Fortitude Mining, Digital Currency Group's Zcash-focused miner, acquired a 9.4% stake in Nasdaq-listed HeartSciences for about $1 million through a private placement on Aug. 12. The purchase covered 411,522 common shares at $2.43 each, with a beneficial ownership filing reporting an exact cash outlay of $999,998.46. HeartSciences said the price represented a 22% premium to its closing share price on the purchase date and that it would use the net proceeds for operating expenses before the proposed combination closes. The transaction is an equity placement rather than a loan and does not alter the exchange ratio or provide Fortitude's equity holders with additional closing shares. A preliminary proxy said Digital Currency Group would receive about 95% of the combined company's voting interests, while existing HeartSciences equityholders would retain about 5% of its voting and economic interests, subject to final capitalization and exchange-ratio mechanics. Shareholder approval remains pending, with the companies targeting a closing in the second half of 2026. HeartSciences warned that if the merger fails, it may have limited ability to continue operating, could require another strategic transaction or may liquidate if no viable alternative is available. Fortitude reported $8.5 million of adjusted EBITDA and a $9.5 million GAAP net loss, including a $10.3 million mining-equipment impairment.