Exhibit 5.1
100 West Liberty Street, Suite 940 Reno, NV 89501-1991 Telephone: (775) 343-7500 Facsimile: (775) 786-0131 http://www.dickinsonwright.com |
February 28, 2019
Riot Blockchain, Inc.
202 6th Street, Suite 401
Castle Rock, CO 80104
Re: | Riot Blockchain, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel for Riot Blockchain, Inc., a Nevada corporation ("Company"), in connection with Company preparing the Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 (as amended, the "Registration Statement") filed on February 28, 2019, by Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). The Registration Statement relates to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of an indeterminate number of (i) shares of Company common stock without par value (the "Common Stock"), (ii) shares of Company preferred stock without par value (the "Preferred Stock"), (iii) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities of Company (the "Warrants"), and (iv) the units of any of the foregoing (the "Units"), as shall have an aggregate offering price not to exceed $100,000,000. The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants and Units are collectively referred to herein as the "Securities". The Securities registered also include such indeterminate numbers of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock as may be issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of Preferred Stock and Warrants or pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of any such Securities. This opinion is furnished pursuant to the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
In connection with rendering the opinions set forth below, we have examined and relied on originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments, have made such inquiries as to questions of fact of officers and representatives of Company and have made such examinations of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of giving the opinion expressed below. In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to matters of fact, we have made no independent investigation of such facts and have relied upon certificates of public officials and officers of Company.
ARIZONA FLORIDA KENTUCKY MICHIGAN NEVADA
OHIO TENNESSEE TEXAS TORONTO WASHINGTON DC
Riot Blockchain, Inc. February 28, 2019 Page 2 | Dickinson Wright PLLC |
In connection with rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed that (i) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have become effective, and no stop order suspending its effectiveness will have been issued and remain in effect, (ii) the Company will have timely filed a prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") describing the Securities offered thereby, to the extent required by applicable law, (iii) the terms of the Securities offered by any such Prospectus Supplement and of the issuance and sale thereof will have been duly established so as not to violate any applicable law or the articles of incorporation or the bylaws of the Company, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon Company, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over Company, (iv) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner specified in the Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement, (v) each person executing relevant documents (other than persons executing documents on behalf of Company) has the legal capacity and authority to do so, (vi) the aggregate number of shares of Company which would be outstanding after the issuance or reservation for issuance of Securities consisting of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock and any other contemporaneously issued or reserved shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, together with the number of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock previously issued and outstanding and the number of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock previously reserved for issuance upon the conversion or exchange of other securities issued by Company, does not exceed the number of then-authorized shares of Company., and (vii) if the Company requires any regulatory approval under law or related regulations, it has obtained all necessary regulatory approvals.
The opinions rendered are limited to the laws of the State of Nevada and the federal laws of the United States of America. We express no opinion with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and subject to the further assumptions and qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
1. | The issuance and sale by the Company of up to an aggregate offering price of $100,000,000 of the Securities as provided in the Registration Statement have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company. |
2. | When certain conditions are fully satisfied, those conditions being: |
a. | the issuance of the Common Stock has been duly authorized by appropriate corporate action and certificates evidencing such shares of Common Stock have been duly executed and delivered against payment of the authorized consideration therefor, |
b. | the issuance of any series of Preferred Stock has been duly authorized by appropriate corporate action, the amendment to Company's articles of incorporation has been filed in the State of Nevada and certificates evidencing such shares of Preferred Stock have been duly executed and delivered against payment of the authorized consideration therefor, |
ARIZONA FLORIDA KENTUCKY MICHIGAN NEVADA
OHIO TENNESSEE TEXAS TORONTO WASHINGTON DC
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c. | the issuance of the Warrants and approval of the final terms thereof, including any related warrant agreement and warrant certificates under which the Warrants are to be delivered, have been duly authorized by appropriate corporate action, and the Warrants and any related warrant agreement and warrant certificates have been duly executed and delivered against payment of the authorized consideration therefor, and |
d. | the issuance of the Units and approval of the final terms thereof have been duly authorized by appropriate corporate action, including authorization of each of the constituent Securities, and the related agreements under which the Securities comprising the Units are to be delivered, as applicable, and the Units have been duly executed and delivered against payment of the authorized consideration therefor; |
then, subject to the final terms being in compliance with then-applicable law, (i) the Common Stock and Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, respectively, of Company, (ii) the Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of Company, and (iii) the Units will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of Company, and each of the Securities comprising the Units shall also be the subject of the applicable opinion under clauses (i) – (ii) above.
Any opinion expressed herein as to validity, binding effect or enforceability is subject to the effect of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally, (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (iii) public policy considerations.
We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement.
We consent to filing this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to this firm under the heading "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement as the counsel who will pass upon the validity of the securities offered by the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours, | |||
/s/ Dickinson Wright PLLC | |||
ARIZONA FLORIDA KENTUCKY MICHIGAN NEVADA
OHIO TENNESSEE TEXAS TORONTO WASHINGTON DC