Big Digital Energy, Inc. Revenue Disclosure

Revenue recognition

Digital currency mining revenue

The Company recognizes revenue under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The core principle of ASC 606 is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Five steps are required to 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 satisfies a performance obligation.

In order to identify the performance obligations in a contract with a customer, a company must assess the promised goods or services in the contract and identify each promised good or service that is distinct. A performance obligation meets ASC 606’s definition of a “distinct” good or service (or bundle of goods or services) if both of the following criteria are met: the customer can benefit from the good or service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available to the customer (i.e., the good or service is capable of being distinct), and the entity’s promise to transfer the good or service to the customer is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract (i.e., the promise to transfer the good or service is distinct within the context of the contract).

The Company has entered into a contract with mining pools and has undertaken the performance obligation of providing computing power in exchange for non-cash consideration in the form of digital currency. The provision of computing power is the only performance obligation in the Company’s contract with its pool operators. Where the consideration received is variable (for example, due to payment only being made upon successful mining), it is recognized when it is highly probable that the variability is resolved, which is generally when the digital currency is received.

The Company measures the non-cash consideration received at the fair market value of the digital currency received. Management estimates fair value on a daily basis, as the quantity of digital currency received multiplied by the price quoted on the crypto exchange that the Company uses to dispose of digital currency.

Co-location revenue

Co-location customers pay for energy used in connection with the customer co-location agreement on a pass-through basis, which may be on a fixed or variable basis calculated on the portion of energy used by the customer on the site. The Company additionally charges co-location fees for the use of the facilities, and other related fees. Revenue is typically received monthly from the customer based on the power usage at the rates outlined in each customer contract.

The customer contracts contain variable consideration to be allocated to and recognized in the period to which the consideration relates. Usually this is when it is invoiced, rather than obtaining an estimation of variable consideration at the beginning of the customer contracts.

Net energy benefits

In exchange for powering down the Company’s digital infrastructure and curtailing power usage in response to instances of high electricity demand, the Company receives net energy benefits from the grid.

Revenue for curtailing power is recognized over the period of time that the services are being provided. The Company estimates the amount of curtailable power and the expected payment for that curtailment and recognizes revenue based on the proportion of the service that has been provided. In this arrangement, the Company is considered the principal and revenue is recognized on a gross basis.

Revenue through the Company’s power pricing arrangement is recognized over the period of time that the services are being provided. The Company estimates the amount of energy available for sale and the expected payment for that energy, and recognizes revenue based on the proportion of the service that has been provided. In this arrangement, the Company is considered the principal and revenue is recognized on a gross basis. 

Equipment sales

The Company had previously earned revenues from the sale of earlier generation digital currency mining units and modular data centers that have been assembled or refurbished for resale (collectively, “Hardware”). Revenue from the sale of Hardware is recognized upon transfer of control of the Hardware to the customer. At the date of sale, the net book value is expensed in cost of revenues.