MGT Capital Investments, Inc. (OTCQB: MGTI) is engaged as a cryptocurrency mining and cybersecurity developer. Shares of the diversified technology company closed down nearly 12% on Friday, January 26, 2018. Over the past month, MGT Capital Investments, Inc. has seen average daily volume of 3.88 million shares. However, volume of 2.8 million shares or dollar volume of $9.1 million, exchanged hands on the day.
Shares of MGT Capital Investments, Inc. faced pressure during Friday’s session after the company announced that it is ending its relationship with crypto and cybersecurity visionary, John McAfee. McAfee served as the company’s Chief Cybersecurity Visionary for about two years, which helped put the company on the map. The company is still determining what to do with its cybersecurity business, as management looks to become a pure play cryptocurrency miner. Still, the loss of McAfee is a big one for MGT Capital Investment, Inc., which will have to grapple with a new reality and hope to continue success without the visionary leader. McAfee says he remains a large shareholder in the company, but is happy to be moving on and focusing solely on cryptocurrency. Here is the full press release detailing of the surprising departure:
MGT Capital Investments, Inc. Press Release:
DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — MGT Capital Investments, Inc. (OTCQB: MGTI) today announced the end of its business relationship with legendary cybersecurity pioneer John McAfee. Since August 2017, Mr. McAfee had served as Chief Cybersecurity Visionary of the Company, guiding the development of the Company’s cybersecurity business, including Sentinel, an enterprise class network intrusion detector released in October 2017 and the previously announced privacy phone. MGT’s board will consider various options for its cybersecurity business, including a sale or spinoff.
This move will position MGT as a pure play cryptocurrency mining operation, led by Stephen Schaeffer, President of MGT Cryptocurrency Strategies. The Company currently owns or operates approximately 5,000 Bitmain Antminer S9 Bitcoin mining rigs and 50 GPU-based Ethereum miners, capable of generating over 65 Ph/s of computing power when fully deployed by the end of February. Moreover, MGT is in negotiations that would triple its mining power over the next several months. From a financial standpoint, the Company has never been stronger, ending last year with $9.5 million of cash, no debt and minimal payables.
Mr. McAfee summarized today’s actions by stating, “I would like to thank Steve, Rob Ladd and the entire board for giving me the opportunity to return to corporate life, but I am very happy with my decision. I am looking forward to toiling in obscurity as the world’s foremost authority of all things cyber and crypto! In all candor, the past two years have been action-packed and productive, and I want to thank all shareholders for their support. I leave MGT in much stronger condition than when I arrived and remain a major stakeholder.”
About MGT Capital Investments, Inc.
With facilities in northern Sweden and WA state, MGT Capital Investments, Inc. (OTCQB: MGTI) ranks as one of the largest U.S. based Bitcoin miners. Further, the Company continues to execute on an expansion model to grow its crypto assets materially.
The Company also owns a portfolio of cyber security technologies, including the Company’s first product, Sentinel, an enterprise class network intrusion detector which was released in October 2017. The Company also owns the intellectual property associated with developing and marketing a mobile phone with extensive privacy and anti-hacking features. The cybersecurity products were guided by John McAfee, the Company’s former Chief Cybersecurity Visionary. MGT is presently evaluating various alternatives for its cybersecurity business.
For more information on the Company, please visit: http://www.mgtci.com
Forward–looking Statements
This press release contains forward–looking statements. The words or phrases “would be,” “will allow,” “intends to,” “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward–looking statements.” All information set forth in this news release, except historical and factual information, represents forward–looking statements. This includes all statements about the Company’s plans, beliefs, estimates and expectations. These statements are based on current estimates and projections, which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include issues related to: rapidly changing technology and evolving standards in the industries in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate; the ability to obtain sufficient funding to continue operations, maintain adequate cash flow, profitably exploit new business, license and sign new agreements; the unpredictable nature of consumer preferences; and other factors set forth in the Company’s most recently filed annual report and registration statement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward–looking statements, which reflect management’s analysis only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward–looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof. Readers should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described in other documents that the Company files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
