Item 1A. Risk Factors
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS
Investing
in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before investing in our common stock, you should consider carefully the risks described
below, together with the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The occurrence
of any of the following risks could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and future growth
prospects. In these circumstances, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
For
a discussion identifying risk factors and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated,
see the discussions under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 2022 and in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”
and “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. There has been a material change
to the Risk Factors described in Part I “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 as filed with the SEC.
The
following additional risk factor should be added to the discussions under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022.
A
particular digital asset’s status as a “security” in any relevant jurisdiction is subject to a high degree of uncertainty,
and if we are unable to correctly characterize a digital asset, we may be subject to regulatory scrutiny, investigations, fines, sanctions,
penalties and other adverse consequences, including potentially becoming subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940 which would impose
significant regulatory burdens and compliance costs.
The
SEC and its staff have taken the position that certain digital assets fall within the definition of a “security” under the
U.S. federal securities laws. The legal test for determining whether any given digital asset is a security is a highly complex, fact-driven
analysis that evolves over time, and the outcome is difficult to predict. The SEC generally does not provide advance guidance or confirmation
on the status of any particular digital asset as a security. Furthermore, the SEC’s views in this area have evolved over time and
it is difficult to predict the direction or timing of any continuing evolution. It is also possible that a change in the governing administration
or the appointment of new SEC commissioners could substantially impact the views of the SEC and its staff. Public statements by senior
officials at the SEC indicate that the SEC does not intend to take the position that Bitcoin or Ethereum are securities (in their current
form). Bitcoin and Ethereum are the only digital assets as to which senior officials at the SEC have publicly expressed such a view.
Moreover, such statements are not official policy statements by the SEC and reflect only the speakers’ views, which are not binding
on the SEC or any other agency or court and cannot be generalized to any other digital asset. With respect to all other digital assets,
there is currently no certainty under the applicable legal test that such assets are not securities, notwithstanding the conclusions
we may draw based on our risk-based assessment regarding the likelihood that a particular digital asset could be deemed a “security”
under applicable laws. Similarly, though the SEC’s Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology published a framework
for analyzing whether any given digital asset is a security in April 2019, this framework is also not a rule, regulation or statement
of the SEC and is not binding on the SEC.
22
The
classification of a digital asset as a security under applicable law has wide-ranging implications for the regulatory obligations that
flow from the offer, sale, trading, and clearing of such assets. For example, a digital asset that is a security in the U.S. may generally
only be offered or sold in the U.S. pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC or in an offering that qualifies for an exemption
from registration. Persons that effect transactions in digital assets that are securities in the U.S. may be subject to registration
with the SEC as a “broker” or “dealer.” Platforms that bring together purchasers and sellers to trade digital
assets that are securities in the U.S. are generally subject to registration as national securities exchanges, or must qualify for an
exemption, such as by being operated by a registered broker-dealer as an alternative trading system, or ATS, in compliance with rules
for ATSs. Persons facilitating clearing and settlement of securities may be subject to registration with the SEC as a clearing agency.
Foreign jurisdictions may have similar licensing, registration, and qualification requirements.
While
we do not currently, nor do we plan to, offer, sell, trade, and clear digital assets or take custody of others digital assets as part
of any potential Staking-as-a-Service operations we may undertake, however, digital assets we stake and validate transactions for could
be deemed to be a “security” under applicable laws. Our blockchain infrastructure operations which entails securing blockchains
by processing and validating blockchain transactions (most analogous to Bitcoin mining or operating a Bitcoin mining pool) could be construed
as facilitating transactions in digital assets; as such we could be subject to legal or regulatory action in the event the SEC, a foreign
regulatory authority, or a court were to determine that a blockchain we secure is a “security” under applicable laws. Because
our platform is not registered or licensed with the SEC or foreign authorities as a broker-dealer, national securities exchange, or ATS
(or foreign equivalents), and we do not seek to register or rely on an exemption from such registration or license to secure blockchains.
Further,
if any digital asset is deemed to be a security under any U.S. federal, state, or foreign jurisdiction, or in a proceeding in a court
of law or otherwise, it may have adverse consequences for such digital asset. For instance, the networks on which such digital assets
are utilized may be required to be regulated as securities intermediaries, and subject to applicable rules, which could effectively render
the network impracticable for its existing purposes. Further, it could draw negative publicity and a decline in the general acceptance
of the digital asset. Also, such a development may make it difficult for such supported digital asset to be traded, cleared, and custodied
as compared to other digital asset that are not considered to be securities.
ITEM
2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None
ITEM
3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM
4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not
applicable.
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