20-F: ATIF Holdings Reports $4.6M Loss, Shifts to BTC Mining
Annual Report
ATIF Holdings Limited reported a net loss of $4.6 million for fiscal year 2025, while strategically expanding into Bitcoin mining and raising significant capital.
Summary
- Net loss increased by 44% to $4.6 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2025, compared to $3.2 million in fiscal year 2024.
- Total revenue increased by 94% to $1.2 million in fiscal year 2025 from $0.6 million in fiscal year 2024, primarily from consulting services in Hong Kong and Singapore.
- Operating cash outflows were approximately $2.5 million in fiscal year 2025, a significant increase from $0.1 million in fiscal year 2024.
- Cash and cash equivalents stood at approximately $9.0 million as of July 31, 2025.
- Stockholders' equity was $9,663,475 as of July 31, 2025, exceeding Nasdaq's minimum requirement of $2,500,000.
- The company initiated a strategic expansion into the Bitcoin (BTC) sector in June 2025, with a five-year plan to accumulate 1,000 BTC through direct purchases and mining operations in West Texas.
- As of the report date, the company has purchased 0.19 BTC in the open market.
- Several capital raises were completed in fiscal year 2025, including $4.8 million in January, $2.5 million in February, and $2 million in July.
- A securities purchase agreement was entered into on October 8, 2025, to sell up to 9,000,000 units (ordinary shares and warrants) for approximately $29.34 million.
- A 1-for-18 reverse share split was effectuated on August 8, 2025.
- A legal proceeding with Boustead Securities, LLC was settled for $1,000,000, payable in three installments, with $750,000 already paid.
- A pending lawsuit from J.P Morgan Securities LLC (JPMS) for $5,064,160 in damages is currently in FINRA arbitration.
- Four material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting were identified.
- The AT Consulting Center stopped operations in fiscal year 2025 due to a shift in business focus away from mainland China.
Sentiment
Score: 3
Explanation: The company faces significant financial distress, including substantial net losses, negative operating cash flows, and explicit 'going concern' doubt. While recent capital raises provide temporary liquidity, they come with considerable dilution. The strategic shift into the highly volatile Bitcoin sector introduces substantial new risks without a proven track record. Identified material weaknesses in internal controls further compound the negative outlook, making the investment highly speculative.
Positives
- Total revenue increased by 94% to $1.2 million in fiscal year 2025, driven by consulting services in Hong Kong and Singapore.
- Successfully raised approximately $9.3 million in gross proceeds from equity offerings in fiscal year 2025, significantly improving liquidity.
- Entered into a securities purchase agreement on October 8, 2025, for a potential capital raise of approximately $29.34 million, indicating continued access to financing.
- Stockholders' equity of $9,663,475 as of July 31, 2025, demonstrates compliance with Nasdaq's minimum listing requirements, mitigating immediate delisting risk.
- Strategic expansion into the Bitcoin (BTC) sector in June 2025, with a five-year plan to accumulate 1,000 BTC, represents a forward-looking diversification effort.
- Resolved the legal proceeding with Boustead Securities, LLC through a settlement agreement, reducing ongoing litigation uncertainty.
Negatives
- Net loss increased by 44% to $4.6 million in fiscal year 2025, indicating worsening profitability.
- Operating cash outflows significantly increased to $2.5 million in fiscal year 2025 from $0.1 million in fiscal year 2024, highlighting cash burn.
- Substantial doubt exists about the company's ability to continue as a going concern due to recurring losses and cash outflows.
- Incurred a significant loss of approximately $3.6 million from investment in trading securities in fiscal year 2025.
- Identified four material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, raising concerns about financial accuracy and fraud prevention.
- Heavy dependence on a limited number of clients, with four customers accounting for 83% of consolidated revenue in fiscal year 2025, poses a concentration risk.
- An ongoing legal proceeding with J.P Morgan Securities LLC seeks $5,064,160 in damages, representing a material contingent liability.
- The AT Consulting Center ceased operations in fiscal year 2025, and the CNNM platform was fully impaired in 2020, indicating past business failures and shifts.
Risks
- Limited operating history and subject to risks encountered by early-stage companies.
- Incurred net losses for the year ended July 31, 2025, and expects losses to continue in the near future.
- Raising additional capital may cause dilution to existing stockholders.
- Failure to comply with NASDAQ continued listing requirements could result in delisting.
- Historical financial results may not be indicative of future performance.
- Substantial doubt about the ability to continue as a going concern.
- May incur liability for unpaid taxes, including interest and penalties.
- Changes in the U.S. capital markets could make services less attractive to clients.
- Failure to maintain or enhance brand or image could have a material adverse effect.
- May not be successful in implementing important new strategic initiatives, such as the BTC sector expansion.
- Increasing competition within the financial consulting industry.
- Results of operations and cash flows may fluctuate due to the non-recurring nature of going public consulting services.
- Arbitration proceedings, legal proceedings, investigations, and other claims are costly and could require payment of fines or damages.
- Subject to damages resulting from unauthorized access or hacking and other cyber risks.
- Failure to hire, train, and retain qualified managerial and other employees.
- Any failure to protect trademarks and other intellectual property rights could have a negative impact.
- Heavy dependence on a limited number of clients.
- Reliance on information management systems; damage, interruption, or compromise could disrupt and harm business.
- Business strategy may not be successful, impeding development and growth.
- Service offerings may not be accepted by the market.
- Changes in China's economic, political, or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect if operations continue in China.
- The Chinese government may exert substantial influence over business activities in PRC if operations continue there.
- Changes in the policies of the PRC government could significantly impact the ability to generate revenue from the PRC in the future.
- May be subject to PRC laws and obligations regarding cybersecurity and data protection if operations continue in China.
- May face negative tax implications due to the termination of the VIE structure.
- Risks related to a future determination that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate the auditor completely.
- Limited operating history in the BTC sector, making it difficult to evaluate business and prospects.
- The launch of the Bitcoin-related business could adversely affect business, results of operations, and financial condition.
- Bitcoin-related business contains various risks, including those inherent to Bitcoin and the broader digital asset ecosystem, such as extreme volatility.
- Fluctuations in the price of Bitcoin are likely to influence financial results; a hypothetical 50% change could impact net income by approximately $135.1 million.
- Warrants with repricing features may limit ordinary share price and make future capital raises more expensive.
- Sales of a significant number of ordinary shares in the public market could depress the market price.
- Does not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.
- Failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting.
- Requirements of being a public company may strain resources, increase costs, and distract management.
- If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish negative reports, the price and trading volume of ordinary shares could decline.
- The market price of ordinary shares may be volatile or decline regardless of operating performance.
- If deemed an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, applicable restrictions could make business impractical.
- Anti-takeover provisions in the memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay, or prevent a change in control.
- As a BVI company, shareholders may be unable to bring an action against the company or its officers and directors or to enforce any judgment.
- The board of directors may decline to register transfers of ordinary shares in certain circumstances.
- Certain types of class or derivative actions generally available under U.S. law may not be available due to BVI incorporation, limiting shareholder rights.
- Limited protections for minority shareholders under BVI laws compared to the United States.
- No pre-emptive rights in favor of holders of ordinary shares, so shareholders may not be able to participate in future equity offerings.
- If classified as a passive foreign investment company (PFIC), United States taxpayers who own ordinary shares may have adverse federal income tax consequences.
- Volatility in the market price of ordinary shares could lead to losses by investors.
Future Outlook
The company expects to continue experiencing losses in the near future due to the declining economic environment and regulatory uncertainties in the PRC affecting its business consulting services. It plans to expand operations to other Asian countries, including Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore, while maintaining focus on the North American market. Significant resources will be allocated to further develop the Bitcoin-related business. The company does not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future, prioritizing reinvestment in business operations and expansion. Management is actively working to remediate identified material weaknesses in internal controls by hiring qualified personnel, implementing training, and establishing an internal audit function.
Management Comments
- We anticipate that we continue to experience losses in the future.
- We believe that our current leased property is in good condition and suitable for the conduct of our business.
- Our management has assessed that the likelihood of future use of the financial and news platform is remote.
- We believe that this streamlined management model and strategic partnership strategy is in line with the current fast-changing and competitive business environment and will provide us with strong growth capability.
- We believe that our relationship with our employees has historically been good, and this is expected to continue.
- Management believes it is very difficult to estimate the timing of this phase of service as the completion of Phase III services is not within the Company's control.
- Management believes that the realization of the deferred tax assets appears to be uncertain and may not be realizable in the near future.
- Our management is currently in the process of evaluating the steps necessary to remediate the ineffectiveness [of disclosure controls and procedures].
Industry Context
The company operates in a competitive financial consulting market with low barriers to entry, facing challenges from new entrants. Its strategic shift from assisting Chinese SMEs to go public to focusing on North American and other Asian markets is a response to evolving regulatory landscapes, particularly in China. The diversification into the Bitcoin (BTC) sector reflects a broader industry trend of companies exploring digital assets, driven by long-term optimism in the space and leveraging favorable regulatory environments and competitive power costs in regions like West Texas for mining operations. This move represents a significant pivot into a highly volatile and rapidly evolving industry, contrasting with its traditional, non-recurring consulting service model.
Comparison to Industry Standards
- The filing mentions competitors in the financial consulting market such as Greenpro Capital Corp., Forward Capital, and Metalpha Technology Holding Limited, but does not provide specific comparative financial or operational data against these companies.
- No specific industry benchmarks or comparable companies are provided for the newly launched Bitcoin-related business to assess its performance against global standards.
Management Changes
| Role | Previous Person | New Person | Effective Date | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer, Director, Chairman | Jun Liu | Dr. Kamran Khan | 2025-01-22 | Resignation of previous officer, appointment of new officer to fill vacancy. |
| Chief Financial Officer, Director | Yue Ming | Shibin Yu | 2025-02-20 | Resignation of previous officer, appointment of new officer to fill vacancy. |
Corporate Governance
| Change Type | Description | Effective Date | Impact Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Country Practice Adoption | The company, as a British Virgin Islands company, follows home country practices in lieu of certain Nasdaq Listing Rules, including not requiring a majority of independent directors (though currently a majority are), not following annual meeting/proxy statement requirements, and not following shareholder approval requirements for certain security issuances. | N/A | Potentially limits shareholder protections and transparency compared to U.S. domestic companies, but is permitted under Nasdaq rules for foreign private issuers. |
| Board Committee Structure | Established an audit committee, compensation committee, and nominating and corporate governance committee with defined charters and independent members. | N/A | Enhances oversight and adherence to corporate governance best practices, with independent directors on key committees. |
| Code of Ethics and Policies | Adopted a code of ethics, a policy against hedging or offsetting compensatory securities, and a formal claw-back policy for incentive-based executive compensation. | N/A | Aims to promote ethical conduct, align management incentives with shareholder interests, and ensure accountability for financial misstatements. |
| Board Diversity Disclosure | Disclosed Board Diversity Matrix as of July 31, 2025, showing 5 directors, all male and all Asian. | 2025-07-31 | Provides transparency on board composition; indicates a lack of gender diversity and limited ethnic diversity beyond Asian representation. |
Legal Proceedings
- Settled a lawsuit with Boustead Securities, LLC for breach of underwriting agreement for a total of $1,000,000. The payment is structured in three installments: $250,000 upon execution of the settlement agreement (September 24, 2024), $500,000 before March 1, 2025, and the final $250,000 before December 31, 2025. The first two installments totaling $750,000 have been paid.
- Facing a pending lawsuit from J.P Morgan Securities LLC (JPMS) filed on December 22, 2023, seeking $5,064,160 in damages plus interest and attorneys' fees related to a stock transaction by ATIF-1 GP, LLC. The parties have agreed to submit disputes between JPMS and ATIF-1 GP, LLC to FINRA arbitration, and the California state court case is stayed pending the arbitration outcome. ATIF-1 GP, LLC has not been a subsidiary since its disposition in 2022.
Related Party Transactions
- Provided consulting services to Asia International Securities Exchange Co., Ltd. (wholly owned by former CEO Mr. Jun Liu) for $0 in FY2025, $200,000 in FY2024, and $1,300,000 in FY2023.
- Accounts receivable from Asia International Securities Exchange Co., Ltd. were $0 as of July 31, 2025, and $200,000 as of July 31, 2024.
- Other receivable from Asia International Securities Exchange Co., Ltd. (prepayment for security purchase, subsequently cancelled and fully collected) was $0 as of July 31, 2025, and $900,000 as of July 31, 2024.
- Lease agreement for office space with Zachary Group LLC (wholly owned by former CEO Mr. Jun Liu) was terminated effective November 1, 2024. Rental expenses were $12,000 in FY2025 and $95,000 in FY2024.
- Extended a loan of $93,013 to Mr. Jun Liu (former CEO) and subsequently collected the same amount in FY2025.
- Entered into a deferred salary conversion agreement with Mr. Jun Liu on April 29, 2024, issuing 384,478 ordinary shares in lieu of $349,875 unpaid salary.
Stakeholder Impact
- Shareholders face significant dilution from recent and planned capital raises, with no expectation of dividends in the foreseeable future. The stock is subject to high volatility due to financial performance, legal issues, and the high-risk Bitcoin venture. Limited shareholder protections under BVI law compared to U.S. law.
- Employees are impacted by management changes and the company's ongoing efforts to attract and retain qualified personnel, particularly in financial consultancy and the new BTC sector.
- Customers for consulting services saw an increase in revenue contribution in FY2025, but the company's heavy dependence on a limited number of clients poses a risk to revenue stability.
- Creditors may face increased risk due to the company's 'going concern' doubt, recurring losses, and significant operating cash outflows, despite recent capital injections. Litigation settlements also represent material liabilities.
Next Steps
- Increase revenue and control operating costs and expenses to generate positive operating cash flows and address going concern uncertainty.
- Obtain additional financing from outside sources to fund current operating plans.
- Recruit more professionals and allocate additional resources to expand and develop the Bitcoin-related business.
- Remediate identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting by hiring qualified accounting personnel, implementing training programs, and establishing an internal audit function.
- Continue to monitor the potential impact of U.S. tax reforms.
- Await the outcome of the FINRA arbitration for the J.P Morgan Securities LLC lawsuit before proceeding with the stayed California state court case.
Key Dates
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 2015-01-05 | Company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands. |
| 2016-07-31 | First fiscal year with revenue generated. |
| 2018-08-01 | Launched AT Consulting Center. |
| 2018-09-01 | Acquired CNNM, a news and media platform. |
| 2019-07-01 | Launched an investment and financing analysis reporting business. |
| 2020-05-14 | Boustead Securities LLC filed a lawsuit against the Company. |
| 2020-11-05 | Completed a private placement of warrants. |
| 2021-01-04 | Announced relocation of operating headquarter to California, USA. |
| 2021-01-14 | Entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement to sell all interests in Leaping Group Co., Ltd. (LGC). |
| 2021-01-29 | Closing of the Sale and Purchase Agreement for LGC. |
| 2021-01-31 | Terminated VIE agreements with Qianhai Asia Times (Shenzhen) International Financial Services Co., Ltd. |
| 2021-02-16 | Established ATIF-1, LP as a private equity fund. |
| 2021-12-22 | ATIF Inc. established ATIF BD LLC. |
| 2022-04-25 | Company established ATIF Investment Limited. |
| 2022-05-31 | Completed the transfer of equity interest in ATIF HK and Huaya to Mr. Pishan Chi. |
| 2022-08-01 | ATIF USA sold all of its membership interests in ATIF-1 GP, LLC. |
| 2022-08-03 | Company filed a motion to compel arbitration of Boustead's claims in California. |
| 2022-10-06 | ATIF Inc. established ATIF Business Consulting LLC. |
| 2022-10-07 | ATIF Inc. established ATIF Business Management LLC. |
| 2023-02-14 | Court ordered ATIF's motion to compel arbitration granted and case stayed pending arbitration for Boustead lawsuit. |
| 2023-03-10 | Boustead filed Demand for Arbitration against ATIF before JAMS in California. |
| 2023-05-25 | ATIF filed its answer to deny Boustead's Demand for Arbitration, initiating the arbitration process. |
| 2023-11-08 | Hearing on Boustead's motion for contract interpretation determination was held, extended to February 29, 2024. |
| 2023-11-13 | ATIF LP was deregistered. |
| 2023-11-22 | Company received a letter from Nasdaq regarding non-compliance with minimum stockholders equity requirement. |
| 2023-12-15 | Deadline for Boustead to submit its reply regarding contract interpretation issues. |
| 2023-12-22 | J.P Morgan Securities LLC (JPMS) filed a lawsuit against ATIF Holdings Limited. |
| 2024-01-08 | Nasdaq deadline for the Company to submit a plan to regain compliance with minimum stockholders equity requirement. |
| 2024-02-12 | Deadline for the Company to present its response brief in the Boustead arbitration. |
| 2024-02-29 | Entered into a new employment agreement with Jun Liu for a monthly salary of $1. |
| 2024-03-01 | Modified office lease arrangement with Zachary Group, reducing lease term and office space. |
| 2024-04-16 | Entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement for a private placement, receiving gross proceeds of $1,343,789.76. |
| 2024-04-18 | Entered into two securities purchase agreements in a private placement, receiving gross proceeds of $1,000,002.38. |
| 2024-04-29 | Entered into a deferred salary conversion agreement with Mr. Jun Liu, issuing 384,478 ordinary shares for $349,875 unpaid salary. |
| 2024-05-06 | Mediation held for the JPMS lawsuit, but no resolution was reached. |
| 2024-05-15 | Defendants filed a Petition with the Superior Court of California seeking to compel arbitration for the JPMS lawsuit. |
| 2024-05-16 | Nasdaq granted an extension until May 20, 2024, to provide evidence of compliance with stockholders equity requirement. |
| 2024-07-26 | Current directors were re-elected at the 2024 Annual General Meeting. |
| 2024-08-16 | Parties agreed that JPMS and ATIF-1 GP, LLC would submit disputes to FINRA arbitration, staying the California state court case. |
| 2024-09-24 | Company and Boustead entered into a settlement agreement for $1,000,000. |
| 2024-10-28 | Company was granted 7,850,000 ordinary shares of a listed company by a shareholder as capital contribution. |
| 2024-11-01 | Lease agreement with Zachary Group terminated. |
| 2024-11-30 | Company entered into an agreement with Zachary Group to terminate the Lease Agreement effective November 1, 2024. |
| 2024-12-18 | Company changed the ticker symbol of its ordinary shares listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market from ATIF to ZBAI. |
| 2025-01-15 | Securities purchase agreement dated January 15, 2025, between ATIF Holdings Limited and certain non-affiliated institutional investors. |
| 2025-01-21 | Issued and sold 212,222 ordinary shares for gross proceeds of US$4.8 million. |
| 2025-01-22 | Jun Liu resigned as Chief Executive Officer, director, and Chairman; Dr. Kamran Khan appointed as Chief Executive Officer, director, and Chairman. |
| 2025-02-03 | Entered into a letter agreement to buy back and cancel 1,480,000 ordinary shares for $1,850,000. |
| 2025-02-04 | Entered into a securities purchase agreement for a registered direct offering and concurrent private placement for gross proceeds of approximately $2.5 million. |
| 2025-02-05 | The February Offering closed. |
| 2025-02-20 | Yue Ming resigned as Chief Financial Officer and director; Shibin Yu appointed as Chief Financial Officer and director. |
| 2025-03-01 | Second installment of $500,000 due to Boustead Securities, LLC. |
| 2025-03-02 | Entered into a lease agreement with Sat Hing Pat for office space. |
| 2025-04-01 | Board of Directors of the Listed Company approved a 1-for-25 reverse share split for its ordinary shares. |
| 2025-05-05 | Reverse share split for the Listed Company's ordinary shares came into effect. |
| 2025-06-01 | Began strategic expansion into the BTC sector. |
| 2025-06-30 | Board of directors approved a 1-for-18 reverse share split, effective August 8, 2025. |
| 2025-07-22 | Entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain non-U.S. investors for gross proceeds of $2 million. |
| 2025-07-29 | Closing of the July 22, 2025 Offering and sale of shares. |
| 2025-08-08 | 1-for-18 reverse share split became effective. |
| 2025-08-15 | Par value of ordinary shares reduced to $0.001 per share again by resolution of directors. |
| 2025-10-08 | Entered into a securities purchase agreement to sell up to 9,000,000 units for approximately $29.34 million. |
| 2025-12-09 | Date of this annual report filing. |
| 2025-12-31 | Final installment of $250,000 due to Boustead Securities, LLC. |
Recommendation
strong sellThe company exhibits severe financial distress, including substantial net losses, significant negative operating cash flows, and an explicit 'going concern' warning from its auditors. The identified material weaknesses in internal controls raise serious concerns about the reliability of financial reporting. While recent capital raises provide some liquidity, they come at the cost of significant shareholder dilution. The strategic pivot into the highly volatile and unproven Bitcoin mining sector introduces substantial new risks without a clear path to profitability. The ongoing legal proceedings add further financial and operational uncertainty. These factors collectively indicate a highly speculative and precarious investment, warranting a strong sell recommendation.
Keywords
Financial consulting, Business advisory, SEC filing, Nasdaq, Bitcoin, BTC mining, Capital raise, Reverse share split, Corporate governance, Internal controls, Legal proceedings, BVI company, Financial results, Net loss, Revenue, Risk management, Cybersecurity, Related party transactions, Digital assets
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