Commitments and Contingencies | Note 17. Commitments and Contingencies Commitments Miners and mining equipment During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company paid a total of $555.9 million in deposits and payments to MicroBT for the purchase of miners pursuant to the Master Agreement described herein. The remaining commitment of approximately $1.0 million due as of December 31, 2024, was paid in January 2025. Infrastructure During 2024, the Company entered into agreements related to water supply infrastructure for the Corsicana Facility resulting in total remaining commitments of approximately $16.8 million. The Company expects to incur these costs throughout 2026. Operating leases The Company leases its primary office locations and Kentucky Facility data center and has a ground lease for its Rockdale Facility under noncancelable lease agreements that expire on varying dates through 2032. For additional information see Note 13. Leases Water reservation agreement The Company has a water reservation agreement, as amended, with the lessor of its ground lease to secure a certain quantity of non-potable water from a nearby lake to be used by the Company at the Rockdale Facility. The water reservation agreement runs through January 2032 and requires annual payments of approximately $2.4 million. The Company concluded that the water reservation agreement was not a lease or a derivative instrument. Because the Company obtained an additional right of use for the reserved water amount, and the charges were increased by a standalone price commensurate with the additional water use rights and at market rates, the water reservation agreement was determined to be a lease modification accounted for as a separate contract. As such, the fees of the water reservation agreement were excluded from the lease payments of the ground lease and the water reservation agreement was accounted for as a separate executory contract. Contingent consideration liabilities Block Mining As part of the Block Mining Acquisition, the sellers are eligible to earn an additional $32.5 million in potential earn-out targets, payable in cash or stock, if certain milestones are reached by December 31, 2025 (See Note 3. Acquisitions ). This contingent consideration was recognized as the acquisition date fair value of $26.1 million and is recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in Contingent consideration liabilities, current portion. The fair value measurement is based on significant inputs not observable in the market and thus represents a Level 3 measurement on the fair value hierarchy. These inputs include management’s best estimate of both the probability and timing of achieving the milestones, a risk-free interest rate of approximately 5% based on the U.S. Treasury rate for the corresponding time periods and a credit spread of approximately 1% based on the median of Investment Grade High Yield Debt Instruments with a Standard & Poor’s BB credit rating. This credit rating was selected based on an independently-produced synthetic credit rating analysis. As of December 31, 2024, the Block Mining contingent consideration had an estimated fair value of $23.6 million. E4A Solutions As part of the E4A Solutions Acquisition, the sellers are eligible to earn potential earn-out targets based on E4A Solutions’ Adjusted EBITDA, calculated as 2.65 times the amount the average adjusted EBITDA exceeds the Earnout threshold, as defined in the purchase agreement, during the two years ending December 31, 2026, payable in cash or Riot common stock at the Company’s discretion. This contingent consideration was recognized as the acquisition date fair value of $2.6 million and is recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets in Contingent consideration liabilities, less current portion. The fair value measurement is based on significant inputs not observable in the market and thus represents a Level 3 measurement on the fair value hierarchy . These inputs include management’s best estimate of both the probability and timing of achieving the milestones, a risk-free interest rate of approximately 4.25% based on the U.S. Treasury rate for the corresponding time periods and a credit spread of approximately 1% based on the median of Investment Grade and High Yield Debt Instruments with a Standard & Poor’s BB credit rating. This credit rating was selected based on an independently-produced synthetic credit rating analysis. Whinstone In February 2021, the State of Texas experienced an extreme and unprecedented winter weather event that resulted in prolonged freezing temperatures and caused an electricity generation shortage that was severely disruptive to the whole state. While demand for electricity reached extraordinary levels due to the extreme cold, the supply of electricity significantly decreased in part because of the inability of certain power generation facilities to supply electric power to the grid. Due to the extreme market price of electricity during this time, at the request of ERCOT, the Company stopped supplying power to its customers and instead sold power back to the grid. In April 2021, under the provisions of the Rockdale PPA, and as a result of the weather event, the Company entered into a Qualified Scheduling Entity (“QSE”) Letter Agreement, which resulted in the Company being entitled to receive approximately $125.1 million for its power sales during the February winter storm, all under the terms and conditions of the QSE Letter Agreement. The Company received cash of $29.0 million in April 2021 (after deducting $10.0 million in power management fees owed by Whinstone), approximately $59.7 million was credited against power bills of the Company during 2022, with the remaining $26.3 million being contingent upon ERCOT’s future remittance. These amounts are recognized gross before fair value adjustments and expenses incurred by the Company for power management fees noted above and customer settlements. The fair value of the settlement agreement was estimated and recognized as an asset as part of acquisition accounting. As part of the acquisition of Whinstone, the Company is obligated to pay the seller up to $86.0 million, net of income taxes, (undiscounted) of additional consideration if certain power credits are received or realized by the Company arising from the February 2021 weather event. Upon the acquisition of Whinstone, the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration was approximately $83.0 million. The estimated fair value measurement is based on significant inputs not observable in the market and thus represents a Level 3 measurement. Upon the acquisition of Whinstone, the Company estimated the fair value of the contingent consideration using a discounted cash flow analysis, which included estimates of both the timing and amounts of potential future power credits. These estimates were determined using the Company’s historical consumption quantities and patterns combined with management’s expectations of its future consumption requirements, which required significant judgment and depend on various factors outside the Company’s control, such as construction delays. The discount rate of approximately 2.5% included observable market inputs, but also included unobservable inputs such as interest rate spreads, which were estimated based on qualitative judgment related to company-specific risk factors. Specifically, the Company used S&P Global’s B credit rating in the yield curve to estimate a reasonable interest rate spread to determine the cost of debt input because the power credits are subordinated obligations of the Company’s counterparty. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events, the estimates could change significantly from period to period. Approximately $1.2 million of remaining future power to be received are estimated to be received over a period of 12 years . The Company determined the value of the contingent consideration as of December 31, 2024, using a discount rate of approximately 8.0% , which was based on the factors above, including the recent increase in interest rates. The following table presents the changes in the estimated fair value of the Company’s contingent consideration liabilities: Balance as of December 31, 2023 $ 909 Block Mining Acquisition 26,085 E4A Solutions Acquisition 2,640 Change in contingent consideration (320) Change in fair value of contingent consideration (2,459) Balance as of December 31, 2024 $ 26,855 Contingencies Legal Proceedings The Company, and our subsidiaries, are subject at times to various claims, lawsuits and governmental proceedings relating to our business and transactions arising in the ordinary course of business. We cannot predict the final outcome of such proceedings. Where appropriate, we vigorously defend such claims, lawsuits and proceedings. Some of these claims, lawsuits and proceedings seek damages, including, direct, consequential, exemplary, and/or punitive damages, in amounts that could, if awarded, be significant. Certain of the claims, lawsuits and proceedings arising in ordinary course of business are covered by our insurance program. We maintain property, and various types of liability insurance in an effort to protect ourselves from such claims. In terms of any matters where there is no insurance coverage available to us, or where coverage is available and we maintain a retention or deductible associated with such insurance, we may establish an accrual for such loss, retention or deductible based on current available information. In accordance with accounting guidance, if it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred as of the date of the financial statements, and the amount of loss is reasonably estimable, then an accrual for the cost to resolve or settle these claims is recorded by us on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. If it is reasonably possible that an asset may be impaired as of the date of the financial statement, then we disclose the range of possible loss. Costs related to the defense of such claims are recorded by us as they are incurred. Management, with the assistance of outside counsel, may from time to time adjust such accruals according to new developments in the matter, court rulings, or changes in the strategy affecting our defense of such matters. On the basis of current information, we do not believe there is a reasonable possibility that any material loss, if any, will result from any claims, lawsuits and proceedings to which we are subject to either individually, or in the aggregate. Green Revolution Cooling Patent Dispute On March 22, 2024, GRC filed a complaint against the Company in Case No. 6:24-CV-152 in the Western District of Texas for patent infringement. More specifically, GRC has alleged that the immersion cooling systems provided to the Company by third parties infringe GRC’s U.S. Patent Nos. 9,992,914 (“the ’914 Patent”) and 10,123,463 (“the ’463 Patent”). In the complaint, GRC seeks unspecified damages and an injunction against all products that allegedly infringe the ’914 Patent and the ’463 Patent (or in lieu of an injunction, an award of a compulsory forward royalty). The Company has engaged counsel and is working with its counsel to evaluate and defend the Company from this infringement claim. While a preliminary investigation of GRC’s claims is underway, the Company cannot reasonably predict the outcome of such ongoing litigation, or the magnitude of such outcome, at this time. Northern Data Working Capital Disputes On September 7, 2022, the Company filed a complaint against Northern Data AG (“Northern Data”) in the Delaware Court of Chancery (Case No. C.A. No. 2022-0792-LWW) disputing the purchase price of Whinstone and seeking declaratory relief and specific performance of the stock purchase agreement. On March 31, 2023, the parties filed a stipulation agreeing to dismiss all claims without prejudice and to submit the dispute for final determination to an independent accountant. The Company placed approximately Following the final determination, Northern Data filed a complaint against the Company in the Delaware Court of Chancery (the “Chancery Court”) on June 23, 2023 (Case No. C.A. No. 2023-0650-LWW) challenging the independent accountant’s written final determination and seeking to . Legacy Hosting Customer Disputes Rhodium On May 2, 2023, Whinstone filed a petition against Rhodium 30MW, LLC (“Rhodium 30MW”), Rhodium JV, LLC (“Rhodium JV”), Air HPC LLC (“Air HPC”), and Jordan HPC, LLC (“Jordan HPC” and, together with Rhodium 30MW, Rhodium JV, and Air HPC, collectively, the “Defendants”) in Case No. CV41873 in the 20th District Court (the “District Court”) of Milam County, Texas. In its amended petition filed May 3, 2023, Whinstone asserted breach of contract claims for Rhodium JV and Air HPC’s failure to pay certain hosting and service fees under the now-terminated Whinstone-Rhodium hosting agreements (“Hosting Agreements”) and sought a declaration regarding the rights and obligations under certain hosting agreements with the Defendants and that no power credits are owed to any Rhodium entity under any agreement. Whinstone sought recovery of more than $26 On September 13, 2023, the District Court compelled Whinstone’s claims against Defendants to arbitration over Whinstone’s objection and stayed the lawsuit pending such arbitration. On December 11, 2023, Rhodium submitted an arbitration demand to the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), seeking damages and specific performance of unspecified contracts. Rhodium amended its demand on June 4, 2024 to include additional claims and disclosed it seeks at least $67 After a permanent arbitrator was appointed and written discovery commenced, Rhodium filed for bankruptcy protection on August 24, 2024 and August 29, 2024 in a now jointly administered proceeding styled In re: Rhodium Encore LLC, et al. On October 3, 2024, Whinstone filed a motion for partial summary judgment and on October 16, 2024, Rhodium filed its own motion for partial summary judgment. The Bankruptcy Court denied both motions on November 8, 2024. From November 11, 2024 to November 14, 2024, the Bankruptcy Court heard phase one of Rhodium's Motion to Assume, which the Court granted in an interim order on December 16, 2024. Phase two of Rhodium’s Motion to Assume is set for February 26, 2025. The Company anticipates appealing the Bankruptcy Court’s decision and cannot reasonably predict the outcome of such ongoing proceedings, or the magnitude of such an outcome, at this time. On February 11, 2025, Rhodium Encore LLC, Rhodium JV LLC, Rhodium 30MW LLC, Rhodium 2.0 LLC, Rhodium 10MW LLC, Air HPC LLC, Jordan HPC LLC, Rhodium Industries LLC and Rhodium Renewables LLC (collectively, "Plaintiffs") filed a complaint against Riot and Whinstone in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. Plaintiffs allege damages for breach of contract and tortious interference, and requests an application for permanent injunctive relief seeking more than $300 million in damages. Riot and Whinstone believe Plaintiff's claims are without merit and intends to vigorously contest them, as appropriate. Because this litigation is still at this early stage, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or the magnitude of such an outcome, if any. SBI Crypto Co. On April 5, 2023, SBI Crypto Co., Ltd. (“SBI”) filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (Case No. 6:23-cv-252), which it later amended, against Whinstone alleging breach of contract, fraud, and negligent bailment claims related to a colocation services agreement between Whinstone and SBI that was terminated in 2021. On July 21, 2023, Whinstone filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint, which was denied on October 25, 2023. SBI seeks recovery of at least $15.0 and post-judgment interest. Whinstone believes many of the claims are barred or waived, and that all of SBI’s claims substantively lack merit, and Whinstone plans to vigorously contest the same, as appropriate. While a preliminary investigation of the merits of SBI’s claims has commenced and because this litigation is still at this early stage, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the outcome of such ongoing litigation, or the magnitude of such an outcome, at this time. GMO On June 13, 2022, GMO Gamecenter USA, Inc. and its parent, GMO Internet Group, Inc., (collectively “GMO”) filed a complaint against Whinstone alleging breach of a colocation services agreement between GMO and Whinstone, which has since been terminated, seeking damages in excess of $150.0 |