Here’s Why I Wouldn’t Touch This Meme Stock With a 10‑Foot Pole

If you want a stock that can turn a calm afternoon into a full-body workout, meme stocks can deliver. That thrill can also torch portfolios. A meme stock runs on attention, not patience, so investors should separate the chart from the business. Watch liquidity, dilution risk, and debt terms, because hype can vanish faster than your bid fills. Check cash runway and insider incentives too, because meme cycles often end with more shares.

Ask one blunt question: if social media went quiet for six months, would the company still compound value? Let’s look at one edging towards, “no.”

BITF

Bitfarms (TSX:BITF) earns most of its money from Bitcoin mining and related infrastructure. It runs data centres that convert electricity into computing power, then it receives Bitcoin as payment. That model looks simple, but it behaves like a leveraged bet on the Bitcoin price and energy cost. The meme stock often trades like a meme name because it moves with sentiment and headlines, not slow operating progress.

The past year brought real corporate drama, not just loud posts. Riot Platforms launched a hostile bid in 2024 and built a meaningful stake, which kept takeover chatter alive. Later, reports showed Riot selling down, which reminded investors that a buyout story can evaporate. That ownership swirl can create big pops and ugly air pockets, sometimes in the same week.

Management also pushed a strategic pivot that matters more than any meme label. It acquired Stronghold Digital Mining in March 2025, and it also refocused away from parts of Latin America after an Argentina operation lost its energy supply.

Into earnings

In the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2025, Bitfarms reported revenue of US$69.2 million from continuing operations. It also reported a net loss of US$80.8 million, with US$46.3 million tied to continuing operations. Revenue can surge during a hot Bitcoin tape, yet profits can still slip away through costs, depreciation, and write-downs. Bitcoin’s halving and rising network difficulty can squeeze margins fast.

That same quarter also showed why traders keep coming back. Bitfarms generated gross mining profit of US$21.1 million and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of US$19.6 million. It held 1,658 Bitcoin worth about US$189.2 million at quarter end. The meme stock also mined 520 Bitcoin. It also launched a buyback for up to 10% of the public float and repurchased about 7.8 million shares for roughly US$10 million at about US$1.27 each.

The valuation stays tricky because the market prices optionality, not steady earnings. The meme stock currently holds a $1.8 billion market cap, and it shows negative trailing earnings, so a normal anchor does not help. So, what should investors do?

Foolish takeaway

Here’s why I would not touch it with a 10-foot pole if I wanted a sleep-at-night portfolio. The business depends on volatile inputs, burns capital to stay competitive, and sits mid-pivot with execution risk on every step. The meme stock can rip higher on Bitcoin excitement, then punish you on financing headlines or a single quarter’s cost surprise. Traders may love that chaos. Long-term investors should demand clearer, repeatable profits before it earns a spot in a portfolio, even if headlines look tempting.

The post Here’s Why I Wouldn’t Touch This Meme Stock With a 10‑Foot Pole appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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Fool contributor Amy Legate-Wolfe has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.