Fortitude Mining appoints Jaime Leverton as CEO ahead of Nasdaq listing

Fortitude Mining, a Zcash-focused mining company backed by Digital Currency Group, has appointed former Hut 8 CEO Jaime Leverton as its new chief executive, effective September 21. Leverton succeeds Andrea Childs, who will transition into the role of chief operating officer to focus on mining operations and infrastructure.

Leverton brings experience in scaling crypto mining businesses for public markets, having previously led Hut 8 through its merger with US Bitcoin Corp. The leadership change comes as Fortitude prepares for a planned merger with medical-technology firm HeartSciences. The all-stock deal, announced in June, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026. Upon completion, the combined entity is expected to trade on the Nasdaq under the ticker TUDE, with an implied valuation estimated at least $400 million.