Note 7. Investments in Marketable Equity Securities

In September 2017 and February 2018, the Company acquired a minority interest for $9.4 million in Coinsquare Ltd. (“Coinsquare”), which operates a digital crypto currency exchange platform in Canada. The investment resulted in an ownership in Coinsquare by the Company of approximately 11.7%, on a fully diluted basis. In 2020, the Company determined there were indicators that would cause a 100% impairment of the Coinsquare investment, resulting in the Company recording an impairment expense of $9.4 million in 2020. The Company elected under ASU 2016-01 to account for the Coinsquare investment using the measurement alternative at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes.

During the period ended June 30, 2021, under agreements generally between Coinsquare, Coinsquare’s shareholders (including Riot) and Mogo Inc. (NASDAQ: MOGO) (“Mogo Agreement”), a digital payments and financial technology company (“Mogo”), Riot sold its 3.4 million common shares of Coinsquare (the “Coinsquare Shares”) in exchange for approximately 3.2 million common shares of Mogo (the “Mogo Shares”) and approximately US $1.8 million in cash.

During the six months ended June 30, 2021, the Company recorded a gain on sale/exchange of long-term investments of $26.3 million for the sale of its shares of Coinsquare. Concurrently, in accordance with ASC 321, we recorded the fair value of the MOGO shares, received in the exchange of $24.8 million in investments in marketable equity securities within current assets on our unaudited condensed interim consolidated balance sheets. The fair value was calculated as 3.1 million shares of Mogo common stock multiplied by the fair value of the Mogo shares received. On June 30, 2021, we recorded a mark-to-market unrealized gain on the shares of approximately $0.3 million based on the closing price per share of Mogo common stock on NASDAQ on June 30, 2021 of $7.85. The daily share price is extremely volatile and may be more or less than the amount recorded as of June 30, 2021.