Corporate News

Herford, December 01, 2020 – Bitcoin Group SE (ISIN DE000A1TNV91) is showing a strong dynamic at all levels. The growing popularity of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a means of payment as well as the massively growing interest of professional investors in crypto assets is positive in two ways.

The dynamic development of the Bitcoin, which has reached a new all-time high, accelerates the customer growth on the Bitcoin.de cryptocurrency trading platform operated by futurum bank AG. At the beginning of November, the annual target for the customer base was reached ahead of schedule with 900,000 customers. In addition, the near quadrupling of the Bitcoin price since March of this year is also reflected in the balance sheet. The own stock of cryptocurrencies has exceeded the EUR 60 million mark. Around EUR 53 million of this is accounted for by Bitcoin, the rest by other popular cryptocurrencies. By way of comparison, Bitcoin Group SE reported EUR 27.5 million in the balance sheet as of December 31, 2019.

"Although our core business as a crypto bank is largely independent of the performance of cryptocurrencies, our shareholders participate in the success of Bitcoin and Co. through our own stock of crypto assets. The value of our assets has more than doubled since the beginning of the year. This is an extremely pleasant side effect, which we believe is sustainable. Especially among institutional investors, cryptocurrencies are becoming an integral part of asset allocation. The success story of cryptocurrencies is only just beginning, and we are right in the middle of it," says Marco Bodewein, Managing Director of Bitcoin Group SE.

Herford, November 25, 2020 – Bitcoin Group SE (ISIN DE000A1TNV91) welcomed its 900,000 customer on Bitcoin.de at the beginning of November. The Company, which operates the cryptocurrency trading platform Bitcoin.de via the subsidiary futurum bank AG, achieved its annual goal in terms of customer acquisition considerably ahead of schedule.

Bitcoin.de is a high-performance trading platform for cryptocurrencies and online available already for more than nine years. The Bitcoin Group team has constantly expanded the functionalities of the platform. In addition to a wide range of currencies, customers can also use services via app (iOS and Android). Following the merger of Bitcoin Deutschland AG with futurum bank AG, with registry in the commercial register in October 2020, Germany's first crypto bank with many additional services has been created. Thus, Europe's largest cryptocurrency trading platform will also be available to institutional customers in the future.

"We are glad and proud of having reached our target of 900,000 customers at such an early stage and would like to thank everyone for their trust in us. Given the current challenging market conditions, this is not a self-evident fact. The success is based especially on our creative team, which has continuously developed and improved Bitcoin.de. From express trading over the admission of further currencies up to the accessibility of the Bitcoin.de app and the crypto custody business, Bitcoin.de has been a success story, which we continue and constantly develop with passion and commitment," says Marco Bodewein, Managing Director of the Bitcoin Group SE.

Herford, November 19, 2020 – Bitcoin Group SE (ISIN DE000A1TNV91) continues to successfully increase its level of awareness and at the same time interest on the investor side. Since the end of October 2020, the Group has become the newest member of the first blockchain exchange traded fund (ETF) launched in Germany. In March 2019, the US investment company Invesco launched the Invesco Elwood Global Blockchain ETF (ISIN: IE00BGBN6P67). The fund tracks the Elwood Blockchain Global Equity Index.

The index contains companies from industrialised and emerging markets that seize the opportunities offered by the blockchain ecosystem. It is therefore structured to evolve in line with the potential growth of blockchain technology. The index is reviewed and rebalanced on a quarterly basis. This is how Bitcoin Group SE became part of the portfolio at the end of October.

"The inclusion in the index will certainly have a positive impact on our name recognition and perception as a promising company in the field of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. We are very pleased about this news and the fact that it will also attract attention beyond the borders of our home market," said Marco Bodewein, Managing Director of Bitcoin Group SE.

● Merger of Bitcoin Deutschland AG with futurum bank AG registered in the commercial register ● Combined Entity to operate under the name of futurum bank AG ● Cryptotrading and custody under the umbrella of futurum bank AG from a single source ● High synergy effects at organizational level ● New growth impetus from institutional clients Herford, October 22, 2020 – Bitcoin Group SE (ISIN DE000A1TNV91) has closed the merger of Bitcoin Deutschland AG with futurum bank AG. Germany´s first crypto bank results from the unification of the crypto business division bitcoin.de and the entire Investment Banking services of futurum bank AG. After the successful registry in the commercial register on 13 October 2020, the combined entity will operate under the name futurum bank AG. The integration measure is thus completed also on the corporate law level. After the merger has been completed futurum bank AG now bundles all regulatory licensed assets held in the Group under one entity that has already been licensed under regulatory law. This results in high synergy effects within Bitcoin Group SE by reducing organizational and regulatory complexity. Furthermore, this measure strengthens Bitcoin Group SE's offering as a cryptocurrency trading platform, and depository. futurum bank AG can offer customers an even better service from a single source. This marks a further significant step in diversifying the business model. The BaFin has established a unified legal framework for banks to offer and store cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin Group SE also makes use of this possibility and extends the provision of cryptocustody services to the entire Group of companies. In the future, Europe's largest crypto trading platform will also be available to institutional customers via futurum bank AG. The new customer base opens up new value-adding growth prospects for Bitcoin Group SE. “Market participants, both private and institutional, are looking for profitable investment opportunities outside the Euro and US Dollar & Co. Cryptocurrencies are much appreciated for their high returns and safety features. Our reliable and attractive service portfolio, which is already used by more than 884,000 private customers, will in future also be open to institutional investors via the newly formed futurum bank AG. We expect that this will result in significant growth impulses for Bitcoin Group SE,” says Marco Bodewein, Managing Director of Bitcoin Group SE.

• Sales increased sharply by more than 153 percent to TEUR 6,228
• EBITDA more than tripled to TEUR 4,177 (previous year: TEUR 1,231)
• Management confirms all forecasts

Herford, September 30, 2020 – Bitcoin Group SE (ISIN DE000A1TNV91) today presented figures for the first half-year 2020. The Group recorded significant growth, despite a challenging environment due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sales amounted to TEUR 6,228 compared to TEUR 2,455 in the first half of 2019. At the same time, Bitcoin Group SE recorded a significant increase in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) by 239 percent from TEUR 1,231 in the first half of the previous year to TEUR 4,177 thousand in the first half of 2020. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) improved from TEUR 4,228 in the first half of 2019 to TEUR 5,042 at the end of June 2020. Consequently, earnings per share increased significantly to EUR 0.70 in the first six months of 2020 compared to EUR 0.57 in the first half of the previous year. This corresponds to a growth of 22.8 percent

Over the entire reporting period Bitcoin.de, the cryptocurrency trading platform operated by the wholly owned subsidiary Bitcoin Deutschland AG, recorded strong customer interest. The number of users grew from 840,000 at the end of 2019 to 884,000 in the first half of 2020, with an average of 7,333 new customers per month deciding to use the extensive services of Bitcoin.de. After a transitional weak phase in the share price at the peak of the lockdown due to coronavirus, however, Bitcoin recovered significantly in the course of the period under review. At EUR 8,142.56 at the end of the first half of 2020, the Bitcoin share price was significantly higher than the 2019 year-end price of EUR 6,516.03 and roughly at the pre-crisis level. Both the positive developments of major cryptocurrencies and the success in acquiring new customers ensured increased trading volumes on Bitcoin.de and an overall successful first half of 2020 of Bitcoin Group SE.

The Company continues to work with full commitment on the diversification of its business model. This includes the resolution adopted after the reporting period to merge Bitcoin Deutschland AG with futurum bank AG in order to increase the value of the Company. This integration measure will enable Bitcoin Group SE to strengthen the Group's offering as a cryptocurrency trading platform and depository and to offer its customers an even better service from a single unit. The aim is to make the crypto marketplace accessible to institutional and corporate customers in the future. In this way, Bitcoin Group SE opens up new sales potentials and customer base.

“The business development in the first half of 2020 makes us satisfied and optimistic. Satisfied above all, because we have shown that we can and will stand by our strategy even under challenging market conditions. The steady increase in the number of users underlines the reliability and attractiveness of our service portfolio, which we are now opening up to institutional investors. We are expanding our position step by step - on behalf of our customers and shareholders,” says Marco Bodewein, Managing Director of Bitcoin Group SE.

The Management confirms the forecasts made for the full year 2020. With regard to the positive development in the acquisition of new customers, the company expects a total of 900,000 registered users for the entire year. Sales and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) are expected to remain constant or increase strongly.

The English version of the half-year report 2020 will be available in October 2020. The German version of the half-year report 2020 can be downloaded as a PDF document from bitcoingroup.com in the Publications section.

• Merger of Bitcoin Deutschland AG into futurum bank AG resolved
• Cryptotrading and custody for retail and institutional customers from a single unit
• High synergy effects at organizational level
• New growth impetus from institutional clients
• Unification forms Germany’s first „crypto bank“

Herford, 24 August 2020 – Bitcoin Group SE (ISIN DE000A1TNV91) has decided to merge Bitcoin Deutschland AG with futurum bank AG, its two wholly owned subsidiaries. In the course of the merger, Bitcoin Deutschland AG will be integrated into futurum bank AG and futurum bank AG will become the legal successor of Bitcoin Deutschland AG. This integration measure will enable Bitcoin Group SE to strengthen the Group's offering as a cryptocurrency trading platform and depository and to offer its customers an even better service from a single unit.

Within the framework of the Act on the Implementation of the Amending Directive to the Fourth EU Money Laundering Directive, BaFin created a uniform legal framework when the Act came into force on January 1, 2020, enabling banks to offer crypto depository. As a result of the merger, Bitcoin Group SE is bundling the regulatory licenses held in the Group under a unit already licensed under regulatory law. At the same time, the reduction of organizational and regulatory complexity results in high synergy effects and considerable cost savings.

The aim is to make the crypto marketplace accessible to institutional and corporate customers in the future. The unification of the crypto business bitcoin.de and the Investment Banking services of the futurum bank AG forms Germany’s first "crypto bank". This is accompanied by the opening of Europe's largest crypto trading platform for institutional clients via futurum bank AG. This measure opens up a new customer base for Bitcoin Group SE and thus additional sales potential beyond the existing business.

"The interest in crypto assets has once again gained considerable momentum due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the interest of institutional investors is also increasing steadily. Also in view of the recently published draft bill for the introduction of electronically deposited securities and the crypto-custody already enshrined in law. As a pioneer in the crypto-scene we are pushing ahead with the merger to create the organizational conditions that will enable us to benefit from these developments. We are confident that we will be able to generate new, additional growth impulses for Bitcoin Group SE in our business with institutional customers," says Marco Bodewein, Managing Director of Bitcoin Group SE and Member of the Board of futurum bank AG.

With the merger becoming legally effective by entry in the commercial register, which is expected to take place in October, Michael Nowak, the current Managing Director of Bitcoin Deutschland AG, and Per Hlawatschek, the current CIO of the Group, will be appointed as new members of the Managing Board of futurum bank AG. Both appointments are subject to the approval of the financial supervisory authorities. The founder and CEO of Bitcoin Deutschland AG and CEO of the majority shareholder Priority AG, Oliver Flaskämper, will leave his position with the legal force of the merger and will in future act as a consultant for the strategic business development.

● High approval for all resolutions
● Position as leading custodian for crypto assets to be significantly expanded
● Development of new sales potential

Herford, August 21, 2020 – Bitcoin Group SE (ISIN DE000A1TNV91) today successfully held its Annual General Meeting 2020. While maintaining the highest hygiene and health standards, the event was able to take place in Herford as a face-to-face event.

The shareholders approved the proposals of the management with clear majorities in all agenda items. The shareholders of Bitcoin Group SE present at the meeting approved the recommendation of the management to discharge the members of the Board of Directors and the Managing Directors for the 2019 financial year. The shareholders also approved the profit and loss transfer agreement between Bitcoin Group SE and futurum bank AG. GAR Gesellschaft für Aufsichtsrecht und Revision mbH, Frankfurt, was elected as auditor and Group auditor.

"We can look back on a successful year. Thanks to the increasing demand for crypto currencies, we are recording a robust influx of customers for our crypto currency trading platform bitcoin.de. We are continuously working on expanding and improving our services. The focus is now on opening up our platform to institutional investors in order to take account of the growing popularity of crypto-assets for professional investors. This opens up new revenue potential for the Group," says Marco Bodewein, Managing Director of Bitcoin Group SE.

The voting results are available on the Bitcoin Group SE website at bitcoingroup.com in the Corporate Coverance / Annual General Meeting section.

• EBIT amounts to EUR 3,236 thousand (previous year: EUR 2,432thousand)
• More than 840,000 customers already use the services on Bitcoin.de
• Management expects positive result for fiscal 2020

Herford, June 30, 2020 – Bitcoin Group SE (ISIN DE000A1TNV91) today presented figures for the 2019 financial year. Sales in the year under review amounted to EUR 6,298 thousand compared to EUR 11,333 thousand in the previous year. The reason for the decline is a higher starting point, especially at the beginning of 2018. At the same time, Bitcoin Group recorded a significant increase in earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) from EUR 2,432 thousand in the previous year to EUR 3,236thousandin 2019. Consequently, earnings per share rose significantly to EUR 0.43 in 2019 compared to EUR 0.31 in the previous year. This corresponds to a growth of 38.7 percent.

The increasing demand for crypto currencies had a positive effect in a generally challenging environment. As an example, the Bitcoin price rose from EUR 3,257.05to EUR 6,516.03 in the reporting year. In mid-July 2019, the share price reached its annual high of EUR 11,210.93, thus continuing the development of the record year 2017. Bitcoin Group SE is making progress with similar dynamics in the acquisition of new customers. For example, the number of customers on Bitcoin.de, the crypto-currency trading platform operated by the wholly owned subsidiary Bitcoin Deutschland AG, rose to 840,000 in the course of the year 2019. At the end of 2018, the number of customers was 779,000.

The positive development underlines clearly that in challenging times investors appreciate the numerous advantages of crypto currencies and a secure trading place like Bitcoin.de. Therefore,the company is continuously working to expand and improve its own services. Among other things, this includes the launch of the Bitcoin.de App. With the notice of intent to apply for permission to conduct crypto-custody business towards the end of 2019, the company intends to expand its business with institutional customers. This possibility will open up additional revenue potential.

"We are satisfied with the development in fiscal year 2019. We have continued to succeed in convincing customers of our services and retaining them. By continuously improving our services, we have laid the foundation for continuing to benefit from the numerous opportunities in the cryptocurrency market. Nevertheless, in the environment of thelimiting corona pandemic measures, all decisions must be carefully weighed up and brought into harmony with the health protection of our employees. This has been our top priority," says Marco Bodewein, Managing Director of Bitcoin Group SE.

The developments in the context of the corona pandemic and the associated containment measures by the health authorities make it difficult to make a valid forecast. The aim of all measures is not only the continued positive development of the company but also the maximum health protection of all employees. Management expects a positive result for the 2020 financial year.

The English version of the Annual Report 2019 will be available at the end of July, the German version can be downloaded as a PDF document from bitcoingroup.com in the Publications section.