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Water Tower Research

Water Tower Research is a leading equity research firm that provides research on micro, small and mid cap companies.

Water Tower Research was founded by Wall Street veterans after witnessing a fundamental shift in the investment research industry with the result being a declining knowledge base among investors, a lack of awareness and a shrinking pool of fundamental research being conducted on companies across the small-cap and micro-cap spectrum. The same issues are now increasingly occurring in the mid-cap space. This sea change within the investment community is impacting not only the companies themselves but also current shareholders and potential investors. With significantly less active sell-side sponsorship by Wall Street, a substantial information gap has developed between companies and various constituents in the financial community. The net result is fewer channels for insight and information to flow between companies and investors.

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Equity Bottom-Up

<h3>KEY POINTS</h3>
<ul>
<li>Soluna recently held a roundtable discussion with Soluna Computing CEO John Belizaire, CTO Dip Patel, and VP of Corporate Development Phillip Ng.&nbsp;A replay of the full conversation can be found&nbsp;here&nbsp;and is available on the company’s website.</li>
<li>Bitcoin should not be lumped in with other crypto.&nbsp;Being decentralized and relying on proof-of-work make Bitcoin fundamentally different from other cryptocurrencies that require putting faith and trust in a central entity. We expect the broader crypto market will inevitably be subject to regulation like other financial products, however, that just transfers the trust to the regulatory body. Bitcoin is 0% trust and 100% verification.</li>
<li>Stability in the storm.&nbsp;The participants highlighted the fact that Bitcoin continues to function flawlessly since its founding 13 years ago and is growing more mainstream. Today, Bitcoin can be purchased on most major investing platforms and its price is listed among other major financial indexes. Moreover, as the network grows, Bitcoin becomes more stable.</li>
<li>Energy use is a feature, not a bug, and can be a catalyst for more renewables on the grid.&nbsp;The speakers noted that Bitcoin’s energy use, while much less than the traditional banking sector, lends to its security. The energy used by the protocol gives proof that a participant earned the right to add a new block to the blockchain (and earn a reward). This system is highly secure, decentralized, and trustless. Mining is a batchable computing process that serves as a flexible demand response for renewable energy’s intermittent nature. This flexibility can help strengthen and decarbonize the electric grid.</li>
<li>Soluna’s data centers can provide a solution that helps support the growth of renewable energy.&nbsp;By purchasing electricity that would have otherwise been unsold, Soluna helps improve project economics for renewable power and further its growth on the grid. Moreover, Soluna’s data centers can easily ramp down their power use to help balance the grid in times of extreme power demand.</li>
</ul>
<h3>OUR INSIGHTS</h3>
<h2>The Opportunities</h2>
<p>Soluna is on the cusp of a major jump in its revenue and size with the start-up of its delayed flagship project Dorothy. Low energy costs and renewable power sources give the company a competitive advantage to grow the profitability of its Bitcoin mining and expand its customer base into batchable, GPU cloud computing. With recent competitor bankruptcies, there is an opportunity for lower-cost miners or hosting customers that seek new low-cost plugs.</p>
<h2>The Obstacles</h2>
<p>Soluna is subject to multiple factors that are outside of its control, mainly the timing of approvals from transmission operators, such as the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and Bitcoin pricing/hash rate. The company has executed on what is in its control and has proved adept at reacting to these challenges, but they have slowed progress and forced Soluna to raise additional capital. As the company grows and brings on more projects, we expect portfolio diversification will help minimize the impact of individual project risk on corporate results.</p>
<h3>DISCLOSURES</h3>
<p>Water Tower Research (“WTR”) is a professional publisher of investment research reports on public companies and, to a lesser extent, private firms (“the Companies”). WTR provides investor-focused content and digital distribution strategies designed to help companies communicate with investors.<br><br>WTR is not a registered investment adviser or a broker/dealer nor does WTR provide investment banking services. WTR operates as an exempt investment adviser under the so called “publishers’ exemption” from the definition of investment adviser under Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. WTR does not provide investment ratings / recommendations or price targets on the companies it reports on. Readers are advised that the research reports are published and provided solely for informational purposes and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities or the rendering of investment advice. The information provided in this report should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as personalized advice. All users and readers of WTR’s reports are cautioned to consult their own independent financial, tax and legal advisors prior to purchasing or selling securities.<br><br>Graham Mattison, who is the writer of this report, covers the Industrial Technology and ClimateTech &amp; Sustainable Investing sectors for WTR. Mr. Mattison and members of his household have no personal or business-related relationship to the subject company other than providing digital content and any ancillary services WTR may offer.<br><br>Unless otherwise indicated, WTR intends to provide continuing coverage of the covered companies. WTR will notify its readers through website postings or other appropriate means if WTR determines to terminate coverage of any of the companies covered.<br><br>WTR is being compensated for its research by the company which is the subject of this report. WTR receives no more than a maximum of $10,500 per month from a given client and is required to have at least a 6-month commitment. None of the earned fees are contingent on, and WTR’s client agreements are not cancellable for the content of its reports. WTR does not accept any compensation in the form of warrants or stock options or other equity instruments that could increase in value based on positive coverage in its reports.<br><br>WTR or an affiliate may seek to receive compensation for non-research services to covered companies, such as charges for presenting at sponsored investor conferences, distributing press releases, advising on investor relations and broader corporate communications and public relations strategies as well as performing certain other related services (“Ancillary Services”). The companies that WTR covers in our research are not required to purchase or use Ancillary Services that WTR or an affiliate might offer to clients.<br><br>The manner of WTR’s research compensation and Ancillary Services to covered companies raise actual and perceived conflicts of interest. WTR is committed to manage those conflicts to protect its reputation and the objectivity of employees/analysts by adhering to strictly-written compliance guidelines.<br><br>The views and analyses included in our research reports are based on current public information that we consider to be reliable, but no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to their accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or correctness. Neither we nor our analysts, directors, officers, employees, representatives, independent contractors, agents or affiliate shall be liable for any omissions, errors or inaccuracies, regardless of cause, foreseeability or the lack of timeliness of, or any delay or interruptions in the transmission of our reports to content users. This lack of liability extends to direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, losses, lost income, lost profit or opportunity costs.<br><br>All investment information contained herein should be independently verified by the reader or user of this report. For additional information, all readers of this report are encouraged to visit WTR’s website www.watertowerresearch.com.</p>

KEY POINTS

Soluna recently held a roundtable discussion with Soluna Computing CEO John Belizaire, CTO Dip Patel, and VP of Corporate Development Phillip Ng.&nbsp;A replay of the full conversation can be found&nbsp;here&nbsp;and is available on the company’s website.
Bitcoin should not be lumped in with other crypto.&nbsp;Being decentralized and relying on proof-of-work make Bitcoin fundamentally different from other cryptocurrencies that require putting faith and trust in a central entity. We expect the broader crypto market will inevitably be subject to regulation like other financial products, however, that just transfers the trust to the regulatory body. Bitcoin is 0% trust and 100% verification.
Stability in the storm.&nbsp;The participants highlighted the fact that Bitcoin continues to function flawlessly since its founding 13 years ago and is growing more mainstream. Today, Bitcoin can be purchased on most major investing platforms and its price is listed among other major financial indexes. Moreover, as the network grows, Bitcoin becomes more stable.
Energy use is a feature, not a bug, and can be a catalyst for more renewables on the grid.&nbsp;The speakers noted that Bitcoin’s energy use, while much less than the traditional banking sector, lends to its security. The energy used by the protocol gives proof that a participant earned the right to add a new block to the blockchain (and earn a reward). This system is highly secure, decentralized, and trustless. Mining is a batchable computing process that serves as a flexible demand response for renewable energy’s intermittent nature. This flexibility can help strengthen and decarbonize the electric grid.
Soluna’s data centers can provide a solution that helps support the growth of renewable energy.&nbsp;By purchasing electricity that would have otherwise been unsold, Soluna helps improve project economics for renewable power and further its growth on the grid. Moreover, Soluna’s data centers can easily ramp down their power use to help balance the grid in times of extreme power demand.

OUR INSIGHTS
The Opportunities
Soluna is on the cusp of a major jump in its revenue and size with the start-up of its delayed flagship project Dorothy. Low energy costs and renewable power sources give the company a competitive advantage to grow the profitability of its Bitcoin mining and expand its customer base into batchable, GPU cloud computing. With recent competitor bankruptcies, there is an opportunity for lower-cost miners or hosting customers that seek new low-cost plugs.
The Obstacles
Soluna is subject to multiple factors that are outside of its control, mainly the timing of approvals from transmission operators, such as the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and Bitcoin pricing/hash rate. The company has executed on what is in its control and has proved adept at reacting to these challenges, but they have slowed progress and forced Soluna to raise additional capital. As the company grows and brings on more projects, we expect portfolio diversification will help minimize the impact of individual project risk on corporate results.
DISCLOSURES
Water Tower Research (“WTR”) is a professional publisher of investment research reports on public companies and, to a lesser extent, private firms (“the Companies”). WTR provides investor-focused content and digital distribution strategies designed to help companies communicate with investors.  WTR is not a registered investment adviser or a broker/dealer nor does WTR provide investment banking services. WTR operates as an exempt investment adviser under the so called “publishers’ exemption” from the definition of investment adviser under Section 202(a)(11) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. WTR does not provide investment ratings / recommendations or price targets on the companies it reports on. Readers are advised that the research reports are published and provided solely for informational purposes and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities or the rendering of investment advice. The information provided in this report should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as personalized advice. All users and readers of WTR’s reports are cautioned to consult their own independent financial, tax and legal advisors prior to purchasing or selling securities.  Graham Mattison, who is the writer of this report, covers the Industrial Technology and ClimateTech &amp; Sustainable Investing sectors for WTR. Mr. Mattison and members of his household have no personal or business-related relationship to the subject company other than providing digital content and any ancillary services WTR may offer.  Unless otherwise indicated, WTR intends to provide continuing coverage of the covered companies. WTR will notify its readers through website postings or other appropriate means if WTR determines to terminate coverage of any of the companies covered.  WTR is being compensated for its research by the company which is the subject of this report. WTR receives no more than a maximum of $10,500 per month from a given client and is required to have at least a 6-month commitment. None of the earned fees are contingent on, and WTR’s client agreements are not cancellable for the content of its reports. WTR does not accept any compensation in the form of warrants or stock options or other equity instruments that could increase in value based on positive coverage in its reports.  WTR or an affiliate may seek to receive compensation for non-research services to covered companies, such as charges for presenting at sponsored investor conferences, distributing press releases, advising on investor relations and broader corporate communications and public relations strategies as well as performing certain other related services (“Ancillary Services”). The companies that WTR covers in our research are not required to purchase or use Ancillary Services that WTR or an affiliate might offer to clients.  The manner of WTR’s research compensation and Ancillary Services to covered companies raise actual and perceived conflicts of interest. WTR is committed to manage those conflicts to protect its reputation and the objectivity of employees/analysts by adhering to strictly-written compliance guidelines.  The views and analyses included in our research reports are based on current public information that we consider to be reliable, but no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to their accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or correctness. Neither we nor our analysts, directors, officers, employees, representatives, independent contractors, agents or affiliate shall be liable for any omissions, errors or inaccuracies, regardless of cause, foreseeability or the lack of timeliness of, or any delay or interruptions in the transmission of our reports to content users. This lack of liability extends to direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, losses, lost income, lost profit or opportunity costs.  All investment information contained herein should be independently verified by the reader or user of this report. For additional information, all readers of this report are encouraged to visit WTR’s website www.watertowerresearch.com.

Bitcoin Is Not Crypto; Takeaways from Recent Roundtable Discussion

Soluna Holdings

Bitcoin Is Not Crypto; Takeaways from Recent Roundtable Discussion