EdgeMode Fires Back at Critical Report, Defends AI Power Strategy

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – January 16, 2026 – EdgeMode, Inc. (OTC: EDGM), an AI data center infrastructure company, has taken the rare step of issuing a detailed public rebuttal to a third-party research report it claims is rife with inaccuracies and was published under ethically questionable circumstances. The company alleges that a negative report from a firm identified as 'Wall Street Global Research' was circulated after EdgeMode declined a paid media engagement, raising serious questions about the credibility of the research and the business practices behind it.

In a strongly worded statement, EdgeMode asserted that the report, which it says labeled the company "blacklisted," contained "materially inaccurate characterizations of its business model, development strategy, and European execution capabilities." The company further claimed it was informed that the only way to have the negative coverage withdrawn or corrected was through a paid engagement for "fresh research." This sequence, EdgeMode argues, undermines the report's credibility and suggests a commercial pressure framework rather than objective analysis.

Adding another layer to the dispute, EdgeMode suggested investors should question the motives behind the report, noting the potential to "influence market sentiment in a manner consistent with short-selling activity." The incident casts a spotlight on the often-murky world of paid financial research and the challenges faced by companies, particularly those on OTC markets, in managing their public narrative against potentially biased coverage.

A Battle Over Credibility

The core of EdgeMode's grievance lies in what it portrays as a "pay-to-play" model of financial coverage. "Research credibility is undermined when negative coverage is published first and monetization is offered only after the fact," the company's statement read. This accusation points to a contentious practice within financial markets where the line between independent analysis and paid promotion can become blurred.

For companies trading on the OTC markets, such reports can have an outsized impact on investor confidence. These firms often operate with less liquidity and public visibility than their NASDAQ or NYSE-listed counterparts, making them more vulnerable to reputational attacks. EdgeMode’s decision to confront the issue head-on represents an aggressive defense strategy, turning the critique into an opportunity to clarify its business model directly to investors.

Attempts to independently verify the track record and methodology of 'Wall Street Global Research' yield little public information, with no significant regulatory actions or widespread critiques from major financial news outlets readily available. This opacity makes it difficult for outside observers to assess the firm’s objectivity, leaving EdgeMode’s detailed rebuttal as the primary public counter-narrative.

Powering AI Beyond the Grid

Beyond the corporate dispute, the controversy provides a window into EdgeMode’s innovative and timely strategy for powering the next generation of AI data centers. The report’s claim of a "grid connection fantasy"—alleging EdgeMode was falsely implying control of 300MW grid connections—was met with a forceful correction that highlights a fundamental shift in data center development.

EdgeMode states the critique demonstrates a "fundamental misunderstanding of how large-scale AI infrastructure is now being developed." Instead of competing for scarce capacity in congested grid interconnection queues, which can take 7-10 years for approval, EdgeMode is pursuing an 'energy-first' strategy. This involves creating its own power supply using on-site and near-site generation.

This approach is directly aligned with solutions being championed across the industry to solve AI's voracious and rapidly growing energy appetite. Industry analyses from major institutions consistently point to power availability, not land, as the primary bottleneck for AI infrastructure growth. EdgeMode's architecture includes:

• Secured Gas Baseload: Access to natural gas, secured via an agreement with Enagás, provides reliable, continuous power.
• Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC): These high-efficiency cells can run on natural gas or hydrogen, offering 24/7 power independent of the grid and enabling rapid deployment.
• Solar and Battery Storage (BESS): Integrated renewables and battery systems provide optimization, resilience, and redundancy.

By building these power-secure campuses, EdgeMode aims for a "time-to-power measured in months, not years." This model treats grid scarcity not as a risk, but as a market inefficiency to be exploited, a strategy that resonates with the urgent need for new power solutions to fuel the AI revolution.

Deconstructing the 'Pipeline Mirage'

The company also systematically dismantled other key criticisms. The report’s suggestion that EdgeMode is a mere "option aggregator" creating a "pipeline mirage" was countered with a clarification of its 'development-to-RTB' (Ready-to-Build) strategy. EdgeMode focuses on securing land and power, completing all permitting, and finalizing Tier-3-compliant designs. This fully-packaged RTB site is the final product, which is then monetized through sale or joint venture. "We do not claim to be operational today," the company clarified, emphasizing that it does not present early development work as completed infrastructure.

To counter the claim of a "phantom team" with no European execution capabilities, EdgeMode pointed to its definitive joint venture agreement with Blackberry Alternative Investment Fund (BAIF), a Spanish digital infrastructure firm. This partnership brings a contractually committed, Spain-based execution team with a track record of delivering over 10 GW of infrastructure projects across Europe and Latin America. The combined entity is advancing a pipeline of 4.4 GW of hyperscale-ready capacity, with over 2.2 GW already secured through land, zoning, and fiber access, primarily in Spain.

A Capital-Light Play in a High-Stakes Market

Finally, EdgeMode addressed the characterization of its model as an "exit-to-anyone" strategy driven by a lack of capital. The company asserts its approach is intentionally "capital-light by design." Rather than attempting to self-fund multi-billion-dollar hyperscale construction projects, EdgeMode focuses on the high-value development phase—creating power-secured, permitted AI sites that are scarce and highly sought after by hyperscalers and large investors.

This strategy is supported by a recent $50 million funding round and corporate actions aimed at strengthening its balance sheet and reducing potential share dilution, including the termination of 385 million unexercised stock options. These moves, coupled with an ambition to uplist from the OTC market to NASDAQ within the next year, paint a picture of a company actively positioning itself for growth in one of the world's most demanding technology sectors. By publicly and methodically dissecting the critical report, EdgeMode has not only defended its reputation but also provided investors with a detailed look at its strategy to become a key enabler of AI's future.