GMO exits crypto mining industry after recording "extraordinary" losses

Mining • December 26, 2018, 3:14PM EST
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GMO, the Internet infrastructure firm, announced that it would "no longer develop, manufacture, and sell mining machines" related to cryptocurrencies. This comes after the firm recorded "extraordinary" losses in the fourth quarter of 2018 for their crypto mining business. The firm reported approximately ¥35.5B (~$322M) in losses related to "in-house mining" and hardware development, manufacturing, and sales. In a press release, GMO stated, “after taking into consideration changes in the current business environment, the company expects that it is difficult to recover the carrying amounts of the in-house-mining-related business assets, and therefore, it has been decided to record an extraordinary loss.” GMO first entered the cryptocurrency mining business in September 2017, during the height of the crypto bull market. 

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Steven Zheng profile picture Steven Zheng

Steven Zheng is a researcher for The Block. He joined The Block in August 2018. Steven graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in economics. Previously, he covered blockchain and crypto at Radicle, a startup analytics firm. He also had brief stints at Cheddar, a media startup, and Bowery Capital, a venture capital firm. He owns bitcoin. Follow Steven on Twitter at: @Dogetoshi

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