Insider Buying Signals Amid a Bearish Trend
On February 13, 2026, Chief Accounting Officer Carson Brian Jay purchased 16,375 shares of CleanSpark’s common stock at the market price of $9.27. The trade came after a week of modest price volatility— the share fell 3.6% from the previous close—yet the purchase was executed at the same price as the market, suggesting Jay’s confidence in a near‑term rebound. Jay’s post‑transaction holdings rise to 53,765 shares, a 44% increase over his previous position, while his overall equity exposure now exceeds 5 % of the outstanding shares. In the context of a negative market sentiment (-8) but a heightened buzz (706 %), the buy is noteworthy: insiders are willing to commit capital when external chatter is loud but still skeptical.
What Does This Mean for Investors?
CleanSpark’s fundamentals are under strain. With a price‑earnings ratio of –10.28, a 27% monthly decline, and a 52‑week low just above $6.45, the stock is trading near the bottom of a deep cycle. Jay’s purchase, coupled with similar activity from other top executives—such as COO Monnig Taylor’s 14 trades and CFO Vecchiarelli’s 11—indicates that management believes the company’s low‑carbon data‑center strategy will unlock value once the Bitcoin market stabilizes. For investors, the insider activity provides a contrarian cue: if the company can navigate the current downturn and capture new mining demand, the stock could recover, but the risk of further declines remains high.
The Broader Insider Landscape
Beyond Jay, CleanSpark’s executive team has been actively buying shares in the past week. The CEO and chairman, Schultz Matthew, added nearly 236,000 shares, while the EVP of Development added 47,000 shares. These cumulative purchases amount to over 400,000 shares, or roughly 1 % of the outstanding shares. The consistent buying pattern, coupled with a steady stream of RSU and option holdings that will vest in 2026–2028, suggests a long‑term commitment from the core team. However, the company’s recent surge in short interest and the introduction of a leveraged ETF product by Tradr ETFs add layers of volatility that could amplify price swings for a period.
Looking Forward
The market’s 52‑week high of $23.61 and current price of $9.28 leave a sizable upside corridor, but only if the Bitcoin mining market turns favorable and CleanSpark’s low‑carbon power strategy delivers cost advantages. Insider buying is a positive signal, yet it does not eliminate the fundamental challenges—negative earnings, high leverage, and intense competition. For investors, the prudent approach is to monitor upcoming quarterly guidance, watch for any large block trades or option exercises, and remain cognizant of the sector’s cyclical nature. While the insiders’ confidence is encouraging, CleanSpark’s trajectory will ultimately hinge on both macro crypto trends and the company’s operational execution.
| Date | Owner | Transaction Type | Shares | Price per Share | Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | Carson Brian Jay (Chief Accounting Officer) | Holding | 37,390.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-13 | Carson Brian Jay (Chief Accounting Officer) | Buy | 16,375.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-18 | Carson Brian Jay (Chief Accounting Officer) | Sell | 6,444.00 | 9.25 | Common Stock |
| 2032-10-14 | Carson Brian Jay (Chief Accounting Officer) | Holding | 12,500.00 | N/A | Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy) |
| 2033-07-06 | Carson Brian Jay (Chief Accounting Officer) | Holding | 10,000.00 | N/A | Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy) |
| 2034-05-03 | Carson Brian Jay (Chief Accounting Officer) | Holding | 5,000.00 | N/A | Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy) |
| N/A | Carson Brian Jay (Chief Accounting Officer) | Holding | 280,837.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Carson Brian Jay (Chief Accounting Officer) | Holding | 131,000.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| 2026-02-13 | Carson Brian Jay (Chief Accounting Officer) | Sell | 16,375.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Carson Brian Jay (Chief Accounting Officer) | Holding | 131,000.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Holding | 140,889.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-13 | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Buy | 535.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-13 | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Buy | 45,125.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-18 | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Sell | 17,757.00 | 9.25 | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-18 | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Sell | 211.00 | 9.23 | Common Stock |
| 2032-08-10 | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Holding | 15,000.00 | N/A | Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy) |
| 2033-07-06 | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Holding | 25,000.00 | N/A | Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy) |
| N/A | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Holding | 33,350.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Holding | 396,476.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Holding | 270,750.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| 2026-02-13 | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Sell | 45,125.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Holding | 361,000.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Holding | 4,282.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| 2026-02-13 | Monnig Taylor (CTO, COO) | Sell | 535.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Holding | 172,912.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-13 | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Buy | 2,677.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-13 | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Buy | 45,125.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-18 | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Sell | 20,099.00 | 9.25 | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-18 | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Sell | 1,192.00 | 9.23 | Common Stock |
| 2033-07-06 | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Holding | 20,139.00 | N/A | Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy) |
| 2031-05-14 | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Holding | 45,000.00 | N/A | Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy) |
| N/A | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Holding | 33,350.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Holding | 396,476.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Holding | 270,750.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| 2026-02-13 | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Sell | 45,125.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Holding | 361,000.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Holding | 21,414.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| 2026-02-13 | Garrison Scott Eugene (EVP, Chief Development Officer) | Sell | 2,677.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Vecchiarelli Gary Anthony (President, CFO) | Holding | 618,969.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-13 | Vecchiarelli Gary Anthony (President, CFO) | Buy | 1,606.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-13 | Vecchiarelli Gary Anthony (President, CFO) | Buy | 69,625.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-18 | Vecchiarelli Gary Anthony (President, CFO) | Sell | 27,397.00 | 9.25 | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-18 | Vecchiarelli Gary Anthony (President, CFO) | Sell | 632.00 | 9.23 | Common Stock |
| N/A | Vecchiarelli Gary Anthony (President, CFO) | Holding | 429,515.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Vecchiarelli Gary Anthony (President, CFO) | Holding | 417,750.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| 2026-02-13 | Vecchiarelli Gary Anthony (President, CFO) | Sell | 69,625.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Vecchiarelli Gary Anthony (President, CFO) | Holding | 557,000.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Vecchiarelli Gary Anthony (President, CFO) | Holding | 12,848.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| 2026-02-13 | Vecchiarelli Gary Anthony (President, CFO) | Sell | 1,606.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Holding | 2,322,621.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-13 | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Buy | 20,525.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-13 | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Buy | 216,125.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-18 | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Sell | 95,095.00 | 9.25 | Common Stock |
| 2026-02-18 | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Sell | 9,031.00 | 9.23 | Common Stock |
| N/A | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Holding | 480,000.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| N/A | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Holding | 40,996.00 | N/A | Common Stock |
| N/A | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Holding | 500,000.00 | N/A | Series A Preferred |
| 2031-04-16 | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Holding | 400,000.00 | N/A | Employee Stock Options (Right to Buy) |
| N/A | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Holding | 627,753.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Holding | 1,296,750.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| 2026-02-13 | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Sell | 216,125.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Holding | 1,729,000.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| N/A | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Holding | 164,198.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |
| 2026-02-13 | Schultz S. Matthew (CEO & Chairman) | Sell | 20,525.00 | N/A | Restricted Stock Units |




