UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 3, 2020 (January 29, 2020)

 

Riot Blockchain, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada   001-33675   84-1553387
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)   (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

  202 6th Street, Suite 401,  
  Castle Rock, CO  80104  
  (Address of principal executive offices)   
     

 

  (303) 794-2000  
  (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)  

 

 

(Former name, former address, and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

☐  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock   RIOT   NASDAQ Capital Market

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 
 
 

 

Item 8.01 – Other Events.

 

On January 30, 2020, Riot Blockchain, Inc. (“Riot” the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that on January 29, 2020, it had received written notice from the Division of Enforcement of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that the SEC had concluded its investigation of Riot (the “SEC Investigation”). The SEC Investigation was previously disclosed by Riot on its current report on Form 8-K filed on April 9, 2018. According to the letter, the SEC has concluded its investigation of Riot and, based on the information the SEC had as of the date of the letter, the SEC does not intend to recommend an enforcement action against Riot, with respect to the matters investigated by the SEC.

 

About Riot Blockchain

Information reported in this Current Report on Form 8-K is limited to the scope of the information reportable under a Current Report on Form 8-K under the rules and regulations of the Commission. Please refer to the additional information concerning the Corporation referenced in the following notices and safe harbor provision for material risks and other uncertainties.

 

Investor Notice

 

An investment in the Corporation’s common stock involves a high degree of risk, and an investor should only purchase the Corporation’s securities if he or she can afford to suffer the loss of his or her entire investment. In determining whether to purchase the Corporation’s common stock, an investor should carefully consider all of the material risks described in this Current Report on Form 8-K below, together with the factors described under Item 1A under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 2, 2019, as amended on Form 10-K/A, filed with the SEC on April 23, 2019, as supplemented and updated by subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, together with the financial or other information contained or incorporated by reference in such reports. In addition to the risks discussed below, other risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, perhaps materially. The risks discussed below also include forward-looking statements, and actual results and events may differ substantially from those discussed or highlighted in those forward-looking statements. See also the Section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” herein.

 

Safe Harbor

 

The information provided in this report may include forward -looking statements relating to future events or the future financial performance of the Corporation. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “potential,” “hope” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations of the Corporation and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties. Detailed information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by statements in report relating to the Corporation may be found in the Corporation’s periodic filings with the Commission, including the factors described in the sections entitled “Risk Factors”, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this report.

 

 
 
 

 

 

Item 9.01.

 

(d) Exhibits.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 

Exhibit

Number 

Description
99.1 Press Release, issued by Riot Blockchain, Inc. on January 30, 2020 (furnished pursuant to Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K).*

 

* The information contained in this Press Release is furnished but not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

 

 

 

S I G N A T U R E

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  RIOT BLOCKCHAIN, INC.
     
     
  By: /s/ Jeffrey McGonegal
    Jeffrey McGonegal
    Chief Executive Officer


 

Date: February 3, 2020

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Riot Blockchain Announces Termination of SEC Investigation

No Enforcement Action Recommended

CASTLE ROCK, CO. / PRNewswire / January 30, 2020 / Riot Blockchain, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIOT) ("Riot” or the “Company"), one of the few Nasdaq listed public cryptocurrency mining companies in the United States, received a written notification from the Division of Enforcement of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 29, 2020. According to the letter, the SEC has concluded its investigation of Riot, which was originally announced on April 9, 2018, and based on the information the SEC has as of the date of the letter, it does not intend to recommend an enforcement action against Riot, with respect to the matters investigated by the SEC.

The Board of Directors and Management of Riot are pleased the SEC has concluded its investigation without recommending any enforcement action. Riot remains focused on the cryptocurrency sector with the goal of creating added shareholder value.

About Riot Blockchain

Riot Blockchain is focused on building, operating, and supporting blockchain technologies. Its primary operations consist of cryptocurrency mining, targeted development of a cryptocurrency exchange, and the identification and support of innovations within the sector. For more information, visit http://www.RiotBlockchain.com/.

Investor Notice

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described under "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of our most recent Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 2, 2019, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A on April 23, 2019, as well as those risk factors disclosed in any periodic reports we file with the SEC. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us.

Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results in the future. See "Safe Harbor" below.

Safe Harbor

The information provided in this press release may include forward-looking statements relating to future events or the future financial performance of the Company. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "will," "potential," "hope" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations of the Company and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties. Detailed information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by statements in this press release relating to the Company may be found in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the factors described in the sections entitled "Risk Factors," copies of which may be obtained from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

CONTACT:

Media Contact:

PR@RiotBlockchain.com

Investor Contact:

IR@RiotBlockchain.com

SOURCE: Riot Blockchain, Inc.