Silvergate Bank Becomes Most Shorted Stock in US, but Sees Boost With Citadel Securities Stake

Recent data shows that Silvergate Bank, a crypto-friendly financial institution, has become the most shorted stock in the United States, according to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. On Tuesday, Silvergate’s stock saw a rise after it was discovered that Citadel Securities holds a 5.5% stake in the bank, according to a Schedule 13G filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

According to current market data, shares of the crypto bank Silvergate have fallen 85.62% over the past six months. Additionally, as of Feb. 9, 2023, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority reports that Silvergate Capital’s shares are the most shorted stock in the country.

However, over the last month, Silvergate’s stock has risen 14.48% against the U.S. dollar, and there has been some improvement in price growth in 2023 compared to 2022.

The Short Interest Reporting also indicated that as of Jan. 31, 2023, 72% of Silvergate’s shares were being used for shorting. In recent months, Silvergate has been dealing with negative news regarding the bank’s relationship with the now-defunct Alameda Research and FTX.

The company’s Q4 2022 earnings report showed a loss of $1 billion. However, the recent rebound in the cryptocurrency market in 2023 has helped to some extent, and an SEC filing from Citadel Securities shows an investment in the firm.

A Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, Schedule 13G, shows that Citadel Securities holds more than 1.7 million shares of Silvergate, which are worth $25.9 million at Tuesday’s exchange rates. It is currently unknown why Citadel Securities has a 5.5% stake in the La Jolla-based bank. It was revealed in Sept. 2022 that Citadel Securities is working with Fidelity Digital Assets and Charles Schwab Corp. on a cryptocurrency exchange called EDX Markets.

Since the news about Citadel Securities, Silvergate’s shares have risen 4.66% against the dollar, remaining above the $15 per share range. Data further shows that Susquehanna Advisors Group owns 7.5% of Silvergate’s shares, or 2.36 million shares.

What do you think about Citadel Securities claiming a 5.5% stake in Silvergate Bank? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below.