Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations

LM Funding America, Inc. (“we”, “our”, “LMFA” or the “Company”) was formed as a Delaware corporation on April 20, 2015. LMFA was formed for the purpose of completing a public offering and related transactions in order to carry on the business of LM Funding, LLC and its subsidiaries (the “Predecessor”). LMFA is the sole member of LM Funding, LLC and operates and controls all of its businesses and affairs.

LM Funding, LLC, a Florida limited liability company organized in January 2008 under the terms of an Operating Agreement effective January 8, 2008 as amended, had two members: BRR Holding, LLC and CGR 63, LLC. The members contributed their equity interest to LMFA prior to the closing of its initial public offering.

The Company created two subsidiaries in 2020, LMFA Financing LLC on November 21, 2020 and LMFAO Sponsor LLC on October 29, 2020. LMFAO Sponsor LLC created a majority owned subsidiary LMF Acquisition Opportunities Inc. on October 29, 2020. LM Funding America Inc. organized another subsidiary, US Digital Mining and Hosting Co., LLC., on September 10, 2021. US Digital Mining and Hosting Co., LLC created a subsidiary US Digital Mining Texas, LLC on June 21, 2022.

The Company currently has two lines of business: a specialty finance business and our recently commenced cryptocurrency mining business.

With respect to our specialty finance business, the Company has historically engaged in the business of providing funding to nonprofit community associations primarily located in the state of Florida. We offer incorporated nonprofit community associations, which we refer to as “Associations,” a variety of financial products customized to each Association’s financial needs. Our original product offering consists of providing funding to Associations by purchasing their rights under delinquent accounts that are selected by the Associations arising from unpaid Association assessments. Historically, we provided funding against such delinquent accounts, which we refer to as “Accounts,” in exchange for a portion of the proceeds collected by the Associations from the account debtors on the Accounts. In addition to our original product offering, we have started purchasing Accounts on varying terms tailored to suit each Association’s financial needs, including under our New Neighbor Guaranty™ program.

On September 15, 2021, we announced our plan to operate in the Bitcoin mining ecosystem, and we commenced Bitcoin mining operations in late September 2022. This business operation deploys our computing power to mine Bitcoin and validate transactions on the Bitcoin network. We believe that developments in Bitcoin mining have created an opportunity for us to deploy capital and conduct large-scale mining operations in the United States. We conduct this business through a wholly owned subsidiary, US Digital Mining and Hosting Co, LLC, a Florida limited liability company (US Digital), which we formed in 2021 to develop and operate our cryptocurrency mining business.

Specialty Finance Business

In our specialty finance business, we purchase an Association’s right to receive a portion of the Association’s collected proceeds from owners that are not paying their assessments. After taking assignment of an Association’s right to receive a portion of the Association’s proceeds from the collection of delinquent assessments, we engage law firms to perform collection work on a deferred billing basis wherein the law firms receive payment upon collection from the account debtors or a predetermined contracted amount if payment from account debtors is less than legal fees and costs owed. Under this business model, we typically fund an amount equal to or less than the statutory minimum an Association could recover on a delinquent account for each Account, which we refer to as the “Super Lien Amount”. Upon collection of an Account, the law firm working on the Account, on behalf of the Association, generally distributes to us the funded amount, interest, and administrative late fees, with the law firm retaining legal fees and costs collected, and the Association retaining the balance of the collection. In connection with this line of business, we have developed proprietary software for servicing Accounts, which we believe enables law firms to service Accounts efficiently and profitably.

Under our New Neighbor Guaranty program, an Association will generally assign substantially all of its outstanding indebtedness and accruals on its delinquent units to us in exchange for payment by us of monthly dues on each delinquent unit. This simultaneously eliminates a substantial portion of the Association’s balance sheet bad debts and assists the Association to meet its budget by receiving guaranteed monthly payments on its delinquent units and relieving the Association from paying legal fees and costs to collect its bad debts. We believe that the combined features of the program enhance the value of the underlying real estate in an Association and the value of an Association’s delinquent receivables.

Because we acquire and collect on the delinquent receivables of Associations, the Account debtors are third parties about whom we have little or no information. Therefore, we cannot predict when any given Account will be paid off or how much it will yield. In assessing the risk of purchasing Accounts, we review the property values of the underlying units, the governing documents of the relevant Association, and the total number of delinquent receivables held by the Association.

Specialty Finance Products

Original Product

Our original product relies upon Florida statutory provisions that effectively protect the principal amount invested by us in each Account. In particular, Section 718.116(1), Florida Statutes, makes purchasers and sellers of a unit in an Association jointly and severally liable for all past due assessments, interest, late fees, legal fees, and costs payable to the Association. As discussed above, the Florida Statutes grants to Associations a so-called “super lien”, which is a category of lien that is given a statutorily higher priority than all other types of liens other than property tax liens. The amount of the Association’s priority over a first mortgage holder that takes title to a property through foreclosure (or deed in lieu), referred to as the Super Lien Amount, is limited to twelve months’ past due assessments or, if less, one percent (1.0%) of the original mortgage amount. Under our contracts with Associations for our original product, we pay Associations an amount up to the Super Lien Amount for the right to receive all collected interest and late fees on Accounts purchased from the Associations.

The Statutes specify that the rate of interest an association (or its assignor) may charge on delinquent assessments is equal to the rate set forth in the association’s declaration or bylaws. In Florida if a rate is not specified, the statutory rate is equal to 18% but may not exceed the maximum rate allowed by law. Similarly, the Florida Statutes also stipulate that administrative late fees cannot be charged on delinquent assessments unless so provided by the association’s declaration or bylaws and may not exceed the greater of $25 or 5% of each delinquent assessment.

In other states in which we have offered our original product, which are currently only in Washington, Colorado and Illinois, we rely on statutes that we believe are similar to the above-described Florida statutes in relevant respects.

New Neighbor Guaranty

In addition to our original product, we also offer an additional product, the New Neighbor Guaranty, wherein an Association assigns substantially all of its outstanding indebtedness and accruals on its delinquent units to us in exchange for payments in an amount equal to the regular ongoing monthly or quarterly assessments for delinquent units when those amounts would be due to the Association. We assume both the payment and collection obligations for these assigned Accounts under this product. This simultaneously eliminates an Association’s balance sheet bad debts and assists the Association to meet its budget by receiving guaranteed assessment payments on its delinquent units and relieving the Association from paying legal fees and costs to collect its bad debts. We believe that the combined features of the product enhance the value of the underlying real estate in an Association and the value of an Association’s delinquent receivables.

Before we implement the New Neighbor Guaranty program for an Association we are typically asked to conduct a review of its accounts receivable. After we have conducted the review, we inform the Association which Accounts we are willing to purchase and the terms of such purchase. Once we implement the New Neighbor Guaranty program, we begin making scheduled payments to the Association on the Accounts as if the Association had non-delinquent residents occupying the units underlying the Accounts. Our New Neighbor Guaranty contracts typically allow us to retain all collection proceeds on each Account other than special assessments and accelerated assessment balances. Thus, the Association foregoes the potential benefit of a larger future collection in exchange for the certainty of a steady stream of immediate payments on the Account.

Cryptocurrency Mining Business

During 2021, we committed to purchasing an aggregate of 5,046 Bitcoin S19J Pro Antminer cryptocurrency mining machines for an aggregate purchase price of $31.6 million (the “Mining Machines”) from Bitmain. This contract allowed for a reduction in purchase price if Bitcoin price declined prior to shipment. As such, because the price of Bitcoin has declined since we entered into the purchase contract, we have received reductions against the total purchase price. We anticipate we will receive the remaining Mining Machines to be delivered in batches over an estimated delivery timeframe from October 2022 through November 2022. The purchase agreements between us and Bitmain relating to the Mining Machines (the “Bitmain Purchase Agreements”) required us to pay $7.9 million or 25% of the total purchase price as a non-refundable deposit for the Mining Machines within 7 days of the date of the signing of the respective Bitmain Purchase Agreements, and additional 35% of the batch price at least 6 months prior to shipment of such batch, and the remaining 40% of each batch price one month prior to the shipment of the batch. We have received 4,212 Mining Machines as of September 30, 2022 under these purchase agreements. Due to the variable nature of the contract, we have been credited an aggregate total of approximately $7.2 million toward the 40% purchase price that is normally paid upon the shipment of a batch.

On August 31, 2022, the Company committed to purchasing an additional 400 Bitcoin Miner S19J Pro machines from Bitmain for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.3 million. The purchase agreement provides for delivery of the machines in November 2022. As required under the contract, the Company paid the full purchase price within 7 days of the date of the signing of the agreement and the payment is not refundable. This contract is also subject to variable pricing adjustments.

Additionally, on September 20, 2022, the Company committed to purchasing 200 Bitcoin Miner S19 XP machines from Bitmain for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.3 million. Under the provisions of the contract, the machines are expected to be delivered in January 2023. As required under the contract, the Company paid a non-refundable deposit of $265 thousand within 7 days of the date of the signing of the agreement. An additional 30% payment of the purchase price is due 4 months prior to shipment and the remaining 50% of the purchase price is due 15 days prior to shipment. This contract is also subject to variable pricing adjustments.

During the Nine Months ended September 30, 2022 the Company paid approximately $12.7 million to Bitmain for deposits related to mining equipment and payments of $635 thousand were made to various shipping vendors for transportation and customs costs related to the equipment. Since the inception of our contracts with Bitmain, we have paid an aggregate of approximately $27.0 million to Bitmain and related vendors relating to the purchase of these machines through September 30, 2022, and expect to pay an additional $1.0 million under the Bitmain contracts through the completion of the delivery of the machines.

In October 2021, we also entered into a sale and purchase agreement (the “Uptime Purchase Agreement”) with Uptime Armory LLC (“Uptime”) pursuant to which US Digital agreed to purchase, and Uptime agreed to supply to US Digital, an aggregate of 18 modified 40-foot cargo containers (“POD5ive containers”) that will be designed to hold and operate 280 S19 Pro Antminers manufactured by Bitmain. The purchase price of the POD5ive containers totals $3.15 million, of which $2.4 million or 75% was paid in 2021 as a non-refundable down payment and the remaining 25% was paid after Uptime delivered a “notice of completion” of the equipment. No containers have been delivered as of September 30, 2022.

On the same effective date, US Digital also entered into a hosting agreement with Uptime Hosting LLC (the “Hosting Agreement”) to host the Company’s 18 POD5ive containers at a secure location and provide power, maintenance and other services specified in the contract for 6 cents per kilowatt with a term of one year. Under the Hosting Agreement we paid a deposit of $0.8 million in 2021 and were required to pay an additional deposit for each container three months prior to delivery at the hosting site of $44 thousand and a final deposit for each container one month prior to arrival at the hosting site of $44 thousand. The deposits paid for hosting services under the Hosting Agreement are refundable. On June 29, 2022, the Company and Uptime Hosting LLC entered into a Release and Termination Agreement in which the Hosting Agreement was terminated and Uptime Hosting LLC agreed to pay the $0.8 million. The $0.8 million deposit paid for hosting services under the Hosting Agreement is included within Prepaid expenses and other assets on the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2022. However, the $0.8 million deposit has not been returned, and on September 2, 2022, we filed in Florida circuit court a legal action against Uptime Hosting LLC in an action styled US Digital Mining and Hosting Co, LLC v. Uptime Hosting, LLC (Fla. 13thCir. Ct. Sept. 2, 2022) for the return of the deposit and other damages, alleging breach of contract and violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Uptime Hosting LLC has answered the complaint with affirmative defenses and counterclaims for fraudulent inducement and rescission, which we believe are without merit. The Company has not accrued a loss contingency related to this matter based on management’s assessment of the collectability of the refundable deposit.

On November 8, 2022, we filed an action in Florida circuit court against Uptime Armory, LLC and Bit5ive, LLC in a case styled US Digital Mining and Hosting Co. LLC v. Uptime Amory, LLC and Bit5ive, LLC (Fla. 11thCir. Ct., November 8, 2022). In that action, we alleged breach of contract and violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and are seeking, among other things, damages of $3.15 million for non-delivery of the 18 POD5ive containers. The defendants in this action have not yet answered the complaint.

On June 21, 2022, the Company entered into a Master Agreement, dated effective as of June 20, 2022, with Compute North LLC (“Compute North”) under which Compute North has agreed to host up to 4,200 of US Digital’s Bitcoin Miner S19J Pro machines (100 TH/s) and provide colocation, management and other services (the “Master Agreement”). The term of the Master Agreement is for 60 months, subject to earlier termination in specified circumstances. The Company paid a non-refundable co-location deposit of $1.3 million on June 21, 2022 under the Master Agreement. Compute North filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 22, 2022. Compute North has not energized any of our 2,690 machines located at their site.

On September 6, 2022, the Company entered into hosting agreement (the “Core Hosting Agreement”) with Core Scientific Inc. (“Core”) pursuant to which Core agreed to host the Company’s 1,200 Bitcoin Miner S19J Pro machines at a secure location and provide power, maintenance and other services specified in the contract with a term of one year and thereafter automatically renews for the periods indicated in the Order. As required under the Core Hosting Agreement, the Company paid approximately $942 thousand as a deposit on September 2, 2022.

During September 2022, 848 mining machines were placed into service and we commenced mining operations. These machines are located at one of the Core hosting locations.

Principles of Consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of LMFA and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: LM Funding, LLC; LMF October 2010 Fund, LLC; REO Management Holdings, LLC (including all 100% owned subsidiary limited liability companies); LM Funding of Colorado, LLC; LM Funding of Washington, LLC; LM Funding of Illinois, LLC; US Digital Mining Hosting Co., LLC; LMF SPE #2, LLC and various single purpose limited liability corporations owned by REO Management Holdings, LLC which own various properties. It also includes LMFA Sponsor LLC (a 69.5% owned subsidiary). All significant intercompany balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2022 and for the Three and Nine Months ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, respectively are unaudited. In the opinion of management, the interim condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to provide a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. The accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2021, is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal the year ended December 31, 2021.

Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts on the balance sheet have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as outlined in ASC 606, Revenue From Contracts with Customers, which requires that five steps be followed in evaluating revenue recognition: (i) identify the contract with the customer; (ii) identity the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price; and (v) recognize revenue when or as the entity satisfied a performance obligation.

With respect to its cryptocurrency mining operations, the Company has entered into contracts with digital asset mining pool operators to provide computing power to the mining pools. The contracts are terminable at any time by either party and the Company’s enforceable right to compensation only begins when the Company starts providing computing power to the mining pool operator. In exchange for providing computing power, the Company is entitled to a fractional share of the fixed cryptocurrency award the mining pool operator receives (less pool fees to the mining pool operator), for successfully adding a block to the blockchain, plus a fractional share of the transaction fees attached to that blockchain. The Company’s fractional share is based on the proportion of computing power the Company contributed to the mining pool operator to the total computing power contributed by all mining pool participants in solving the current algorithm. The transaction consideration the Company receives is noncash consideration, in the form of digital currency, which the Company measures at fair value on the date received which is not materially different than the fair value at contract inception or at the time the Company has earned the award from the mining pools.

Segment and Reporting Unit Information

Operating segments are defined as components of an entity for which discrete financial information is available that is regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources to an individual segment and in assessing performance. The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company are determined to comprise the CODM, as a group. The Company has two operating segments as of September 30, 2022, which we refer to as Specialty Finance and Mining Operations. Our corporate oversight function and other components that may earn revenues that are only incidental to the activities of the Company are aggregated and included in the “All Other” category. See Note 11, “Segment Information”.

Digital Assets

When applicable, we account for all digital assets other than stablecoin as indefinite-lived intangible assets in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other. We have ownership of and control over our digital assets and use third-party custodial services to secure it. Digital assets that are purchased are initially recorded at cost and digital assets that are received in exchange for services provided are recognized at fair value as of the date received (refer to Revenue Recognition policy). Digital assets are subsequently remeasured on the consolidated balance sheet at cost, net of any impairment losses incurred since acquisition. We account for

stablecoin as financial assets in accordance with ASC 310, Receivables. The stablecoin are recorded at amortized cost, which approximates their fair value.

We determine the fair value of our digital assets that are accounted for as intangible assets in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, based on quoted prices on the active exchange(s) that we have determined is the principal market for such assets (Level 1 inputs). We perform an analysis each quarter to identify whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that our digital assets are impaired. If the current carrying value of a digital asset exceeds the fair value so determined, an impairment loss has occurred with respect to those digital assets in the amount equal to the difference between their carrying values and the price determined.

The impaired digital assets are written down to their fair value at the time of impairment and this new cost basis will not be adjusted upward for any subsequent increase in fair value. Gains are not recorded until realized upon sale, at which point they are presented separately from any impairment losses.

Digital currencies earned by the Company through its mining activities are included within operating activities on the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows.

There is currently no specific guidance under GAAP or alternative accounting framework for the accounting for digital assets recognized as revenue or held, and management has exercised significant judgment in determining the appropriate accounting treatment. In the event authoritative guidance is enacted by the FASB, the Company may be required to change its policies, which could have an effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results from operations.

Fixed Assets, Net

The Company capitalizes all acquisitions of fixed assets in excess of $500. Fixed assets are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets and commences once the assets are ready for their intended use. Fixed assets are comprised of furniture, computer, office equipment and mining machines with assigned useful lives of 3 to 5 years.

The Company operates in an emerging industry for which limited data is available to make estimates of the useful economic lives of mining machines. To the extent that any of the assumptions underlying management’s estimate of useful life of its mining machines are subject to revision in a future reporting period, either as a result of changes in circumstances or through the availability of greater quantities of data, then the estimated useful life could change and have a prospective impact on depreciation expense and the carrying amounts of these assets.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Management reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment amount is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. There was no impairment of long-lived assets for the Three and Nine Months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.

Investment in Securities

Investment in Securities includes investments in common stocks, note receivables, and convertible notes receivables. Investments in securities are reported at fair value with changes in unrecognized gains or losses included in other income on the income statement. The fair value of the BORQ convertible note receivable is based on its classification as a trading security. The Symbiont and Seastar Medical, Inc. notes receivable are reported at amortized costs less impairment.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

FASB ASC 825-10, Financial Instruments, requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the balance sheet.

Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

We account for investments in less than 50% owned and more than 20% owned entities using the equity method of accounting. Because we have elected the fair value option for these securities, unrealized holding gains and losses during the period are included in earnings.

Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic income (loss) per share is calculated as net income (loss) to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period (as adjusted to give effect to the Reverse Stock Split).

The Company issued approximately 74 thousand shares and 2.3 million shares at various times during the Nine Months ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, respectively, and has weighted averaged these new shares in calculating income (loss) per share for the relevant period.

Diluted income (loss) per share for the period equals basic loss per share as the effect of any convertible notes, stock based compensation awards or stock warrants would be anti-dilutive.

The anti-dilutive stock based compensation awards consisted of:


	As of September 30,
	2022	2021
Stock Options	3,956,827	3,860
Stock Warrants	7,677,441	391,900