and service providers outside of the United States and may therefore impede the growth of the bitcoin economy. On September 4, 2017, reports were published that China may begin prohibiting the practice of using cryptocurrency for newsletters, websites, mailingscapital fundraising. Additional reports have surfaced that China is considering regulating bitcoin exchanges by enacting a licensing regime wherein bitcoin exchanges may legally operate. In September 2017, the Financial Services Commission of South Korea released a statement that initial coin offerings would be prohibited as a fundraising tool. In June 2017, India’s government ruled in favor of regulating bitcoin and email campaigns that are produced by third parties based upon publicly-available information concerning us. We do not intendIndia’s ministry of Finance is currently developing rules for such regulation. Australia has previously introduced legislation to review or approve the contentregulate bitcoin exchanges and increase anti-money laundering policies.

The effect of such analysts’ reportsany future regulatory change on us, bitcoins, or other materials based upon analysts’ own research or methods. Investor relations firms should generally disclose when they are compensated for their efforts,digital assets is impossible to predict, but whether such disclosure is made or complete is not under our control. In addition, investors may, from timechange could be substantial and adverse to time, also take steps to encourage investor awareness through similar activities thatus and could adversely affect an investment in us.

It may be undertaken atillegal now, or in the expensefuture, to acquire, own, hold, sell or use digital assets in one or more countries, and ownership of, the investors. Investor awareness activitiesholding or trading in our securities may also be suspendedconsidered illegal and subject to sanction.

Although currently digital assets are not regulated or discontinuedare lightly regulated in most countries, including the United States, one or more countries such as China and Russia may take regulatory actions in the future that severely restricts the right to acquire, own, hold, sell or use digital assets or to exchange digital assets for fiat currency. Such an action may also result in the restriction of ownership, holding or trading in our securities. Such restrictions may adversely affect an investment in us.

If regulatory changes or interpretations of our activities require our registration as a MSB under the regulations promulgated by FinCEN under the authority of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, we may be required to register and comply with such regulations. If regulatory changes or interpretations of our activities require the licensing or other registration of us as a money transmitter (or equivalent designation) under state law in any state in which we operate, we may be required to seek licensure or otherwise register and comply with such state law. In the event of any such requirement, to the extent Marathon decides to continue, the required registrations, licensure and regulatory compliance steps may result in extraordinary, non-recurring expenses to us. We may also decide to cease Marathon’s operations. Any termination of certain Company operations in response to the changed regulatory circumstances may be at a time that is disadvantageous to investors.

To the extent that the activities of Marathon cause it to be deemed a money services business (“MSB”) under the regulations promulgated by FinCEN under the authority of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, Marathon may be required to comply with FinCEN regulations, including those that would mandate Marathon to implement anti-money laundering programs, make certain reports to FinCEN and maintain certain records.

To the extent that the activities of Marathon cause it to be deemed a “money transmitter” (“MT”) or equivalent designation, under state law in any state in which Marathon operates, Marathon may be required to seek a license or otherwise register with a state regulator and comply with state regulations that may include the implementation of anti-money laundering programs, maintenance of certain records and other operational requirements. Currently, the NYSDFS has finalized its “BitLicense” framework for businesses that conduct “virtual currency business activity,” the Conference of State Bank Supervisors has proposed a model form of state level “virtual currency” regulation and additional state regulators including those from California, Idaho, Virginia, Kansas, Texas, South Dakota and Washington have made public statements indicating that virtual currency businesses may be required to seek licenses as money transmitters. In July 2016, North Carolina updated the law to define “virtual currency” and the activities that trigger licensure in a business-friendly approach that encourages companies to use virtual currency and blockchain technology. Specifically, the North Carolina law does not require miners or software providers to obtain a license for multi-signature software, smart contract platforms, smart property, colored coins and non-hosted, non-custodial wallets. Starting January 1, 2016, New Hampshire requires anyone exchanges a digital currency for another currency must become a licensed and bonded money transmitter. In numerous other states, including Connecticut and New Jersey, legislation is being proposed or has been introduced regarding the treatment of bitcoin and other digital assets. Marathon will continue to monitor for developments in such legislation, guidance or regulations.

Such additional federal or state regulatory obligations may cause Marathon to incur extraordinary expenses, possibly affecting an investment in the Shares in a material and adverse manner. Furthermore, Marathon and its service providers may not be capable of complying with certain federal or state regulatory obligations applicable to MSBs and MTs. If Marathon is deemed to be subject to and determines not to comply with such additional regulatory and registration requirements, we may act to dissolve and liquidate Marathon. Any such action may adversely affect an investment in us.

Current interpretations require the regulation of bitcoins under the CEA by the CFTC, we may be required to register and comply with such regulations. To the extent that we decide to continue operations, the required registrations and regulatory compliance steps may result in extraordinary, non-recurring expenses to us. We may also decide to cease certain operations. Any disruption of our operations in response to the changed regulatory circumstances may be at a time that is disadvantageous to investors.

Current and future legislation, CFTC and other regulatory developments, including interpretations released by a regulatory authority, may impact the trading marketmanner in which bitcoins are treated for classification and clearing purposes. In particular, bitcoin derivatives are not excluded from the definition of “commodity future” by the CFTC. We cannot be certain as to how future regulatory developments will impact the treatment of bitcoins under the law.

Bitcoins have been deemed to fall within the definition of a commodity and, we may be required to register and comply with additional regulation under the CEA, including additional periodic report and disclosure standards and requirements. Moreover, we may be required to register as a commodity pool operator and to register us as a commodity pool with the CFTC through the National Futures Association. Such additional registrations may result in extraordinary, non-recurring expenses, thereby materially and adversely impacting an investment in us. If we determine not to comply with such additional regulatory and registration requirements, we may seek to cease certain of our Common Stock.operations. Any such action may adversely affect an investment in us. No CFTC orders or rulings are applicable to our business.

If regulatory changes or interpretations require the regulation of bitcoins under the Securities Act and Investment Company Act by the Commission, we may be required to register and comply with such regulations. To the extent that we decide to continue operations, the required registrations and regulatory compliance steps may result in extraordinary, non-recurring expenses to us. We may also decide to cease certain operations. Any disruption of our operations in response to the changed regulatory circumstances may be at a time that is disadvantageous to investors. This would likely have a material adverse effect on us and investors may lose their investment.

Current and future legislation and the Commission rulemaking and other regulatory developments, including interpretations released by a regulatory authority, may impact the manner in which bitcoins are treated for classification and clearing purposes. The Commission’s July 25, 2017 Report expressed its view that digital assets may be securities depending on the facts and circumstances. As of the date of this prospectus, we are not aware of any rules that have been proposed to regulate bitcoins as securities. We cannot be certain as to how future regulatory developments will impact the treatment of bitcoins under the law. Such additional registrations may result in extraordinary, non-recurring expenses, thereby materially and adversely impacting an investment in us. If we determine not to comply with such additional regulatory and registration requirements, we may seek to cease certain of our operations. Any such action may adversely affect an investment in us.

To the extent that digital assets including ether, bitcoins and other digital assets we may own are deemed by the Commission to fall within the definition of a security, we may be required to register and comply with additional regulation under the Investment Company Act, including additional periodic reporting and disclosure standards and requirements and the registration of our Company as an investment company. Additionally, one or more states may conclude ether, bitcoins and other digital assets we may own are a security under state securities laws which would require registration under state laws including merit review laws which would adversely impact us since we would likely not comply. As stated earlier in this prospectus, some states including California define the term “investment contract” more strictly than the Commission. Such additional registrations may result in extraordinary, non-recurring expenses of our Company, thereby materially and adversely impacting an investment in our Company. If we determine not to comply with such additional regulatory and registration requirements, we may seek to cease all or certain parts of our operations. Any such action would likely adversely affect an investment in us and investors may suffer a complete loss of their investment.

 

If we lose key personnelfederal or state legislatures or agencies initiate or release tax determinations that change the classification of bitcoins as property for tax purposes (in the context of when such bitcoins are unable to attract and retain additional qualified personnel, we may not be able to successfully manageheld as an investment), such determination could have a negative tax consequence on our business and achieveCompany or our objectives.shareholders.

 

We believeCurrent IRS guidance indicates that digital assets such as ether and bitcoin should be treated and taxed as property, and that transactions involving the payment of ether or bitcoin for goods and services should be treated as barter transactions. While this treatment creates a potential tax reporting requirement for any circumstance where the ownership of a bitcoin passes from one person to another, usually by means of bitcoin transactions (including off-blockchain transactions), it preserves the right to apply capital gains treatment to those transactions which may adversely affect an investment in our future success will depend upon our ability to retain our key management and attract new key personnel. On August 30, 2017, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Retention Agreement with Doug Croxall, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, (the “Amended and Restated Agreement”) amending the Retention Agreement dated August 22, 2017. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement, the employment agreements between Mr. Croxall and the Company were terminated and Mr. Croxall shall continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board until no later than September 30, 2017. The Company intends to seek a replacement Chief Executive Officer and there can be no assurance that a suitable individual can be retained.Company.

 

On August 31, 2017,December 5, 2014, the Company entered into a Consulting Termination AgreementNew York State Department of Taxation and Release Agreement with Erich Spangenberg andFinance issued guidance regarding the application of state tax law to digital assets such as of such date, the Consulting Agreement dated August 3, 2017, between the Company and Mr. Spangenberg was deemed terminated and of not further forceether or effect. On such date, the Company entered into a new Consulting Agreement withPage Innovations, LLC (“Page”), an entity designated byMr. Spangenberg, pursuant to which Mr. Spangenbergbitcoins. The agency determined that New York State would provide advice and consulting services to the Company, as an independent contractor,follow IRS guidance with respect to the restructuringtreatment of digital assets such as ether or bitcoin for state income tax purposes. Furthermore, they defined digital assets such as ether or bitcoin to be a form of “intangible property,” meaning the purchase and sale of ether or bitcoins for fiat currency is not subject to state income tax (although transactions of bitcoin for other goods and services maybe subject to sales tax under barter transaction treatment). It is unclear if other states will follow the guidance of the CompanyIRS and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance with respect to the treatment of digital assets such as ether or bitcoins for income tax and sales tax purposes. If a state adopts a different treatment, such treatment may be requested byhave negative consequences including the Company from timeimposition of greater a greater tax burden on investors in bitcoin or imposing a greater cost on the acquisition and disposition of ether or bitcoin, generally; in either case potentially having a negative effect on prices in the digital asset exchange market and may adversely affect an investment in our Company.

Foreign jurisdictions may also elect to time.treat digital assets such as ether or bitcoin differently for tax purposes than the IRS or the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. To the extent that a foreign jurisdiction with a significant share of the market of ether or bitcoin users imposes onerous tax burdens on ether or bitcoin users, or imposes sales or value added tax on purchases and sales of ether or bitcoin for fiat currency, such actions could result in decreased demand for ether or bitcoins in such jurisdiction, which could impact the price of ether, bitcoin or other digital assets and negatively impact an investment in our Company.

 

On August 30, 2017, the Company entered intoThe loss or destruction of a Retention Agreement with Mr. Francis Knuettel, II (the “Knuettel Retention Agreement”), pursuantprivate key required to which the employment agreement between Mr. Knuettel and the Company was terminated, and Mr. Knuettel shall continueaccess a digital asset may be irreversible. Our loss of access to serve as Chief Financial Officer through March 31, 2017, unless earlier terminatedour private keys or our experience of a data loss relating to our Company’s digital assets could adversely affect an investment in accordance with the Knuettel Retention Agreement. After that date, the Company may seek to enter into a new agreement with Mr. Knuettel or with an alternative suitable individual to serve as Chief Financial Officer and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to retain a qualified individual for this position.

On August 30, 2017, the Company entered into a revised employment agreement with James Crawford, the Company’s Chief Operating Officer (the “Crawford Agreement”), pursuant to which the employment agreements between Mr. Crawford and the Company were terminated, and Mr. Crawford shall continue to serve as the Chief Operating Officer until such time as provided in the Crawford Agreement.

We may not be successful in attracting, assimilating and retaining our employees in the future. We are competing for employees against companies that are more established than we are and that have the ability to pay more cash compensation than we do. As of the date hereof, we have not experienced problems hiring employees.

If we fail to establish and maintain an effective system of internal control, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately and timely or to prevent fraud. Any inability to report and file our financial results accurately and timely could harm our reputation and adversely impact the trading price of our Common Stock.Company.

 

Effective internal controlDigital assets are controllable only by the possessor of both the unique public key and private key relating to the local or online digital wallet in which the digital assets are held. We are required by the operation of digital asset networks to publish the public key relating to a digital wallet in use by us when it first verifies a spending transaction from that digital wallet and disseminates such information into the respective network. We safeguard and keep private the private keys relating to our digital assets by primarily utilizing Bitgo Inc.’s enterprise multi-signature storage solution; to the extent a private key is necessarylost, destroyed or otherwise compromised and no backup of the private key is accessible, we will be unable to access the digital assets held by it and the private key will not be capable of being restored by the respective Digital Asset network. Any loss of private keys relating to digital wallets used to store our digital assets could adversely affect an investment in us.

If the award of digital assets for ussolving blocks and transaction fees for recording transactions are not sufficiently high to provide reliable financial reportscover expenses related to running data center operations it may have adverse effects on an investment in us.

If the award of new digital assets for solving blocks declines and prevent fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud,transaction fees are not sufficiently high, we may not be ablehave an adequate incentive to managecontinue our business as effectively as we would if an effective control environment existed, and our business and reputation with investors may be harmed. As a result, our small size and any future internal control deficienciesmining operations, which may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operation and access to capital. We have not performedimpact an in-depth analysis to determine if historical un-discovered failures of internal controls exist, and mayinvestment in the future discover areas of our internal control that need improvement.us.

 

As the number of digital assets awarded for solving a resultblock in the blockchain decreases, the incentive for miners to continue to contribute processing power to the respective digital asset network will transition from a set reward to transaction fees. Either the requirement from miners of its internal control assessment,higher transaction fees in exchange for recording transactions in the Company determined there isblockchain or a material weakness with respectsoftware upgrade that automatically charges fees for all transactions may decrease demand for digital assets and prevent the expansion of the digital asset networks to segregationretail merchants and commercial businesses, resulting in a reduction in the price of duties.digital assets that could adversely impact an investment in us.

 

The Company determined that there is a material weakness in its internal controls with respectIn order to the financial reporting and closing process, resultingincentivize miners to continue to contribute processing power to any digital asset network, such network may either formally or informally transition from a lackset reward to transaction fees earned upon solving for a block. This transition could be accomplished either by miners independently electing to record in the blocks they solve only those transactions that include payment of segregationa transaction fee or by the digital asset network adopting software upgrades that require the payment of dutiesa minimum transaction fee for all transactions. If transaction fees paid for digital asset transactions become too high, the marketplace may be reluctant to accept digital assets as a means of payment and evidence of control review. Since the Company has few employees, most of whomexisting users may be motivated to switch from one digital asset to another digital asset or back to fiat currency. Decreased use and demand for bitcoins or ether that we have no involvementaccumulated may adversely affect their value and may adversely impact an investment in our financial controls and reporting, we are unable to sufficiently distribute reporting and accounting to tasks across enough individuals to insure that the Company does not have a material weakness in its financial reporting system.us.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. Such statements include statements regarding our expectations, hopes, beliefs or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to statements regarding our market, strategy, competition, development plans (including acquisitions and expansion), financing, revenues, operations, and compliance with applicable laws. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in any such statement. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include the risks described in greater detail in the following paragraphs. All forward-looking statements in this document are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Market data used throughout this prospectus is based on published third party reports or the good faith estimates of management, which estimates are based upon their review of internal surveys, independent industry publications and other publicly available information.

 

You should review carefully the section entitled “Risk Factors” within this prospectus for a discussion of these and other risks that relate to our business and investing in shares of our common stock.Common Stock.

 

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise these statements unless required by law, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements we make in this prospectus are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. We disclose important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. These cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf.

 

USERATIO OF PROCEEDSEARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

ThisIf we offer debt securities and/or preference equity securities under this prospectus, relateswe will, if required at that time, provide a ratio of earnings to fixed charges and/or ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends to earnings, respectively, in the applicable prospectus supplement for such offering.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus for working capital and general corporate purposes. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to a specific offering any intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of securities in that offering. We will have significant discretion in the use of any net proceeds. Investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of any sale of securities. We may invest the net proceeds temporarily until we use them for their stated purpose, as applicable.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

General

We are authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of common stock, at no par value per share. As of the date of this prospectus, we have 6,385,405 shares of our common stock that may be offeredissued and sold from time to time by the selling stockholders. We will not receive anyoutstanding.

Holders of the proceeds resulting from the sale of common stock by the selling stockholders.

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

Common Stock

We have 300,000,000 authorized shares of capital stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of which 200,000,000 shares are common stock and 100,000,000 shares are “blank-check” preferred stock.

As of September 7, 2017, 27,446,312 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding. The holders of our common stock have equal ratable rights to dividends from funds legally available therefore, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors and are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets available for distribution to holders of common stock upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs. Holders of shares of common stock do not have preemptive, subscription or conversion rights.

Holders of shares ofCompany’s common stock are entitled to one vote perfor each share on all matters which shareholders are entitledsubmitted to vote upon at all meetings of shareholders. The holders of sharesa stockholder vote. Holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights, which means that therights. Therefore, holders of more than 50%a majority of our outstandingthe shares of common stock voting securitiesfor the election of directors can elect all of our directors.

The payment of dividends, if any, in the future rests within the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend, among other things, upon our earnings, capital requirements and financial condition, as well as other relevant factors. We have not paid any dividends since our inception and do not intend to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future, but intend to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business.

Series B Preferred Stock

As of September 7, 2017, 782,004 shares of Series B Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. The termsdirectors. Holders of the Series B Preferred Stock are summarized below:

Rank. The Series B Preferred Stock will rank junior toCompany’s common stock representing a third of the Series A Preferred Stock, though there are no sharesvoting power of Series A Preferred Stock currently outstanding.

Dividend. The holders of Series B Preferred Stock will bethe Company’s capital stock issued, outstanding and entitled to receive such dividends paid and distributions madevote, represented in person or by proxy, are necessary to constitute a quorum at any meeting of stockholders. A vote by the holders of a majority of the Company’s outstanding shares is required to effectuate certain fundamental corporate changes such as liquidation, merger or an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation.

Holders of the Company’s common stock pro rataare entitled to share in all dividends that the holdersboard of common stock to the same extent as if such holders had converted the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock into common stock (without regard to any limitations on conversion herein or elsewhere) and had held such shares of common stock on the record date for such dividends and distributions.

Liquidation Preference.directors, in its discretion, declares from legally available funds. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, each outstanding share entitles its holder to participate pro rata in all assets that remain after payment of liabilities and after providing for each class of stock, if any, having preference over the common stock. The Company’s common stock has no pre-emptive rights, no conversion rights and there are no redemption provisions applicable to the Company’s common stock.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equity Stock Transfer, Inc., NY, NY.

Listing

Our common stock is currently traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “MARA.”

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

General

The Company’s articles of incorporation authorize the issuance of 50,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock, no par value per share, in one or more series, of which no series or shares were outstanding as of March 31, 2019, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, without further vote or action by the stockholders. Each such series of preferred stock shall have such number of shares, designations, preferences, voting powers, qualifications, and special or relative rights or privileges as shall be determined by our board of directors, which may include, among others, dividend rights, voting rights, liquidation preferences, conversion rights and preemptive rights.

Preferred stock is available for possible future financings or acquisitions and for general corporate purposes without further authorization of stockholders unless such authorization is required by applicable law, the rules of the Company, after provision for paymentNASDAQ Capital Market or other securities exchange or market on which our stock is then listed or admitted to trading.

Our board of all debts and liabilitiesdirectors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the Company and the paymentvoting power or other rights of a liquidation preference to the holders of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, any remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed pro rata to the holders of common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes could, under some circumstances, have the holderseffect of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock as ifdelaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock had been converted intoCompany.

A prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. Such prospectus supplement will include:

the title and stated or par value of the preferred stock;
the number of shares of the preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share and the offering price of the preferred stock;
the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation thereof applicable to the preferred stock;
whether dividends shall be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends on the preferred stock shall accumulate;
the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred stock;
any voting rights of the preferred stock;
the provisions for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred stock;
any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange;
the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, including the conversion price or the manner of calculating the conversion price and conversion period;
if appropriate, a discussion of Federal income tax consequences applicable to the preferred stock;
and any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of the preferred stock.

The terms, if any, on which the preferred stock may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock onwill also be stated in the date of such liquidation, dissolutionpreferred stock prospectus supplement. The terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or winding upexchange is mandatory, at the option of the Company.

Voting Rights. The Series B Preferred Stock have no voting rights except with regardholder or at our option, and may include provisions pursuant to certain customary protective provisions set forth in the Series B Certificate of Designations and as otherwise provided by applicable law.

Conversion. Each share of Series B Preferred Stock may be converted at the holder’s option at any time after issuance into one share of common stock, provided thatwhich the number of shares of our common stock to be issued pursuantreceived by the holders of preferred stock would be subject to such conversion does not exceed, when aggregated with all other shares of common stock owned by such holder at such time, result in such holder beneficially owning (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules thereunder) in excess of 9.99% of all of the common stock outstanding at such time, unless otherwise waived in writing by us with sixty-one (61) days’ notice.adjustment.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

Series D Preferred Stock

AsWe may issue warrants for the purchase of September 7, 2017, 252,750 sharespreferred stock or common stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any preferred stock or common stock, and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of Series D Preferred Stock werewarrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between a warrant agent specified in the agreement and outstanding.us. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of that series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. This summary of some provisions of the securities warrants is not complete. You should refer to the securities warrant agreement, including the forms of securities warrant certificate representing the securities warrants, relating to the specific securities warrants being offered for the complete terms of the Series D Preferred Stock are summarized below:

Rank. The Series D Preferred Stock will rank junior to the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock. The Company shall not authorize or issue any additional or other shares of capital stock that is (i) of senior rank to the Series D Preferred Stock in respect of the preferences as to dividends, distributions and payments upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding-up of the Company, (ii) of pari passu rank to the Series D Preferred Stock in respect of the preferences as to dividends, distributions and payments upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding-up of the Company (collectively, the “Parity Stock”) or (iii) any junior stock having a maturity date (or any other date requiring redemption or repayment of such shares of junior stock) that is prior to the date on which any Series D Preferred Stock remain outstanding. There are no shares of Series A Preferred Stock currently outstanding and 782,004 shares of Series B Preferred Stock outstanding.

Dividend. The holders of Series D Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive such dividends when and as declared by the Board, from time to time, in its sole discretion, which dividends shall be paid by the Company out of funds legally available therefor, payable, subject to the conditions and other terms hereof, in cash on the stated value of the Series D Preferred Stock. In addition to the foregoing, the Series D Preferred Stock shall participate on an “as converted” basis, with all dividends declared on the common stock.

Liquidation Preference. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, before any amount shall be paid to the holders of any of shares of junior stock, an amount per share of Series D Preferred Stock equal to the greater of (A) the base amount thereof on the date of such payment and (B) the amount per share such holder would receive if such holder converted such Series D Preferred Stock into common stock immediately prior to the date of such payment; provided, however, that, if the liquidation funds are insufficient to pay the full amount due to the holders and holders of shares of Parity Stock, then each Holder and each holder of Parity Stock shall receive a percentage of the liquidation funds equal to the full amount of liquidation funds payable to such holder and such holder of Parity Stock as a liquidation preference, in accordance with their respective certificate of designation (or equivalent), as a percentage of the full amount of liquidation funds payable to all holders of Series D Preferred Stock and all holders of shares of Parity Stock.

Voting Rights. each holder of Preferred Shares shall be entitled to vote on all matters submitted to shareholders of the Company and shall be entitled to the number of votes for each Preferred Share owned at the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote on such matter or, if no such record date is established, at the date such vote is taken or any written consent of shareholders is solicited, equal to the number of shares of Common Stock such Preferred Shares are convertible into (voting as a class with Common Stock), except with regard to certain customary protective provisions set forth in the Series D Certificate of Designations and as otherwise provided by applicable law.

Conversion. Each share of Series D Preferred Stock may be initially converted at the holder’s option at any time after issuance into five (5) shares of our common stock in accordance with the terms of the Series D Certificate of Designations; then, each share of Series D Preferred Stock may be are convertible into shares of common stock based on a conversion calculation equal to the stated value of such Preferred Shares, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends, if any as of such date of determination, divided by the conversion price. The stated value of each Preferred Share is $1.00securities warrant agreement and the initial conversion price is $0.20 per share, each subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions or other similar events., The number of shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to such conversion may not exceed, when aggregated with all other shares of common stock owned by such holder at such time, or result in such holder beneficially owning (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules thereunder), in excess of 9.99% of all of the common stock outstanding at such time, unless otherwise waived in writing by us with sixty-one (61) days’ notice.

Warrants

As of September 7, 2017, 22,850,073 shares of common stock were issuable upon the exercise of outstandingsecurities warrants. These warrants had exercises prices ranging from $0.30 to $7.44. The securities warrant agreement, together with the terms of the securities warrant certificate and securities warrants, arewill be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the offering of the specific warrants.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, where applicable, of the warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:

the title of the warrants;
the aggregate number of the warrants;
the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
the designation, amount and terms of the offered securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the offered securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable;
the terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such warrants;
any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants;
the price or prices at which and currency or currencies in which the offered securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;
the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which the right shall expire;
the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
if appropriate, a discussion of Federal income tax consequences; and
any other material terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

Warrants werefor the purchase of common stock or preferred stock will be offered and exercisable for U.S. dollars only. Warrants will be issued independentlyin registered form only.

Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or together withany other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the purchased securities. If less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.

Prior to the exercise of any securities warrants to purchase preferred stock or common stock, and may be attachedholders of the warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise, including in the case of securities warrants for the purchase of common stock or preferred stock, the right to vote or separate fromto receive any offered securities.payments of dividends on the preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise.

 

SELLING STOCKHOLDERSDESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

ThisAs specified in the applicable prospectus relates to the resalesupplement, we may issue units consisting of up to 7,394,000 shares of common stock, shares of Marathon Patent Group, Inc. (the “Company”) bypreferred stock or warrants or any combination of such securities.

The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the selling stockholders,following terms of any units in respect of which (i) 5,000,000 shares are issuable upon conversion of certain 5% convertible promissory notes issued by the Company in August, 2017, in a private placement of $3,623,700 of 5% convertible promissory notes and five-year warrants to purchase shares of common stock of the Company (the “Common Stock”) and (ii) 2,394,000 shares are issuable in exchange for warrants to purchase 2,280,000 shares of Common stock, pursuant to exchange agreements, dated July 16, 2017, by and among the Company and the purchasers of securities in the Company’s April offering.this prospectus is being delivered:

 

the terms of the units and of any of the common stock, preferred stock and warrants comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately;
a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; and
a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units.

The following table sets forth, based on information provided to us by the selling stockholders or known to us, the names of the selling stockholders, the nature of any position, office or other material relationship, if any, which the selling stockholder has had, within the past three years, with us or with any of our predecessors or affiliates, and the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholders before this offering. The number of shares owned are those beneficially owned, as determined under the rules of the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under these rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares of common stock as to which a person has sole or shared voting power or investment power and any shares of common stock which the person has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of any option, warrant or right, through conversion of any security or pursuant to the automatic termination of a power of attorney or revocation of a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement. Except as set forth below, none of the selling stockholders is a broker-dealer or an affiliate of a broker-dealer. As of September 7, 2017, there were 27,446,312 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, 782,004 shares of our Series B Preferred Stock issued and outstanding and 252,750 shares of our Series D Preferred Stock issued and outstanding.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We have assumed all sharesmay sell the securities offered through this prospectus (i) to or through underwriters or dealers, (ii) directly to purchasers, including our affiliates, (iii) through agents, (iv) via so called “at-the-market” or “ATM” offerings, or (v) through a combination of common stock reflected onany of these methods. The securities may be distributed at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, market prices prevailing at the tabletime of sale, prices related to the prevailing market prices, or negotiated prices. The prospectus supplement will include the following information:

the terms of the offering;
the names of any underwriters or agents;
the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;
the purchase price of the securities;
any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;
the net proceeds from the sale of the securities;
any delayed delivery arrangements;
any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;
any initial public offering price;
any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers;
any commissions paid to agents; and
any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.

Agents, underwriters, and dealers may be soldentitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Our agents, underwriters, and dealers, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business.

Sale through Underwriters or Dealers

Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.

If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account, including through underwriting, purchase, security lending or repurchase agreements with us. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. Underwriters may sell the offering covered bysecurities in order to facilitate transactions in any of our other securities (described in this prospectus. Because the selling stockholderprospectus or otherwise), including other public or private transactions and short sales. Underwriters may offer allsecurities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or any portionsmore managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the shares of common stock listed inunderwriters to purchase the table below, no estimate can be given as to the amount of those shares of common stock covered by this prospectus thatsecurities will be held bysubject to certain conditions, and the selling stockholder uponunderwriters will be obligated to purchase all the termination of the offering.

Name of Selling Stockholder Number of
Shares of
Common Stock
Beneficially
Owned Before
Offering
  Number of
Shares of
Common Stock
Offered
  Number of
Shares of
Common Stock
Owned After
Offering
  Percentage
of Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned After
Offering
 
Peter Benz(3)  352,000(1)  48,569   303,431   1.08%
CVI Investments, Inc.(4)  1,732,667   798,000(2)  934,667   3.16%
Deane Gilliam(5)  1,400,000(1)  193,173   1,206,827   4.13%
Ronald Low(6)  798,000   798,000(2)  -   *%
Melechdavid, Inc.(7)  798,000   798,000(2)  -   *%
Revere Investments LP(8)  34,485,000(1)  4,758,258   29,726,742   47.71%
Total  39,565,667   7,394,000   32,171,667     

* Less than 1%.

(1)Represents the maximum number of shares issuable upon conversion of 5% convertible promissory notes (the “Convertible Note”) sold in the Company’s private placement on August 14, 2017, at a conversion price equal to the lesser of (i) $0.20 per share, or (ii) the closing bid price of the Common Stock on the day prior to conversion of the Convertible Notes; provided that such conversion price may not be less than $0.10 per share.
(2)Represents the number of shares (of an aggregate of 2,394,000 shares) issuable in exchange for the warrants tooffered securities if they purchase 760,000 shares (of an aggregate of 2,280,000 shares) of common stock, pursuant to exchange agreements, dated July 16, 2017, by and among the Company and the purchasers of securities in the Company’s April 2017 offering.

(3)The address for Mr. Benz is 1705 Floribunda Avenue, Hillsborough, California 94010.
(4)Mr. Martin Kobinger holds voting and dispositive power over shares held by CVI Investments, Inc.The business address forCVI Investments, Inc., is 101 California Street, Suite 3250, San Francisco, CA 94111.
(5)The address for Mr. Gilliam is 700 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10021.
(6)Mr. Ronald Low purchased fromIntracoastal Capital, LLC,warrants to purchase 760,000 shares of Common Stockon August 28, 2017. Mr. Low resides at 35 Huyler Landing Road, Cresskill, New Jersey 07626.
(7)Melechdavid, Inc. purchased fromAnson Investments Master Fund, LP,warrants to purchase 760,000 shares of Common Stockon August28, 2017. Mr. Mark Groussman holds voting and dispositive power over shares held by Melechdavid, Inc. The business address forMelechdavid, Inc., is 5154 La Gorce Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33140.
(8)Mr. John O’Rourke exercises sole voting and investment authority over all of our securities owned by Revere Investments, LP, and thus is deemed to beneficially own such shares pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. The address for Mr. O’Rourke and Revere Investments, LP, is Revere Investments, LP, 808 Solar Isle Dr., Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each selling stockholder of the common stock and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interestthem. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

If dealers are used in the sale of securities offered through this prospectus, we will sell any or allthe securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of their shares of common stock onresale. The NASDAQ Capital Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on whichprospectus supplement will include the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A selling stockholder may use any one or morenames of the following methods when selling shares:dealers and the terms of the transaction.

● ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
● block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
● purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
● an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
● privately negotiated transactions;
● settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part;
● in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the selling stockholder to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security;
● through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;
● a combination of any such methods of sale; or
● any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The selling stockholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities ActDirect Sales and Sales through Agents”), if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged byWe may sell the selling stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement tooffered through this prospectus directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. Such securities may also be sold through agents designated from time to time. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markupoffer or markdown in compliance with FINRA IM-2440.

In connection with the sale of the offered securities or interests therein,and will describe any commissions payable to the selling stockholdersagent. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.

We may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales ofsell the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell securities short and deliver these securitiesdirectly to close out its short positions,institutional investors or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securitiesothers who may be deemed to be “underwriters”underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. The terms of any such sales will be described in connectionthe prospectus supplement.

Delayed Delivery Contracts

If the prospectus supplement indicates, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

Continuous Offering Program

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we may enter into a continuous offering program equity distribution agreement with a broker-dealer, under which we may offer and sell shares of our common stock from time to time through a broker-dealer as our sales agent. If we enter into such a program, sales of the shares of common stock, if any, will be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the NASDAQ Capital Market at market prices, block transactions and such other transactions as agreed upon by us and the broker-dealer. Under the terms of such a program, we also may sell shares of common stock to the broker-dealer, as principal for its own account at a price agreed upon at the time of sale. If we sell shares of common stock to such broker-dealer as principal, we will enter into a separate agreement with such sales. Inbroker-dealer, and we will describe this agreement in a separate prospectus supplement or pricing supplement.

Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, other than our common stock all securities we offer under this prospectus will be a new issue and will have no established trading market. We may elect to list offered securities on an exchange or in the over-the-counter market. Any underwriters that we use in the sale of offered securities may make a market in such event,securities, but may discontinue such market making at any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale oftime without notice. Therefore, we cannot assure you that the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. The selling stockholderswill have informed the Company that they do not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).a liquid trading market.

 

The Company is required to pay certain feesAny underwriter may also engage in stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the securities. The Company has agreed to indemnify the selling stockholder against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

Because the selling stockholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act includingpenalty bids in accordance with Rule 172 thereunder. In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus. The selling stockholders have advised us that there is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale securities by the selling stockholders.

Under applicable rules and regulations104 under the Exchange Act, any person engagedAct. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage inopen market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the selling stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of securities of the common stock by the selling stockholder or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the selling stockholders for the purpose of satisfyingpegging, fixing or maintaining the prospectus delivery requirementsprice of the Securities Act.securities. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.

 

We agreedPenalty bids permit the underwriters to keep this prospectus effective forreclaim a periodselling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of two years.the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the sharesissuance of common stockthe securities offered herebyby this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Sichenzia Ross Ference Kesner LLP,Jolie Kahn, Esq. of New York, New York.NY. If certain legal matters in connection with an offering of the securities covered by this prospectus and a related prospectus supplement are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters, if any, of such offering, that counsel will be named in the related prospectus supplement for such offering.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016 incorporated by reference in this Prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm (the report on the consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern), incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The consolidated financial statementsbalance sheet of Marathon Patent Group, Inc. as of December 31, 20152018 and December 31, 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended December 31, 2015, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus from Marathon Patent Group, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, have been audited by SingerLewakRBSM, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, thereon,which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in this Prospectus in reliance upon such report and upongiven on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, along with other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website athttp://www.sec.gov.www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. Our SEC filings are also available on our website, https://ir.marathonpatentgroup.com/under the heading “Investors.” The information on this website is expressly not incorporated by reference into, and does not constitute a part of, this prospectus.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC to register the securities offered hereby under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement, including certain exhibits and schedules. You may obtain the registration statement and exhibits to the registration statement from the SEC at the address listed above or from the SEC’s internet site.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the SEC. The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus. Thisprospectus the information that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC.those documents. The information that we incorporateincorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Becauseprospectus, and information that we are incorporating by reference our future filingsfile later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this prospectus is continually updated and those future filings may modify or supersede some or all of the information included or incorporated in this prospectus. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in any document previouslyinformation. The following documents are incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we will make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 14 or 15(d)made a part of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), (i) after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, and (ii) after the date of this prospectus, until the selling stockholders sells all of our securities registered under this prospectus:

 

 Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016,2018 filed on March 25, 2019 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, filed on May 10, 2019;
Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A and accompanying additional proxy materials filed with the SEC on AprilNovember 5, 2017, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 20172018 and June 30, 2017, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2017 and AugustNovember 14, 2017, respectively, our 2018
Current Reports on Form 8-K (excluding any reports or portions thereof that are deemed to be furnished and not filed) filed with the SEC on March 25, 2019, April 14, 2017,5, 2019, April 18, 2017, April25, 2019, may 10, 2019 and May 24, 2017, May 12, 2017, May 18, 2017, July 18, 2017, July 20, 2017, August 9, 2017, August 9, 2017, August 10, 2017, August 14, 2017, August 15, 2017, August 25, 2017, September 5, 2017 and September 12, 2017;2019; and
   
 the description of our 5% convertible promissory notes and five-year warrants to purchase common stock contained in our Current ReportOur registration statement on Form 8-K8-A filed with the SEC on August 15, 2017 (File No. 001-36555), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description;April 12, 2012 and
● all reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering. June 22, 2014.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, information furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, including the related exhibits, is not incorporatedWe also incorporate by reference inall additional documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the terms of Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are made after the date of the initial registration statement but prior to effectiveness of the registration statement and after the date of this prospectus but prior to the termination of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating, in each case, any documents or information that we are deemed to furnish and not file in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules.

 

The information about us contained in this prospectus should be read together with the information in the documents incorporated by reference. You may request, and we will provide you with, a copy of any or all of these filings, at no cost, by calling us at (702) 945-2773 or by writing or telephoningto us at: Secretary, Marathon Patent Group, Inc., 11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 380, Los Angeles, California, 90025, telephone number (703) 232-1701.at the following address:

Marathon Patent Group, Inc.

1180 North Town Center Drive, Suite 100

Las Vegas, NV 89114

$7,472,417

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Units

 

MARATHON PATENT GROUP, INC.

Prospectus

    , 2019

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.Distribution.

 

We will pay allThe following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by the Registrant in connection with this offering, other than underwriting commissions and discounts, all of which are estimated except for the SEC registration and sale of the common stock by the selling stockholders. The estimated expenses of issuance and distribution are set forth below.fee.

SEC filing fee $355.64 
Legal expenses $25,000*
Accounting expenses $10,000*
Miscellaneous $5,000*
Total $40,355.64*

 

Item Amount 
SEC registration fee $905.66 
Printing and engraving expenses  * 
Legal fees and expenses  * 
Accounting fees and expenses  * 
Transfer agent and registrar’s fees and expenses  * 
Miscellaneous expenses  * 
   * 
Total $* 

* EstimateUnable to calculate and to be disclosed by prospectus supplement.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

NeitherNevada Revised Statutes Sections 78.7502 and 78.751 provide us with the power to indemnify any of our Articles of Incorporation nor Bylaws prevent us from indemnifying our officers, directors and agentsofficers. The director or officer must have conducted himself/herself in good faith and reasonably believe that his/her conduct was in, or not opposed to, the extent permitted under the Nevada Revised Statute (“NRS”). NRS Section 78.7502 provides thatour best interests. In a corporation shall indemnify anycriminal action, the director, officer, employee or agent must not have had reasonable cause to believe his/her conduct was unlawful.

Under Nevada Revised Statutes Section 78.751, advances for expenses may be made by agreement if the director or officer affirms in writing that he/she believes he/she has met the standards and will personally repay the expenses if it is determined such officer or director did not meet the standards.

Our Articles of a corporation against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actuallyIncorporation provide that our officers and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any the defensedirectors shall be indemnified and held harmless to the fullest extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation has been successful onlegally permissible under the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to Section 78.7502(1) or 78.7502(2), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein.

NRS 78.7502(1) provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except an action by or in the rightlaws of the corporation, by reasonState of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,Nevada against all expenses, includingliability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement actually andsettlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by himthem in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding related to their service as an officer or director. Such right of indemnification shall be a contract right which may be enforced in any manner desired by such person. We must pay the expenses of officers and directors incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding as they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding, if he: (a) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138;upon receipt of an undertaking by or (b) acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interestson behalf of the corporation, and, with respectdirector or officer to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

NRS Section 78.7502(2) provides thatrepay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the rightcourt of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the factcompetent jurisdiction that he is not entitled to be indemnified by us. Such right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other right which such directors or wasofficers may have or hereafter acquire.

Our Articles of Incorporation provide that we may adopt bylaws to provide at all times the fullest indemnification permitted by the laws of the State of Nevada, and may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any of officers and directors. The indemnification provided in our Articles of Incorporation shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent, and shall inure to the benefit of the corporation, or is or was serving at the requestheirs, executors and administrators of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if he: (a) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138; or (b) acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. Indemnification may not be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which such a person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals there from, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.person.

 

NRS Section 78.747 providesOur Bylaws provide that except as otherwise provided by specific statute, no director or officer of a corporation is individually liable for a debt or liability of the corporation, unless the director or officer acts as the alter ego of the corporation. The court as a matter of law must determine the question of whether a director or officer shall have no personal liability to us or our stockholders for damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except for damages for breach of fiduciary duty resulting from (a) acts as the alter egoor omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of a corporation.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officerslaw, or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than(b) the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling persondividends in violation of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed hereby in the Securities Act and we will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.Nevada Revised Statutes Section 78.300.

Item 16. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.
Number Description of Document
1.1Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
3.1 Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 9, 2011)dated November 25, 2011. (1)
3.2Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 9, 2011)
3.3 Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC ondated February 20, 2013)15, 2013. (2)
3.43.3 Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (Incorporated by referencedated July 18, 2013 (3)
3.4Certificate of Amendment to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 19, 2013)Articles of Incorporation dated October 25, 2017. (4)
3.5 CertificateAmended and Restated Bylaws of Designations of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of Marathon Patent Group, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2014)
3.6Certificate of Designations of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of Marathon Patent Group, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2014)Company dated November 25, 2011. (5)
4.1 FormCertificate of Warrant Amendment Letter dated April 20, 2014 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on 8-K filed with the SEC on April 24, 2014)Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. (6)
4.2 Note due July 29, 2018 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2015)Certificate of Designation of Rights, Powers, Preferences, Privileges and Restrictions of 0% Series E Convertible Preferred Stock. (7)
4.3 WarrantCertificate of Correction to Purchase Common Stock dated January 29, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2015)Certificate of Designation of Rights, Powers, Preferences, Privileges and Restrictions of 0% Series E Convertible Preferred Stock. (8)
4.4 Form of Warrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 12, 2016).proposed Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of 0% Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Stock. (9)
4.5 Form of Placement Agent’s Warrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 12, 2016).Certificate of Designation.*
4.6 Form of Warrant dated January 10, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 17, 2017).Preferred Stock Certificate.*
4.7 Promissory Note dated January 10, 2017(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 17, 2017).of Warrant Agreement.*
4.8 CertificateForm of Designation Of Rights, Powers, Preferences, Privileges And Restrictions of The 0% Series D Convertible Preferred Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2017)Warrant Certificate.*
4.9 Form of 5% Convertible Promissory Note (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on 8-K filed with the SEC on August 15, 2017)Stock Purchase Agreement.*
4.10 Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on 8-K filed with the SEC on August 15, 2017)Unit Agreement.*
5.1 Opinion of Sichenzia Ross Friedman Kesner LLP*
10.1Revenue Sharing and Securities Purchase Agreement by and among Marathon Patent Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries and DBD Credit Funding LLC dated January 29, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2015) +
10.2Subscription Agreement between Marathon Patent Group, Inc. and DBD Credit Funding LLC dated January 29, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2015)
10.3Security Agreement by and among Marathon Patent Group, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries and DBD Credit Funding LLC dated January 29, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2015)+
10.4Patent Security Agreement by Marathon Patent Group, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries in favor of DBD Credit Funding LLC dated January 29, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Current Report on 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2015)+
10.5Lockup Agreement by and between DBD Credit Funding LLC and Marathon Patent Group, Inc. dated January 29, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Current Report on 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2015)

Exhibit No.Description
10.6Lockup Agreement by and between TechDev Holdings, LLC, Audrey Spangenberg, Erich Spangenberg, Granicus IP, LLC and Marathon Patent Group, Inc. dated January 29, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Current Report on 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2015)
10.7Lockup Agreement by and between TechDev Holdings, LLC, Audrey Spangenberg, Erich Spangenberg, Granicus IP, LLC and Marathon Patent Group, Inc. dated January 29, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Current Report on 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2015)
10.8Patent License Agreement by and among Marathon Patent Group, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries and DBD Credit Funding LLC dated January 29, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Current Report on 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2015)+
10.9Guaranty Agreement by certain subsidiaries of Marathon Patent Group, Inc. in favor of DBD Credit Funding LLC dated January 29, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Current Report on 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2015)
10.10Consulting Agreement by and between Marathon Patent Group, Inc. and Richard Chernicoff dated April 7, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on 8-K, filed with the SEC on April 13, 2015)
10.11Form of Securities Purchase Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 12, 2016).
10.12Form of Registration Rights Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 12, 2016).
10.13Form of Placement Agency Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 12, 2016).
10.14Amended and Restated Revenue Sharing and Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and DBD Credit Funding dated January 10, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 17, 2017).
10.15Patent Security Agreement dated January 10, 2017 by and among the Company, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and DBD Credit Funding dated January 10, 2017(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 17, 2017).
10.16Amended and Restated Patent License Agreement dated January 10, 2017 by and among the Company, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and DBD Credit Funding dated January 10, 2017(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 17, 2017).
10.17Security Agreement Supplement dated January 10, 2017 by and among the Company, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and DBD Credit Funding dated January 10, 2017(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 17, 2017).
10.18Sales Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K dated January 27, 2017).
10.19Form of Warrant dated April 21, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 24, 2017)
10.20Form of Security Purchase Agreement dated April 21, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 24, 2017)
10.21Form of Registration Rights Agreement dated April 21, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 24, 2017)
10.22Form of Placement Agency Agreement dated April 18, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 24, 2017)
10.23 Form of Exchange Agreement between the Company and the Holders (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 18, 2017)
10.24Form of Exchange Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 9, 2017)
10.25First Amendment to Amended and Restated Revenue Sharing and Securities Purchase Agreement and Restructuring Agreement by and between the Company and DBD Credit Funding LLC dated August 03, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 10, 2017)

Exhibit No.Description
10.26First Amendment to Security Agreement by and among the Company and its subsidiaries and DBD Credit Funding LLC dated August 3, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 10, 2017)
10.27Termination of Employment and Release Agreement with Erich L. Spangenberg dated August 03, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 10, 2017)
10.28Consulting Agreement with Erich L. Spangenberg dated August 03, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 10, 2017)
10.29Form of Unit Purchase Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on 8-K filed with the SEC on August 15, 2017)
10.30Form of Registration Rights Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on 8-K filed with the SEC on August 15, 2017)
10.31Retention Agreement between the Company and Francis Knuettel, II, dated August 31, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on 8-K filed with the SEC on September 5, 2017)
10.32Employment Agreement between the Company and James Crawford, dated August 31, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on 8-K filed with the SEC on September 5, 2017)
10.33Termination of Consulting Agreement dated August 1, 2017, between the Company and Erich Spangenberg (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on 8-K filed with the SEC on September 5, 2017)
10.34Consulting Agreement between the Company and Erich Spangenberg dated August 31, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on 8-K filed with the SEC on September 5, 2017)
10.35Settlement Agreement between the Company and Medtronic, Inc. dated August 31, 2017 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Current Report on 8-K filed with the SEC on September 5, 2017)
10.36Form of Settlement Agreement between the Company and various creditors (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Current Report on 8-K filed with the SEC on September 5, 2017)
10.37Form of Lock-up Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on 8-K filed with the SEC on September 12, 2017)
14.1Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2014)
16.1SingerLewak LLP letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (incorporated by reference to 8-K filed January 17, 2017)
21.1List of Subsidiaries (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2014)Jolie Kahn, Esq.
23.1 Consent of SingerLewak LLP*RBSM, LLP
23.2 Consent of BDO USA, LLP*
23.3Consent of Sichenzia Ross Friedman Kesner LLP (includedJolie Kahn, Esq. (contained in Exhibit 5.1)*
24.1Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this Form S-1)*

 

* FiledTo be filed by amendment or by a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

 

(1)Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 9, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference.
(2)Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 20, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference.
(3)Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 19, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference.
(4)Previously filed as Exhibit 3.4 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed January 24, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference.
(5)Previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 9, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference
(6)Previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 7, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
(7)Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 1, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference.
(8)Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 22, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference.
(9)Previously filed as Exhibit 4.4 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed January 24, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 17. Undertakings.Undertakings

 

1.(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes toundertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Sectionsection 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933.1933;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.statement;

 

Provided,provided, however that paragraphs , Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(ii)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrantregistrant pursuant to Sectionsection 13 or Sectionsection 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

2. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that,(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

3. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered thatwhich remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

4. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

5. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that,(4) That, for the purposes of determining liability to any purchaser:

(i) If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:

(A) For purposespurpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 eachto any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(B)(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference ininto the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or

 

(ii) If(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant is subjectunder the Securities Act of 1933 to Rule 430C, eachany purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering other thanmade by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The registrant hereby undertakes that for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A,statement shall be deemed to be part of and included in thea new registration statement asrelating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.initial bona fide offering thereof.

6.(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the undersigned registrant accordingpursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the undersigned registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrantregistrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(d) The registrant hereby undertakes that:

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement or Amendment thereto to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Los Angeles, California,Las Vegas, NV, on September 12, 2017.July 2 , 2019.

 

 MARATHON PATENT GROUP, INC.
   
 By:/s/ Doug CroxallMerrick Okamoto
Name:Merrick Okamoto
Title:Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman
  Doug Croxall
Its:

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

(Principal Executive Officer)

   
 By:/s/ Francis Knuettel IIDavid Lieberman
Name:David Lieberman
Title:Chief Financial Officer
  Francis Knuettel II
Its:

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Doug Croxall and Francis Knuettel II, and each of them severally, as his true and lawful attorney in fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post effective amendments) to the Registration Statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this Registration Statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all post effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ Doug CroxallSignature September 12, 2017TitleDate
Doug Croxall  

/s/ Merrick Okamoto

Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of the Board

(Principal(Principal Executive Officer)

July 2, 2019
Merrick Okamoto  
   
/s/ Francis Knuettel IIDavid Lieberman September 12, 2017

Francis Knuettel II

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

July 2, 2019
David Lieberman  
   
/s/Edward Kovalik Fred Thiel September 12, 2017DirectorJuly 2, 2019

Edward Kovalik

Director

Fred Thiel
  
   
/s/Christopher Robichaud Michael Rudolph September 12, 2017DirectorJuly 2, 2019

Christopher Robichaud

Director

Michael Rudolph
  
   
/s/David P. LiebermanSeptember 12, 2017

David P. Lieberman

Director

  
/s/Merrick D. Okamoto Michael Berg September 12, 2017DirectorJuly 2, 2019

Merrick D. Okamoto

Director

Michael Berg