Bitcoin Miner Sphere 3D Fires Back, Denies Financial Distress, Accuses Former Partner of Baseless Claims

Bitcoin miner Sphere 3D has refuted accusations from former partner Gryphon Digital Mining that it is on the brink of financial collapse. Sphere 3D claims that it has $45 million in assets and $5 million in liabilities, and that it could pay a $30 million judgment tomorrow. The company also accused Gryphon of unreasonably multiplying the proceedings, including through counterclaims later dropped.

Bitcoin Miner Sphere 3D Rebuts Allegations of Financial Distress, Accuses Former Partner of Baseless Claims

Amidst the ongoing legal battle between Bitcoin mining company Sphere 3D and its former partner Gryphon Digital Mining, Sphere 3D has vehemently denied allegations of financial troubles, characterizing them as "at best disingenuous."

In a court document submitted to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Sphere 3D provided detailed evidence to refute accusations made by Gryphon, which had requested a freeze on millions of dollars based on the claim that Sphere was on the "verge of economic collapse."

Sphere 3D presented a comprehensive financial statement, demonstrating assets totaling $45 million and liabilities of $5 million, as reported in its 2023 Annual Report. The company asserted that "a judgment of even $30 million could be rendered against Sphere tomorrow and it would have the means to pay."

Regarding the $10 million in equity proceeds that Sphere 3D recently received from a settlement related to Core Scientific's bankruptcy exit, the company stated that Gryphon's request to secure them was unwarranted. Sphere 3D accused Gryphon of unreasonably prolonging the proceedings through counterclaims that were subsequently dropped.

A source familiar with the litigation disclosed that Gryphon's move to acquire $10 million from Sphere may be motivated by its own financial difficulties. According to the source, Gryphon has $18 million in assets and $27 million in liabilities, resulting in negative working capital of $9 million. The source also noted that Gryphon's loan agreement requires any excess income to be used to repay its loans with Anchorage.

The legal dispute between Gryphon and Sphere 3D stems from a Master Service Agreement (MSA) signed in 2021, under which Gryphon acted as the exclusive provider of management services for Sphere's blockchain and cryptocurrency operations. However, the relationship deteriorated in April 2023 when Sphere initiated legal action against Gryphon following an alleged spoofing incident that resulted in the unauthorized transfer of 26 Bitcoin (BTC) to a malicious actor.

Gryphon has accused Sphere of breaching the MSA by entering into four hosting agreements without its consent. Sphere 3D maintains that it was permitted to enter into such contracts under the MSA and through independent discussions with Gryphon. Furthermore, Sphere argues that any breaches it may have committed were minor and do not warrant the substantial damages claimed by Gryphon.

In a countersuit, Sphere 3D is seeking damages exceeding $25 million from Gryphon for failing to file a proof of claim in Core Scientific's bankruptcy case. Sphere 3D had provided $35 million in deposits to Core for hosting services, but only received about $1 million in return. Following Core's bankruptcy declaration, Sphere settled with the company for $10 million in reorganized equity.

Crucially, Gryphon's failure to file a proof of claim in Core's bankruptcy case by the deadline created a complex situation, as Core argued that Sphere was not directly involved, hindering Sphere's efforts to recover its deposits.

The legal battle between Gryphon and Sphere 3D continues, with both parties making strong claims. Sphere 3D's rebuttal of Gryphon's allegations of financial distress, coupled with its countersuit seeking substantial damages, adds further complexity to this intricate legal dispute.