GD Culture Group Ltd (GDC) — 10-K

Filed 2026-03-27 · Period ending 2025-12-31 · 78,078 words · SEC EDGAR

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# GD Culture Group Ltd (GDC) — 10-K

**Filed:** 2026-03-27
**Period ending:** 2025-12-31
**Accession:** 0001213900-26-035630
**Source:** [SEC EDGAR](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1641398/000121390026035630/)
**Origin leaf:** 36faa3013855e45c18ad8bee9f9ec4fcc30909bf58682b0d0b607db80fc8f8c0
**Words:** 78,078



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**
UNITED STATES**
**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**
**Washington, D.C. 20549**
****
**Form 10-K**
**ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934**
****
**For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025**
**TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934**
****
**For the transition period fromto**
Commission file number: 001-37513
****
**GD CULTURE GROUP LIMITED**
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Nevada | | 47-3709051 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) | | (IRS Employer
Identification No.) | |
| | | | |
| 111 Town Square Place, Suite #1203 Jersey City | | NJ 07310 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) | |
+1-347-2590292
(Registrants telephone number, including
area code)
**Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b)
of the Act:**
****
| Title of each class | | Trading Symbol(s) | | Name of each exchange on which registered | |
| Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share | | GDC | | NasdaqCapital Market | |
****
**Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g)
of the Act:**
None 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned
issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.YesNo 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes 
No 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes No 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically
every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T ( 232.405 of this chapter) during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes 
No 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated
filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions
of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, and emerging
growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | | Accelerated filer | | |
| Non-accelerated filer | | Smaller reporting company | | |
| | | Emerging growth company | | |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check
mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
has filed a report on and attestation to its managements assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial
reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or
issued its audit report. 
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act,
indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to
previously issued financial statements. 
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements
that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrants executive officers during
the relevant recovery period pursuant to 240.10D-1(b). 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes No 
As of June 30, 2025, the last business day of the registrants
most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the common stock outstanding held by non-affiliates of the
registrant, computed by reference to the closing sales price for the common stock of $ 3.76 as of the trading day immediately preceding
June 30, 2025, as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market, was $ 63,150,828.08.
As of March 27, 2026, there were 60,759,711 shares of common stock,
par value $0.0001 per share, of the registrant issued and outstanding.
| | |
****
**TABLE OF CONTENTS**
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PAGE | |
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PART I | 
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Item 1. | 
Business | 
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1 | |
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Item 1A. | 
Risk Factors | 
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27 | |
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Item 1B. | 
Unresolved Staff Comments | 
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51 | |
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Item 1C. | 
Cybersecurity | 
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51 | |
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Item 2. | 
Properties | 
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52 | |
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Item 3. | 
Legal Proceedings | 
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52 | |
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Item 4. | 
Mine Safety Disclosures | 
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52 | |
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PART II | 
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Item
5. | 
Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | 
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53 | |
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Item 6. | 
[Reserved] | 
| 
57 | |
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Item 7. | 
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 
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57 | |
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Item 7A. | 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 
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63 | |
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Item 8. | 
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | 
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63 | |
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Item 9. | 
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure | 
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64 | |
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Item 9A. | 
Controls and Procedures | 
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64 | |
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Item 9B. | 
Other Information | 
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65 | |
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Item 9C. | 
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections | 
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65 | |
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PART III | 
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Item 10. | 
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance | 
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66 | |
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Item 11. | 
Executive Compensation | 
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70 | |
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Item 12. | 
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters | 
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71 | |
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Item 13. | 
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence | 
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72 | |
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Item 14. | 
Principal Accounting Fees and Services | 
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72 | |
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PART IV | 
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Item 15. | 
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules | 
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73 | |
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Item 16. | 
Form 10K Summary | 
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76 | |
i
| | |
**Conventions
that Apply to this Annual Report**
Unless
otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise, references in this annual report (the Report) to:
| 
| AI
Catalysis are to AI Catalysis Corp., a Nevada company, which is wholly owned by GDC; | |
| 
| Citi
Profit are to Citi Profit Investment Holding Limited, a British Virgin Islands company,
which is wholly owned by GDC; | |
| 
| GDC
and the Company are to GD Culture Group Limited (formerly known as JM Global
Holding Company, TMSR Holding Company Limited and Code Chain New Continent Limited), a Nevada
corporation; | |
| 
| Highlight
HK are to Highlights Culture Holding Co., Limited, a Hong Kong SAR company, which
is wholly owned by Citi Profit; | |
| 
| Highlight
WFOE are to Shanghai Highlight Entertainment Co., Ltd., a PRC company, which is wholly
owned by Highlight HK; | |
| 
| Hong
Kong or Hong Kong SAR are to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
of Peoples Republic of China; | |
| 
| Pallas are to Pallas Capital Holding Ltd, a British Virgin
Islands company, which is wholly owned by GDC; | |
| 
| PRC
or China are to the Peoples Republic of China, including Hong Kong SAR
and Macau, but excluding, for the purpose of this Report, Taiwan; | |
| 
| RMB
or Renminbi are to the legal currency of China; | |
| 
| Shanghai
Xianzhui are to Shanghai Xianzhui Technology Co., Ltd., a joint venture, of which
Highlight Entertainment Co. Ltd. owns 73.3333% of the total equity interest; | |
| 
| we,
our, us are to the Company and its subsidiaries; and | |
| 
| $,
US$ or U.S. Dollars are to the legal currency of the United States. | |
ii
| | |
**CAUTIONARY
NOTE REGARDING**
**FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS**
This
Report contains statements that may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities
laws. These statements relate to anticipated future events, future results of operations and/or future financial performance. In some
cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by their use of terminology such as anticipate, believe,
could, estimate, expect, future, intend, may, ought
to, plan, possible, potentially, predicts, project, should,
will, would, negatives of such terms or other similar terms. These forward-looking statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different
from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements
in this Report include, without limitation, statements relating to:
| 
| our
goals and strategies; | 
|
| 
| our
future business development, results of operations and financial condition; | 
|
| 
| our
estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and our need for additional financing; | 
|
| 
| our
estimates regarding the market opportunity for our services; | 
|
| 
| the
impact of government laws and regulations; | 
|
| 
| our
ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; | 
|
| 
| our
failure to comply with regulatory guidelines; | 
|
| 
| uncertainty
in industry demand; | 
|
| 
| general
economic and market conditions in the virtual content production industry; | 
|
| 
| future
sales of large blocks of our securities, which may adversely impact our share price; and | 
|
| 
| depth
of the trading market in our securities. | 
|
The
preceding list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all of our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect
our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions, and subject to risks and uncertainties, including those
described in Item 1A Risk Factors.
You
should not unduly rely on any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking
statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected
in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly
any forward-looking statements after the date of this Report for any reason, to conform these statements to actual results or to changes
in our expectations.
iii
| | |
**PART
I**
**Item
1. Business**
****
**Overview**
GD Culture Group Limited (formerly known as
JM Global Holding Company, TMSR Holding Company Limited, and Code Chain New Continent Limited) is a Nevada company that conducts its
operations primarily in the United States, both directly and indirectly through its subsidiary, AI Catalysis Corp., a Nevada
corporation. The Company also maintains a subsidiary, Shanghai Xianzhui Technology Co., Ltd. in China. This subsidiary previously
engaged in marketing-related services but does not currently conduct business operations and has no material operating activities.
The substantial majority of the Companys operations are located in the United States. Investors are cautioned that you are
not purchasing equity in a China based operating company, but rather shares of a Nevada corporation whose business operations are
conducted in the United States through the Company and its active U.S. subsidiary. This structure may involve risks that could
impact investors.
Prior
to September 28, 2022, Makesi IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a then indirect subsidiary of the Company (Makesi WFOE),
had a series of contractual arrangement with Sichuan Wuge Network Games Co., Ltd. (Wuge) and its shareholders that established
a variable interest entity (the VIE) structure. For accounting purposes, Makesi WFOE was the primary beneficiary of Wuge.
Accordingly, under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), the Company treated
Wuge as the consolidated affiliated entity and had consolidated Wuges financial statements prior to September 28, 2022. Wuge focused
its business on research, development and application of Internet of Things (IoT) and electronic tokens Wuge digital door signs. On September
28, 2022, Makesi WFOE entered into a termination agreement with Wuge and the shareholders of Wuge to terminate the VIE Agreements and
to cancel the shares previously issued to the shareholders of Wuge, based on the average closing price of $0.237 per share of the Company
during the 30 trading days immediately prior to the date of the termination agreement. As a result of such termination, the Company no
longer treats Wuge as a consolidated affiliated entity or consolidates the financial results and balance sheet of Wuge in the Companys
consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP.
Prior
to June 26, 2023, Makesi WFOE had a series of contractual arrangements with Shanghai Yuanma Food and Beverage Management Co., Ltd. (Yuan
Ma) and its shareholders that established a VIE structure. For accounting purposes, Makesi WFOE was the primary beneficiary of
Yuan Ma. Accordingly, under U.S. GAAP, the Company treated Yuan Ma as the consolidated affiliated entity and had consolidated Yuan Mas
financial results in the Companys consolidated financial statements prior to June 26, 2023. On June 26, 2023, the Company entered
into a share purchase agreement with a buyer unaffiliated with the Company. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company agreed to sell and
the buyer agreed to purchase all the issued and outstanding equity interest in TMSR Holdings Limited (TMSR HK), which owned
100% equity interest in Makesi WFOE. The purchase price for the transaction contemplated by the Agreement was $100,000. The sale of TMSR
HK did not have any material impact on the Companys consolidated financial statements.
Prior
to September 26, 2023, Highlight WFOE had a series of contractual arrangements with Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd.(Highlight
Media) and its shareholders that established a VIE structure. For accounting purposes, Highlight WFOE was the primary beneficiary
of Highlight Media. Accordingly, under U.S. GAAP, the Company treated Highlight Media as the consolidated affiliated entity and had consolidated
Highlight Medias financial results in the Companys financial statements prior to September 26, 2023. Highlight Media was
an integrated marketing service agency, focusing on enterprise brand management, crisis public relations, intelligent public opinion
monitoring, media PR, financial and economic self-media operation, digital face application, large-scale exhibition services and other
businesses. On September 26, 2023, Highlight WFOE entered into a termination agreement with Highlight Media and the shareholders of Highlight
Media to terminate the VIE Agreements and sold the interest in the VIE Agreements for a purchase price of $100,000. As a result of such
termination, the Company no longer treats Highlight Media as a consolidated affiliated entity or consolidates the financial results and
balance sheet of Highlight Media in the Companys consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP.
On
September 29, 2025, the Company completed the acquisition of Pallas Capital Holding Ltd, a British Virgin Islands company (Pallas),
pursuant to a Share Exchange Agreement dated September 10, 2025, in exchange for an aggregate of 39,189,344 shares of the Companys
common stock. Pallas was established for the primary purpose of holding digital assets as a long-term reserve, and as of December 31,
2025, Pallas held 7,500 units of Bitcoin.
As
of December 31, 2025 and as of the date of this Report, we do not have a VIE structure.
1
| | |
It
should be noted that Chinese regulatory authorities could change the rules and regulations regarding foreign ownership in the industry
in which the Company operates, which would likely result in a material change in our operations and/or a material change in the value
of the securities we are registering for sale, including that it could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or
become worthless. Investors in our common stock should be aware that they do not directly hold equity interests in the operating subsidiaries
in Nevada and China, but rather are purchasing equity in GD Culture Group Limited, our Nevada company, which directly and indirectly
owns 100% and 73.33% equity interests in the operating subsidiaries in Nevada and China, respectively. See Risk Factors 
Risks Related to Doing Business in China beginning on page 29.
The
PRC government plays a significant role in regulating industrial development and shaping the macroeconomic environment through
implementing relevant policies. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including
those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments
of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional
expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government
actions and the implementation of economic policies in the future could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or
particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in Chinese properties. See
Risk Factors Risks Related to Doing Business in China Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of
PRC laws and regulations and changes in policies, rules, and regulations in China could limit the legal protection available to you
and us on page 32 and Given the PRC governments role in regulating industrial development, the evolving
regulatory framework could result in a material change in the operations of Shanghai Xianzhui and/or the value of our common
stock on page 33.
We
are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with our operations in China, including those changes in the legal, political
and economic policies of the Chinese government, the relations between China and the United States, or Chinese or United States regulations
may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The PRC legal system is continuously
evolving, and the interpretation and enforcement of certain laws and regulations may be subject to changes, and therefore, these risks
could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our ordinary shares or could significantly limit or completely
hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our ordinary shares to significantly
decline or be worthless. Recently, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations
in China, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed
overseas using variable interest entity structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding
the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement.
In
addition, on December 28, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of the PRC (the CAC), the National Development and Reform
Commission (NDRC), and several other administrations jointly issued the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review, or the
Revised Review Measures, which became effective and has replaced the existing Measures for Cybersecurity Review on February 15, 2022.
According to the Revised Review Measures, if an online platform operator that is in possession of personal data of more
than one million users intends to list in a foreign country, it must apply for a cybersecurity review. Based on a set of Q&A published
on the official website of the State Cipher Code Administration in connection with the issuance of the Revised Review Measures, an official
of the said administration indicated that an online platform operator should apply for a cybersecurity review prior to the submission
of its listing application with non-PRC securities regulators.
On
July7, 2022, the Measures for the Security Assessment of Outbound Data Transfers, or the Measures, was published and became effective
on September1, 2022, which requires security assessment of outbound data transfers in cases, among others,****outbound
transfer of personal information by a critical information infrastructure operator or a personal information processor who has processed
the personal information of more than one million people.
On
March 22, 2024, the Cyberspace Administration of China promulgated the Provisions on Promoting and Regulating Cross-Border Data Flows,
which stipulate certain scenarios that are exempt from the aforementioned security assessment, standard contract, and personal information
protection certification requirements. Under these provisions, outbound data transfers for specific operational purposes, such as cross-border
e-commerce, cross-border remittance, and cross-border human resource management, are not subject to such requirements, provided that
no important data is involved.
On
September24, 2024, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on the Network Data Security Management (the Data Security
Management Regulations), which became effective on January1, 2025. Pursuant to the Data Security Management Regulations,
network data processing activities refer to activities such as the collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure,
and deletion of data. Network data processors refer to individuals or organizations that independently determine the purposes and methods
of data processing activities. Network data processors conducting any data processing activities that affect or may affect national security
shall undergo national security review in accordance with relevant national regulations. Where it is indeed necessary to transfer any
important data collected and generated within the territory of the PRC to an overseas party, the security assessment of outbound data
transfer organized by the national cyberspace administration department shall be passed.
2
| | |
It
is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that we will not be subject to cybersecurity review or the security assessment
for outbound data transfers with the CAC, given that: (i) Shanghai Xianzhui does not possess and does not anticipate that it will possess
a large amount of personal information in our business operations , (ii) data processed in Shanghai Xianzhuis business does not
have a bearing on national security and thus may not be classified as core or important data by the authorities, and (iii) any cross-border
data transfers conducted in our ordinary course of business fall under the exemptions provided by the Provisions on Promoting and Regulating
Cross-Border Data Flows. In addition, for the same reasons, we are not subject to network data security review by the CAC pursuant to
Data Security Management Regulations. See Risk factors Risk Factors Related to Doing Business in China Shanghai
Xianzhui may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and data
protection. Shanghai Xianzhui may be required to suspend its business, be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information
provided by our customers or face other penalties.
On
February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, announced the Circular on the Administrative Arrangements
for Filing of Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Circular, and released a set of new regulations which consists
of the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five
supporting guidelines. On the same date, the CSRC also released the Notice on the Arrangements for the Filing Management of Overseas
Listing of Domestic Companies, or the Notice. The Trial Measures came into effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures refine the regulatory
system by subjecting both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing activities to the CSRC filing-based administration. Requirements
for filing entities, time points and procedures are specified. A PRC domestic company that seeks to offer and list securities in overseas
markets shall fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC per the requirements of the Trial Measures. Where a PRC domestic company seeks
to indirectly offer and list securities in overseas markets, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity, which shall,
as the domestic responsible entity, file with the CSRC. The Trial Measures also lay out requirements for the reporting of material events.
Breaches of the Trial Measures, such as offering and listing securities overseas without fulfilling the filing procedures, shall bear
legal liabilities, including a fine between RMB1.0 million (approximately $150,000) and RMB10.0 million (approximately $1.5 million),
and the Trial Measures increase the cost for offenders by enforcing accountability with administrative penalties and incorporating the
compliance status of relevant market participants into the Securities Market Integrity Archives.
According
to the Circular, since the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, PRC domestic enterprises falling within the
scope of filing that have been listed overseas or met the following circumstances are existing enterprises: before the
effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, the application for indirect overseas issuance and listing has been approved by
the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges (such as the registration statement has become effective on the U.S. market), it
is not required to perform issuance and listing supervision procedures of the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges, and the
overseas issuance and listing will be completed by September 30, 2023. Existing enterprises are not required to file with the CSRC immediately,
and filings with the CSRC should be made as required if they involve refinancings and other filing matters. PRC domestic enterprises
that have submitted valid applications for overseas issuance and listing but have not been approved by overseas regulatory authorities
or overseas stock exchanges at the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023 can reasonably arrange the timing of
filing applications with the CSRC and shall complete the filing with the CSRC before the overseas issuance and listing.
In
addition, an overseas-listed company must also submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate
bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within the time frame specified by the Trial Measures.
It
is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that because the Company is not a company registered and formed in the territory
of China, its continued listing on Nasdaq and future offerings are not direct overseas offering and listing of domestic enterprises
as defined under the Trial Measures. Furthermore, according to Article 2 of the Trial Measures, the indirect overseas offering
and listing of domestic enterprises refers to the overseas offering and listing of enterprises whose main business activities
are in China, in the name of enterprises registered overseas, which offering and listing are based on the equity, assets, income or other
similar rights and interests of the domestic enterprises. According to Article 15 of the Trial Measures, if the issuer meets both of
the following conditions, the overseas offerings and listings shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing
of domestic enterprises: (i) 50% or more of the issuers operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as
documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year is accounted for by domestic enterprises;
and; (ii) its major operational activities are carried out in China or its main places of business are located in China, or the senior
managers in charge of its business operation and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in China. The Company does not meet
both the requirements under Article 15 of the Trial Measures and therefore its continued listing on Nasdaq and future offerings are not
an Indirect overseas offering and listing of domestic enterprises, considering that (i) the operating income and total
profit of the Companys subsidiaries that were established in China for the year ended December 31, 2025 do not account for more
than 50% of the operating income and total profit in our consolidated financial statements for the same period, (ii) our main business
is not conducted within China, and (iii) the majority of our senior management personnel are not Chinese citizens or reside in China
on a regular basis. Therefore, it is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that we are not required to complete the
record filing requirement under the Trial Measures. However, if we inadvertently conclude that such filing procedures are not required,
or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that we are required to complete the filing procedures in the future,
we may be subject to investigations by the regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations and rectify any
non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result in a material
adverse change in our operations and/or the value of our common stock, and could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability
to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless.
See Risk Factors Risks Related to Doing Business in China.
3
| | |
As
of the date of this Report, it is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that our PRC operating subsidiaries have received
all requisite permissions or approvals to operate the business and no such permissions or approvals have been denied. It is also the
opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that except for the business license mentioned in Item 1. Business ****Governmental Regulations in the PRC ****Regulations on Business License in this Report, our PRC operating subsidiaries
are not required to obtain any other permissions or approvals from any Chinese authorities to operate the business. It is the further
opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that no relevant PRC laws or regulations in effect require that we obtain permission
from any PRC authorities to issue securities to foreign investors, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or
any regulatory objection from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other PRC authorities that have jurisdiction over our operations. See Item
1. Business ****Governmental Regulations in the PRC ****Regulations on Mergers & Acquisitions and Overseas
Listings and Item 1. Business ****Governmental Regulations in the PRC ****Regulations on Cybersecurity
Review in this Report. However, applicable laws and regulations may be tightened, and new laws or regulations may be introduced
to impose additional government approval, license, and permit requirements. If (i) we or our subsidiaries do not receive or maintain
all such required permissions or approvals to operate our business, (ii) we or our subsidiaries inadvertently conclude that such permissions
or approvals are not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and we are required to obtain such permissions
or approvals in the future, we may face sanctions, including fines and penalties, by the CAC, CSRC, or other PRC regulatory agencies,
our PRC subsidiaries ability to pay dividends outside of the PRC could be limited, our operations could be adversely affected,
directly or indirectly, we could be required to restructure our operations to comply with such regulations or potentially cease operations
in the PRC entirely, our ability to offer, or continue to offer, securities to investors could be significantly limited or completely
hindered and the value of our securities might significantly decline or be worthless.
Furthermore,
since 2021, the Chinese government has strengthened its anti-monopoly supervision, mainly in three aspects: (1) establishing the National
Anti-Monopoly Bureau; (2) revising and promulgating anti-monopoly laws and regulations, including: the amended Anti-Monopoly Law (which
was promulgated on June 24, 2022 and became effective on August 1, 2022), the anti-monopoly guidelines for various industries, and the
detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Fair Competition Review System; and (3) enhancing the anti-monopoly law enforcement in the
platform economy and among large enterprises. As of the date of this Report, the Chinese governments recent statements and regulatory
actions related to anti-monopoly concerns have not impacted our ability to conduct business, accept foreign investments, or list on a
U.S. or other foreign exchange because neither the Company nor its PRC subsidiary engages in monopolistic behaviors that are subject
to these statements or regulatory actions.
****
**Summary
of Risk Factors**
Investing
in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. This summary does not address all of the risks that we face. Please refer to the
information contained in and incorporated by reference under the heading Risk Factors on page 27 of this Report.
4
| | |
Risks
Related to Doing Business in China
**
*Risks
related to doing business in China, beginning on page 29 of this Report, include but are not limited to the following:*
| 
| We
may rely on dividends paid by our subsidiaries for our cash needs. Any limitation on the
ability of our subsidiaries to make dividend payments to us, or any tax implications of making
dividend payments to us, could limit our ability to pay our parent company expenses or pay
dividends to holders of our common stock. To the extent cash or assets in the business is
in the PRC/Hong Kong or a PRC/Hong Kong entity, the funds or assets may not be available
to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC/Hong Kong due to interventions in
or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries
by the PRC government to transfer cash or assets (see page 27 of this Report). | |
| 
| PRC
regulation of loans to, and direct investments in, PRC entities by offshore holding companies
may delay or prevent us from using proceeds from future financing activities to make loans
or additional capital contributions to our PRC operating subsidiary (see page 29 of this
Report). | |
| 
| Changes
in Chinas economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have
a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations (see page 30 of this
Report). | |
| 
| Under
the Enterprise Income Tax Law, we may be classified as a Resident Enterprise
of China. Such classification will likely result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and
our non-PRC stockholders (see page 31 of this Report). | |
| 
| We
must comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Chinese anti-corruption laws (see
page 32 of this Report). | |
| 
| Uncertainties
in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations and changes in policies,
rules, and regulations in China could limit the legal protection available to you and us
(see page 32 of this Report). | |
| 
| Our
business may be materially and adversely affected if our PRC subsidiaries declare bankruptcy
or become subject to a dissolution or liquidation proceeding (see page 32 of this Report). | |
| 
| Given
the PRC governments role in regulating industrial development, the evolving regulatory framework
could result in a material change in the operations of Shanghai Xianzhui and/or the value
of our common stock (see page 33 of this Report). | |
| 
| The
Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct
our business activities. We are currently not required to obtain approval from Chinese authorities
to list on U.S exchanges, however, if Shanghai Xianzhui or GDC were required to obtain approval
in the future and were denied permission from Chinese authorities to list on U.S. exchanges,
we will not be able to continue listing on U.S. exchange and the value of our common stock
may significantly decline or become worthless, which would materially affect the interest
of the investors (see page 33 of this Report). | |
| 
| Increases
in labor costs in the PRC may adversely affect our business and results of operations (see page 35 of this Report). | |
| 
| PRC
regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our PRC
subsidiaries ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits to
us or otherwise expose us or our PRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties
under PRC law (see page 35 of this Report). | |
| 
| Shanghai
Xianzhui may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the PRC regarding privacy,
data security, cybersecurity, and data protection. Shanghai Xianzhui may be required to suspend
its business, be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information provided
by our customers and face other penalties (see page 36 of this Report). | |
5
| | |
| 
| If
we become directly subject to the recent scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity involving
U.S.-listed Chinese companies, we may have to expend significant resources to investigate
and resolve the matter which could harm our business operations, listing and future offerings
and our reputation and could result in a loss of your investment in our common stock, especially
if such matter cannot be addressed and resolved favorably (see page 40 of this Report). | |
| 
| If
the PRC government chooses to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted
overseas and/or foreign investment in China based issuers, such action may significantly
limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer ordinary shares to investors
and cause the value of our ordinary shares to significantly decline or be worthless (see
page 43 of this Report). | |
| 
| The
CSRC has released the Trial Measures for Administration of Overseas Securities Offerings
and Listings by Domestic Companies (the Trial Measures). With such rules in
effect, the PRC regulatory authorities may enhance supervision and administration over offerings
that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could significantly
limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer our securities to investors and
could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless (see
page 39 of this Report). | |
| 
| The
recent joint statement by the SEC and PCAOB, proposed rule changes submitted by Nasdaq, and
the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act all call for additional and more stringent
criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their
auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. Although the
audit report included in this annual report was issued by U.S. auditors who are currently
inspected by the PCAOB, if it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or
investigate our auditor completely, investors would be deprived of the benefits of such inspection
and our common stock may be delisted or prohibited from trading (see page 40 of this Report). | |
| 
| The
M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions
of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue
growth through acquisitions in China (see page 41 of this Report). | |
| 
| The
unwinding and disposal of our previous VIE structure may not be liability-free and we may
be deemed to be in violation of PRC laws regulating our industry and operations (see page
44 of this Report). | |
**Business
Overview**
GDC operates through the Company and its subsidiary, AI Catalysis Corp. GDC also maintains its subsidiary, Shanghai Xianzhui in China.
which does not currently conduct business operations and has no material operating activities. Historically, the Company focused on (i)
AI-driven digital human creation and customization and (ii) live streaming and e-commerce.
In January 2025, the Company discontinued its
online livestreaming gaming business following a strategic review. Previously released games and related content remain accessible but
are no longer being updated.
The Company is currently undergoing a strategic
transition toward leveraging its artificial intelligence and virtual content generation technologies to enter the interactive reading
and narrative entertainment market. This shift reflects the Companys continued focus on innovation and delivering value to users
through advanced AI-enabled products and services.
6
| | |
**Corporate
Information**
Our
principal executive office is located at 111 Town Square Place, Suite #1203, Jersey City, NJ 07310, and our telephone number is: +1-347-2590292.
****
**Corporate
History and Structure**
The
following is an organizational chart setting forth our corporate structure as of the date of this Report.
*
7
| | |
GDC,
formerly known as Code Chain New Continent Limited, TMSR Holding Company Limited and JM Global Holding Company, was a blank check company
incorporated in Delaware on April 10, 2015. The Company was formed for the purpose of acquiring, through a merger, capital stock exchange,
asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, exchangeable share transaction or other similar business transaction, one or more
operating businesses or assets. Effective as of February 6, 2018, the Company consummated a business combination, changed its corporate
name from JM Global Holding Company to TMSR Holding Company Limited and the Companys common stock
traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol TMSR. On June 20, 2018, the Company consummated the reincorporation.
As a result, the Company changed its state of incorporation from Delaware to Nevada and implemented a 2-for-1 forward stock split of
the Companys common stock. Effective as of May 18, 2020, the Company changed its corporate name from TMSR Holding Company
Limited to Code Chain New Continent Limited, and the Companys common stock traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market
under the ticker symbol CCNC. On November 9, 2022, the Company effected a one-for-thirty (30) reverse stock split. Effective
as of January 10, 2023, the Company changed its corporate name from Code Chain New Continent Limited to GD Culture
Group Limited and the Companys common stock started trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol GDC.
Citi
Profit is a company formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands in August 2019 and is wholly owned by GDC. It is a holding company
with no material operations of its own.
Highlight
HK is a company formed under the laws of Hong Kong SAR in November 2022 and is wholly owned by Citi Profit. It is a holding company with
no material operations of its own.
Highlight
WFOE or Shanghai Highlight is a company formed under the laws of the PRC in January 2023 and is wholly owned by Highlight HK. It is a
holding company with no material operations of its own.
Shanghai
Xianzhui is a company formed under the laws of the PRC in August 2023 for social media marketing purposes. It is a joint venture, and
as of the date of this Report, Highlight WFOE owns 73.3333% of the total equity interest of Shanghai Xianzhui.
AI
Catalysis is a company formed under the laws of Nevada in May 2023, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GDC. It is an operating company
focusing on AI-driven digital human creation and customization and live streaming and e-commerce.
Pallas
is a company formed under the laws of the British Virgin Islands in June 2025, acquired by GDC on September 29, 2025, and is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of GDC. Pallas was established for the primary purpose of holding digital assets as a long-term reserve, with the objective
of achieving potential appreciation in value. As of December 31, 2025, Pallas held 7,500 units of Bitcoin.
For
a description of recent material developments, see Recent Developments below.
**Recent
Regulatory Developments**
On
December 28, 2021, the CAC, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and several other administrations jointly
issued the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review, or the Revised Review Measures, which became effective and has replaced the existing
Measures for Cybersecurity Review on February 15, 2022. According to the Revised Review Measures, if an online platform operator
that is in possession of personal data of more than one million users intends to list in a foreign country, it must apply for a cybersecurity
review. Based on a set of Q&A published on the official website of the State Cipher Code Administration in connection with the issuance
of the Revised Review Measures, an official of the said administration indicated that an online platform operator should apply for a
cybersecurity review prior to the submission of its listing application with non-PRC securities regulators. As the interpretation and
implementation of the Revised Review Measures are continuously evolving, uncertainties exist with respect to their application in specific
practices. For example, it is unclear whether the requirement of cybersecurity review applies to follow-on offerings by an online
platform operator that is in possession of personal data of more than one million users where the offshore holding company of
such operator is already listed overseas. Furthermore, on September24, 2024, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on the
Network Data Security Management (the Data Security Management Regulations), which became effective on January1,
2025. Pursuant to the Data Security Management Regulations, network data processing activities refer to activities such as the collection,
storage, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure, and deletion of data. Network data processors refer to individuals or
organizations that independently determine the purposes and methods of data processing activities. Network data processors conducting
any data processing activities that affect or may affect national security shall undergo national security review in accordance with
relevant national regulations. Where it is indeed necessary to transfer any important data collected and generated within the territory
of the PRC to an overseas party, the security assessment of outbound data transfer organized by the national cyberspace administration
department shall be passed.
8
| | |
It
is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that we will not be subject to cybersecurity review with the CAC, given that:
(i) Shanghai Xianzhui does not possess and does not anticipate that it will possess a large amount of personal information in our business
operations and (ii) data processed in Shanghai Xianzhuis business does not have a bearing on national security and thus may not
be classified as core or important data by the authorities. In addition, for the same reasons, we are not subject to network data security
review by the CAC pursuant to Data Security Management Regulations. However, the definition of network platform operator
is unclear and it is also unclear on how it will be interpreted and implemented by the relevant PRC governmental authorities. See Risk
factors Risk Factors Related to Doing Business in China Shanghai Xianzhui may become subject to a variety of laws and
regulations in the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and data protection. Shanghai Xianzhui may be required to suspend
its business, be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information provided by our customers or face other penalties.
On
July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC governmental authorities made public the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down Illegal Securities Activities
in Accordance with the Law. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and
the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies and proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the construction
of relevant regulatory systems to deal with the risks and incidents faced by China-based overseas-listed companies. Following the issuance
of these opinions, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Measures in February 2023 to regulate overseas securities offerings and listings. However,
the interpretation and implementation of these opinions and related evolving regulations may be subject to further clarification. As
of the date of this Report, we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, or sanctions regarding listing abroad or offshore offering
from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other PRC governmental authorities. See Risk Factors Risk Factors Related to Doing Business
in China The PRC government plays a significant role in regulating our industry and guiding business activities. We are currently
not required to obtain approval from Chinese authorities to list on U.S exchanges, however, if Shanghai Xianzhui or GDC were required
to obtain approval in the future and were denied permission from Chinese authorities to list on U.S. exchanges, we will not be able to
continue listing on U.S. exchange and the value of our common stock may significantly decline or become worthless, which would materially
affect the interest of the investors.
On
February 17, 2023, the CSRC released the Trial Measures and five supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023. Pursuant
to the Trial Measures, domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, should fulfill
the filing procedures and report relevant information to the CSRC. If a domestic company fails to complete the filing procedures or conceals
any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties
by the CSRC, such as order to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person directly in
charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines. As a listed company,
we believe that we and all of our PRC subsidiaries are not required to fulfill filing procedures with the CSRC to continue to offer our
securities, or continue listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation
and application of the Regulation on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors (M&A Rules),
other PRC Laws and future PRC laws and regulations, and there can be no assurance that any governmental agency will not take a view that
is contrary to or otherwise different from our belief stated herein. See Risk Factors - Risk Factors Relating to Doing Business
in China - The CSRC has released the Trial Measures. With such rules in effect, the PRC regulatory authorities may enhance supervision
and administration over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could significantly
limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer our securities to investors and could cause the value of our securities to
significantly decline or become worthless.
In
addition, an overseas-listed company must also submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate
bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within the time frame specified by the Trial Measures.
9
| | |
It
is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that because the Company is not a company registered and formed in the territory
of China, its continued listing on Nasdaq and future offerings are not direct overseas offering and listing of domestic enterprises
as defined under the Trial Measures. Furthermore, according to Article 2 of the Trial Measures, the indirect overseas offering
and listing of domestic enterprises refers to the overseas offering and listing of enterprises whose main business activities
are in China, in the name of enterprises registered overseas, which offering and listing are based on the equity, assets, income or other
similar rights and interests of the domestic enterprises. According to Article 15 of the Trial Measures, if the issuer meets both of
the following conditions, the overseas offerings and listings shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing
of domestic enterprises: (i) 50% or more of the issuers operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as
documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year is accounted for by domestic enterprises;
and; (ii) its major operational activities are carried out in China or its main places of business are located in China, or the senior
managers in charge of its business operation and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in China. The Company does not meet
both the requirements under Article 15 of the Trial Measures and therefore its continued listing on Nasdaq and future offerings are not
an Indirect overseas offering and listing of domestic enterprises, considering that (i) the operating income and total
profit of the Companys subsidiaries that were established in China for the year ended December 31, 2025 do not account for more
than 50% of the operating income and total profit in our consolidated financial statements for the same period, (ii) our main business
is not conducted within China, and (iii) the majority of our senior management personnel are not Chinese citizens or reside in China
on a regular basis. Therefore, it is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that we are not required to complete the
record filing requirement under the Trial Measures. However, if we inadvertently conclude that such filing procedures are not required,
or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that we are required to complete the filing procedures in the future,
we may be subject to investigations by the regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations and rectify any
non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result in a material
adverse change in our operations and/or the value of our common stock, and could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability
to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless.
See Risk Factors Risks Related to Doing Business in China.
****
**Implication
of the Holding Foreign Company Accountable Act**
The
Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, was enacted on December 18, 2020. The HFCAA states that if the SEC determines
that an issuers audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm have not been subject to inspection by the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the PCAOB) for three consecutive years beginning in 2021, the SEC shall
prohibit such issuers securities from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market
in the United States. On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and
documentation requirements of the HFCAA. We will be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies us as having a non-inspection
year under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC. If we fail to meet the new rules before the deadline specified thereunder,
we could face possible prohibition from trading on a national securities exchange or on the OTC Markets, deregistration from the SEC
and/or other risks, which may materially and adversely affect, or effectively terminate, our securities trading in the United States.
On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCAA.
The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public
accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a
position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions. Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding
Foreign Companies Accountable Act, and on December 29, 2022, legislation entitled Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023
(the Consolidated Appropriations Act) was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical
provision to the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and amended the HFCAA by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuers
securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead
of three, thus reducing the time period for triggering the prohibition on trading. On August 26, 2022, the CSRC, the Ministry of Finance
of the PRC (the MOF), and the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol (the Protocol), governing inspections
and investigations of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong, taking the first step toward opening access for the PCAOB to
inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. Pursuant to the fact sheet
with respect to the Protocol disclosed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), the PCAOB shall have independent
discretion to select any issuer audits for inspection or investigation and has the unfettered ability to transfer information to the
SEC. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB determined that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered
public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate its previous determinations to the contrary.
However, should PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOBs access in the future, the PCAOB will consider
the need to issue a new determination.
10
| | |
Our current auditor, GGF, the independent registered public accounting
firm that issued the audit report included in our Annual Report, as a firm registered with the PCAOB (PCAOB ID: 2729), is subject to
laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with applicable professional
standards. If it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate our auditor completely, investors
may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection. Any audit reports not issued by auditors that are completely inspected by the PCAOB,
or a lack of PCAOB inspections of audit work undertaken in China that prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating our auditors
audits and their quality control procedures, could result in a lack of assurance that our financial statements and disclosures are adequate
and accurate. Moreover, if trading in our securities is prohibited under the HFCAA in the future because the PCAOB determines that it
cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor at such future time, an exchange may determine to delist our securities. See Risk
FactorsRisks Related to Doing Business in China The recent joint statement by the SEC and PCAOB, proposed rule changes
submitted by Nasdaq, and the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied
to emerging market companies.
**Asset
Transfer between our Company and our Subsidiaries**
GDC
may rely on dividends to be paid by our subsidiaries in Nevada and in the PRC, to fund our cash and financing requirements, including
the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders, to service any debt we may incur and to pay our
operating expenses.
Under
the Nevada Revised Statutes and the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of each of GDC and AI Catalysis (a direct subsidiary of GDC),
dividends may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting. No distribution may be made if, after giving it
effect: (a) such company would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business; or (b) such companys
total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus the amount that would be needed, if such company were to be dissolved
immediately after the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon such dissolution of holders of shares of any
class or series of the capital stock of such company having preferential rights superior to those receiving the distribution.
Under
the laws of the British Virgin Islands, our BVI subsidiary and a direct subsidiary of GDC, Citi Profit, may pay a dividend to GDC out
of profit, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in Citi Profit being unable to pay its debts
due in the ordinary course of business. Under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, our BVI subsidiary, Pallas, may pay a dividend
to GDC out of profit, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in Pallas being unable to pay its
debts due in the ordinary course of business.
Under
the laws of Hong Kong, our Hong Kong subsidiary and a direct subsidiary of Citi Profit, Highlight HK, is permitted, to provide funding
to Citi Profit through dividends distribution out of its profits. Under the current practices of the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department,
no tax is payable in Hong Kong in respect of dividends paid to Citi Profit as a British Virgin Islands company.
Under
PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries, Highlight WFOE (a direct subsidiary of Citi Profit), and Shanghai Xianzhui (a direct
subsidiary of Highlight WFOE), may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting
standards and regulations. Further, our PRC subsidiaries are required to make appropriations to certain statutory reserve funds or may
make appropriations to certain discretionary funds, which are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of a solvent liquidation
of the companies. In addition, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise is required to set aside at least 10% of its accumulated after-tax profits
each year, if any, to fund a certain statutory reserve fund, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital.
Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned enterprise out of China is also subject to examination by the banks designated by the
State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE.
In
addition, we expect that revenue, if any, to be generated by our PRC operating subsidiary, Shanghai Xianzhui, will be in Renminbi, which
is not freely convertible into other currencies. As a result, any restriction on currency exchange may limit the ability of our PRC operating
subsidiary to use its Renminbi revenues to pay dividends to us. To the extent cash or assets in the business is in the PRC/Hong Kong
or a PRC/Hong Kong entity, the funds or assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC/Hong Kong
due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government
to transfer cash or assets. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may temporarily delay the ability of our PRC subsidiaries
to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us, or otherwise satisfy their foreign currency denominated
obligations. In view of the foregoing, to the extent cash in our business is held in China or by a PRC entity, such cash may not be available
to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls, and more
restrictions and substantial vetting process may be put forward by SAFE for cross-border transactions falling under both the current
account and the capital account. In addition, the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax
rate of up to 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted
or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where
the non-PRC resident enterprises are incorporated. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other
kinds of payments to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial
to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
11
| | |
Under
PRC law, Highlight WFOE and Shanghai Xianzhui may be funded through capital contributions by their immediate parent company or loans,
subject to satisfaction of applicable government registration and approval requirements. Before providing loans to our PRC subsidiaries,
we will be required to make filings about details of the loans with the SAFE in accordance with relevant PRC laws and regulations.
Highlight
HK is permitted under the laws of Hong Kong to provide funding to Shanghai Xianzhui through capital contributions or to other companies
within our corporate structure through loans without restrictions on the amount of the funds and such funding is not subject to government
registration or filing requirements under the laws of Hong Kong.
Citi
Profit is permitted under the laws of the British Virgin Islands to provide funding to Highlight WFOE through capital contributions or
to other companies within our corporate structure through loans without restrictions on the amount of the funds and such funding is not
subject to government registration or filing requirements under the laws of the British Virgin Islands.
GDC
is permitted under the laws of Nevada to provide funding to Citi Profit and Pallas through capital contributions or to other companies
within our corporate structure through loans without restrictions on the amount of the funds and such funding is not subject to government
registration or filing requirements under the laws of the Nevada.
AI
Catalysis is permitted under the laws of Nevada to provide funding to other companies within our corporate structure through loans without
restrictions on the amount of the funds and such funding is not subject to government registration or filing requirements under the laws
of the Nevada.
GDC
presently does not maintain any cash management policies which dictate how funds are transferred, however, GDC continues to conduct regular
review and management of all its subsidiaries cash transfers and reports to board of directors.
Prior
to September 28, 2022, Makesi IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a then indirect subsidiary of the Company (Makesi WFOE),
had a series of contractual arrangement with Sichuan Wuge Network Games Co., Ltd. (Wuge) and its shareholders that established
a variable interest entity (the VIE) structure. For accounting purposes, Makesi WFOE was the primary beneficiary of Wuge.
Accordingly, under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), the Company treated
Wuge as the consolidated affiliated entity and had consolidated Wuges financial statements prior to September 28, 2022. Wuge focused
its business on research, development and application of Internet of Things (IoT) and electronic tokens Wuge digital door signs. On September
28, 2022, Makesi WFOE entered into a termination agreement with Wuge and the shareholders of Wuge to terminate the VIE Agreements and
to cancel the shares previously issued to the shareholders of Wuge, based on the average closing price of $0.237 per share of the Company
during the 30 trading days immediately prior to the date of the termination agreement. As a result of such termination, the Company no
longer treats Wuge as a consolidated affiliated entity or consolidates the financial results and balance sheet of Wuge in the Companys
consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP.
Prior
to June 26, 2023, Makesi WFOE had a series of contractual arrangement with Shanghai Yuanma Food and Beverage Management Co., Ltd. (Yuan
Ma) and its shareholders that established a VIE structure. For accounting purposes, Makesi WFOE was the primary beneficiary of
Yuan Ma. Accordingly, under U.S. GAAP, the Company treated Yuan Ma as the consolidated affiliated entity and had consolidated Yuan Mas
financial results in the Companys consolidated financial statements prior to June 26, 2023. On June 26, 2023, the Company entered
into a share purchase agreement with a buyer unaffiliated with the Company. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company agreed to sell and
the buyer agreed to purchase all the issued and outstanding equity interest in TMSR Holdings Limited (TMSR HK), which owned
100% equity interest in Makesi WFOE. The purchase price for the transaction contemplated by the Agreement was $100,000. The sale of TMSR
HK did not have any material impact on the Companys consolidated financial statements.
12
| | |
Prior
to September 26, 2023, Highlight WFOE had a series of contractual arrangement with Highlight Media and its shareholders that established
a VIE structure. For accounting purposes, Highlight WFOE was the primary beneficiary of Highlight Media. Accordingly, under U.S. GAAP,
the Company treated Highlight Media as the consolidated affiliated entity and had consolidated Highlight Medias financial results
in the Companys financial statements prior to September 26, 2023. Highlight Media was an integrated marketing service agency,
focusing on enterprise brand management, crisis public relations, intelligent public opinion monitoring, media PR, financial and economic
self-media operation, digital face application, large-scale exhibition services and other businesses. On September 26, 2023, Highlight
WFOE entered into a termination agreement with Highlight Media and the shareholders of Highlight Media to terminate the VIE Agreements
and sold the interest in the VIE Agreements for a purchase price of $100,000. As a result of such termination, the Company no longer
treats Highlight Media as a consolidated affiliated entity or consolidates the financial results and balance sheet of Highlight Media
in the Companys consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP.
As
of December 31, 2025 and as of the date of this Report, we do not have a VIE structure.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, GDC made a cash transfer
of $11,000 to AI Catalysis Corp. Other than this transfer, no other assets were transferred between GDC and its subsidiaries. No amounts
owed under any previous VIE agreements were settled. There were no cash transfers to or from the VIEs. GDC did not make any dividends
or distributions to U.S. investors.
During the fiscal years ended December 31,
2024, there was no transfer of assets between GDC and its subsidiaries. No amounts owed under any previous VIE agreements were
settled. There were no cash transfers to or from the VIEs. GDC did not make any dividends or distributions to U.S. investors.
If
our subsidiary incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends
or make other distributions to us.
See
also Risk Factors Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure We may rely on dividends paid by our subsidiaries for
our cash needs. Any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make dividend payments to us, or any tax implications of making
dividend payments to us, could limit our ability to pay our parent company expenses or pay dividends to holders of our common stock
on page 27 of this Report, and Risk Factors Risks Related to Doing Business in China PRC regulation of
loans to, and direct investments in, PRC entities by offshore holding companies may delay or prevent us from using proceeds from future
financing activities to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC operating subsidiary on page 29 of this Report.
****
**Our
Products and Services**
GDC operates in the following distinct business
sectors through the Company and two subsidiaries, AI Catalysis Corp. and Shanghai Xianzhui: 1) AI-driven digital human creation and customization;
and 2) Live streaming and e-commerce. In January 2025, the Company announced its decision to discontinue the online livestreaming gaming
business after conducting a comprehensive assessment. The Company is currently undergoing a strategic transition toward leveraging its
artificial intelligence and virtual content generation technologies to enter the interactive reading and narrative entertainment market.
The Company is currently developing a platform
designed to enable creators to produce interactive, game-like reading experiences for end users. The platform is intended to provide creators
with a suite of AI-powered content creation tools developed by the Company. These tools are designed to assist creators in generating
narrative structures, story plots, and visual assets that accompany the storyline. In addition, the platform will incorporate AI-driven
dialogue systems that enable readers to interact with characters within the story environment. Through these capabilities, readers will
be able to engage in dynamic conversations with story characters, with the dialogue functionality supported by advanced natural language
processing technologies, including large language models. This interaction is expected to create a more immersive and personalized storytelling
experience, where reader choices and interactions may influence story progression. The Company believes that the integration of AI-assisted
content creation tools with interactive storytelling technology may lower barriers for creators to develop complex narrative experiences
while providing users with a more engaging form of digital entertainment. The Company is currently in the development stage of this platform,
and there can be no assurance that the product will achieve commercial success or generate significant revenue in the future.
13
| | |
The Company is currently developing a pilot product
as an initial step in evaluating the commercial potential of its interactive reading platform. The pilot product will consist of a single
interactive reading experience designed to demonstrate the core functionality of the Companys proposed platform and to test user
engagement with interactive narrative content. The pilot application is expected to be distributed through the Apple iOS App Store and
will serve as an experimental product intended to provide the Company with insights into user behavior, market demand, and product design
considerations. The Company intends to utilize feedback and performance data from this pilot product to refine its technology, content
development tools, and overall platform strategy. The pilot product will incorporate certain AI-enabled features, including narrative
generation support, visual content creation, and interactive dialogue systems that allow users to engage with characters within the story
environment. These capabilities are intended to demonstrate the potential of the Companys AI-driven tools to support the development
of immersive and interactive storytelling experiences. The Company expects that lessons learned from the pilot product may inform the
development of a broader platform that would allow third-party creators to develop and publish their own interactive narrative content
using the Companys AI-powered tools. However, the Company is currently in the early stages of development, and there can be no
assurance that the pilot product will lead to a commercially viable platform or generate significant revenue.
**Revenue
Model**
For the Companys interactive reading platform, the Company anticipates
monetization through content access fees, in-application purchases, and potential creator revenue-sharing arrangements. Users may pay
for access to premium interactive stories or additional story content within the application. As the platform develops, the Company may
also introduce tools that enable third-party creators to publish interactive content on the platform, with the Company potentially receiving
a portion of revenue generated from such content.
**Our
Customers**
The Companys interactive reading platform
is intended to serve both content creators and end users.
Content creators represent a key customer group.
These may include independent writers, game designers, digital storytellers, and creative studios seeking to develop interactive narrative
experiences. The Companys AI-powered tools are designed to assist creators in generating story plots, visual content, and interactive
character dialogue, thereby lowering the technical and creative barriers to producing complex interactive stories.
End users (readers) represent the platforms
consumer audience. These users engage with the interactive stories through mobile or web applications, where they can influence the storyline
through choices and interact with story characters using AI-powered dialogue systems. The Company expects that these experiences may appeal
to users interested in digital entertainment formats such as interactive fiction, narrative games, and immersive storytelling.
The Company may also target publishers, entertainment
companies, and educational institutions that are interested in developing interactive narrative content using the platform.
**Our
Suppliers**
The
Company relies on a limited number of third-party suppliers for technology services and leased facilities. For the year ended December
31, 2025, the Companys top two suppliers are Dragon Cliff Limited and SLG 810 Seventh Lessee LLC.
14
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**Employees**
As
of March 27, 2026, our Company has 5 full-time employees in total.
We
have not experienced any significant labor disputes and consider our relationship with our employees to be good. Our employees are not
covered by any collective bargaining agreement.
As
we continue to expand our business, we believe it is critical to hire and retain top talent. We believe we have the ability to attract
and retain high quality talents based on our competitive salaries, annual performance-based bonus system, and equity incentive program
for senior employees and executives.
**Recent
Developments**
Equity
Purchase Agreement dated October 27, 2023 and the Amendment to the Equity Purchase Agreement dated November
10, 2023
On
October 27, 2023, the Company entered into an equity purchase agreement (the Agreement) with Shanghai Highlight and Beijing
Hehe, pursuant to which the Shanghai Highlight agreed to purchase the 20% equity interest in Shanghai Xianzhui from Beijing Hehe and
the Company agreed to issue 600,000 shares of common stock of the Company, valued at $2.7820 per share, the average closing bid price
of the common stock of GDC as of the five trading days immediately preceding the date of the Agreement, to Beijing Hehe or its assigns.
The closing of the transaction shall take place within thirty (30) days from the execution of the Agreement. The Agreement is effective
for thirty (30) days from the date of the Agreement, which can be extended for additional thirty (30) days upon all parties written
agreement. The Company or Shanghai Highlight may terminate the Agreement at any time with a three (3) day advance written notice to Beijing
Hehe.
On
November 10, 2023, the Company entered into an amended and restated equity purchase agreement (the Amended and Restated Agreement)
that amended and replaced the Original Agreement. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement, Shanghai Highlight agreed to purchase
the 13.3333% equity interest in Shanghai Xianzhui from Beijing Hehe and the Company agreed to issue 400,000 shares of common stock of
the Company, valued at the Per Share Price, to Beijing Hehe or its assigns.
Pursuant
to the Amended and Restated Agreement, the closing of the transaction shall take place within thirty (30) days from the execution of
the Amended and Restated Agreement. The Amended and Restated Agreement is effective for thirty (30) days from the date of the Amended
and Restated Agreement, which can be extended for additional thirty (30) days upon all parties written agreement. The Company
or Shanghai Highlight may terminate the Amended and Restated Agreement at any time with a three (3) day advance written notice to Beijing
Hehe.
On
January 11, 2024, the Company issued the Shares and the transaction is completed. Up to the date of this Report, the Company owns 73.3333%
of the total equity interest of Shanghai Xianzhui.
Registered
Direct Offering (March 2024 Offering)
On
March 22, 2024, the Company entered into a placement agency agreement, with Univest Securities, LLC, as the placement agent. Pursuant
to the placement agency agreement, the placement agent agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to sell the Companys common stock
in a registered direct offering. The placement agent has no obligation to buy any of the securities from us or to arrange for the purchase
or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of securities.
In
the March 2024 Offering, an aggregate of 810,277 shares of common stock were sold to certain purchasers, pursuant to a securities purchase
agreement, dated March 22, 2024. The purchase price of each Common Share is $1.144.
15
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The
March 2024 Offering is being made pursuant to a shelf registration statement (No. 333-254366) on Form S-3, which was declared effective
by the SEC on March 26, 2021, and related prospectus supplement.
The
net proceeds from the March 2024 Offering, after deducting placement agent discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses
payable by the Company, are approximately $830,000. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the March 2024 Offering for working
capital and general corporate purposes.
Pursuant
to the placement agency agreement, the Company has agreed to pay the placement agent a total cash fee equal to 4.0% of the aggregate
gross proceeds received in the March 2024 Offering.
Pursuant
to the placement agency agreement, the Company agreed to issue the placement agent warrants to the placement agent to purchase up to
40,514 shares of Common Stock (equal to 5.0% of the aggregate number of Common Shares) at an exercise price of $1.373 per share, which
represents 120% of the offering price.
Departure
of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
On
April 26, 2024, Mr. Shuang Zhang tendered his resignation as a director of the Company, effective April 26, 2024. The resignation of
Mr. Shuang Zhang was not a result of any disagreement with the Companys operations, policies or procedures.
On
April 26, 2024, Mr. Mingyue Cai tendered his resignation as a director, chair of the Compensation Committee, and member of the Audit
Committee and Nominating Committee of the Company, effective April 26, 2024. The resignation of Mr. Mingyue Cai was not a result of any
disagreement with the Companys operations, policies or procedures.
On
April 26, 2024, Mr. Yi Zhong tendered his resignation as a director, chair of the Nominating Committee, and member of the Audit Committee
and Compensation Committee of the Company, effective April 26, 2024. The resignation of Mr. Yi Zhong was not a result of any disagreement
with the Companys operations, policies or procedures.
On
April 26, 2024, approved by the Board of Directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee,
Mr. Zihao Zhao, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, was appointed as a director of the Company, effective April 26, 2024, Mr.
Lei Zhang was appointed as a director, chair of the Compensation Committee, and member of the Audit Committee and Nominating Committee
and Mr. Yun Zhang was appointed as a director, chair of the Nominating Committee, and member of the Audit Committee and Compensation
Committee of the Company, effective April 26, 2024.
Nasdaq
Compliance
On
May 13, 2024, the Company received a written notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (Nasdaq)
notifying the Company that, based on the closing bid price of the Companys common stock was below $1.00 for the last 30 consecutive
trading days, the Company no longer complies with the minimum bid price requirement (the Minimum Bid Price Requirement)
for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1). Pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A),
the Company has an initial compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until November 11, 2024, to regain compliance with the Minimum
Bid Price Requirement.
On
June 18, 2024, the Company received a letter from Nasdaq stating that because the Companys common stock had a closing bid price
at or above $1.00 per share for 10 consecutive business days, the Company had regained compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement,
and that the matter is now closed.
Software
Purchase Agreement dated May 31, 2024
On
May 31, 2024, the Company entered into a software purchase agreement with Shanxi Gangdong Cultural Media Co., Ltd., a seller unaffiliated
with the Company (the Seller). Pursuant to the agreement, the Company agreed to purchase and the Seller agreed to sell
all of Sellers right, title, and interest in and to the certain software. The purchase price of the software shall be $1,248,000,
payable in the form of issuance of 1,560,000 shares of common stock of the Company, valued at $0.80 per share. The Company plans to use
the software to develop its AI business. On June 4, 2024, the Company issued 1,560,000 shares of common stock of the Company to the Sellers
designees and the transaction was completed.
16
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At-The-Market
Issuance Sales Agreement (February 2025 Offering)
On
February 10, 2025, the Company entered into an At-The-Market Issuance Sales Agreement with Univest Securities, LLC as the sales agent.
Pursuant to the At-The-Market Issuance Sales Agreement, the Company may issue and sell from time to time, shares of its common stock
having an aggregate offering price of not more than $10,000,000 through the sales agent or any of its sub-agent(s) or other designees,
acting as sales agent.
Pursuant
to the At-The-Market Issuance Sales Agreement, the Company will pay the sales agent a commission in cash equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds
from the sale of the shares under the At-The-Market Issuance Sales Agreement, and reimburse the sales agent for all reasonable travel
and other accountable expenses, including the documented fees and costs of its legal counsel reasonably incurred in connection with entering
into the transactions contemplated by the At-The-Market Issuance Sales Agreement in an amount not to exceed $125,000.
Additionally,
pursuant to the terms of the At-The-Market Issuance Sales Agreement, the Company agreed to reimburse the sales agent for the documented
fees and costs of its legal counsel reasonably incurred in connection with sales agents ongoing diligence requirements arising
from the transactions contemplated by the At-The-Market Issuance Sales Agreement in an amount not to exceed $5,000 in the aggregate per
calendar quarter.
Any
issuances made under the February 2025 Offering, if any, will be made pursuant to the Companys shelf registration statement on
Form S-3 (File No. 333- 279141), which was initially filed with the SEC on May 6, 2024, and was declared effective, as amended, by the
Commission on August 20, 2024.
Private
Placement (March 2025 Offering)
On
March 4, 2025, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain investor for the sale of 1,115,600 shares of common
stock at $0.896379 per share. The March 2025 Offering closed on March 6, 2025. The Company received gross proceeds in the amount of $1,000,000,
before deducting placement agents fees and accountable expenses and other estimated expenses. The Company plans to use the proceeds
from the offering for working capital purposes. Pursuant to the securities purchase agreement, the Company has agreed to use commercially
reasonable efforts to, within sixty (60) calendar days after the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement, file a registration statement
on the appropriate form providing for the resale by the Purchaser of the Shares.
In
the Securities Purchase Agreement, the investor represented to the Company, among other things, that it is an accredited investor
(as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D under the Securities Act. The shares were issued and sold by the Company to
the Investor in reliance upon the exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of
the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
In
connection with the Offering, on March 4, 2025, the Company entered into a placement agency agreement with Univest Securities, LLC, as
the placement agent. The Company agreed to pay the placement agent a total cash fee equal to seven percent (7%) of the aggregate gross
proceeds raised in this March 2025 Offering. The Company has also agreed to reimburse the placement agent for all reasonable and out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in connection with the March 2025 Offering, including reasonable fees and expenses of the Placement Agents legal
counsel and due diligence analysis up to $20,000.
Nasdaq
Compliance
On
March 20, 2025, Nasdaq notified the Company that it was not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) requiring minimum stockholders
equity of $2.5 million. The Company regained compliance by maintaining the minimum market value of $35 million for ten consecutive business
days by June 25, 2025.
17
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Software
Purchase Agreement dated April 28, 2025
On
April 28, 2025, the Company entered into a software purchase agreement with Gongzheng Xu and Qing Wang, sellers unaffiliated with the
Company (the Sellers). Pursuant to the agreement, the Company agreed to purchase and the Seller agreed to sell all of Sellers
right, title, and interest in and to the certain software. The purchase price of the software shall be $5,768,536.20, payable in the
form of issuance of 2,444,295 shares of common stock of the Company, valued at $2.36 per share. The Company plans to use the software
to develop its AI business. On April 29, 2025, the Company issued 2,444,295 shares of common stock of the Company to the Sellers and
the transaction was completed.
Securities
Purchase Agreement dated May 2, 2025
On
May 2, 2025, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain investors (the Purchasers), pursuant
to which the Company agreed to sell to the Purchasers (i) 1,115,600 shares of common stock (the Shares) at $0.524 per share
and (ii) 9,380,582 Pre-Funded Warrants (the Pre-Funded Warrants) at $0.523 per warrant (the Offering).
Shares
and the Pre-funded Warrants were issued and sold by the Company to the Purchasers in reliance upon the exemptions from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
On
May 6, 2025, The Company completed its first closing of the Shares and 7,468,536 Pre-Funded Warrants, and received gross proceeds in
the amount of $4,500,000, before deducting placement agents fees and accountable expenses and other estimated expenses.
In
connection with the Offering, on May 2, 2025, the Company entered into a placement agency agreement with Univest Securities, as the placement
agent. Pursuant to the placement agency agreement, the Company agreed to pay the Placement Agent a total cash fee equal to seven percent
(7%) of the aggregate gross proceeds raised in this Offering. The Company also agreed to reimburse the Placement Agent for all reasonable
and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Offering, including reasonable fees and expenses of the Placement Agents
legal counsel and due diligence analysis up to $20,000.
Common
Stock Purchase Agreement dated May 11, 2025
On
May 11, 2025, the Company entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement with an investor (the Investor).
Pursuant
to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company should have the right, from time to time, during the period from the date of the
Agreement to the earlier of (i) the date on which the Investor should have purchased $300,000,000 worth of the Companys common
stock or (ii) the second (2nd ) anniversary of the date of the Agreement, to send the Investor a purchase notice (the Purchase
Notice) requiring the Investor to purchase common stock of the Company. The purchase price for the common stock should be equal
to 90% of the lowest daily VWAP for the Companys common stock during the five (5) consecutive business day period prior to, and
including the Purchase Notice Date, but should in no event be lower than $0.44.
Departure
of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
On
June 27, 2025, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Zihao Zhao, the Chief Financial Officer (the Executive)
of the Company, which replaced and superseded the Executives prior employment agreement dated as of April 21, 2023 and commenced
on May 15, 2025.
The
Employment Agreement was substantially similar to the Executives prior employment agreement except the annual base salary was
increased to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00).
Acquisition
of Pallas Capital Holding Ltd
On September 10, 2025, the Company executed a Share Exchange Agreement
to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Pallas Capital Holding Ltd, a British Virgin Islands company (Pallas),
in exchange for 39,189,344 shares of the Companys common stock. The transaction closed on September 29, 2025. Pallass assets
include 7,500 Bitcoin (valued at approximately $842 million at the time of acquisition), which will be held as a long-term digital
asset reserve. This acquisition aligns with the Companys crypto asset treasury strategy to strengthen its reserves and presence
in the decentralized finance ecosystem. Two of the Companys shareholders with a total of 12.86% beneficial
ownership are directors with control over Pallass shares, making this a related party transaction that was approved by the Companys
Audit Committee and shareholders.
18
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Securities
Purchase Agreement dated October 24, 2025
On
October 24, 2025, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain accredited investor (the Purchasers).
Pursuant to Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to issue and sell, in a private placement an aggregate of 1,333,334 shares
of common stock (the Shares), par value $0.0001 per share (the Common Stock) at a purchase price of $2.10
per share, for gross proceeds in the amount of approximately $2,800,000. The Company plans to use the process for working capital and
general corporate purposes. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts
to, within sixty (60) calendar days after the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement, file a registration statement on the appropriate
form providing for the resale by the Investor of the Shares
The
Private Placement closed on October 27, 2025. The Shares were issued and sold by the Company to the Investor in reliance upon the exemptions
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation
D promulgated thereunder.
In
connection with the Private Placement, on October 24, 2025, the Company entered into a placement agency agreement with Univest Securities,
LLC, as the placement agent. The Company agreed to pay the Placement Agent a total cash fee equal to seven percent (7%) of the aggregate
gross proceeds raised in this Private Placement. The Company has also agreed to reimburse the Placement Agent for all reasonable and
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the Private Placement, including reasonable fees and expenses of the Placement Agents
legal counsel and due diligence analysis up to $20,000.
Share
Repurchase Program
On
February 17, 2026, the Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $100 million
of its common stock, par value $0.0001 per share. The share repurchase program expires on August 17, 2026.
Change
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
On
January 29, 2026, with the approval of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee, the Company terminated HTL International, LLC
(HTL) and engaged GGF CPA LTD (GGF) as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2025, effective immediately.
****
**Environmental
Matters**
As
of December 31, 2025, the Company, Shanghai Xianzhui and Ai Catalysis were not subject to any fines or legal action involving non-compliance
with any relevant environmental regulation, nor are we aware of any threatened or pending action, including by any environmental regulatory
authority.
****
**Governmental
Regulations in the PRC**
As
of the date of this Report, it is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that our PRC operating subsidiaries have received
all requisite permissions or approvals to operate the business and no such permissions or approvals have been denied. It is also the
opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that except for the business license mentioned in Regulations on Business
License below, our PRC operating subsidiaries are not required to obtain any other permissions or approvals from any Chinese authorities
to operate the business. It is the further opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that under currently effective PRC laws
and regulations, we are not required to obtain permission or complete filing procedures with any PRC authorities to issue securities
to foreign investors, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or any regulatory objection from the CSRC, the
CAC, or any other PRC authorities that have jurisdiction over our operations. See Regulations on Mergers & Acquisitions and
Overseas Listings and Regulations on Cybersecurity Review below. However, applicable laws and regulations may be
tightened, and new laws or regulations may be introduced to impose additional government approval, license, and permit requirements.
If (i) we or our subsidiaries do not receive or maintain all such required permissions or approvals to operate our business, (ii) we
or our subsidiaries inadvertently conclude that such permissions or approvals are not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations,
or interpretations change and we are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future, we may face sanctions, including
fines and penalties, by the CAC, CSRC, or other PRC regulatory agencies, our PRC subsidiaries ability to pay dividends outside
of the PRC could be limited, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, we could be required to restructure
our operations to comply with such regulations or potentially cease operations in the PRC entirely, our ability to offer, or continue
to offer, securities to investors could be significantly limited or completely hindered and the value of our securities might significantly
decline or be worthless.
19
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**Business
license**
Any
company that conducts business in the PRC must have a business license that covers a particular type of work. The business license is
a permit issued by Market Supervision and Administration that allows the company to conduct specific business within the governments
geographical jurisdiction. The Companys PRC operating company, Shanghai Xianzhuis business license covers its present business
of technology development and consulting, and technical support for digital humans.
As
of the date of this Report, it is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm , that our PRC operating subsidiary has all
material permissions and approvals required for our operations in compliance with the relevant PRC laws and regulations in the PRC and
no such permissions or approvals have been denied.
As
of the date of this Report, it is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that except for the business license mentioned
here, we and our operating subsidiary are not required to obtain any other permissions or approvals from any Chinese authorities to operate
the business. However, applicable laws and regulations may be tightened, and new laws or regulations may be introduced to impose additional
government approval, license, and permit requirements. If (i) we or our subsidiaries do not receive or maintain all such required permissions
or approvals to operate our business, (ii) we or our subsidiaries inadvertently conclude that such permissions or approvals are not required,
or (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and we are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future,
we may face sanctions, including fines and penalties, by the CAC, CSRC, or other PRC regulatory agencies, our PRC subsidiaries
ability to pay dividends outside of the PRC could be limited, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, we
could be required to restructure our operations to comply with such regulations or potentially cease operations in the PRC entirely,
our ability to offer, or continue to offer, securities to investors could be significantly limited or completely hindered and the value
of our securities might significantly decline or be worthless.
****
**Regulations
on Employment laws**
Shanghai
Xianzhui is subject to laws and regulations governing our relationship with our employees, including: wage and hour requirements, working
and safety conditions, citizenship requirements, work permits and travel restrictions. These include local labor laws and regulations,
which may require substantial resources for compliance. Chinas National Labor Law, which became effective on January 1, 1995,
and amended on August 27, 2009, and Chinas National Labor Contract Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008, and amended
on December 28, 2012, permit workers in both state and private enterprises in China to bargain collectively. The National Labor Law and
the National Labor Contract Law provide for collective contracts to be developed through collaboration between the labor union (or worker
representatives in the absence of a union) and management that specify such matters as working conditions, wage scales, and hours of
work. The laws also permit workers and employers in all types of enterprises to sign individual contracts, which are to be drawn up in
accordance with the collective contract.
**Regulations
on Intellectual property protection in China**
****
**Patent.**The PRC has domestic laws for the protection of copyrights, patents, trademarks and trade secrets. The PRC is also signatory
to some of the worlds major intellectual property conventions, including:
| 
| Convention
establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO Convention) (June 4, 1980); | 
|
| 
| Paris
Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (March 19, 1985); | 
|
20
| | |
****
| 
| Patent
Cooperation Treaty (January 1, 1994); and | 
|
| 
| The
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) (November 11, 2001). | 
|
Patents
in the PRC are governed by the China Patent Law and its Implementing Regulations, each of which went into effect in 1985. The China Patent
Law has been amended multiple times, with the most recent amendment promulgated in 2020 and becoming effective on June 1, 2021. Its Implementing
Regulations were most recently amended in 2023 and became effective on January 20, 2024.
The
PRC is signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, in accordance with which any person who has duly
filed an application for a patent in one signatory country shall enjoy, for the purposes of filing in the other countries, a right of
priority during the period fixed in the convention (12 months for inventions and utility models, and 6 months for industrial designs).
The
Patent Law covers three kinds of patents patents for inventions, utility models and designs. The Chinese patent system adopts
the principle of first to file, which means that a patent may be granted only to the person who first files an application. Consistent
with international practice, the PRC allows the patenting of inventions or utility models that possess the characteristics of novelty,
inventiveness and practical applicability only. For a design to be patentable it cannot be identical with, or similar to, any design
which, before the date of filing, has been publicly disclosed in publications in the country or abroad or has been publicly used in the
country, and should not be in conflict with any prior right of another.
****
**Copyright**.
Copyright in the PRC, including copyrighted software, is principally protected under the Copyright Law of the PRC and related rules and
regulations. Under the Copyright Law, the term of protection for copyrighted software is 50 years.
****
**Trademark**.
Registered trademarks are protected under the Trademark Law of the PRC and related rules and regulations. Trademarks are registered with
the Trademark Office of the National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). Where registration is sought for a trademark that
is identical or similar to another trademark which has already been registered or given preliminary examination and approval for use
in the same or similar category of commodities or services, the application for registration of such trademark may be rejected. Trademark
registrations are effective for a renewable ten-year period, unless otherwise revoked. The duration of a trademark is 10 years from the
date of registration.
****
**Domain
names**. Domain name registrations are handled through domain name service agencies established under the relevant regulations,
and applicants become domain name holders upon successful registration.
****
**Regulations
on Tax**
****
**PRC
Corporate Income Tax**
The
PRC corporate income tax, or CIT, is calculated based on the taxable income determined under the applicable CIT Law and its implementation
rules, which became effective on January 1, 2008 and amended on February 24, 2017. The CIT Law imposes a uniform corporate income tax
rate of 25% on all resident enterprises in China, including foreign-invested enterprises.
Uncertainties
exist with respect to how the CIT Law applies to the tax residence status of The Company and our offshore subsidiaries. Under the CIT
Law, an enterprise established outside of China with a de facto management body within China is considered a resident
enterprise, which means that it is treated in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise for corporate income tax purposes. Although
the implementation rules of the CIT Law define de facto management body as a managing body that exercises substantive and
overall management and control over the production and business, personnel, accounting books and assets of an enterprise, the only official
guidance for this definition currently available is set forth in Circular 82 issued by the State Administration of Taxation, which provides
guidance on the determination of the tax residence status of a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise, defined as an enterprise
that is incorporated under the laws of a foreign country or territory and that has a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as its primary
controlling shareholder. Although the Company does not have a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as our primary controlling shareholder
and is therefore not a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise within the meaning of Circular 82, in the absence of guidance
specifically applicable to us, we have applied the guidance set forth in Circular 82 to evaluate the tax residence status of The Company
and our subsidiaries organized outside the PRC.
21
| | |
According
to Circular 82, a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having a de
facto management body in China and will be subject to PRC corporate income tax on its worldwide income only if all of the following
criteria are met:
| 
| the
primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC; | |
| 
| decisions
relating to the enterprises financial and human resource matters are made or are subject
to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC; | |
| 
| the
enterprises primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board
and shareholders meeting minutes are located or maintained in the PRC; and | |
| 
| 50%
or more of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC. | |
We
do not believe that we meet any of the conditions outlined in the immediately preceding paragraph.
We
believe none of our entities outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. However, the tax resident status of
an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the
term de facto management body. As all of our management members are based in China, it remains unclear how the tax residency
rule will apply to our case. If the PRC tax authorities determine that we or any of our subsidiaries outside of China is a PRC resident
enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, then we or such subsidiary could be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 25% on its world-wide
income, which could materially reduce our net income. In addition, we will also be subject to PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations.
Furthermore, if the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, gains realized
on the sale or other disposition of our common stock may be subject to PRC tax, at a rate of 10% in the case of non-PRC enterprises or
20% in the case of non-PRC individuals (in each case, subject to the provisions of any applicable tax treaty), if such gains are deemed
to be from PRC sources. It is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of our company would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties
between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. Any such tax may reduce
the returns on your investment in our common stock.
****
**Value-Added
Tax and Business Tax**
In
November 2011, the MOF and the State Administration of Taxation promulgated the Pilot Plan for Imposition of Value-Added Tax to Replace
Business Tax. In May and December 2013 and April 2014, the MOF and the State Administration of Taxation promulgated Circular 37, Circular
106 and Circular 43 to further expand the scope of services which are to be subject to Value-Added Tax, or VAT, instead of business tax.
Pursuant to these tax rules, from August 1, 2013, VAT will be imposed to replace the business tax in certain service industries, including
technology services and advertising services, on a nationwide basis. The VAT rate shall be 17% for sale or importation of goods by a
taxpayer. But, unlike business tax, a taxpayer is allowed to offset the qualified input VAT paid on taxable purchases against the output
VAT chargeable on the revenue from services provided.
****
**Regulations
Relating to Foreign Exchange and Dividend Distribution**
****
**Foreign
Exchange Regulation**
The
principal regulations governing foreign currency exchange in China are the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations. Under the PRC
foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange
transactions, may be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE)
by complying with certain procedural requirements. By contrast, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities
is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment
of foreign currency-denominated loans or foreign currency is to be remitted into China under the capital account, such as a capital increase
or foreign currency loans to our PRC subsidiaries.
22
| | |
In
November 2012, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies on Foreign Direct
Investment. Pursuant to this circular, the opening of various special purpose foreign exchange accounts, such as pre-establishment expenses
accounts, foreign exchange capital accounts and guarantee accounts, the reinvestment of RMB proceeds by foreign investors in the PRC,
and remittance of foreign exchange profits and dividends by a foreign-invested enterprise to its foreign shareholders no longer require
the approval or verification of SAFE, and multiple capital accounts for the same entity may be opened in different provinces, which was
not possible previously. In addition, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Printing and Distributing the Provisions on Foreign Exchange Administration
over Domestic Direct Investment by Foreign Investors and the Supporting Documents in May 2013, which specifies that the administration
by SAFE or its local branches over direct investment by foreign investors in the PRC shall be conducted by way of registration and banks
shall process foreign exchange business relating to the direct investment in the PRC based on the registration information provided by
SAFE and its branches.Furthermore, in February 2015, SAFE promulgated the Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving the Foreign Exchange
Management Policies for Direct Investment, or SAFE Circular 13, which took effect in June 2015. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 13, the administrative
approval requirements for foreign exchange registration under domestic direct investment and overseas direct investment have been canceled,
and qualified banks will directly examine and handle foreign exchange registration under domestic direct investment and overseas direct
investment, while SAFE and its branches indirectly supervise the foreign exchange registration via banks.
We
typically do not need to use our offshore foreign currency to fund our PRC operations. In the event we need to do so, we will complete
the relevant registrations with qualified banks or apply to obtain the relevant approvals of SAFE and other PRC government authorities
as necessary.
**SAFE
Circular 37**
SAFE
promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents Offshore Investment and
Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, on July 4, 2014, which replaced the former
circular commonly known as SAFE Circular 75 promulgated by SAFE on October 21, 2005. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents
to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for
the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such PRC residents legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic
enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a special purpose vehicle. SAFE Circular
37 further requires amendment to the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle,
such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material
event. In the event that a PRC shareholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration,
the PRC subsidiaries of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from
carrying out subsequent cross-border foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in its ability to
contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiary. Furthermore, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements
described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of foreign exchange controls.
We
have notified substantial beneficial owners of common stock who we know are PRC residents of their filing obligation. However, we may
not be aware of the identities of all our beneficial owners who are PRC residents. In addition, we do not have control over our beneficial
owners and cannot assure you that all of our PRC resident beneficial owners will comply with SAFE Circular 37. The failure of our beneficial
owners who are PRC residents to register or amend their SAFE registrations in a timely manner pursuant to SAFE Circular 37 or the failure
of future beneficial owners of our company who are PRC residents to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular
37 may subject such beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to fines and legal sanctions. Failure to register or amend the registration
may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries or receive dividends or other distributions from
our PRC subsidiaries or other proceeds from disposal of our PRC subsidiaries, or we may be penalized by SAFE.
****
**Share
Option Rules**
Under
the Administration Measures on Individual Foreign Exchange Control issued by the PBOC on December 25, 2006, all foreign exchange matters
involved in employee share ownership plans and share option plans in which PRC citizens participate require approval from SAFE or its
authorized branch. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who participate in share incentive plans in overseas non-publicly-listed
companies may submit applications to SAFE or its local branches for the foreign exchange registration with respect to offshore special
purpose companies. In addition, under the Notices on Issues concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating
in Share Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Companies, or the Share Option Rules, issued by SAFE on February 15, 2012, PRC residents
who are granted shares or share options by companies listed on overseas stock exchanges under share incentive plans are required to (i)
register with SAFE or its local branches, (ii) retain a qualified PRC agent, which may be a PRC subsidiary of the overseas listed company
or another qualified institution selected by the PRC subsidiary, to conduct the SAFE registration and other procedures with respect to
the share incentive plans on behalf of the participants, and (iii) retain an overseas institution to handle matters in connection with
their exercise of share options, purchase and sale of shares or interests and funds transfers.
****
23
| | |
****
**Regulation
of Dividend Distribution**
The
principal laws, rules and regulations governing dividend distribution by foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC are the Company Law
of the PRC, as amended, the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law and its implementation regulations and the Chinese-foreign Equity Joint
Venture Law and its implementation regulations. Under these laws, rules and regulations, foreign-invested enterprises may pay dividends
only out of their accumulated profit, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Both PRC domestic
companies and wholly-foreign owned PRC enterprises are required to set aside as general reserves at least 10% of their after-tax profit,
until the cumulative amount of such reserves reaches 50% of their registered capital. A PRC company is not permitted to distribute any
profits until any losses from prior fiscal years have been offset. Profits retained from prior fiscal years may be distributed together
with distributable profits from the current fiscal year.
**Regulations
on Mergers & Acquisitions and Overseas Listings**
On
August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including the CSRC, MOFCOM, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission,
the SAT, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce and SAFE, adopted the M&A Rules, which became effective on September 8,
2006, and were amended on June 22, 2009. Foreign investors shall comply with the M&A Rules when they purchase equity interests of
a domestic company or subscribe the increased capital of a domestic company, and thus changing the nature of the domestic company into
a foreign-invested enterprise, when the foreign investors establish a foreign-invested enterprise in the PRC, purchase the assets of
a domestic company and operate the assets, or when the foreign investors purchase the assets of a domestic company, establish a foreign-invested
enterprise by injecting such assets, and operate the assets. As for merger and acquisition of a domestic company with a related party
relationship by a domestic company, enterprise or natural person in the name of an overseas company legitimately incorporated or controlled
by the domestic company, enterprise of natural person, such merger and acquisition shall be subject to examination and approval of MOFCOM.
The parties involved shall not use domestic investment by foreign investment enterprises or other methods to circumvent the requirement
of examination and approval.
Pursuant
to the Manual of Guidance on Administration for Foreign Investment Access, which was issued and became effective on December 18, 2008
by MOFCOM, notwithstanding the fact that (i) the domestic shareholder is connected with the foreign investor or not, or (ii) the foreign
investor is the existing shareholder or the new investor, the M&A Rules shall not apply to the transfer of an equity interest in
an incorporated foreign-invested enterprise from the domestic shareholder to the foreign investor.
On
July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council
jointly issued the Opinions. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and
the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies. The Opinions proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the
construction of relevant regulatory systems, to deal with the risks and incidents facing China-based overseas-listed companies and the
demand for cybersecurity and data privacy protection.
On
February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, announced the Circular on the Administrative Arrangements
for Filing of Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Circular, and released a set of new regulations which consists
of the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five
supporting guidelines. On the same date, the CSRC also released the Notice on the Arrangements for the Filing Management of Overseas
Listing of Domestic Companies, or the Notice. The Trial Measures came into effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures refine the regulatory
system by subjecting both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing activities to the CSRC filing-based administration. Requirements
for filing entities, time points and procedures are specified. A PRC domestic company that seeks to offer and list securities in overseas
markets shall fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC per the requirements of the Trial Measures. Where a PRC domestic company seeks
to indirectly offer and list securities in overseas markets, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity, which shall,
as the domestic responsible entity, file with the CSRC. The Trial Measures also lay out requirements for the reporting of material events.
Breaches of the Trial Measures, such as offering and listing securities overseas without fulfilling the filing procedures, shall bear
legal liabilities, including a fine between RMB 1.0 million (approximately $150,000) and RMB 10.0 million (approximately $1.5 million),
and the Trial Measures increase the cost for offenders by enforcing accountability with administrative penalties and incorporating the
compliance status of relevant market participants into the Securities Market Integrity Archives.
24
| | |
According
to the Circular, since the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, PRC domestic enterprises falling within the
scope of filing that have been listed overseas or met the following circumstances are existing enterprises: before the
effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, the application for indirect overseas issuance and listing has been approved by
the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges (such as the registration statement has become effective on the U.S. market), it
is not required to perform issuance and listing supervision procedures of the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges, and the
overseas issuance and listing will be completed by September 30, 2023. Existing enterprises are not required to file with the CSRC immediately,
and filings with the CSRC should be made as required if they involve refinancings and other filing matters. PRC domestic enterprises
that have submitted valid applications for overseas issuance and listing but have not been approved by overseas regulatory authorities
or overseas stock exchanges at the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023 can reasonably arrange the timing of
filing applications with the CSRC and shall complete the filing with the CSRC before the overseas issuance and listing.
In
addition, an overseas-listed company must also submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate
bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within the time frame specified by the Trial Measures.
It
is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that because the Company is not a company registered and formed in the territory
of China, its continued listing on Nasdaq and future offerings are not direct overseas offering and listing of domestic enterprises
as defined under the Trial Measures. Furthermore, according to Article 2 of the Trial Measures, the indirect overseas offering
and listing of domestic enterprises refers to the overseas offering and listing of enterprises whose main business activities
are in China, in the name of enterprises registered overseas, which offering and listing are based on the equity, assets, income or other
similar rights and interests of the domestic enterprises. According to Article 15 of the Trial Measures, if the issuer meets both of
the following conditions, the overseas offerings and listings shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing
of domestic enterprises: (i) 50% or more of the issuers operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as
documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year is accounted for by domestic enterprises;
and; (ii) its major operational activities are carried out in China or its main places of business are located in China, or the senior
managers in charge of its business operation and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in China.
The
Company does not meet both the requirements under Article 15 of the Trial Measures and therefore its continued listing on Nasdaq and
future offerings are not an Indirect overseas offering and listing of domestic enterprises, considering that (i) the operating
income and total profit of the Companys subsidiaries that were established in China for the year ended December 31, 2023 do not
account for more than 50% of the operating income and total profit in our consolidated financial statements for the same period, (ii)
our main business is not conducted within China, and (iii) the majority of our senior management personnel are not Chinese citizens or
reside in China on a regular basis. Therefore, it is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that we are not required
to complete the record filing requirement under the Trial Measures. However, if we inadvertently conclude that such filing procedures
are not required, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that we are required to complete the filing procedures
in the future, we may be subject to investigations by the regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations
and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result
in a material adverse change in our operations and/or the value of our common stock, and could significantly limit or completely hinder
our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become
worthless.
On
February 24, 2023, the CSRC, together with the MOF, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration
of China, revised the Provisions issued by the CSRC and National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration
of China in 2009. The revised Provisions were issued under the title the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives
Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, and came into effect on March 31, 2023 together
with the Trial Measures. One of the major revisions to the revised Provisions is expanding their application to cover indirect overseas
offering and listing, as is consistent with the Trial Measures. The revised Provisions require that, among other things, (a) a domestic
company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals
or entities, including securities companies, securities service providers, and overseas regulators, any documents and materials that
contain state secrets or working secrets of government agencies, shall first obtain approval from competent authorities according to
law, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level; and (b) a domestic company that plans to, either directly
or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals and entities, including securities
companies, securities service providers, and overseas regulators, any other documents and materials that, if leaked, will be detrimental
to national security or public interest, shall strictly fulfill relevant procedures stipulated by applicable national regulations. Any
failure or perceived failure by our Company or our subsidiaries, to comply with the above confidentiality and archives administration
requirements under the revised Provisions and other PRC laws and regulations may result in the relevant entities being held legally liable
by competent authorities, and referred to the judicial organ to be investigated for criminal liability if suspected of committing a crime.
****
25
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****
**Regulation
on Cybersecurity Review**
On
December 28, 2021, the CAC, the NDRC, and several other administrations jointly issued the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review,
or the Revised Review Measures, which became effective and has replaced the existing Measures for Cybersecurity Review on February 15,
2022. According to the Revised Review Measures, if an online platform operator that is in possession of personal data of
more than one million users intends to list in a foreign country, it must apply for a cybersecurity review. Based on a set of Q&A
published on the official website of the State Cipher Code Administration in connection with the issuance of the Revised Review Measures,
an official of the said administration indicated that an online platform operator should apply for a cybersecurity review prior to the
submission of its listing application with non-PRC securities regulators. As the interpretation and implementation of the Revised Review
Measures are continuously evolving, uncertainties exist with respect to their application in specific practices. For example, it is unclear
whether the requirement of cybersecurity review applies to follow-on offerings by an online platform operator that is in
possession of personal data of more than one million users where the offshore holding company of such operator is already listed overseas.
Furthermore, on September24, 2024, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on the Network Data Security Management (the Data
Security Management Regulations), which became effective on January1, 2025. Pursuant to the Data Security Management Regulations,
network data processing activities refer to activities such as the collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure,
and deletion of data. Network data processors refer to individuals or organizations that independently determine the purposes and methods
of data processing activities. Network data processors conducting any data processing activities that affect or may affect national security
shall undergo national security review in accordance with relevant national regulations. Where it is indeed necessary to transfer any
important data collected and generated within the territory of the PRC to an overseas party, the security assessment of outbound data
transfer organized by the national cyberspace administration department shall be passed.
It
is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that we will not be subject to cybersecurity review with the CAC, given that:
(i) Shanghai Xianzhui does not possess and does not anticipate that it will possess a large amount of personal information in our business
operations, (ii) data processed in Shanghai Xianzhuis business does not have a bearing on national security and thus may not be
classified as core or important data by the authorities, and (iii) any cross-border data transfers conducted in our ordinary course of
business fall under the exemptions provided by the Provisions on Promoting and Regulating Cross-Border Data Flows. In addition, for the
same reasons, we are not subject to network data security review by the CAC pursuant to the Data Security Management Regulations. However,
the definition of network platform operator is unclear and it is also unclear on how it will be interpreted and implemented
by the relevant PRC governmental authorities. See Risk factors Risk Factors Related to Doing Business in China 
Shanghai Xianzhui may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity,
and data protection. Shanghai Xianzhui may be required to suspend its business, be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal
information provided by our customers or face other penalties.
****
**Legal
Proceedings**
From
time to time, we may be involved in various claims and legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. None of our Company
or our subsidiaries is currently a party to any such claims or proceedings which, if decided adversely to the Company, would either,
individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash
flows.
26
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**Item
1A. Risk Factors**
*
*An
investment in our shares of common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risk factors, together
with the other information contained in this Report, before you decide to buy any of our securities. Any of the following risks could
cause our business, results of operations and financial condition to suffer materially, causing the market price of our shares of common
stock to decline, in which event you may lose part or all of your investment in our shares of common stock. Additional risks and uncertainties
not currently known to us or that we currently do not deem material may also become important factors that may materially and adversely
affect our business.*
****
**Risks
Related to Our Corporate Structure**
****
**We
may rely on dividends paid by our subsidiaries for our cash needs. Any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make dividend
payments to us, or any tax implications of making dividend payments to us, could limit our ability to pay our parent company expenses
or pay dividends to holders of our common stock.**
GDC
may rely on dividends to be paid by our subsidiaries in Nevada and in the PRC, to fund our cash and financing requirements, including
the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders, to service any debt we may incur and to pay our
operating expenses.
Under
the Nevada Revised Statutes and the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of each of GDC and AI Catalysis (a direct subsidiary of GDC),
dividends may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting. No distribution may be made if, after giving it
effect: (a) such company would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business; or (b) such companys
total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus the amount that would be needed, if such company were to be dissolved
immediately after the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon such dissolution of holders of shares of any
class or series of the capital stock of such company having preferential rights superior to those receiving the distribution.
Under
the laws of the British Virgin Islands, our BVI subsidiary and a direct subsidiary of GDC, Citi Profit, may pay a dividend to GDC out
of profit, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in Citi Profit being unable to pay its debts
due in the ordinary course of business. Under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, our BVI subsidiary, Pallas, may pay a dividend
to GDC out of profit, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in Pallas being unable to pay its
debts due in the ordinary course of business.
Under
the laws of Hong Kong, our Hong Kong subsidiary and a direct subsidiary of Citi Profit, Highlight HK, is permitted, to provide funding
to Citi Profit through dividends distribution out of its profits. Under the current practices of the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department,
no tax is payable in Hong Kong in respect of dividends paid to Citi Profit as a British Virgin Islands company.
Under
PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries, Highlight WFOE (a direct subsidiary of Citi Profit), and Shanghai Xianzhui (a direct
subsidiary of Highlight WFOE), may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting
standards and regulations. Further, our PRC subsidiaries are required to make appropriations to certain statutory reserve funds or may
make appropriations to certain discretionary funds, which are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of a solvent liquidation
of the companies. In addition, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise is required to set aside at least 10% of its accumulated after-tax profits
each year, if any, to fund a certain statutory reserve fund, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital.
Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned enterprise out of China is also subject to examination by the banks designated by the
State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE.
27
| | |
In
addition, we expect that revenue, if any, to be generated by our PRC operating subsidiary, Shanghai Xianzhui, will be in Renminbi, which
is not freely convertible into other currencies. As a result, any restriction on currency exchange may limit the ability of our PRC operating
subsidiary to use its Renminbi revenues to pay dividends to us. To the extent cash or assets in the business is in the PRC/Hong Kong
or a PRC/Hong Kong entity, the funds or assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC/Hong Kong
due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government
to transfer cash or assets. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may temporarily delay the ability of our PRC subsidiaries
to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us, or otherwise satisfy their foreign currency denominated
obligations. In view of the foregoing, to the extent cash in our business is held in China or by a PRC entity, such cash may not be available
to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls, and more
restrictions and substantial vetting process may be put forward by SAFE for cross-border transactions falling under both the current
account and the capital account. In addition, the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax
rate of up to 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted
or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where
the non-PRC resident enterprises are incorporated. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other
kinds of payments to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial
to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
Under
PRC law, Highlight WFOE and Shanghai Xianzhui may be funded through capital contributions by their immediate parent company or loans,
subject to satisfaction of applicable government registration and approval requirements. Before providing loans to our PRC subsidiaries,
we will be required to make filings about details of the loans with the SAFE in accordance with relevant PRC laws and regulations.
Highlight
HK is permitted under the laws of Hong Kong to provide funding to Shanghai Xianzhui through capital contributions or to other companies
within our corporate structure through loans without restrictions on the amount of the funds and such funding is not subject to government
registration or filing requirements under the laws of Hong Kong.
Citi
Profit is permitted under the laws of the British Virgin Islands to provide funding to Highlight WFOE through capital contributions or
to other companies within our corporate structure through loans without restrictions on the amount of the funds and such funding is not
subject to government registration or filing requirements under the laws of the British Virgin Islands.
GDC
is permitted under the laws of Nevada to provide funding to Citi Profit and Pallas through capital contributions or to other companies
within our corporate structure through loans without restrictions on the amount of the funds and such funding is not subject to government
registration or filing requirements under the laws of the Nevada.
AI
Catalysis is permitted under the laws of Nevada to provide funding to other companies within our corporate structure through loans without
restrictions on the amount of the funds and such funding is not subject to government registration or filing requirements under the laws
of the Nevada.
GDC
presently does not maintain any cash management policies which dictate how funds are transferred, however, GDC continues to conduct regular
review and management of all its subsidiaries cash transfers and reports to board of directors.
Prior
to September 28, 2022, Makesi IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a then indirect subsidiary of the Company (Makesi WFOE),
had a series of contractual arrangement with Sichuan Wuge Network Games Co., Ltd. (Wuge) and its shareholders that established
a variable interest entity (the VIE) structure. For accounting purposes, Makesi WFOE was the primary beneficiary of Wuge.
Accordingly, under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), the Company treated
Wuge as the consolidated affiliated entity and had consolidated Wuges financial statements prior to September 28, 2022. Wuge focused
its business on research, development and application of Internet of Things (IoT) and electronic tokens Wuge digital door signs. On September
28, 2022, Makesi WFOE entered into a termination agreement with Wuge and the shareholders of Wuge to terminate the VIE Agreements and
to cancel the shares previously issued to the shareholders of Wuge, based on the average closing price of $0.237 per share of the Company
during the 30 trading days immediately prior to the date of the termination agreement. As a result of such termination, the Company no
longer treats Wuge as a consolidated affiliated entity or consolidates the financial results and balance sheet of Wuge in the Companys
consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP.
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Prior
to June 26, 2023, Makesi WFOE had a series of contractual arrangement with Shanghai Yuanma Food and Beverage Management Co., Ltd. (Yuan
Ma) and its shareholders that established a VIE structure. For accounting purposes, Makesi WFOE was the primary beneficiary of
Yuan Ma. Accordingly, under U.S. GAAP, the Company treated Yuan Ma as the consolidated affiliated entity and had consolidated Yuan Mas
financial results in the Companys consolidated financial statements prior to June 26, 2023. On June 26, 2023, the Company entered
into a share purchase agreement with a buyer unaffiliated with the Company. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company agreed to sell and
the buyer agreed to purchase all the issued and outstanding equity interest in TMSR Holdings Limited (TMSR HK), which owned
100% equity interest in Makesi WFOE. The purchase price for the transaction contemplated by the Agreement was $100,000. The sale of TMSR
HK did not have any material impact on the Companys consolidated financial statements.
Prior
to September 26, 2023, Highlight WFOE had a series of contractual arrangement with Highlight Media and its shareholders that established
a VIE structure. For accounting purposes, Highlight WFOE was the primary beneficiary of Highlight Media. Accordingly, under U.S. GAAP,
the Company treated Highlight Media as the consolidated affiliated entity and had consolidated Highlight Medias financial results
in the Companys financial statements prior to September 26, 2023. Highlight Media was an integrated marketing service agency,
focusing on enterprise brand management, crisis public relations, intelligent public opinion monitoring, media PR, financial and economic
self-media operation, digital face application, large-scale exhibition services and other businesses. On September 26, 2023, Highlight
WFOE entered into a termination agreement with Highlight Media and the shareholders of Highlight Media to terminate the VIE Agreements
and sold the interest in the VIE Agreements for a purchase price of $100,000. As a result of such termination, the Company no longer
treats Highlight Media as a consolidated affiliated entity or consolidates the financial results and balance sheet of Highlight Media
in the Companys consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP.
As
of December 31, 2025 and as of the date of this Report, we do not have a VIE structure.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, GDC made a cash transfer
of $11,000 to AI Catalysis Corp. Other than this transfer, no other assets were transferred between GDC and its subsidiaries. No amounts
owed under any previous VIE agreements were settled. There were no cash transfers to or from the VIEs. GDC did not make any dividends
or distributions to U.S. investors.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024,
there was no transfer of assets between GDC and its subsidiaries. No amounts owed under any previous VIE agreements were settled.
There were no cash transfers to or from the VIEs. GDC did not make any dividends or distributions to U.S. investors.
If
our subsidiary incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends
or make other distributions to us. See Item 1. Business Asset Transfer between our Company and our Subsidiaries.
****
**Risks
Related to Doing Business in China**
****
**PRC
regulation of loans to, and direct investments in, PRC entities by offshore holding companies may delay or prevent us from using proceeds
from future financing activities to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC operating subsidiaries.**
In
July 2014, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents Offshore
Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, which replaces the previous
SAFE Circular 75. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents, including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities, to register with SAFE
or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our
shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we may make in the future.
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Under
SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who make, or have prior to the implementation of SAFE Circular 37 made, direct or indirect investments
in offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, are required to register such investments with SAFE or its local branches. In addition,
any PRC resident who is a direct or indirect shareholder of an SPV, is required to update its registration with the local branch of SAFE
with respect to that SPV, to reflect any material change. Moreover, any subsidiary of such SPV in China is required to urge the PRC resident
shareholders to update their registration with the local branch of SAFE to reflect any material change. If any PRC resident shareholder
of such SPV fails to make the required registration or to update the registration, the subsidiary of such SPV in China may be prohibited
from distributing its profits or the proceeds from any capital reduction, share transfer or liquidation to the SPV, and the SPV may also
be prohibited from making additional capital contributions into its subsidiaries in China. In February, 2015, SAFE promulgated a Notice
on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13. Under SAFE Notice
13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound direct investments, including those
required under SAFE Circular 37, must be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE. Qualified banks should examine the applications
and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE. We have used our best efforts to notify PRC residents or entities who directly
or indirectly hold shares in GD Culture Group Limited and who are known to us as being PRC residents to complete the foreign exchange
registrations. However, we may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents or entities holding direct or indirect interest
in our company, nor can we compel our beneficial owners to comply with SAFE registration requirements. We cannot assure you that all
other shareholders or beneficial owners of ours who are PRC residents or entities have complied with, and will in the future make, obtain
or update any applicable registrations or approvals required by, SAFE regulations. Failure by such shareholders or beneficial owners
to comply with SAFE regulations, or failure by us to amend the foreign exchange registrations of our PRC subsidiaries, could subject
us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, and limit our PRC subsidiaries ability
to make distributions or pay dividends to us or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects.
Furthermore,
as these foreign exchange and outbound investment related regulations are relatively new and their interpretation and implementation
has been constantly evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border investments
and transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. For example, we may be subject
to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and
foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. We cannot assure
you that we have complied or will be able to comply with all applicable foreign exchange and outbound investment related regulations.
In addition, if we decide to acquire a PRC domestic company, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of such company, as the case
may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the foreign exchange
regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.
We
may finance our subsidiaries by means of loans or capital contributions. Any capital contributions or loans that we, as an offshore entity,
make to our Companys PRC operating subsidiary, Shanghai Xianzhui, are subject to the above PRC regulations. We may not be able
to obtain necessary government registrations or approvals on a timely basis, if at all. If we fail to obtain such approvals or make such
registration, our ability to make equity contributions or provide loans to our Companys PRC subsidiaries, including Shanghai Xianzhui,
or to fund their operations may be negatively affected, which may adversely affect their liquidity and ability to fund their working
capital and expansion projects and meet their obligations and commitments. As a result, our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand
our business may be negatively affected.
****
**Changes
in Chinas economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our business
and results of operations.**
While
the majority of the Companys operation is in the United States, all of Shanghai Xianzhuis operations and assets are located
in China. Accordingly, Shanghai Xianzhuis business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced
to a significant degree by political, economic and social conditions in China generally and by continued economic growth in China as
a whole.
The
Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement,
level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Although the Chinese government has implemented
measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and
the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still
owned by the government. In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development
by imposing industrial policies. The Chinese government also exercises significant control over Chinas economic growth through
allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy, and providing preferential
treatment to particular industries or companies.
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While
the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various
sectors of the economy. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation
of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy, but may have a negative effect on us. For example, our
financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in
tax regulations. In addition, in the past the Chinese government has implemented certain measures, including interest rate increases,
to control the pace of economic growth. These measures may cause decreased economic activity in China, and since 2012, Chinas
economic growth has slowed down. Any prolonged slowdown in the Chinese economy may reduce the demand for our products and services and
materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
****
**Under
the Enterprise Income Tax Law, we may be classified as a Resident Enterprise of China. Such classification will likely
result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC stockholders.**
The
PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, and its implementing rules both became effective on January 1, 2008, and were most recently
amended in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with de facto management
bodies within China is considered a resident enterprise, meaning that it can be treated in a manner similar to a
Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. The implementing rules of the EIT Law define de facto management as substantial
and overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel, accounting, and properties of the enterprise.
On
April 22, 2009, the State Administration of Taxation of China issued the Notice Concerning Relevant Issues Regarding Cognizance of Chinese
Investment Controlled Enterprises Incorporated Offshore as Resident Enterprises pursuant to Criteria of de facto Management Bodies, or
the Notice, further interpreting the application of the EIT Law and its implementation to offshore entities controlled by a Chinese enterprise
or group. Pursuant to the Notice, an enterprise incorporated in an offshore jurisdiction and controlled by a Chinese enterprise or group
will be classified as a non-domestically incorporated resident enterprise if (i) its senior management in charge of daily
operations reside or perform their duties mainly in China; (ii) its financial or personnel decisions are made or approved by bodies or
persons in China; (iii) its substantial assets and properties, accounting books, corporate stamps, board and stockholder minutes are
kept in China; and (iv) all of its directors with voting rights or senior management reside in China. A resident enterprise would be
subject to an enterprise income tax rate of 25% on its worldwide income and must pay a withholding tax at a rate of 10% when paying dividends
to its non-PRC stockholders. Because substantially all of our operations and senior management are located within the PRC and are expected
to remain so for the foreseeable future, we may be considered a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes and therefore
subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on its worldwide income. However, it remains unclear as to whether the Notice
is applicable to an offshore enterprise controlled by a Chinese natural person. Therefore, it is unclear how tax authorities will determine
tax residency based on the facts of each case.
If
the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, a number of
unfavorable PRC tax consequences could follow. First, we may be subject to the enterprise income tax at a rate of 25% on our worldwide
taxable income as well as PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. In our case, this would mean that income such as non-China
source income would be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Currently, we do not have any non-China source income.
However, under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, dividends paid to us from our PRC subsidiaries would be deemed as qualified
investment income between resident enterprises and therefore qualify as tax-exempt income pursuant to clause 26
of the EIT Law. Second, it is possible that future guidance issued with respect to the new resident enterprise classification
could result in a situation in which the dividends we pay with respect to our common stock, or the gain our non-PRC shareholders may
realize from the transfer of our common stock, may be treated as PRC-sourced income and may therefore be subject to a 10% PRC withholding
tax. The EIT Law and its implementing regulations are, however, relatively new and ambiguities exist with respect to the interpretation
and identification of PRC-sourced income, and the application and assessment of withholding taxes. If we are required under the EIT Law
and its implementing regulations to withhold PRC income tax on dividends payable to our non-PRC shareholders, or if non-PRC stockholders
are required to pay PRC income tax on gains on the transfer of their common stock, our business could be negatively impacted and the
value of your investment may be materially reduced. Further, if we were treated as a resident enterprise by PRC tax authorities,
we would be subject to taxation in both China and such countries in which we have taxable income, and our PRC tax may not be creditable
against such other taxes.
****
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**We
must comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Chinese anti-corruption laws.**
We
are required to comply with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, which prohibits US companies from engaging in bribery
or other prohibited payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Foreign companies, including some
of our competitors, are not subject to these prohibitions. The PRC also strictly prohibits bribery of government officials. Certain of
our suppliers are owned by the PRC government and our dealings with them are likely to be considered to be with government officials
for these purposes. Corruption, extortion, bribery, pay-offs, theft and other fraudulent practices occur from time-to-time in China.
It is our policy to prohibit our employees, and to discourage our agents, representatives and consultants, from engaging in such practices.
If our competitors engage in these practices, they may receive preferential treatment from personnel of some companies, giving our competitors
an advantage in securing business or from government officials who might give them priority in obtaining new licenses, which would put
us at a disadvantage. Our employees, agents, representatives and consultants may not always be subject to our control. If any of them
violates FCPA or other anti-corruption law, we might be held responsible. We could suffer severe penalties in that event. In addition,
the US government may seek to hold us liable for successor liability FCPA violations committed by companies in which we invest or which
we acquire.
****
**Uncertainties
in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations and changes in policies, rules, and regulations in China could limit
the legal protection available to you and us.**
The
PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, it is a system in which legal cases have limited value as precedents.
In the late 1970s, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in
general. The legislation over the past three decades has significantly increased the protection afforded to various forms of foreign
or private-sector investment in China. Shanghai Xianzhui is subject to various PRC laws and regulations generally applicable to companies
in China. Since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, however, the interpretations
of many laws, regulations, and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations, and rules involve uncertainties.
From
time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. Since PRC administrative and
court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, however, it may be more
difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy in the PRC legal
system than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies, internal rules,
and regulations that may have retroactive effect and the interpretation and implementation of which may continuously evolve. As a result,
Shanghai Xianzhui may not be aware of its violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties,
including uncertainties over the scope and effect of the contractual, property (including intellectual property), and procedural rights,
and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect Shanghai Xianzhuis
business and impede Shanghai Xianzhuis ability to continue its operations.
****
**Our
business may be materially and adversely affected if our PRC subsidiaries declare bankruptcy or become subject to a dissolution or liquidation
proceeding.**
The
Enterprise Bankruptcy Law of the PRC, or the Bankruptcy Law, came into effect on June 1, 2007. The Bankruptcy Law provides that an enterprise
will be liquidated if the enterprise fails to settle its debts as and when they fall due and if the enterprises assets are, or
are demonstrably, insufficient to clear such debts.
Shanghai
Xianzhui holds certain assets that are important to our business operations. If Shanghai Xianzhui undergoes a voluntary or involuntary
liquidation proceeding, unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of these assets, thereby hindering our ability
to operate our business, which could materially and adversely affect Shanghai Xianzhuis business, financial condition and results
of operations.
According
to SAFEs Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration
Policies for Direct Investment, effective on 17 December 2012, and the Provisions for Administration of Foreign Exchange Relating to
Inbound Direct Investment by Foreign Investors, effective May 13, 2013, if any of our PRC subsidiaries undergoes a voluntary or involuntary
liquidation proceeding, prior approval from SAFE for remittance of foreign exchange to our shareholders abroad is no longer required,
but we still need to conduct a registration process with the SAFE local branch. It is not clear whether registration is
a mere formality or involves the kind of substantive review process undertaken by SAFE and its relevant branches in the past.
****
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****
**Given
the PRC governments role in regulating industrial development, the evolving regulatory framework could result in a material change in
the operations of Shanghai Xianzhui and/or the value of our common stock.**
The
PRC government has continuous oversight over the regulatory framework of various industries and may guide and regulate operations in
accordance with laws and regulations to further macroeconomic and societal goals, which could result in a material change in the operations
of Shanghai Xianzhui and/or the value of our common stock.
The
Chinese government has recently published new policies that significantly affected certain industries such as the education and Internet
industries, and we cannot rule out the possibility that it will in the future release regulations or policies regarding our industry
that could adversely affect the business, financial condition, and results of operations of Shanghai Xianzhui. Furthermore, if China
adopts more stringent standards with respect to certain areas such as environmental protection or corporate social responsibilities,
Shanghai Xianzhui may incur increased compliance costs or become subject to additional restrictions in their operations. Certain areas
of the law in China, including intellectual property rights and confidentiality protections, may also not be as effective as in the United
States or other countries. In addition, we cannot predict the effects of future developments in the PRC legal system on the business
operations of Shanghai Xianzhui, including the promulgation of new laws, or changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement
thereof. These uncertainties could limit the legal protections available to us and our investors, including you.
**The
Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities. We are currently not
required to obtain approval from Chinese authorities to list on U.S exchanges, however, if Shanghai Xianzhui or GDC were required to
obtain approval in the future and were denied permission from Chinese authorities to list on U.S. exchanges, we will not be able to continue
listing on U.S. exchange and the value of our common stock may significantly decline or become worthless, which would materially affect
the interest of the investors.**
The
PRC government plays a significant role in regulating industrial development and shaping the macroeconomic environment through implementing
relevant policies. Under the current government leadership, the government of the PRC has been pursuing reform policies which have adversely
affected China-based operating companies whose securities are listed in the United States, with significant policies changes being made
from time to time without notice. There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations,
including, but not limited to, the laws and regulations governing our business, or the enforcement and performance of our contractual
arrangements with borrowers in the event of the imposition of statutory liens, bankruptcy or criminal proceedings. Our ability to operate
in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land
use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations
or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance
with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions and the implementation of economic policies in the future could
have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of
any interest we then hold in Chinese properties.
Given
recent statements by the Chinese government indicating an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted
overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, any such action could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability
to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
The
General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the
Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law, or the Opinions, which was made available to the
public on July 6, 2021. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the
need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction
of relevant regulatory systems, will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-concept overseas listed companies. As of
the date of this Report, we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, or sanctions from PRC government authorities in connection
with the Opinions.
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On
June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress of China, or the SCNPC, promulgated the PRC Data Security
Law, which took effect in September 2021. The PRC Data Security Law imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals
carrying out data activities, and introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data
in economic and social development, and the degree of harm it will cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights
and interests of individuals or organizations when such data is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, illegally acquired or used. The PRC
Data Security Law also provides for a national security review procedure for data activities that may affect national security and imposes
export restrictions on certain data an information.
On
August 17, 2021, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on the Protection of the Security of Critical Information Infrastructure,
or the Regulations, which took effect on September 1, 2021. The Regulations supplement and specify the provisions on the security of
critical information infrastructure as stated in the Cybersecurity Review Measures. The Regulations provide, among others, that protection
department of certain industry or sector shall notify the operator of the critical information infrastructure in time after the identification
of certain critical information infrastructure.
On
August 20, 2021, the SCNPC promulgated the Personal Information Protection Law of the PRC, or the Personal Information Protection Law,
which took effect on November 1, 2021. As the first systematic and comprehensive law specifically for the protection of personal information
in the PRC, the Personal Information Protection Law provides, among others, that (i) an individuals consent shall be obtained
to use sensitive personal information, such as biometric characteristics and individual location tracking, (ii) personal information
operators using sensitive personal information shall notify individuals of the necessity of such use and impact on the individuals
rights, and (iii) where personal information operators reject an individuals request to exercise his or her rights, the individual
may file a lawsuit with a Peoples Court.
On
February 17, 2023, the CSRC released the Trial Measures and five supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023. Pursuant
to the Trial Measures, domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, should fulfill
the filing procedures and report relevant information to the CSRC. If a domestic company fails to complete the filing procedures or conceals
any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties
by the CSRC, such as order to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person directly in
charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines. As a listed company,
we believe that neither the Company nor the PRC subsidiaries are required to fulfill filing procedures with the CSRC to continue to offer
our securities, or continue listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, considering that (i) the operating income and total profit of the Companys
subsidiaries that were established in China for the year ended December 31, 2023 do not account for more than 50% of the operating income
and total profit in our consolidated financial statements for the same period, (ii) our main business is not conducted within China,
and (iii) the majority of our senior management personnel are not Chinese citizens or reside in China on a regular basis. Therefore,
it is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that we are not required to complete the record filing requirement under
the Trial Measures. However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of the M&A Rules, other
PRC Laws and future PRC laws and regulations, and there can be no assurance that any governmental agency will not take a view that is
contrary to or otherwise different from our belief stated herein. See Risk Factors - Risk Factors Relating to Doing Business in
China - The CSRC has released the Trial Measures. With such rules in effect, , the PRC regulatory authorities may enhance supervision
and administration over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could significantly
limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer our securities to investors and could cause the value of our securities to
significantly decline or become worthless.
As
such, the Companys businesses may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the provinces in which they
operate. The Company could be subject to regulation by various political and regulatory entities, including various local and municipal
agencies and government sub-divisions. The Company may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws
and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply. The Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time
with little advance notice, which could result in a material change in our operations and in the value of our common stock. Any actions
by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in
China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors
and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
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Furthermore,
it is uncertain when and whether the Company will be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to list on U.S. exchanges
in the future, and even when such permission is obtained, whether it will be denied or rescinded. Although the Company is currently not
required to obtain permission from any of the PRC federal or local government to obtain such permission and has not received any denial
to list on the U.S. exchange, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations
relating to its business or industry. As a result, our common stock may decline in value dramatically or even become worthless should
we become subject to new requirement to obtain permission from the PRC government to list on U.S. exchange in the future.
****
**Fluctuations
in exchange rates could adversely affect our business and the value of our securities.**
Changes
in the value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar are affected by, among other things, changes in Chinas political and economic
conditions. Any significant revaluation of the RMB may have a material adverse effect on our revenues and financial condition, and the
value of, and any dividends payable on our shares in U.S. dollar terms. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars
we receive from our public offering into RMB for our operations, appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse
effect on RMB amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert our RMB into U.S. dollars for the purpose
of paying dividends on our common stock or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the RMB would have a
negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us. In addition, fluctuations of the RMB against other currencies may increase
or decrease the cost of imports and exports, and thus affect the price-competitiveness of our products against products of foreign manufacturers
or products relying on foreign inputs.
Since
July 2005, the RMB is no longer pegged to the U.S. dollar. Although the Peoples Bank of China regularly manages the foreign exchange
market to prevent significant short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate, the RMB may appreciate or depreciate significantly in value
against the U.S. dollar in the medium to long term. Moreover, it is possible that in the future PRC authorities may lift restrictions
on fluctuations in the RMB exchange rate and lessen its management in the foreign exchange market.
****
**Increases
in labor costs in the PRC may adversely affect our business and results of operations.**
The
currently effective PRC Labor Contract Law, or the Labor Contract Law was first adopted on June 29, 2007 and later amended on December
28, 2012. The PRC Labor Contract Law has reinforced the protection of employees who, under the Labor Contract Law, have the right, among
others, to have written employment contracts, to enter into employment contracts with no fixed term under certain circumstances, to receive
overtime wages and to terminate or alter terms in labor contracts. Furthermore, the Labor Contract Law sets forth additional restrictions
and increases the costs involved with dismissing employees. To the extent that we need to significantly reduce our workforce, the Labor
Contract Law could adversely affect our ability to do so in a timely and cost-effective manner, and our results of operations could be
adversely affected. In addition, for employees whose employment contracts include noncompetition terms, the Labor Contract Law requires
us to pay monthly compensation after such employment is terminated, which will increase our operating expenses.
We
expect that our labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase. Unless we are able to pass on these increased
labor costs to our customers by increasing the prices of our products and services, our financial condition and results of operations
would be materially and adversely affected.
****
**PRC
regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our PRC subsidiaries ability to increase their
registered capital or distribute profits to us or otherwise expose us or our PRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties
under PRC law.**
In
July 2014, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration over the Overseas Investment and Financing
and Roundtrip Investment by Domestic Residents via Special Purpose Vehicles, or Circular 37. According to Circular 37 and
subsequent regulations, prior registration with qualified banks is required for Chinese residents to contribute domestic assets or interests
to offshore companies, known as Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). Circular 37 further requires amendment to a PRC residents
registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the SPV, such as an increase or decrease in the capital contributed
by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division, or other material event. Further, foreign investment enterprises established
by way of round-tripping shall complete the relevant foreign exchange registration formalities pursuant to the prevailing foreign exchange
control provisions for direct investments by foreign investors, and disclose the relevant information such as actual controlling party
of the shareholders truthfully.
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We
may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents or entities holding direct or indirect interest in our company, nor can
we compel our beneficial owners to comply with SAFE registration requirements. As a result, we cannot assure you that all of our shareholders
or beneficial owners who are PRC residents or entities have complied with, and will in the future make or obtain any applicable registrations
or approvals required by, SAFE regulations. Failure by such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with SAFE regulations, or failure
by us to amend the foreign exchange registrations of our PRC subsidiaries, could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our
overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit Highlight WFOEs ability to make distributions or pay dividends to us or
affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects.
****
**Shanghai
Xianzhui may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and data
protection. Shanghai Xianzhui may be required to suspend its business, be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information
provided by our customers and face other penalties.**
Shanghai
Xianzhui may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and data
protection. These laws and regulations are continuously evolving and developing. The scope and interpretation of the laws that are or
may be applicable to us are often uncertain and may be conflicting, particularly with respect to foreign laws. In particular, there are
numerous laws and regulations regarding privacy and the collection, sharing, use, processing, disclosure, and protection of personal
information and other user data. Such laws and regulations often vary in scope, may be subject to differing interpretations, and may
be inconsistent among different jurisdictions.
We
expect to obtain information about various aspects of our operations as well as regarding our employees and third parties. We also maintain
information about various aspects of our operations as well as regarding our employees. The integrity and protection of our customer,
employee and company data is critical to our business. Our customers and employees expect that we will adequately protect their personal
information. We are required by applicable laws to keep strictly confidential the personal information that we collect, and to take adequate
security measures to safeguard such information.
The
PRC Criminal Law, as amended by its Amendment 7 (effective on February28, 2009), and Amendment 9 (effective on November1,
2015), Amendment 10 (effective on November4, 2017) and Amendment 11 (effective on March1, 2021), prohibits institutions,
companies and their employees from selling or otherwise illegally disclosing a citizens personal information obtained during the
course of performing duties or providing services or obtaining such information through theft or other illegal ways.
On
November 7, 2016, the Standing Committee of the PRC National Peoples Congress issued the Cyber Security Law of the PRC, or Cyber
Security Law, which became effective on June 1, 2017. Pursuant to the Cyber Security Law, network operators must not, without users
consent, collect their personal information, and may only collect users personal information necessary to provide their services.
Providers are also obliged to provide security maintenance for their products and services and shall comply with provisions regarding
the protection of personal information as stipulated under the relevant laws and regulations.
Furthermore,
the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) promulgated by the Standing Committee of the NPC, which became effective on November 1,
2021, sets forth the fundamental rules for the processing of personal information, emphasizing the principles of legality, propriety,
necessity, and good faith.
The
Civil Code of the PRC (issued by the PRC National Peoples Congress on May 28, 2020 and effective from January 1, 2021) provides
main legal basis for privacy and personal information infringement claims under the Chinese civil laws. PRC regulators, including the
CAC, MIIT, and the Ministry of Public Security have been increasingly focused on regulation in the areas of data security and data protection.
In
April 2020, the CAC and certain other PRC regulatory authorities promulgated the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which became effective
in June 2020. Pursuant to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, operators of critical information infrastructure must pass a cybersecurity
review when purchasing network products and services which do or may affect national security. On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee
of the NPC promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect on September 1, 2021. The Data Security Law also sets forth the data
security protection obligations for entities and individuals handling personal data, including that no entity or individual may acquire
such data by stealing or other illegal means, and the collection and use of such data should not exceed the necessary limits The costs
of compliance with, and other burdens imposed by, Cyber Security Law and any other cybersecurity and related laws may limit the use and
adoption of our products and services and could have an adverse impact on our business. On January 4, 2022, thirteen PRC regulatory agencies,
namely, the CAC, the NDRC, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State
Security, the MOF, MOFCOM, SAMR, CSRC, the Peoples Bank of China, the National Radio and Television Administration, National Administration
of State Secrets Protection and the National Cryptography Administration, jointly adopted and published the Measures for Cybersecurity
Review (2021), which became effective on February 15, 2022. The Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021) required that, among others,
in addition to operator of critical information infrastructure any operator of network platform holding personal
information of more than one million users which seeks to list in a foreign stock exchange should also be subject to cybersecurity review.
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On
July 10, 2021, the CAC issued a revised draft of the Measures for Cybersecurity Review for public comments (the Review Measures),
and on December 28, 2021, the CAC, the NDRC, and several other administrations jointly issued the revised Measures for Cybersecurity
Review, or the Revised Review Measures, which became effective and has replaced the existing Measures for Cybersecurity Review on February
15, 2022. According to the Revised Review Measures, if an online platform operator that is in possession of personal data
of more than one million users intends to list in a foreign country, it must apply for a cybersecurity review. Based on a set of Q&A
published on the official website of the State Cipher Code Administration in connection with the issuance of the Revised Review Measures,
an official of the said administration indicated that an online platform operator should apply for a cybersecurity review prior to the
submission of its listing application with non-PRC securities regulators. As the interpretation and implementation of the Revised Review
Measures are continuously evolving, uncertainties exist with respect to their application in specific practices. For example, it is unclear
whether the requirement of cybersecurity review applies to follow-on offerings by an online platform operator that is in
possession of personal data of more than one million users where the offshore holding company of such operator is already listed overseas.
Furthermore, on September24, 2024, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on the Network Data Security Management (the Data
Security Management Regulations), which became effective on January1, 2025. Pursuant to the Data Security Management Regulations,
network data processing activities refer to activities such as the collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision, disclosure,
and deletion of data. Network data processors refer to individuals or organizations that independently determine the purposes and methods
of data processing activities. Network data processors conducting any data processing activities that affect or may affect national security
shall undergo national security review in accordance with relevant national regulations.
It
is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that we will not be subject to cybersecurity review with the CAC, given that:
(i) Shanghai Xianzhui does not possess and does not anticipate that it will possess a large amount of personal information in our business
operations, (ii) data processed in Shanghai Xianzhuis business does not have a bearing on national security and thus may not be
classified as core or important data by the authorities, and (iii) any cross-border data transfers conducted in our ordinary course of
business fall under the exemptions provided by the Provisions on Promoting and Regulating Cross-Border Data Flows. In addition, for the
same reasons, we are not subject to network data security review by the CAC pursuant to the Data Security Management Regulations. In
addition, for the same reasons, we are not subject to network data security review by the CAC if the Draft Regulations on the Network
Data Security Administration are enacted as proposed. However, the definition of network platform operator is unclear and
it is also unclear on how it will be interpreted and implemented by the relevant PRC governmental authorities.
In
addition, an overseas-listed company must also submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate
bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within the time frame specified by the Trial Measures.
It
is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that because the Company is not a company registered and formed in the territory
of China, its continued listing on Nasdaq and future offerings are not direct overseas offering and listing of domestic enterprises
as defined under the Trial Measures. Furthermore, according to Article 2 of the Trial Measures, the indirect overseas offering
and listing of domestic enterprises refers to the overseas offering and listing of enterprises whose main business activities
are in China, in the name of enterprises registered overseas, which offering and listing are based on the equity, assets, income or other
similar rights and interests of the domestic enterprises. According to Article 15 of the Trial Measures, if the issuer meets both of
the following conditions, the overseas offerings and listings shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing
of domestic enterprises: (i) 50% or more of the issuers operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as
documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year is accounted for by domestic enterprises;
and; (ii) its major operational activities are carried out in China or its main places of business are located in China, or the senior
managers in charge of its business operation and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in China.
37
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The
Company does not meet both the requirements under Article 15 of the Trial Measures and therefore its continued listing on Nasdaq and
future offerings are not an Indirect overseas offering and listing of domestic enterprises, considering that (i) the operating
income and total profit of the Companys subsidiaries that were established in China for the year ended December 31, 2023 do not
account for more than 50% of the operating income and total profit in our consolidated financial statements for the same period, (ii)
our main business is not conducted within China, and (iii) the majority of our senior management personnel are not Chinese citizens or
reside in China on a regular basis. Therefore, it is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that we are not required
to complete the record filing requirement under the Trial Measures. However, if we inadvertently conclude that such filing procedures
are not required, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that we are required to complete the filing procedures
in the future, we may be subject to investigations by the regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations
and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result
in a material adverse change in our operations and/or the value of our common stock, and could significantly limit or completely hinder
our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become
worthless.
We
cannot assure you that PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, would take the same view as we do, and there is no assurance that
we can fully or timely comply with such laws. In the event that we are subject to any mandatory cybersecurity review and other specific
actions required by the CAC, we face uncertainty as to whether any clearance or other required actions can be timely completed, or at
all. Given such uncertainty, we may be further required to suspend our relevant business, shut down our website, or face other penalties,
which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
As
of the date of this Report, it is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that our PRC operating subsidiaries have received
all requisite permissions or approvals to operate the business and no such permissions or approvals have been denied. It is also the
opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that except for the business license mentioned in Item 1. Business ****Governmental Regulations in the PRC ****Regulations on Business License in this Report, our PRC operating subsidiaries
are not required to obtain any other permissions or approvals from any Chinese authorities to operate the business. It is the further
opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that under currently effective PRC laws and regulations, we are not required to
obtain permission or complete filing procedures with any PRC authorities to issue securities to foreign investors, and we have not received
any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or any regulatory objection from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other PRC authorities that have jurisdiction
over our operations. See Item 1. Business ****Governmental Regulations in the PRC ****Regulations on Mergers
& Acquisitions and Overseas Listings and ****Regulations on Cybersecurity Review in this Report.
However, the interpretation and implementation of applicable laws and regulations are continuously evolving, and new laws or regulations
may be introduced to impose additional government approval, license, and permit requirements. If (i) we or our subsidiaries do not receive
or maintain all such required permissions or approvals to operate our business, (ii) we or our subsidiaries inadvertently conclude that
such permissions or approvals are not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and we are required
to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future, we may face sanctions, including fines and penalties, by the CAC, CSRC, or other
PRC regulatory agencies, our PRC subsidiaries ability to pay dividends outside of the PRC could be limited, our operations could
be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, we could be required to restructure our operations to comply with such regulations or
potentially cease operations in the PRC entirely, our ability to offer, or continue to offer, securities to investors could be significantly
limited or completely hindered and the value of our securities might significantly decline or be worthless.
38
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**The
CSRC has released the Trial Measures. With such rules in effect, the PRC regulatory authorities may enhance supervision and administration
over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could significantly limit or completely
hinder our ability to continue to offer our securities to investors and could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline
or become worthless.**
On
February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, announced the Circular on the Administrative Arrangements
for Filing of Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Circular, and released a set of new regulations which consists
of the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five
supporting guidelines. On the same date, the CSRC also released the Notice on the Arrangements for the Filing Management of Overseas
Listing of Domestic Companies, or the Notice. The Trial Measures came into effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures refine the regulatory
system by subjecting both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing activities to the CSRC filing-based administration. Requirements
for filing entities, time points and procedures are specified. A PRC domestic company that seeks to offer and list securities in overseas
markets shall fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC per the requirements of the Trial Measures. Where a PRC domestic company seeks
to indirectly offer and list securities in overseas markets, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity, which shall,
as the domestic responsible entity, file with the CSRC. The Trial Measures also lay out requirements for the reporting of material events.
Breaches of the Trial Measures, such as offering and listing securities overseas without fulfilling the filing procedures, shall bear
legal liabilities, including a fine between RMB 1.0 million (approximately $150,000) and RMB 10.0 million (approximately $1.5 million),
and the Trial Measures increase the cost for offenders by enforcing accountability with administrative penalties and incorporating the
compliance status of relevant market participants into the Securities Market Integrity Archives.
According
to the Circular, since the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, PRC domestic enterprises falling within the
scope of filing that have been listed overseas or met the following circumstances are existing enterprises: before the
effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, the application for indirect overseas issuance and listing has been approved by
the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges (such as the registration statement has become effective on the U.S. market), it
is not required to perform issuance and listing supervision procedures of the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges, and the
overseas issuance and listing will be completed by September 30, 2023. Existing enterprises are not required to file with the CSRC immediately,
and filings with the CSRC should be made as required if they involve refinancings and other filing matters. PRC domestic enterprises
that have submitted valid applications for overseas issuance and listing but have not been approved by overseas regulatory authorities
or overseas stock exchanges at the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023 can reasonably arrange the timing of
filing applications with the CSRC and shall complete the filing with the CSRC before the overseas issuance and listing.
In
addition, an overseas-listed company must also submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate
bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within the time frame specified by the Trial Measures.
It
is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that because the Company is not a company registered and formed in the territory
of China, its continued listing on Nasdaq and future offerings are not direct overseas offering and listing of domestic enterprises
as defined under the Trial Measures. Furthermore, according to Article 2 of the Trial Measures, the indirect overseas offering
and listing of domestic enterprises refers to the overseas offering and listing of enterprises whose main business activities
are in China, in the name of enterprises registered overseas, which offering and listing are based on the equity, assets, income or other
similar rights and interests of the domestic enterprises. According to Article 15 of the Trial Measures, if the issuer meets both of
the following conditions, the overseas offerings and listings shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing
of domestic enterprises: (i) 50% or more of the issuers operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as
documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year is accounted for by domestic enterprises;
and; (ii) its major operational activities are carried out in China or its main places of business are located in China, or the senior
managers in charge of its business operation and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in China.
The
Company does not meet both the requirements under Article 15 of the Trial Measures and therefore its continued listing on Nasdaq and
future offerings are not an Indirect overseas offering and listing of domestic enterprises, considering that (i) the operating
income and total profit of the Companys subsidiaries that were established in China for the year ended December 31, 2023 do not
account for more than 50% of the operating income and total profit in our consolidated financial statements for the same period, (ii)
our main business is not conducted within China, and (iii) the majority of our senior management personnel are not Chinese citizens or
reside in China on a regular basis. Therefore, it is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that we are not required
to complete the record filing requirement under the Trial Measures. However, if we inadvertently conclude that such filing procedures
are not required, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that we are required to complete the filing procedures
in the future, we may be subject to investigations by the regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations
and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result
in a material adverse change in our operations and/or the value of our common stock, and could significantly limit or completely hinder
our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become
worthless.
39
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**If
we become directly subject to the recent scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity involving U.S.-listed Chinese companies, we may have
to expend significant resources to investigate and resolve the matter which could harm our business operations, listing and future offerings
and our reputation and could result in a loss of your investment in our common stock, especially if such matter cannot be addressed and
resolved favorably.**
Recently,
U.S. public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China, have been the subject of intense scrutiny, criticism
and negative publicity by investors, financial commentators and regulatory agencies, such as the SEC. Much of the scrutiny, criticism
and negative publicity has centered around financial and accounting irregularities, a lack of effective internal controls over financial
accounting, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud. As a result
of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity, the publicly traded stock of many U.S. listed Chinese companies has sharply decreased
in value and, in some cases, has become virtually worthless. Many of these companies are now subject to shareholder lawsuits and SEC
enforcement actions and are conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations. It is not clear what effect this sector-wide
scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity will have on our Company, our business and listing and future offerings. If we become the
subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we will have to expend significant
resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend the Company. This situation may be a major distraction to our management. If
such allegations are not proven to be groundless, our Company and business operations will be severely hampered and your investment in
our common stock could be rendered worthless.
****
**The recent joint statement by the SEC and PCAOB, proposed rule changes
submitted by Nasdaq, and the HFCAA all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon
assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments
could add uncertainties to our offering.**
On
April 21, 2020, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and PCAOB Chairman William D. Duhnke III, along with other senior SEC staff, released a joint
statement highlighting the risks associated with investing in companies based in or have substantial operations in emerging markets including
China. The joint statement emphasized the risks associated with lack of access for the PCAOB to inspect auditors and audit work papers
in China and higher risks of fraud in emerging markets.
On
May 18, 2020, Nasdaq filed three proposals with the SEC to (i) apply minimum offering size requirement for companies primarily operating
in Restrictive Market, (ii) adopt a new requirement relating to the qualification of management or board of director for
Restrictive Market companies, and (iii) apply additional and more stringent criteria to an applicant or listed company based on the qualifications
of the companys auditors.
On
May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the HFCAA requiring a foreign company to certify it is not owned or controlled by a foreign government
if the PCAOB is unable to audit specified reports because the company uses a foreign auditor not subject to PCAOB inspection. If the
PCAOB is unable to inspect the companys auditors for three consecutive years, the issuers securities are prohibited to
trade on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the U.S. On December 2, 2020, the U.S. House of
Representatives approved the HFCAA. On December 18, 2020, the HFCAA was signed into law.
On
March 24, 2021, the SEC announced that it had adopted interim final amendments to implement congressionally mandated submission and disclosure
requirements of the Act. The interim final amendments will apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report
on Forms 10-K, 20-F, 40-F or N-CSR with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction
and that the PCAOB has determined it is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in that
jurisdiction. The SEC will implement a process for identifying such a registrant and any such identified registrant will be required
to submit documentation to the SEC establishing that it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in that foreign jurisdiction,
and will also require disclosure in the registrants annual report regarding the audit arrangements of, and governmental influence
on, such a registrant.
On
June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, and on December 29, 2022, the Consolidated
Appropriations Act was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical provision to the Accelerating
Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and amended the HFCAA by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuers securities from trading
on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three, thus reducing
the time period for triggering the prohibition on trading.
40
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On
December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCAA. The
rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public
accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a
position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions.
On
December 16, 2021, PCAOB announced the PCAOB Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act determinations (the PCAOB determinations)
relating to the PCAOBs inability to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland
China of the PRC or Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more
authorities in the PRC or Hong Kong.
On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the
China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC, taking the first step toward opening access for the PCAOB
to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong completely, consistent with
U.S. law. The Statement of Protocol gives the PCAOB sole discretion to select the firms, audit engagements and potential violations it
inspects and investigates and put in place procedures for PCAOB inspectors and investigators to view complete audit work papers with all
information included and for the PCAOB to retain information as needed. In addition, the Statement of Protocol grants the PCAOB direct
access to interview and take testimony from all personnel associated with the audits the PCAOB inspects or investigates. While significant,
uncertainties still exist as to how the Statement of Protocol will be implemented and whether the applicable parties will comply with
the framework.
On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB determined that
the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland
China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate its previous determinations to the contrary. However, should PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise
fail to facilitate the PCAOBs access in the future, the PCAOB will consider the need to issue a new determination.
The lack of access to the PCAOB inspection in
certain emerging markets prevents the PCAOB from fully evaluating audits and quality control procedures of the auditors based in those
emerging markets. As a result, the investors may be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. The inability of the PCAOB to
conduct inspections of auditors in certain emerging markets makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of these accounting
firms audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of those emerging markets that are subject
to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause existing and potential investors in our shares to lose confidence in our audit procedures
and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements.
Our previous auditor, HTL International,
LLC, the independent registered public accounting firm that issued the audit report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024,
which is registered with the PCAOB (PCAOB ID: 7000), is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts
regular inspections to assess its compliance with applicable professional standards. Our current auditor, GGF, the independent
registered public accounting firm that issued the audit report included in our Annual Report, which is registered with the PCAOB
(PCAOB ID: 2729), is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its
compliance with applicable professional standards. If it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate our
auditors completely, investors may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection. Any audit reports not issued by auditors that are
completely inspected by the PCAOB, or a lack of PCAOB inspections of audit work undertaken in China that prevents the PCAOB from
regularly evaluating our auditors audits and their quality control procedures, could result in a lack of assurance that our
financial statements and disclosures are adequate and accurate. Moreover, if trading in our securities is prohibited under the HFCAA
in the future because the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor at such future time, an exchange
may determine to delist our securities.
However,
these recent developments would add uncertainties to our listing and future offerings, and we cannot assure you whether Nasdaq or regulatory
authorities would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us after considering the effectiveness of our auditors audit
procedures and quality control procedures, adequacy of personnel and training, or sufficiency of resources, geographic reach or experience
as it relates to the audit of our financial statements. In the event it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate
completely the Companys auditor because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction, then such lack of inspection
could cause trading in the Companys securities to be prohibited under the HFCAA, and ultimately result in a determination by a
securities exchange to delist the Companys securities.
****
**The
M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors,
which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.**
The
Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory
agencies in August 2006 and amended in 2009, and some other regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established additional
procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time consuming and complex, including
requirements in some instances that the MOFCOM be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor
takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise. For example, the M&A Rules require that MOFCOM be notified in advance of any change-of-control
transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise, if (i) any important industry is concerned, (ii)
such transaction involves factors that impact or may impact national economic security, or (iii) such transaction will lead to a change
in control of a domestic enterprise which holds a famous trademark or PRC time-honored brand. Moreover, the Anti-Monopoly Law promulgated
by the SCNPC effective in 2008 requires that transactions which are deemed concentrations and involve parties with specified turnover
thresholds (i.e., during the previous fiscal year, (i) the total global turnover of all operators participating in the transaction exceeds
RMB 12 billion and at least two of these operators each had a turnover of more than RMB 800 million within China, or (ii) the total turnover
within China of all the operators participating in the concentration exceeded RMB 4 billion, and at least two of these operators each
had a turnover of more than RMB 800 million within China) must be cleared by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR, which
has taken over the anti-monopoly review function from MOFCOM) before they can be completed.
41
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Moreover,
the Anti-Monopoly Law requires that the MOFCOM shall be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds
are triggered. In addition, the security review rules issued by the MOFCOM that became effective in September 2011 specify that mergers
and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise national defense and security concerns and mergers and acquisitions through
which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise national security concerns are
subject to strict review by the MOFCOM, and the rules prohibit any activities attempting to bypass a security review, including by structuring
the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement. In the future, we may grow our business by acquiring complementary
businesses. Complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions
could be time consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the MOFCOM or its local counterparts
may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our
market share.
**If
Shanghai Xianzhui fails to maintain the requisite licenses and approvals required under PRC law, our business, financial condition and
results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.**
As
of the date of this Report, it is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that our PRC operating subsidiaries have received
all requisite permissions or approvals to operate the business and no such permissions or approvals have been denied. It is also the
opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that except for the business license mentioned in Item 1. Business 
Governmental Regulations in the PRC Regulations on Business License in this Report, our PRC operating subsidiaries are
not required to obtain any other permissions or approvals from any Chinese authorities to operate the business. It is the further opinion
of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that no relevant PRC laws or regulations in effect require that we obtain permission from
any PRC authorities to issue securities to foreign investors, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or any
regulatory objection from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other PRC authorities that have jurisdiction over our operations. See Item
1. Business Governmental Regulations in the PRC Regulations on Mergers & Acquisitions and Overseas Listings
and Regulations on Cybersecurity Review in this Report. However, applicable laws and regulations may be tightened,
and new laws or regulations may be introduced to impose additional government approval, license, and permit requirements. If (i) we or
our subsidiaries do not receive or maintain all such required permissions or approvals to operate our business, (ii) we or our subsidiaries
inadvertently conclude that such permissions or approvals are not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations
change and we are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future, we may face sanctions, including fines and penalties,
by the CAC, CSRC, or other PRC regulatory agencies, our PRC subsidiaries ability to pay dividends outside of the PRC could be
limited, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, we could be required to restructure our operations to comply
with such regulations or potentially cease operations in the PRC entirely, our ability to offer, or continue to offer, securities to
investors could be significantly limited or completely hindered and the value of our securities might significantly decline or be worthless.
**We
conduct part of our operations in China. As such, the PRC government may exercise significant oversight and discretion over the conduct
of our operating subsidiaries business and may guide and regulate their operations in accordance with relevant laws and regulations,
which could result in a material change in their operations and/or the value of our ordinary shares. The interpretation and implementation
of the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC government may continuously evolve. Therefore, our assertions
and beliefs of the risk imposed by the PRC legal and regulatory system cannot be certain.**
GDC
conducts its operations and operates its business in both United States and China by itself and through its subsidiaries, AI Catalysis
Corp., a Nevada corporation, and Shanghai Xianzhui Technology Co., Ltd., a company incorporated in China. The majority of the Companys
operation is in the United States. As of the date of this Report, we are not materially affected by recent statements by the PRC government
indicating an intention to enhance supervision and administration over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment
in China-based issuers. However, due to certain long arm provisions in the current PRC laws and regulations, there remains regulatory
uncertainty with respect to the implementation and interpretation of laws in the PRC. The PRC government may choose to exercise significant
oversight and discretion, and the regulations to which our operating subsidiaries are subject may continuously evolve and with little
notice to us and our operating subsidiaries or our shareholders. As a result, the application, interpretation, and enforcement of new
and existing laws and regulations in the PRC are often uncertain. In addition, these laws and regulations may be interpreted and applied
inconsistently by different agencies or authorities, and inconsistently with our and our operating subsidiaries current policies
and practices. New laws, regulations, and other government directives in the PRC may also be costly to comply with, and such compliance
or any associated inquiries or investigations or any other government actions may:
| 
| delay
or impede our operating subsidiaries development; | |
| 
| result
in negative publicity or increase our operating subsidiaries operating costs; | |
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| 
| require
significant management time and attention; and | |
| 
| subject
our operating subsidiaries to remedies, administrative penalties and even criminal liabilities
that may harm our operating subsidiaries business, including fines assessed for our
operating subsidiaries current or historical operations, or demands or orders that
our operating subsidiaries modify or even cease our operating subsidiaries business
practices. | |
We
are aware that the PRC government initiates regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in certain areas in the
PRC from time to time, including enhancing supervision over illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based
companies listed overseas, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly
enforcement.
Since
these statements and regulatory actions are new, it is highly uncertain how soon the PRC legislative or administrative regulation making
bodies will respond or what existing or new laws or regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated,
if any, or what the potential impact that any such modified or new laws and regulations would have on our operating subsidiaries
daily business operation, the ability to accept foreign investments and list on an U.S. or other foreign exchange.
The
PRC government may regulate our operating subsidiaries operations and may enhance supervision over offerings conducted overseas
and foreign investment in China-based issuers, which may result in a material change in our operating subsidiaries operations
and/or the value of our ordinary shares. Any legal or regulatory changes that restrict or otherwise unfavorably impact our operating
subsidiaries ability to conduct their business could decrease demand for their services, reduce revenues, increase costs, require
our operating subsidiaries to obtain more licenses, permits, approvals or certificates, or subject them to additional liabilities. To
the extent any new or more stringent measures are implemented, our operating subsidiaries business, financial condition and results
of operations could be adversely affected, and the value of our ordinary shares could decrease or become worthless.
**If
the PRC government chooses to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in
China based issuers, such action may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer ordinary shares
to investors and cause the value of our ordinary shares to significantly decline or be worthless.**
Recent
statements by the PRC government have indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings conducted overseas and/or
over foreign investments in China-based issuers. On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee
and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued a document to crack down on illegal activities in the securities market and
promote the high-quality development of the capital market, which, among other things, requires the relevant governmental authorities
to strengthen cross-border oversight of law-enforcement and judicial cooperation, to enhance supervision over China-based companies listed
overseas, and to establish and improve the system of extraterritorial application of the PRC securities laws.
On
February 17, 2023, the CSRC issued the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Enterprises,
or the Trial Measures, which became effective on March 31, 2023. See The CSRC has released the Trial Measures for Administration
of Overseas Securities Offerings and Listings by Domestic Companies (the Trial Measures). With such rules in effect, the
PRC regulatory authorities may enhance supervision and administration over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment
in China-based issuers, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer our securities to investors
and could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
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On
December 28, 2021, the CAC, the NDRC, and several other administrations jointly adopted and published the Revised Review Measures, which
came into effect on February 15, 2022. See Shanghai Xianzhui may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in
the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and data protection. Shanghai Xianzhui may be required to suspend its business,
be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information provided by our customers and face other penalties.
As
of the date of this Report, it is the opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that our PRC operating subsidiaries have received
all requisite permissions or approvals to operate the business and no such permissions or approvals have been denied. It is also the
opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that except for the business license mentioned in Item 1. Business ****Governmental Regulations in the PRC ****Regulations on Business License in this Report, our PRC operating subsidiaries
are not required to obtain any other permissions or approvals from any Chinese authorities to operate the business. It is the further
opinion of our PRC counsel, Jiangsu Junjin Law Firm, that no relevant PRC laws or regulations in effect require that we obtain permission
from any PRC authorities to issue securities to foreign investors, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or
any regulatory objection from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other PRC authorities that have jurisdiction over our operations. See Item
1. Business ****Governmental Regulations in the PRC ****Regulations on Mergers & Acquisitions and Overseas
Listings and ****Regulations on Cybersecurity Review in this Report. However, applicable laws and regulations
may be tightened, and new laws or regulations may be introduced to impose additional government approval, license, and permit requirements.
If (i) we or our subsidiaries do not receive or maintain all such required permissions or approvals to operate our business, (ii) we
or our subsidiaries inadvertently conclude that such permissions or approvals are not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations,
or interpretations change and we are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future, we may face sanctions, including
fines and penalties, by the CAC, CSRC, or other PRC regulatory agencies, our PRC subsidiaries ability to pay dividends outside
of the PRC could be limited, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, we could be required to restructure
our operations to comply with such regulations or potentially cease operations in the PRC entirely, our ability to offer, or continue
to offer, securities to investors could be significantly limited or completely hindered and the value of our securities might significantly
decline or be worthless.
****
**The
unwinding and disposal of our previous VIE structure may not be liability-free and we may be deemed to be in violation of PRC laws regulating
our industry and operations.**
We
cannot assure you that the unwinding and disposal of the VIE structures in the PRC will not give rise to dispute or liability. We cannot
guarantee that we will not continue to be subject to PRC regulatory inspection and/or review, especially when there remains significant
uncertainty as to the scope and manner of the regulatory enforcement. If we become subject to regulatory inspection and/or review by
the CSRC, the CAC or other PRC authorities, or are required by them to take any specific actions, it could cause suspension or termination
of the future offering of our securities, disruptions to our operations, result in negative publicity regarding our company, and divert
our managerial and financial resources.
**Risks
Related to Our Business and Industry**
****
**If
we are unable to continuously entice TikTok users to participate in our live streaming channels and increase their spending on our platforms,
including e-commerce, it could have significant consequences on our business and operational results.**
To increase user spending, we must
diversify our e-commerce product catalog, increase the frequency of live streaming sessions, and collaborate with key opinion leaders
(KOLs) to increase product sales. If we fail to attract new TikTok users or increase their average spending, it could have a significant
negative impact on our business, financial stability, and operational performance.
****
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****
**The
success of our business relies on the brand recognition of our subsidiary, AI Catalysis. Failing to maintain and improve this recognition
could have consequences for our business prospects.**
Our
success heavily relies on the market recognition of our brands and reputation. As our subsidiary, AI Catalysis, was recently incorporated
in 2023, it lacks significant market familiarity. Therefore, our ability to enhance and maintain brand recognition depends on various
factors, some of which are beyond our control. Allocating excessive resources to marketing and promotional efforts could have a significant
and negative impact on our business and operational results. Additionally, any negative publicity about our company, products, services,
or content offerings could decrease customer and user interest, which could adversely affect our business and operational performance.
****
**If
we are unable to effectively implement our growth strategies, it could have a negative impact on our profitability and significantly
harm our business and operational results.**
Our
current strategy for business growth involves expanding our product offerings, as well as increasing the number of live streamers and
their unique styles. This will allow us to increase the frequency of live broadcasts, making it easier for TikTok users to discover our
live streams at any time, whether during peak or off-peak hours, and encourage them to make purchases within our live streams.
However,
recruiting new live streamers requires careful due diligence and numerous steps. This can be challenging, whether recruiting locally
in the United States or internationally, as we must ensure they meet our high live streaming standards and can work with our schedules.
Similarly, introducing new products on the e-commerce side requires research, quality control, international logistics, listing, video
creation, and promotional efforts, all of which take time. Both aspects of our business are subject to external factors that can extend
our timelines. Prolonged timelines can impede our business growth and potentially reduce our sales.
****
**Competition
in our business segments poses a significant threat, and if we are unable to compete effectively, we risk losing our market share or
failing to gain additional market share, which could adversely affect our profitability.**
Currently,
the competition among users engaged in live-streaming e-commerce on TikTok is not particularly intense. This is because the TikTok e-commerce
and live-streaming sectors have been operational for less than a year, making them relatively new markets. In comparison to many Asian
countries, competition on TikTok is not as fierce at this stage.
However,
it is undeniable that more users and capital will increasingly enter these two sectors in the future. We are not only contending with
competition from similar ventures on the TikTok platform but also facing competition from e-commerce platforms outside of TikTok, striving
to capture market share.
Furthermore,
many TikTok users have not yet developed the habit of online shopping on the TikTok platform. This factor adds complexity to our initial
efforts in establishing brand recognition.
**We
have engaged in collaborations with business partners, and we may pursue further collaborations and strategic partnerships in the future.
However, there is no guarantee that we will realize the benefits of these collaborations or that they will be successful.**
We
are actively pursuing strategic partnerships and collaborations with business entities that we believe will improve our competitiveness
and promote business growth. However, the expected revenue and cost synergies from both current and future collaborations and partnerships
may not materialize as anticipated. Additionally, our involvement in the emerging industry sector, characterized by developing technologies
and nascent collaborative networks, introduces greater uncertainties. If our business collaborations prove unsuccessful, it could have
a negative impact on our business prospects and operational results.
****
**Our
significant Bitcoin holdings expose us to price volatility and regulatory uncertainty, which could materially and adversely affect our
financial condition.**
The
Company holds a significant amount of Bitcoin as a long-term digital asset reserve. Bitcoin is a highly volatile asset whose market price
can fluctuate rapidly and substantially over short periods of time. The value of Bitcoin is influenced by a variety of factors, many
of which are beyond the Companys control, including market demand and supply, investor sentiment, macroeconomic conditions, regulatory
developments, technological changes, and activities of large market participants. As a result, the market value of the Companys
Bitcoin holdings may experience significant declines. Any substantial decrease in the price of Bitcoin could materially and adversely
affect the Companys financial condition, results of operations, and the value of its assets.
45
| | |
In
addition, digital assets such as Bitcoin are subject to evolving and uncertain regulatory frameworks in the United States and other jurisdictions.
Governments and regulatory authorities may adopt new laws, regulations, or policies that restrict or otherwise adversely affect the acquisition,
ownership, transfer, custody, or use of digital assets. Regulatory developments could also impact the operation of digital asset exchanges,
custodians, or other market infrastructure on which the Company relies. Any such regulatory changes may limit the Companys ability
to hold, transfer, or realize value from its Bitcoin holdings, which could materially and adversely affect the Companys business
and financial condition.
The
Company does not currently generate revenues from its core business operations, and there is no guarantee that the Company will generate
any revenues in the future. The Companys ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to raise additional capital
and generate revenues, and there can be no assurance that such capital or revenues will be available on acceptable terms, or at all.
****
**We
have not generated operating revenues and our ability to continue as a going concern depends on our ability to raise capital and generate
future revenues.**
The
Company does not currently generate revenues from its core business operations and has not established a history of recurring operating
income. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully commercialize its business model, develop revenue-generating
products or services, or otherwise generate revenues in the future. The Companys prospects must be considered in light of the
risks, uncertainties, expenses, and challenges frequently encountered by companies in the early stages of development, including the
need to build operational infrastructure, attract customers, compete effectively, and manage growth.
The
Companys ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to obtain additional financing and, ultimately,
to generate sufficient revenues to achieve profitability and positive cash flows from operations. The Company may seek to raise capital
through equity offerings, debt financings, or other arrangements. However, there can be no assurance that additional capital will be
available on acceptable terms, if at all. If the Company is unable to secure adequate funding or generate revenues as anticipated, it
may be required to significantly curtail or cease operations, which could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition,
and results of operations.
****
**We
may encounter infringement claims by third parties for information on or linked to our platforms, which could disrupt our normal business
operations, manage our reputation and cause us to incur substantial legal costs.**
When
engaging in brand and product promotion on TikTok, we often collaborate with other KOLs on the platform who feature our products or brand
in their videos. However, during this process, we cannot guarantee that they will not inadvertently misrepresent our products. Furthermore,
if these KOLs engage in any form of misconduct or infringement, it may indirectly impact our brand reputation, and the extent of this
damage is difficult to quantify. Any significant loss has the potential to harm our reputation, result in financial losses, or ultimately
affect our operations.
****
**Our
reputation and operations may be adversely impacted by employee misconduct.**
There
is a risk of employee misconduct, which includes failure to comply with government regulations, engaging in unauthorized activities,
misrepresenting our products in marketing activities, and improper use of product information. Employee misconduct could damage our reputation,
which could significantly impact our business. We may not be able to prevent employee misconduct, and the measures we take to prevent
and deter it may not be effective.
****
**We
do not have insurance coverage***.*
We
do not have insurance coverage. We have evaluated the risks associated with potential business disruptions, liabilities, loss or damage
to our fixed assets (such as equipment and office furniture), the associated insurance costs, and the challenges of obtaining such coverage
on commercially reasonable terms. Based on this assessment, it is not commercially practical for us to secure comprehensive insurance
coverage for these risks. These circumstances could adversely impact our financial results.
****
46
| | |
****
**We
may be unable to gain any significant market acceptance for our products and services or be unable to establish a significant market
presence.**
Our
growth strategy is substantially dependent upon our ability to market our intended products and services successfully to prospective
clients. Our intended products and services may not achieve significant market acceptance. If acceptance is achieved, it may not be sustained
for any significant period of time. Failure of our intended products and services to achieve or sustain market acceptance could have
a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and the results of our operations.
**There
is risk of e-commerce fraud, and if that occurs, it could have a negative impact on our profitability and significantly harm our business
and operational results.**
Online
retailers are subject to risk of e-commerce fraud. To mitigate this ongoing threat, prioritizing fraud prevention measures is crucial.
These measures may include routine security audits, the implementation of an Address Verification Service (AVS), and the use of Hypertext
Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS). E-commerce fraud is evolving, with fraudsters employing more sophisticated methods. The growth in the
e-commerce fraud detection and prevention market reflects the increasing urgency in addressing this risk. The e-commerce fraud is a multifaceted
risk that demands constant attention. We may need to prevent and to mitigate this persistent threat, protecting our financial interests
and the trust of their customers, and if the fraud occurs, it could have a negative impact on our profitability and significantly harm
our business and operational results.
****
**Given
our significant reliance on the TikTok platform for various business functions, including inventory management, client services, and
live streaming channels for both of our e-commerce and, any downtime experienced by TikTok could significantly impact our operations.**
In
the ever-evolving digital landscape, where businesses heavily depend on various online platforms, the risk of platform downtime looms
as a substantial concern.
Our
company has cultivated a significant reliance on the TikTok platform, which serves as the backbone for a multitude of our critical business
functions. These functions encompass inventory management, client services, and the live streaming channels that underpin both our e-commerce
activities and live streaming. Consequently, any downtime experienced by TikTok, whether due to planned maintenance or unforeseen technical
issues, can significantly impact our operations.
****
**AI
technologies are constantly evolving. Any flaws or inappropriate usage of AI Technologies could have negative impact on our business
and reputation.**
AI
technologies are constantly evolving. Any flaws or inappropriate usage of AI technologies, whether actual or perceived, whether intended
or inadvertent, whether committed by us or by other third parties, could have negative impact on our business, reputation and the general
acceptance of AI solutions by society.
The
industries in which we operate are characterized by constant changes, including rapid technological evolution, frequent introductions
of new solutions, continual shifts in users demands and constant emergence of new industry standards and practices. Thus, our success
will depend, in part, on our ability to respond to these changes in a cost-effective and timely manner. We need to constantly anticipate
the emergence of new technologies and assess their market acceptance.
****
**Our
financial and operating performance may be adversely affected by general economic conditions, natural catastrophic events, epidemics,
and public health crises that impact the virtual content production industry.**
Our
operating results will be subject to fluctuations based on general economic conditions, in particular those conditions that impact the
metaverse industry. Deterioration in economic conditions could cause decreases in both volume and reduce and/or negatively impact our
short-term ability to grow our revenues. Further, any decreased collectability of accounts receivable or early termination of agreements
due to deterioration in economic conditions could negatively impact our results of operations.
47
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Our
business is subject to the impact of natural catastrophic events such as earthquakes, floods or power outages, political crises such
as terrorism or war, and public health crises, such as disease outbreaks, epidemics, or pandemics in the U.S. and global economies, our
markets and business locations.
Similarly,
natural disasters, wars (including the potential of war), terrorist activity (including threats of terrorist activity), social unrest
and heightened travel security measures instituted in response, and travel-related accidents, as well as geopolitical uncertainty and
international conflict, will affect travel volume and may in turn have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
In addition, we may not be adequately prepared in contingency planning or recovery capability in relation to a major incident or crisis,
and as a result, our operational continuity may be adversely and materially affected, which in turn may harm our reputation.
**As
a smaller reporting company under applicable law, we will be subject to lessened disclosure requirements. Such reduced
disclosure may make our common stock less attractive to investors.**
For
as long as we remain an smaller reporting company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act and Item 10 of the Regulation
S-K, we will elect to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies
that are not smaller reporting companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor
attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in
our periodic reports and proxy statements, and the ability to include only two years of audited financial statements and only two years
of related managements discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations disclosure. Because of these lessened
regulatory requirements, our stockholders would be left without information or rights available to stockholders of more mature companies.
If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and
our stock price may be more volatile.
**Any
cybersecurity-related attack, significant data breach or disruption of the information technology systems, infrastructure, network, third-party
processors or platforms on which we rely could damage our reputation and adversely affect our business and financial results.**
Our
operations rely on information technology systems for the use, storage and transmission of sensitive and confidential information with
respect to our customers, our employees and other third parties. A malicious cybersecurity-related attack, intrusion or disruption by
either an internal or external source or other breach of the systems on which our platform and products operate, and on which our employees
conduct business, could lead to unauthorized access to, use of, loss of or unauthorized disclosure of sensitive and confidential information,
disruption of our services, viruses, worms, spyware, or other malware being served from our platform, networks, or systems; and resulting
regulatory enforcement actions, litigation, indemnity obligations and other possible liabilities, as well as negative publicity, which
could damage our reputation, impair sales and harm our business. Cyberattacks and other malicious internet-based activity continue to
increase, and cloud-based platform providers of products and services have been and are expected to continue to be targeted. In addition
to traditional computer hackers, malicious code (such as viruses and worms), phishing, employee theft or misuse and denial-of-service
attacks, sophisticated nation-state and nation-state supported actors now engage in attacks (including advanced persistent threat intrusions).
Cyberattacks may also gain publishing access to our customers accounts on our platform, using that access to publish content without
authorization.
As
of December 31, 2025, we have not identified any risks from known cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any previous cybersecurity
incidents, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect us, including our business strategy, results of
operations or financial condition. We plan to develop and implement information securities policies and incident response plans to evaluate,
identify, and handle material risks associated with cybersecurity threats.
However,
it is not feasible, as a practical matter, for us to entirely mitigate these risks. If our security measures are compromised as a result
of third-party action, employee, customer, or user error, malfeasance, stolen or fraudulently obtained log-in credentials or otherwise,
our reputation would be damaged, our data, information or intellectual property, or those of our customers and our customers consumers,
may be destroyed, stolen or otherwise compromised, our business may be harmed and we could incur significant liability. We have not always
been able in the past, and may be unable in the future to anticipate or prevent techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to or compromise
of our systems because they change frequently and are generally not detected until after an incident has occurred. We also cannot be
certain that we will be able to prevent vulnerabilities in our software or address vulnerabilities that we may become aware of in the
future.
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**Risks
Related to Our Securities**
****
**We
have previously failed to comply with Nasdaq continued listing requirements and may face delisting if we are unable to maintain continued
compliance.**
The
Company has previously received notices from Nasdaq indicating that it was not in compliance with certain continued listing requirements
of the Nasdaq Capital Market, including the minimum bid price requirement and the minimum stockholders equity requirement. Although
the Company has since taken corrective actions and regained compliance with the applicable standards, there can be no assurance that
it will be able to maintain compliance with all continued listing requirements in the future.
Continued
compliance with Nasdaqs listing standards depends on a variety of factors, some of which may be outside the Companys control,
including market conditions, the trading price of the Companys common stock, and the Companys financial performance. If
the Company fails to satisfy any applicable continued listing criteria, Nasdaq may issue additional deficiency notices and, if compliance
is not timely regained, may initiate delisting proceedings.
A
delisting of the Companys common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market could materially and adversely affect the liquidity and
market price of the common stock, reduce the Companys visibility and credibility in the capital markets, and impair its ability
to raise additional capital. In addition, delisting could limit investors ability to trade the Companys common stock and
may result in a loss of investor confidence.
****
**The
price of our common stock could be subject to rapid and substantial volatility. Such volatility, including any stock run-ups, may be
unrelated to our actual or expected operating performance and financial condition or prospects, making it difficult for prospective investors
to assess the rapidly changing value of our common stock. Volatility in our common stock price may subject us to securities litigation.**
The
market for our common stock may have, when compared to seasoned issuers, significant price volatility and we expect that the price of
our shares of common stock may continue to be more volatile than that of a seasoned issuer for the indefinite future. As a relatively
small-capitalization company with a relatively small public float, we may experience greater share price volatility, extreme price run-ups,
lower trading volume, and less liquidity than large-capitalization companies. In particular, our common stock may be subject to rapid
and substantial price volatility, low volumes of trades, and large spreads in bid and ask prices. Such volatility, including any stock
run-ups, may be unrelated to our actual or expected operating performance and financial condition or prospects, making it difficult for
prospective investors to assess the rapidly changing value of our common stock.
In
addition, if the trading volumes of our common stock are low, persons buying or selling in relatively small quantities may easily influence
the price of our common stock. This low volume of trades could also cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate greatly, with large
percentage changes in price occurring in any trading day session. Holders of our common stock may also not be able to readily liquidate
their investment or may be forced to sell at depressed prices due to low volume trading. Broad market fluctuations and general economic
and political conditions may also adversely affect the market price of our common stock. As a result of this volatility, investors may
experience losses on their investment in our common stock. A decline in the market price of our common stock also could adversely affect
our ability to issue additional common stock or other securities and our ability to obtain additional financing in the future. No assurance
can be given that an active market in our common stock will develop or be sustained. If an active market does not develop, holders of
our common stock may be unable to readily sell the shares they hold or may not be able to sell their shares at all.
In
addition, in the past, plaintiffs have often initiated securities class action litigation against a company following periods of volatility
in the market price of its securities. We may, in the future, be the target of similar litigation. Securities litigation could result
in substantial costs and liabilities to the Company and could divert our managements attention and resources.
****
**We
will need additional capital in the future. If additional capital is not available, we may not be able to continue to operate our business
pursuant to our business plan or we may have to discontinue our operations entirely. Raising additional capital by issuing shares may
cause dilution to existing shareholders.**
We
are currently authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of common stock. As of March 27, 2026, we have 60,759,711 shares of common stock
issued and outstanding.
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| | |
We
will require additional capital in the future. We have incurred losses in each year since our inception. If we continue to use cash at
our historical rates of use we will need significant additional financing, which we may seek through a combination of private and public
equity offerings, debt financings and collaborations and strategic and licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional
capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest will be diluted, and the terms of any such
offerings may include liquidation or other preferences that may adversely affect the then existing shareholders rights. Debt financing,
if available, would result in increased fixed payment obligations and may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting
our ability to take specific actions such as incurring debt or making capital expenditures. If we raise additional funds through collaboration,
strategic alliance or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future
revenue streams or product candidates, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.
****
**Future
sales of our common stock could reduce the market price of the common stock.**
Substantial
sales of our common stock may cause the market price of our common stock to decline. Sales by us or our security holders of substantial
amounts of our common stock, or the perception that these sales may occur in the future, could cause a reduction in the market price
of our common stock.
The
issuance of any additional shares of our common stock or any securities that are exercisable for or convertible into our common stock,
may have an adverse effect on the market price of the common stock and will have a dilutive effect on our existing shareholders and holders
of common stock.
**We
do not know whether a market for the common stock will be sustained or what the trading price of the common stock will be and as a result
it may be difficult for you to sell your shares.**
Although
our common stock trades on Nasdaq, an active trading market for the common stock may not be sustained. It may be difficult for you to
sell your shares without depressing the market price for the common stock. As a result of these and other factors, you may not be able
to sell your shares. Further, an inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling common stock, or may impair
our ability to enter into strategic partnerships or acquire companies or products by using our shares as consideration.
****
**We
have no plans to pay dividends on our shares, and you may not receive funds without selling the shares.**
We
have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock, nor do we expect to pay any cash dividends on our common stock for
the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain any additional future earnings to finance our operations and growth and, therefore,
we have no plans to pay cash dividends on our common stock at this time. Any future determination to pay cash dividends on our common
stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will be dependent on our earnings, financial condition, operating results,
capital requirements, any contractual restrictions, and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant. Accordingly, you may
have to sell some or all of the shares in order to generate cash from your investment. You may not receive a gain on your investment
when you sell the shares and may lose the entire amount of your investment.
****
**A
possible short squeeze due to a sudden increase in demand of our common stock that largely exceeds supply may lead to additional
price volatility.**
Historically
there has not been a large short position in our common stock. However, in the future investors may purchase shares of our common stock
to hedge existing exposure or to speculate on the price of our common stock. Speculation on the price of our common stock may involve
long and short exposures. To the extent an aggregate short exposure in our common stock becomes significant, investors with short exposure
may have to pay a premium to purchase shares for delivery to share lenders at times if and when the price of our common stock increases
significantly, particularly over a short period of time. Those purchases may in turn, dramatically increase the price of our common stock.
This is often referred to as a short squeeze. A short squeeze could lead to volatile price movements in our common stock
that are not directly correlated to our business prospects, financial performance or other traditional measures of value for the Company
or its common stock.
****
50
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**In
the event that our common stocks are delisted from Nasdaq, U.S. broker-dealers may be discouraged from effecting transactions in our
common stocks because they may be considered penny stocks and thus be subject to the penny stock rules.**
The
SEC has adopted a number of rules to regulate penny stock that restricts transactions involving stock which is deemed to
be penny stock. Such rules include Rules 3a51-1, 15g-1, 15g-2, 15g-3, 15g-4, 15g-5, 15g-6, 15g-7, and 15g-9 under the Exchange Act. These
rules may have the effect of reducing the liquidity of penny stocks. Penny stocks generally are equity securities with
a price of less than $5.00 per share (other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or quoted on Nasdaq if
current price and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system). Our common
stocks could be considered to be a penny stock within the meaning of the rules. The additional sales practice and disclosure
requirements imposed upon U.S. broker-dealers may discourage such broker-dealers from effecting transactions in our common stocks, which
could severely limit the market liquidity of such common stocks and impede their sale in the secondary market.
A
U.S. broker-dealer selling a penny stock to anyone other than an established customer or accredited investor (generally,
an individual with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or an annual income exceeding $200,000, or $300,000 together with his or her spouse)
must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and must receive the purchasers written consent to the transaction
prior to sale, unless the broker-dealer or the transaction is otherwise exempt. In addition, the penny stock regulations
require the U.S. broker-dealer to deliver, prior to any transaction involving a penny stock, a disclosure schedule prepared
in accordance with SEC standards relating to the penny stock market, unless the broker-dealer or the transaction is otherwise
exempt. A U.S. broker-dealer is also required to disclose commissions payable to the U.S. broker-dealer and the registered representative
and current quotations for the securities. Finally, a U.S. broker-dealer is required to submit monthly statements disclosing recent price
information with respect to the penny stock held in a customers account and information with respect to the limited
market in penny stocks.
The
market for penny stocks has suffered in recent years from patterns of fraud and abuse. Such patterns include (i) control
of the market for the security by one or a few broker-dealers that are often related to the promoter or issuer; (ii) manipulation of
prices through prearranged matching of purchases and sales and false and misleading press releases; (iii) boiler room practices
involving high-pressure sales tactics and unrealistic price projections by inexperienced sales persons; (iv) excessive and undisclosed
bid-ask differentials and markups by selling broker-dealers; and (v) the wholesale dumping of the same securities by promoters and broker-dealers
after prices have been manipulated to a desired level, resulting in investor losses. Our management is aware of the abuses that have
occurred historically in the penny stock market. Although we do not expect to be in a position to dictate the behavior of the market
or of broker-dealers who participate in the market, management will strive within the confines of practical limitations to prevent the
described patterns from being established with respect to our securities.
**Item
1B. Unresolved Staff Comments**
None.
****
**Item
1C. Cybersecurity**
To
meet our business objectives, we rely on both internal information technology (IT) systems and networks, and those of third parties and
their vendors, to process and store sensitive data, including confidential research, business plans, financial information, intellectual
property, and personal data of ours and our customers that may be subject to legal protection, and promote the continuity of our Companys
business operations. In the ordinary course of our business, we receive, process, use, store, and share digitally certain data, including
user data as well as confidential, sensitive, proprietary, and personal information.
Maintaining
the integrity and availability of our IT systems and this information, as well as appropriate limitations on access and confidentiality
of such information, is important to our operations and business strategy. We plan to develop and implement information securities policies
and incident response plans to evaluate, identify, and handle material risks associated with cybersecurity threats.
As
of December 31, 2025, we have not identified any risks from known cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any previous cybersecurity
incidents, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect us, including our business strategy, results of
operations or financial condition. However, we face certain ongoing cybersecurity threats that, if realized, are reasonably likely to
materially affect us. Additional information on cybersecurity risks we face is discussed in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors.
****
51
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****
**Item
2. Properties**
****
**Facilities**
Our
current executive office is located at 111 Town Square Place, Suite #1203, Jersey City, NJ 07310. We consider our current office space
adequate for our current operations.
****
**Intellectual
Properties**
We
entered into a software purchase agreement with Northeast Management LLC, a seller unaffiliated with us. Pursuant to the software purchase
agreement, we purchased all of the sellers right, title, and interest in and to the software, Tribal Light. We have used and plan
to continue using the software to develop video games. We operate the game through interactive live stream, facilitating real-time engagement
between players and viewers through interactive features embedded within the live streaming platform. In January 2025, the Company announced
its decision to discontinue the online livestreaming gaming business after conducting a comprehensive assessment. While this decision
marks a significant shift, previously released games and related content will remain operational but will no longer receive updates.
On
May 31, 2024, we entered into a software purchase agreement with Shanxi Gangdong Cultural Media Co., Ltd., a seller unaffiliated with
the Company. Pursuant to the software purchase agreement, we purchased all of the sellers right, title, and interest in and to
the software, which the Company intends to use to develop its AI business.
On
April 28, 2025, we entered into asoftware purchase agreementwith Gongzheng Xu and Qing Wang, sellers unaffiliated with the
Company. Pursuant to the software purchase agreement, we purchased all of sellers right, title, and interest in and to the software,
which the Company intends to use to develop its AI business.
We
have the right to use the two domains: gdculturegroup.com and aicatalysis.com.
****
**Item
3. Legal Proceedings**
To
the knowledge of our management, there is no litigation currently pending or contemplated against us, any of our officers or directors
in their capacity as such or against any of our property.
****
**Item
4. Mine Safety Disclosures**
Not
applicable.
52
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**PART
II**
****
**Item
5. Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities**
**(a)Market
Information**
Our
common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol GDC.
**(b)Holders**
On
March 27, 2026, there are approximately 44 holders of record of our common stock.
**(c)
Dividends**
We
have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition,
our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in the foreseeable future.
**(d)Securities
Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans.**
We
established our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2019 Plan). The 2019 Plan was approved by our board of directors on December
12, 2019 and was approved by our stockholders at our annual meeting in 2019. The purpose of the 2019 Plan is to grant stock and options
to purchase our common stock to our employees, directors and key consultants. The maximum number of shares of common stock that may be
issued pursuant to awards granted under the 2019 Plan, is 3,000,000 shares.
The
following summary briefly describes the principal features of the 2019 Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full
text of the 2019 Plan.
**
*Administration.*Our Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors will administer the 2019 Plan. The Committee will have the authority to determine
the terms and conditions of any agreements evidencing any Awards granted under the 2019 Plan and to adopt, alter and repeal rules, guidelines
and practices relating to the 2019 Plan. Our Compensation Committee will have full discretion to administer and interpret the 2019 Plan
and to adopt such rules, regulations and procedures as it deems necessary or advisable.
**
*Eligibility.*Current or prospective employees, directors, officers, advisors or consultants of the Company or its affiliates are eligible to participate
in the 2019 Plan. Our Compensation Committee has the sole and complete authority to determine who will be granted an award under the
2019 Plan, however, it may delegate such authority to one or more officers of the Company under the circumstances set forth in the 2019
Plan.
*Number
of Shares Authorized.*The 2019 Plan provides for an aggregate of Three Million (3,000,000) common stock to be available for awards.
If an award is forfeited or if any option terminates, expires or lapses without being exercised, the common stock subject to such award
will again be made available for future grant. Shares of common stock that are used to pay the exercise price of an option or that are
withheld to satisfy the Participants tax withholding obligation will not be available for re-grant under the 2019 Plan.
Each
common stock subject to an option or a stock appreciation right will reduce the number of common stock available for issuance by one
share, and each common stock underlying an award of restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock bonus awards and performance compensation
awards will reduce the number of common stock available for issuance by one share.
If
there is any change in our corporate capitalization, the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion may make substitutions or adjustments
to the number of shares reserved for issuance under our Plan, the number of shares covered by awards then outstanding under our Plan,
the limitations on awards under our Plan, the exercise price of outstanding options and such other equitable substitution or adjustments
as it may determine appropriate.
The
2019 Plan has a term of ten years and no further awards may be granted under the 2019 Plan after that date.
**
*Awards
Available for Grant.*Our Compensation Committee may grant awards of non-qualified stock options, incentive (qualified) stock options,
stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock bonus awards, performance compensation awards (including cash
bonus awards) or any combination of the foregoing.
**
53
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*Options.*Our Compensation Committee will be authorized to grant options to purchase common stock that are either qualified,
meaning they are intended to satisfy the requirements of Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code) Section 422 for incentive
stock options, or non-qualified, meaning they are not intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
Options granted under the 2019 Plan will be subject to the terms and conditions established by our Compensation Committee. Under the
terms of the 2019 Plan, the exercise price of the options will be set forth in the applicable Award agreement. Options granted under
the 2019 Plan will be subject to such terms, including the exercise price and the conditions and timing of exercise, as may be determined
by our Compensation Committee and specified in the applicable award agreement. The maximum term of an option granted under the 2019 Plan
will be ten years from the date of grant (or five years in the case of a qualified option granted to a 10% stockholder).
**
*Stock
Appreciation Rights.*Our Compensation Committee will be authorized to award stock appreciation rights (or SARs) under the 2019 Plan.
SARs will be subject to the terms and conditions established by our Compensation Committee. An SAR is a contractual right that allows
a participant to receive, either in the form of cash, shares or any combination of cash and shares, the appreciation, if any, in the
value of a share over a certain period of time. An Option granted under the 2019 Plan may include SARs and SARs may also be awarded to
a participant independent of the grant of an option. SARs granted in connection with an option shall be subject to terms similar to the
option corresponding to such SARs. SARs shall be subject to terms established by our Compensation Committee and reflected in the award
agreement.
**
*Restricted
Stock.*Our Compensation Committee will be authorized to award restricted stock under the 2019 Plan. Our Compensation Committee will
determine the terms of such restricted stock awards. Restricted stock is common stock that generally is non-transferable and subject
to other restrictions determined by our Compensation Committee for a specified period. Unless our Compensation Committee determines otherwise
or specifies otherwise in an award agreement, if the participant terminates employment or services during the restricted period, then
any unvested restricted stock is forfeited.
**
*Restricted
Stock Unit Awards.*Our Compensation Committee will be authorized to award restricted stock unit awards. Our Compensation Committee
will determine the terms of such restricted stock units. Unless our Compensation Committee determines otherwise or specifies otherwise
in an award agreement, if the participant terminates employment or services during the period of time over which all or a portion of
the units are to be earned, then any unvested units will be forfeited.
*Stock
Bonus Awards.*Our Compensation Committee will be authorized to grant awards of unrestricted common stock or other awards denominated
in common stock, either alone or in tandem with other awards, under such terms and conditions as our Compensation Committee may determine.
**
*Performance
Compensation Awards.*Our Compensation Committee will be authorized to grant any award under the 2019 Plan in the form of a performance
compensation award by conditioning the vesting of the award on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company and/or
one or more affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Compensation Committee.
**
*Transferability.*Each award may be exercised during the participants lifetime only by the participant or, if permissible under applicable law,
by the participants guardian or legal representative and may not be otherwise transferred or encumbered by a participant other
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Our Compensation Committee, however, may permit awards (other than incentive
stock options) to be transferred to family members, a trust for the benefit of such family members, a partnership or limited liability
company whose partners or stockholders are the participant and his or her family members or anyone else approved by it.
**
*Amendment.*The 2019 Plan has a term of ten years. Our Board may amend, suspend or terminate the 2019 Plan at any time; however, stockholder
approval to amend the 2019 Plan may be necessary if the law or the rules of the national exchange so requires. No amendment, suspension
or termination will impair the rights of any participant or recipient of any Award without the consent of the participant or recipient.
**
*Change
in Control.*Except to the extent otherwise provided in an award agreement or as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole
discretion, in the event of a change in control, all outstanding options and equity awards (other than performance compensation awards)
issued under the 2019 Plan will become fully vested and performance compensation awards will vest, as determined by our Compensation
Committee, based on the level of attainment of the specified performance goals.
54
| | |
In
addition, we established our 2025 Share Incentive Plan (the 2025 Plan, together with the 2019 Plan, the Plans).
The 2025 Plan was approved by our stockholders. The purpose of the 2025 Plan is to provide a means through which the Company and its
affiliates may attract and retain key personnel and to provide a means whereby directors, officers, managers, employees, consultants
and advisors of the Company and its affiliates can acquire and maintain an equity interest in the Company, or be paid incentive compensation,
thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company and its affiliates and aligning their interests with those of the
Companys stockholders.
**
*Administration*.
The 2025 Plan shall be administered by the Board, a Committee appointed by the Board, or any combination thereof, as determined by the
Board in accordance with applicable laws. The Administrator will have full discretion to administer and interpret the 2025 Plan, including
the authority to determine the Fair Market Value of shares, select Participants, determine the number of shares covered by each award,
approve the form of award agreements, and determine the terms and conditions of any award granted thereunder. Decisions of the Administrator
shall be final and binding on all parties who have an interest in the 2025 Plan or any award thereunder.
**
*Eligibility*.
Current or prospective employees, directors, officers, managers, consultants and advisors of the Company or its affiliates are eligible
to participate in the 2025 Plan. The Administrator has the sole and complete authority to determine who will be granted an award under
the 2025 Plan. Neither the 2025 Plan nor any award shall confer upon any participant any right with respect to continuation of an employment,
consulting or other service relationship with the Company.
**
*Number
of Shares Authorized*. The 2025 Plan provides for a maximum aggregate of 1,600,000 shares of common stock to be available for awards.
If an award expires, terminates, is forfeited, cancelled or becomes unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full,
or is surrendered pursuant to a repricing program, the unissued shares that were subject thereto shall continue to be available under
the 2025 Plan for issuance pursuant to future awards. Shares retained by or tendered to the Company upon exercise of an award in order
to satisfy the exercise or purchase price, and shares withheld by or tendered to the Company in payment of withholding taxes relating
to an award, shall be treated as not issued and shall continue to be available under the 2025 Plan. The maximum aggregate number of shares
that may be issued pursuant to incentive share options shall be the number set forth above, plus, to the extent allowable under Section
422 of the Code, any shares that again become available for issuance pursuant to the foregoing provisions.
**
*Awards
Available for Grant.* The Administrator may grant awards of (i) options, (ii) share appreciation rights, (iii) share awards, (iv)
restricted share units, (v) dividend equivalents and (vi) other share-based awards, or any combination of the foregoing.
**
*Options*.
The Administrator will be authorized to grant options to purchase shares of common stock that are either incentive share options, meaning
they are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, or nonstatutory share options, meaning they are not intended
to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. Incentive share options may be granted only to employees. The per share exercise
price for shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of an incentive share option shall be no less than the Fair Market Value on the
date of grant. The per share exercise price of a nonstatutory share option granted to a U.S. taxpayer shall not be less than 100% of
the Fair Market Value of a share on the date of grant. The maximum term of an option granted under the 2025 Plan will be ten years from
the date of grant. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable award agreement, 25% of the options granted to each optionee shall vest
at each anniversary following the date of grant, subject to the optionees continuous service with the Company through the applicable
vesting date.
**
*Stock
Appreciation Rights*. The Administrator will be authorized to award share appreciation rights (or SARs) under the 2025
Plan. A SAR is a right to receive a payment, in cash and/or shares, equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number
of shares on the date the SAR is exercised over the base price of the award, as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the
applicable award agreement; provided that the base price of a SAR granted to a U.S. taxpayer shall not be less than 100% of the Fair
Market Value of a share on the date of grant. The maximum term of a SAR shall be ten years.
**
*Share
Awards*. The Administrator will be authorized to grant share awards, which are awards of shares issued for such cash or other valid
consideration as determined by the Administrator, either as vested or unvested shares through direct and immediate issuances. Share awards
may, in the discretion of the Administrator, be fully and immediately vested upon issuance as a bonus for service rendered or may vest
in one or more installments over the participants period of continuous service and/or upon the attainment of specified performance objectives.
Should a participant cease to remain in continuous service while holding unvested shares issued under a share award, or should the applicable
performance objectives not be attained, those shares shall be immediately surrendered to the Company for cancellation.
**
55
| | |
*Restricted
Share Units*. The Administrator will be authorized to grant restricted share units (or RSUs) under the 2025 Plan. An RSU
is a right to receive a share (or an amount based on the value of a share) upon vesting or upon the expiration of a designated time period
following the vesting of the award. RSUs may vest in one or more installments over the participants period of continuous service or
upon the attainment of specified performance objectives. RSUs that vest may be settled in cash, shares valued at Fair Market Value on
the payment date, or a combination of cash and shares, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.
**
*Dividend
Equivalents*. The Administrator will be authorized to grant dividend equivalent rights under the 2025 Plan, either as stand-alone
awards or in tandem with other awards, except that dividend equivalent rights shall not be granted in connection with an option, share
appreciation right or cash incentive award. Each dividend equivalent right shall represent the right to receive the economic equivalent
of each dividend or distribution made per issued and outstanding share during the term the dividend equivalent right remains outstanding.
Payment of amounts credited pursuant to dividend equivalent rights may be made in cash, shares or a combination thereof, as determined
by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and may be subject to vesting to the same extent as the shares subject to the award. The
term of each dividend equivalent right award shall not exceed ten years.
**
*Other
Share-Based Awards*. The Administrator will be authorized to grant other share-based awards under the 2025 Plan, including phantom
shares or similar rights to purchase or acquire shares, whether at a fixed or variable price or ratio related to the shares, upon the
passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions, or any combination
thereof; any similar securities with a value derived from the value of or related to the shares and/or returns thereon; or cash awards.
**
*Transferability*.
Each award may be exercised during the participants lifetime only by the participant and may not be otherwise transferred or encumbered
by a participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide
that any award (other than an incentive share option) may be transferred by instrument to an inter vivos or testamentary trust or to
a family member through a gift or domestic relations order. If no beneficiary was designated or if no designated beneficiary survives
the participant, then after a participants death any vested award(s) shall be transferred or distributed to the participants estate
or to any person who has the right to acquire the award by bequest or inheritance.
**
*Amendment*.
The 2025 Plan has a term of ten years. The Board may at any time amend or terminate the 2025 Plan; however, no amendment or termination
shall be made that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any participant under any outstanding award without his or her
consent. To the extent necessary and desirable to comply with applicable laws, the Company shall obtain the approval of holders of capital
stock with respect to any plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required.
**
*Change
in Control.* In the event of a Change of Control, each outstanding award (vested or unvested) will be treated as the Administrator
determines, which determination may be made without the consent of any participant and need not treat all outstanding awards in an identical
manner. Such determination may provide for the continuation, assumption or substitution of outstanding awards by the surviving corporation,
the cancellation of awards in exchange for a payment to participants equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares subject
to such awards as of the closing date of such Change of Control over the exercise or purchase price paid or to be paid for such shares,
or the cancellation of any outstanding award for no consideration.
****
**(e)Recent
Sales of Unregistered Securities**
The
Company issued 400,000 shares of common stock on January 11, 2024. See Part I Item 1. Business Recent Developments
Equity Purchase Agreement dated October 27, 2023 and the Amendment to the Equity Purchase Agreement dated November 10, 2023.
The
Company issued warrants to purchase up to 40,514 shares of common stock to the placement agent of a registered direct offering on March
26, 2024. See Part I Item 1. Business Recent Developments Registered Direct Offering (March 2024
Offering).
56
| | |
The
Company issued 1,560,000 shares of common stock on June 4, 2024. See Part I Item 1. Business Recent Developments
Software Purchase Agreement dated May 31, 2024.
The
Company issued 1,115,600 shares of common stock on March 6, 2025. See Part I Item 1. Business Recent Developments
Private Placement (March 2025 Offering).
The
Company issued 2,444,295 shares of common stock on April 29, 2025. See Part I Item 1. Business Recent Developments
Software Purchase Agreement dated April 28, 2025.
The
Company issued 1,115,600 shares of common stock at $0.524 per share and 9,380,582 Pre-Funded Warrants on May 6, 2025. See Part
I Item 1. Business Recent Developments Securities Purchase Agreement dated May 2, 2025.
The
Company issued 39,189,344 shares of common stock on September 29, 2025. See Part I Item 1. Business Recent Developments
Acquisition of Pallas Capital Holding Ltd.
The
Company issued 1,333,334 shares of common stock on October 27, 2025. See Part I Item 1. Business Recent Developments
Securities Purchase Agreement dated October 24, 2025.
****
**(f)Purchases
of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers**
None.
**Item
6. [Reserved]**
****
**Item
7. Managements Discussion And Analysis Of Financial Condition And Results Of Operations**
**
*The following discussion and analysis of the
results of our operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with our financial statements, and the notes to those
financial statements that are included elsewhere in this Report. All monetary figures are presented in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise
indicated.*
**
*Our
Managements Discussion and Analysis contains not only statements that are historical facts, but also statements that are forward-looking.
Forward-looking statements are, by their very nature, uncertain and risky. These risks and uncertainties include international, national,
and local general economic and market conditions; our ability to sustain, manage, or forecast growth; our ability to successfully make
and integrate acquisitions; new product development and introduction; existing government regulations and changes in, or the failure
to comply with, government regulations; adverse publicity; competition; the loss of significant customers or suppliers; fluctuations
and difficulty in forecasting operating results; change in business strategy or development plans; business disruptions; the ability
to attract and retain qualified personnel; the ability to protect technology; the risk of foreign currency exchange rate; and other risks
that might be detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC.*
**
*Although
the forward-looking statements in this Report reflect the good faith judgment of our management, such statements can only be based on
facts and factors currently known by them. Consequently, and because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties,
the actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements. You
are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in this report as we attempt to advise interested parties
of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations and prospects.*
****
**Overview**
GD
Culture Group Limited, formerly known as Code Chain New Continent Limited, is a Nevada corporation and a holding company. The Company
currently conducts its operations through the Company and its subsidiary, AI Catalysis. Historically, the Companys business focused
on artificial intelligence-driven digital human creation and customization as well as live streaming and e-commerce activities. The Companys
current subsidiaries, Citi Profit, Highlight HK, Highlight WFOE are holding companies with no material operations. The Companys
subsidiary Shanghai Xianzhui, previously engaged in marketing-related services but does not currently conduct business operations and
has no material operating activities.
57
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The
Company has recently begun adjusting its strategic direction and has been scaling back certain artificial intelligence-related initiatives
while evaluating new opportunities to utilize its existing artificial intelligence and virtual content generation technologies. As part
of this strategic transition, the Company is expanding into the interactive reading and narrative entertainment market.
The
Company is currently developing a platform intended to enable creators to produce interactive, game-like reading experiences for end
users. The platform is expected to provide creators with a suite of AI-powered content creation tools developed by the Company, which
are designed to assist creators in generating narrative structures, story plots, and visual assets associated with storylines. The platform
is also expected to incorporate AI-driven dialogue systems designed to enable readers to interact with characters within the story environment,
creating a more dynamic and immersive narrative experience.
The
platform remains in the development stage, and the Company is continuing to refine its technology and product design. The Company has
not yet launched the platform commercially, and there can be no assurance regarding the timing of its commercialization, market acceptance,
or the Companys ability to successfully execute its strategic transition.
****
**Recent
Development**
****
**Offering**
On
March 26, 2024, the Company issued 810,277 shares of common stock in a registered direct offering (the March 2024 Offering).
Pursuant to the March 2024 Offering, an aggregate of810,277shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001per
share, were sold to certain purchasers (the March 2024 Offering Purchasers), pursuant to a securities purchase agreement,
dated March 22, 2024 (the March 2024 Securities Purchase Agreement) at a price of $1.144per common stock, for aggregated
proceeds of approximately $0.9million. The Company paid the underwriter a cash fee equal to4.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds
raised in the March 2024 Offering. The Company also issued warrants to the underwriter to purchase up to40,514shares of common
stock of the Company at an exercise price of $1.373per share, (the March 2024 Placement Agent Warrants). The March
2024 Placement Agent Warrants and the common stock underlying the March 2024 Placement Agent Warrants were not registered under the Securities
Act, pursuant to the registration statement of March 2024 Offering. The March 2024 Placement Agent Warrants were issued pursuant to an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation
D promulgated thereunder.
On
February 10, 2025, the Company entered into an At-The-Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the ATM Agreement) with Univest
as the sales agent (the February 2025 Offering). Pursuant to the ATM Agreement, the Company may issue and sell from time
to time, shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of not more than $10,000,000 through the sales agent or any of
its sub-agent(s) or other designees, acting as sales agent. Up to the date the consolidated financial statements were issued, the Company
has not issued or sold any shares under the ATM Agreement.
On
March 4, 2025, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the March 2025 Securities Purchase Agreement)
with certain investor for the sale of 1,115,600 shares of common stock at $0.896379 per share (the March 2025 Offering),
generating gross proceeds in the amount of $1,000,000, before deducting underwriters fees and accountable expenses and other estimated
expenses. The Company used the proceeds from the offering for working capital purposes. Upon closing of the March 2025 Offering, the
Company paid $90,000 cash for underwriting, which consists of a total cash fee of $70,000, equal to seven percent (7%) of the aggregate
gross proceeds raised in the March 2025 Offering and reimbursement of reasonable fees and expenses of $20,000 for the underwriters
legal counsel and due diligence analysis expenses.
On
May 2, 2025, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the May 2025 Securities Purchase Agreement) with
certain investors for the sale of 1,115,600 shares of common stock at approximately $0.524 per share and 9,380,582 pre-funded warrants
(the May 2025 Pre-Funded Warrants) at approximately $0.523 per warrant (the May 2025 Offering). As of December
31, 2025, The Company received approximately $4.5 million in proceeds for subscription of 1,115,600 shares of its common stock and 7,468,536
pre-funded warrants. The offering remains ongoing and has not yet been fully completed. Transaction costs incurred through the reporting
date included underwriters fees of $314,343 and a $20,000 reimbursement for the underwriters legal counsel and due diligence
expenses. As of December 31, 2025, the Company used the proceeds from the offering for working capital purposes.
On
May 11, 2025, the Company entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement with an investor, pursuant to which the Company shall have the
right to require the investor to purchase, from time to time, up to a cumulative total of $300,000,000 worth of the Companys common
stock. The Company plans to use the proceeds from the offering, if any, to invest in Bitcoin and OFFICIAL TRUMP and for general corporate
purposes. The common stock will be issued and sold by the Company to the investor pursuant to a registration statement effective under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) or, if there is no effective registration statement registering,
or no current prospectus available for the issuance of the common stock issuable pursuant to the Agreement, in reliance upon the exemptions
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation
D promulgated thereunder.
58
| | |
On
October 24, 2025, the Company entered into securities purchase agreements (the October 2025 Securities Purchase Agreement)
with certain accredited investor, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell, in a private placement (the October
2025 Private Placement), an aggregate of 1,333,334 shares of the Companys common stock at a purchase price of $2.10 per
share, for gross proceeds in the amount of $2,800,000. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $2.5 million after deducting
underwriters fees of $196,000 and other offering costs of $60,000. The Company used the proceeds for working capital and general
corporate purposes.
**Software
Purchase Agreement**
On
April 28, 2025, the Company entered into a software purchase agreement (the Agreement) with Gongzheng Xu and Qing Wang
(the GXQW), who are unaffiliated with the Company. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company agreed to purchase and the GXQW
agreed to sell all of GXQWs right, title, and interest in and to the certain software (the Chat Box). The purchase
price of the software shall be payable in the form of an issuance of 2,444,295 shares of the Companys common stock.
On
April 28, 2025, the Company issued 2,444,295 shares of its common stock to GXQW and the transaction was completed. The Company plans
to use the software to develop its AI business.
**Acquisition
of Pallas**
On
September 8 2025, the Company (the Acquirer), Pallas Capital Holding Ltd, a British Virgin Islands company incorporated
on June 30, 2025 ( Pallas or the Target), and the shareholders of the Target (each a Seller
and collectively, the Sellers) executed an agreement and plan of securities exchange (the Share Exchange Agreement,
and the transactions contemplated thereby, collectively, the Transaction), pursuant to which, the Sellers wish to sell
to the Acquirer, and the Acquirer wishes to purchase from the Sellers, 100% interest in and to the ordinary shares of the Target (the
Target Shares). In exchange for the Target Shares, the Acquirer shall issue an aggregate of 39,189,344 shares of the Companys
common stock (the GDC Shares), of the Acquirer in book entry form in such amount and to such Sellers. On September 29,
2025, the Sellers transferred to Acquirer 10,000 shares of Target Shares, being all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of
the Target, and received in exchange certificates representing the 39,189,344 GDC Shares. Thereafter, Pallas became a wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Company.
Pallas
was established for the primary purpose of holding digital assets as a long-term reserve, with the objective of achieving potential appreciation
in value. As of December 31, 2025, Pallas held 7,500 units of Bitcoin.
The
Transaction is accounted for as an asset acquisition, as the Targets assets primarily consist of digital assets (Bitcoin). The
purchase consideration is measured based on the fair value of the Companys common stock issued as consideration.
Two shareholders of the Company, who beneficially own approximately
12.86%, in the aggregate, of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, immediately before the execution of the Transaction,
are the directors and share voting and dispositive power over the shares issued by the Target. Accordingly, the Transaction constitutes
a related party transaction for the Company pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K. Given the related party nature of the Transaction
and the fact that the acquired digital assets are highly liquid and have observable market prices, management concluded that the fair
value of the assets acquired is more reliably measurable than the fair value of the common stock issued as consideration.
Referring to Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
ASC Topic 805-10-55-5, the Company applied two steps (including step 1, screen test and step 2, evaluation of process and input) in evaluating
whether the acquisition was an asset acquisition or a business combination. Pallas had no operations except for holding Bitcoin as a reserve,
and substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in its Bitcoin. Therefore, the Company decided that
Pallas cannot constitute a business and such Pallas Transaction should be accounted for as an asset acquisition. The purchase consideration
is measured based on the fair value of the Companys common stock issued and the consideration is further allocated to the value
of the asset acquired in the transaction. Given the related party nature of the Pallas Transaction and the fact that the acquired digital
assets are highly liquid and have observable market prices, which indicated that the fair value of the assets acquired is far higher than
the fair value of the common stock issued, management concluded that the such Pallas transaction indicated a capital contribution from
the shareholders. Accordingly, the excess of the fair value of the digital assets acquired over the fair value of the common stock issued
should be recorded as an increase in additional paid-in capital and the value of the assets acquired, which was concurrently with the
determination of the value of the assets acquired under asset acquisition.
59
| | |
**Key
Factors that Affect Operating Results**
****
Our
results of operations are influenced by several factors related to the development of our interactive reading and narrative entertainment
platform and our ongoing strategic transition.
**Early-Stage
Development of Our Platform**
We
are currently in the early stages of developing our interactive reading and narrative entertainment platform. Because the platform has
not yet been commercially launched, our revenues from this business are currently limited or may be limited in the near term. Our operating
results may fluctuate as we continue to refine the platforms technology, features, and business model.
**Investment
in Technology and Product Development**
The
development of our platform requires continued investment in technology infrastructure, artificial intelligence capabilities, and product
development. As a result, we expect to incur expenses related to research and development, engineering, and platform infrastructure as
we continue to build and enhance the platform. The timing and magnitude of these investments may affect our operating expenses and overall
financial performance.
**Ability
to Attract Creators and Users**
The
success of our platform will depend in part on our ability to attract creators who can develop interactive narrative content and to grow
a base of active users who engage with such content. Our operating results may be affected by the level of creator participation, the
quantity and quality of available content, and user engagement on the platform.
**Monetization
and Market Acceptance**
Our
future revenues will depend on our ability to effectively monetize the platform and achieve market acceptance of our products and services.
Potential revenue streams may include platform services, content distribution, or other digital content-related activities. However,
the market for interactive narrative and AI-enabled content platforms is evolving, and there can be no assurance that our platform will
achieve significant user adoption or generate meaningful revenue.
**Results
of Operations**
****
**For
the Years Ended December 31, 2025 vs. December31, 2024**
| 
| 
| 
For the Years Ended December31, | 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
Percentage | 
| |
| 
| 
| 
2025 | 
| 
| 
2024 | 
| 
| 
Change | 
| 
| 
Change | 
| |
| 
Operating expenses | 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
Selling and marketing expenses | 
| 
$ | 
(300,000 | 
) | 
| 
$ | 
(2,402,908 | 
) | 
| 
$ | 
2,102,908 | 
| 
| 
| 
(87.5 | 
)% | |
| 
General and administrative expenses | 
| 
| 
(5,054,062 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(5,055,507 | 
) | 
| 
| 
1,445 | 
| 
| 
| 
0.0 | 
% | |
| 
Research and development expense | 
| 
| 
(2,256,000 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(797,500 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(1,458,500 | 
) | 
| 
| 
182.9 | 
% | |
| 
Impairment of intangible assets | 
| 
| 
(852,800 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(2,755,659 | 
) | 
| 
| 
1,902,859 | 
| 
| 
| 
(69.1 | 
)% | |
| 
Provision of credit loss expenses | 
| 
| 
- | 
| 
| 
| 
(3,150,000 | 
) | 
| 
| 
3,150,000 | 
| 
| 
| 
(100.0 | 
)% | |
| 
Total operating expenses | 
| 
| 
(8,462,862 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(14,161,574 | 
) | 
| 
| 
5,698,712 | 
| 
| 
| 
(40.2 | 
)% | |
| 
Loss from operations | 
| 
| 
(8,462,862 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(14,161,574 | 
) | 
| 
| 
5,698,712 | 
| 
| 
| 
(40.2 | 
)% | |
| 
Other income (expenses) | 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
Interest income | 
| 
| 
6,435 | 
| 
| 
| 
8,671 | 
| 
| 
| 
(2,236 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(25.8 | 
)% | |
| 
Unrealized loss on fair value changes of digital assets | 
| 
| 
(178,507,882 | 
) | 
| 
| 
- | 
| 
| 
| 
(178,507,882 | 
) | 
| 
| 
- | 
| |
| 
Sublease rental income | 
| 
| 
32,609 | 
| 
| 
| 
- | 
| 
| 
| 
32,609 | 
| 
| 
| 
- | 
| |
| 
Total other income (expenses) | 
| 
| 
(178,468,838 | 
) | 
| 
| 
8,671 | 
| 
| 
| 
(178,477,509 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(2,058,326.7 | 
)% | |
| 
Loss before income tax from operations | 
| 
| 
(186,931,700 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(14,152,903 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(172,778,797 | 
) | 
| 
| 
1220.8 | 
% | |
| 
Income tax benefits | 
| 
| 
54,977 | 
| 
| 
| 
32,101 | 
| 
| 
| 
22,876 | 
| 
| 
| 
71.3 | 
% | |
| 
Net loss | 
| 
| 
(186,876,723 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(14,120,802 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(172,755,921 | 
) | 
| 
| 
1223.4 | 
% | |
| 
Net loss attributable to GD Culture Group Limited | 
| 
| 
(186,876,696 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(13,836,161 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(173,040,535 | 
) | 
| 
| 
1250.6 | 
% | |
| 
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest | 
| 
| 
(27 | 
) | 
| 
| 
(284,641 | 
) | 
| 
| 
284,614 | 
| 
| 
| 
(100.0 | 
)% | |
60
| | |
**Operating
Expenses**
****
The
Companys operating expenses include selling and marketing (S&M) expenses, general and administrative (G&A)
expenses, research and development (R&D) expenses, impairment of intangible assets and provision of credit loss expenses.
S&M expenses decreased to $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $2.4 million for the year ended December31,2024.
The decrease was primarily attributable to reduced spending on marketing and advertising activities related to the Companys digital
human and live streaming e-commerce businesses. As the Company began adjusting its strategic direction and transitioning toward the development
of its interactive reading and narrative entertainment platform, it scaled back certain marketing initiatives associated with its prior
business lines. G&A expenses remained relatively consistent for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to the year ended December
31, 2024, primarily reflecting a similar level of corporate overhead and administrative activities during the periods. R&D expenses
increased to approximately $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to approximately $0.8 million for the year ended
December31, 2024. The increase was mainly due to the Company increased inputs on research and development about our interactive
fictionstory platform. Impairment of intangible assets decreased to $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared
to $2.8 million for the year ended December31, 2024, due to the out of use of purchased software. The provision of credit loss
is nil for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to $3.2 million for the year ended December31, 2024. The provision recognized
in 2024 was primarily due to the Companys determination that it was more likely than not that certain convertible notes and loan
receivables were uncollectible as of December 31, 2024. During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company wrote off the remaining
balances of these receivables, which had been previously fully reserved.
**Other
Income (Expenses)**
The Companys
other expense increased to $178,468,838 for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to other income of $8,671 for the year ended December31,
2024. The increase was mainly due to the unrealized loss on fair value changes of digital assets for the year ended December 31, 2025.
**Net
Loss**
The
Companys net loss increased by approximately $172.8 million, or 1223.4%, to approximately $186.9 million net loss for the year
ended December 31, 2025, from approximately $14.1 million net loss for the year ended December31, 2024. The increase was primarily
driven by the unrealized loss on fair value changes of digital assets as discussed above, partially offset by a decrease in the impairment
of intangible assets and provisions for credit losses related to convertible notes and loan receivables.
**Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates**
****
The
Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial
statements requires the Company to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that can significantly impact the amounts the Company reports
as assets, liabilities, revenue, costs and expenses and the related disclosures. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience
and other assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. The Companys actual results could differ significantly
from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions. The Company identified the following critical accounting estimates.
*Impairment
of long-lived assets*
The Companys determination of whether or not an indication of
impairment exists at the cash generating unit level requires significant management judgment pertaining to intangible assets, including
a software copyright of AI Box, which is used for online living-stream and a software copyright of Chat Box, which is used for online
interactive entertainment scenarios, as well as the operating right-of-use (ROU) assets, including the offices of the Company.
Management considers both external and internal sources of information in assessing whether there are any indications that the Companys
intangible assets and ROU assets are impaired.Based on the evaluation, the Company recognized
impairment losses in intangible assets of $852,800 and $2,755,659, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.
61
| | |
**Recently
Issued Accounting Pronouncements**
In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU)
2023-09,Income Taxes(Topic 740):Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures(ASU 2023-09), which requires disclosure
of incremental income tax information within the rate reconciliation and expanded disclosures of income taxes paid, among other disclosure
requirements. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted
ASU 2023-09 on a prospective basis for the 2025 annual reporting period. Refer to Note 10 Taxes of the consolidated financial
statements for further detail.
In
November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement Reporting Comprehensive Income Expense Disaggregation Disclosures
(Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (ASU 2024-03) which requires detailed disclosures in the
notes to financial statements disaggregating specific expense categories and certain other disclosures to provide enhanced transparency
into the nature and function of expenses. The FASB further clarified the effective date in January 2025 with the issuance of ASU 2025-01,
Income Statement Reporting Comprehensive Income Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Clarifying the
Effective Date (ASU 2025-01). ASU 2024-03 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim
periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The requirements should be
applied on a prospective basis while retrospective application is permitted. The Company does not expect to adopt this guidance early
and does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on its future consolidated financial statements.
In
March 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-05, Credit Losses (Topic 326): Simplifications to the Accounting for Short-Term Receivables and
Contract Assets. The update introduces practical expedients that allow entities to simplify the estimation of expected credit losses
for accounts receivable and contract assets by permitting certain assumptions regarding current conditions and expectations of future
economic conditions. The amendments are intended to reduce the complexity and cost of applying the current expected credit loss model
for short-term financial assets. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, including
interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this
guidance on its consolidated financial statements. The Company does not currently expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material
impact on its consolidated financial statements.
We
do not believe other recently issued but not yet effective accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on
our consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and statements of cash flows.
**Liquidity
and Capital Resources**
****
As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $456,041in its operating
bank accounts and working capital deficit of approximately $0.3million. From January 2026 to the date the consolidated financial
statements were available to be issued, Mr. Xiaojian Wang, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (CEO), made advances
of $340,000to the Company through, these advances are non-interest bearing and due on demand.
On January 23, 2025, Green Oasis Limited, a shareholder
then holding less than5% ownership shares in the Company, provided a $100,000loan to the Company, for working
capital purposes, with maturity as of April 23, 2025. On April 25, 2025, Green Oasis Limited and the Company extended the maturity date
to July 23, 2025, which was further extended to July 23, 2026 through an amendment agreement.
On
March 4, 2025, the Company sold1,115,600shares of common stock at $0.896379per share, generating gross proceeds of
$1,000,000. The Company received net proceeds of $910,000after deducting underwriters fees of $70,000and a $20,000reimbursement
for the underwriters legal counsel and due diligence analysis expenses. The Company used the proceeds from the offering for working
capital purposes.
On
May 2, 2025, the Company completed a securities offering in which it agreed to sell (i)1,115,600shares of its common stock
at a purchase price of approximately $0.524per share and (ii)9,380,582pre-funded warrants at a purchase price of approximately
$0.523per warrant. As of December 31, 2025, the Company received gross proceeds of approximately $4.5 millionfrom the subscription
of1,115,600shares of its common stock and7,468,536pre-funded warrants. The offering remains ongoing and has not
yet been fully completed. Transaction costs incurred through December 31, 2025 included underwriters fees of $314,343and
a $20,000reimbursement for the underwriters legal counsel and due diligence expenses. As of December 31, 2025, The Company
used the proceeds from the offering for working capital purposes.
62
| | |
On
October 24, 2025, the Company sold1,333,334shares of common stock at $2.1per share, generating gross proceeds of $2.8million.
The Company received net proceeds of approximately $2.5million after deducting underwriters fees of $196,000and other
offering costs of $60,000. The Company used the proceeds from the offering for working capital purposes.
In March 2026, the CEO executed a Letter of Support
in which he agreed to provide continuing financial support to the Company for a period of at least 12 months from the issuance date of
the Companys consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025. The Company expects to continue
incurring significant operating cash outflows to support its operations. Additional financing may be required to sustain the business.
Management will make its best efforts to secure the necessary funding to support the Companys operations.
The
following summarizes the key components of the Companys cash flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.
| 
| | 
For the Years Ended December31, | | |
| 
| | 
2025 | | | 
2024 | | |
| 
Net cash used in operating activities | | 
$ | (6,844,724 | ) | | 
$ | (5,680,146 | ) | |
| 
Net cash used in investing activities | | 
| - | | | 
| (650,000 | ) | |
| 
Net cash provided by financing activities | | 
| 7,278,172 | | | 
| 1,180,018 | | |
| 
Effect of exchange rate change on cash and cash equivalents | | 
| 55 | | | 
| (2,852 | ) | |
| 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents | | 
$ | 433,503 | | | 
$ | (5,152,980 | ) | |
****
As
of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company had cash in the amount of $456,041 and $22,538, respectively. As of December 31, 2025 and
2024, $3,305 and $3,267 were deposited with one financial institution located in the PRC, respectively. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024,
$452,736 and $19,271 were deposited with one financial institution located in the United States, respectively.
*Operating
activities*
Net
cash used in operating activities was approximately $6.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to approximately $5.7
million net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December31, 2024. Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2025
was approximately $186.9 million, as compared to approximately $14.1 million for the year ended December31, 2024. Adjustments to
reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities increased by approximately $173.9 million, mainly due to the increase in
unrealized loss on fair value changes of digital assets.
*Investing
activities*
**
Net
cash used in investing activities was nil for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to approximately $0.7 million for the year
ended December31, 2024, representing a decrease of approximately $0.7 million. The decrease was mainly due to the absence of loan
to a third party for the year ended December 31, 2025.
**
*Financing
activities*
**
Net
cash provided by financing activities was approximately $7.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, as compared to approximately
$1.2 million net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December31, 2024. Net cash provided by financing activities
increased by approximately $6.1 million, due to proceeds from issuance of comment stock and prefunded warrants during year 2025.
****
**Item
7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk**
Disclosure
in response to this Item is not required for a smaller reporting company.
****
**Item
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data**
Reference
is made to Pages F-1 through F-27 comprising a portion of this Report on Form 10-K.
****
63
| | |
****
**Item
9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure**
On
January 29, 2026, with the approval of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee, the Company terminated HTL International, LLC
(HTL) and engaged GGF CPA LTD (GGF) as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2025, effective immediately. The audit reports of HTL on the Companys financial statements as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and
for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were such reports qualified
or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles, except that such opinions disclosed an uncertainty of the Company
to continue as a going concern. During the relevant periods and through January 29, 2026, the Company had no disagreements with HTL on
any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, and there were no reportable
events within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, except that the audit reports disclosed an uncertainty of the Company
to continue as a going concern.
During
the relevant periods and through January 29, 2026, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted GGF regarding either (i) the
application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might
be rendered on the Companys consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the
Company that GGF concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or
financial reporting issue; or (ii) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement (within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation
S-K and the related instructions to that Item) or a reportable event (within the meaning of Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).
****
**Item
9A. Controls and Procedures**
****
**Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures**
Under
the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officers, President and Chief Financial Officer
(the Certifying Officers), we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure
controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on the foregoing, our Certifying Officers
concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of the end of the period covered by this Report.
Disclosure
controls and procedures are controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports
filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SECs
rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information
required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including
our Certifying Officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
**Managements
Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting**
As
required by the SEC rules and regulations for the implementation of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our management is responsible
for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is
designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our consolidated financial
statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies
and procedures that:
| 
(1) | pertain
to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets
of our company, | 
|
| 
(2) | provide
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made
only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors, and | 
|
| 
(3) | provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could
have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. | 
|
64
| | |
A
material weakness is defined under the SEC rules as a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control
over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of a companys annual or interim
financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by our internal controls. As a result of its review, management
concluded that we had material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting process consisting of the following:
| 
| Inadequate
U.S. GAAP expertise. The current accounting staff is inexperienced in applying U.S. GAAP standard as they are primarily engaged in ensuring
compliance with PRC accounting and reporting requirement for our consolidated operating entities, and thus require substantial training.
The current staffs accounting skills and understanding as to how to fulfill the requirements of U.S. GAAP-based reporting, including
subsidiary financial statements consolidation, are inadequate. | 
|
| 
| No
formal plan to provide applicable training for our financial and accounting staff to enhance our understanding of U.S. GAAP and internal
control over financial reporting. | 
|
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect errors or misstatements in our consolidated
financial statements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may
become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting on December 31, 2025. In making these assessments,
management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control
Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessments and those criteria, management determined that our internal control over
financial reporting was not effective on December 31, 2025 due to the material weaknesses identified by our management as described above.
Management
Plan to Remediate Material Weaknesses
| 
| We
plan to engage outside consultant to supplement efforts to improve our internal control over financial reporting; | 
|
| 
| We
plan to acquire applicable training for our financial and accounting staff to enhance our understanding of U.S. GAAP and internal control
over financial reporting | 
|
****
**Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting**
There
were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange
Act) during the most recent fiscal year that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control
over financial reporting.
****
**Item
9B. Other Information**
None.
****
**Item
9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections**
Not
applicable.
65
| | |
**PART
III**
****
**Item
10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance**
The
following table sets forth the name, age and position of each of our executive officers and directors as of the date of this Report:
| 
Name | 
| 
Age | 
| 
Position | |
| 
Xiao
Jian Wang | 
| 
37 | 
| 
Chief
Executive Officer, President, Chairman of the Board, and Director | |
| 
Zihao
Zhao | 
| 
31 | 
| 
Chief
Financial Officer and Director | |
| 
Lu
Cai | 
| 
35 | 
| 
Chief
Operating Officer | |
| 
Lei
Zhang (1)(2)(3) | 
| 
36 | 
| 
Director,
Chairman of the Compensation Committee | |
| 
Shuaiheng
Zhang (1)(2)(3) | 
| 
62 | 
| 
Director,
Chairman of the Audit Committee | |
| 
Yun
Zhang (1)(2)(3) | 
| 
38 | 
| 
Director,
Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | |
| 
(1) | Member
of our Audit Committee | 
|
| 
(2) | Member
of our Compensation Committee | 
|
| 
(3) | Member
of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | 
|
****
**Business
Experience and Directorships**
The
following describes the backgrounds of the director. Our board of directors has determined that (a) other than Messrs. Xiao Jian Wang
and Zihao Zhao, all of our directors are independent directors as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Markets listing standards governing
members of boards of directors, and (b) the members of our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee are independent under applicable SEC rules.
****
**Xiao
Jian Wang.**Mr.Xiao Jian Wangwas appointed as the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chairman
of the Board and a director of the Company, effective April21, 2023.Mr.Xiao Jian Wang was the Vice President of Business
Development at Foregrowth Inc. in Vancouver, Canada, where he formulated and executed comprehensive business plans, achieving defined
sales targets and driving market expansion, conducted training sessions for financial advisors, equipping them with in-depthknowledge
of compliance requirements, market insights, and product features, and conducted extensive research and due diligence on potential alternative
investment opportunities, resulting in successful acquisitions and partnerships. Prior to that, Mr.Wang was a Private Banking Consultant
and an Interbank Commercial Paper Trader at China Minsheng Bank in Chongqing, China. We believe Mr.Wang is well-qualifiedto
serve as a member of our board due to his in-depthknowledge and experience in asset management and investment, and his experience
in management.
****
**Zihao
Zhao.**Mr.Zihao Zhaowas appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective April21,
2023.Mr.Zhaowas a senior audit assistant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, PWC, Shanghai from 2016 to 2019. Mr.Zhao
received his Bachelor of Science in Taxation degree from Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance in 2016. We believe Mr.Zhao
is well-qualifiedto serve as a member of our board due to his expertise in accounting.
****
**Ms.
Lu Cai. **Ms. Lu Cai was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer of the Company, effective February 9, 2023.
Ms. Lu Cai has over 10 years of extensive experience in financial management and consulting. Since July 2020, Ms. Lu Cai has been the
Chief Executive Officer of Beijing Boda Shengshi Financial Consulting Co., Ltd, a firm that offers initial public offering and pre-marketing
consulting services in China. From July 2017 to May 2020, Ms. Lu Cai was a Vice President of SINO-TONE Beijing Consulting Co., Ltd, a
consulting firm based in Beijing, China. Ms. Lu Cai graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University.
**Lei
Zhang.**Mr.Zhang was appointed as a director, chair of the Compensation Committee, and a member of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Audit Committee of the Company, effective on April26,
2024. Mr.Lei Zhang has more than 10years of experience in accounting. Since 2018, he holds the position of Assistant Professor
of Accounting at Simon Fraser University. His research contributions have been recognized, including receiving the Vanderbilt Music City
Accounting Research Conference Best Paper Award in June2022. Mr.Lei Zhangs teaching experience spans courses such
as Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility, Introduction to Managerial Accounting, and Intermediate Managerial Accounting.
His academic journey reflects a commitment to excellence and a passion for advancing accounting knowledge. Mr.Lei Zhang earned
his Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of British Columbia in 2018. We believe Mr.Zhang is well-qualifiedto serve as
a member of our board due to his experience in the accounting industry.
****
66
| | |
****
**Shuaiheng
Zhang.**Mr.Shuaiheng Zhang was appointed as a director and a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Audit Committee of the Company, effective February9, 2023. Mr.Shuaiheng Zhang,
has more than 40years of working experience in management. Since September2019, Mr.Shuaiheng Zhang has been the general
manager at Sunwoda Huizhou New Energy Co., Ltd., a high-techenterprise with research and development, design, production and sale
of lithium-ionbattery cell and module and a wholly owned subsidiary of Sunwoda Electronic Co., Ltd., a company listed on the Growth
Enterprise Market of Shenzhen Stock Exchange since 2011. From October1994 to July2013, Mr.Shuaiheng Zhang was the general
manager and vice chairman of the board at Shenzhen SEG Co., Ltd., a company listed on the main board of Shenzhen Stock Exchange that
are engaged in development of electronic information industry and electronic product trading market. From July2013 to December2015,
Mr.Shuaiheng Zhang was the vice general manager at Shenzhen SI Semiconductors Co., Ltd., a power semiconductor device manufacturer.
From December2015 to September2019, Mr.Shuaiheng Zhang was the general manager and chairman of the board of Shenzhen
SEG Longyan Energy Technology CO., Ltd., a subsidiary of Shenzhen SEG Co., Ltd. Mr.Shuaiheng Zhang received his bachelor degree
In mechanical engineering from Xidian University and his master degree in computer science from Tsinghua University. Mr.Zhang has
more than 40years of working experience in management. We believe Mr.Zhang is well-qualifiedto serve as a member of
our board due to his extensive management experience.
****
**Yun
Zhang.**Mr.Yun Zhang was appointed as a director, chair of the Nominating Committee, and a member of
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Compensation Committee, and the Audit Committee of the Company, effective on April26,
2024. Mr.Yun Zhang has extensive experience across various roles, currently serves as a Consultant at China Machinery Engineering
Corporation in Vancouver since September2018. In this capacity, Mr.Yun Zhang is responsible for promoting and negotiating
projects with local companies on behalf of the Chinese State-OwnedCompany. Prior to this, from September2017 to September2018,
Mr.Yun Zhang held the position of Purchasing Manager at Homemax Building Supplies Inc., Vancouver, where he implemented annual
purchasing plans, managed contracts, and ensured optimal inventory levels. Earlier in their career, from January2015 to September2017,
Mr.Yun Zhang served as the Accountant Manager at China GEZHOUBA Group Company Limited in Wuhan, China. In this role, he focused
on generating comprehensive reporting packages, including business performance results, and compiled reviewed financial data for effective
projections. Mr.Yun Zhangs diverse professional journey spans different industries and responsibilities, showcasing their
adaptability and expertise. Mr.Yun Zhang earned his bachelors degree in Accounting from the University of Adelaide in 2011.
We believe Mr.Zhang is well-qualifiedto serve as a member of our board due to his extensive management experience.
****
**No
Classification of Directors**
In
accordance with our existing charter, our board of directors is not divided into separate classes, and each director serves a one-year
term until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until such directors successor is duly elected and qualified.
****
**Director
Independence**
Nasdaq
listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent as long as we are not a controlled company. A majority
of our board of directors is independent. An independent director is defined under the Nasdaq rules generally as a person
other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion
of the companys board of directors, would interfere with the directors exercise of independent judgment in carrying out
the responsibilities of a director. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Lei Zhang, Mr. Shuaiheng Zhang and Mr. Yun Zhang are
independent directors as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent directors have
regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
****
**Leadership
Structure and Risk Oversight**
The
board of directors does not have a lead independent director. Currently Mr. Xiao Jian Wang serves as our Chief Executive Officer, President
and Chairman of the Board.
****
**Committees
of the Board of Directors**
The
standing committees of our board of directors consist of an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee. Each of the committees will report to the board of directors as they deem appropriate and as the board may request.
**
*Audit
Committee*
Our
Audit Committee currently consists of Mr. Lei Zhang, Mr. Yun Zhang, and Mr. Shuaiheng Zhang, with Mr. Shuaiheng Zhang serving as the
chairman of the Audit Committee. We believe that each of these individuals qualifies as an independent director according to the rules
and regulations of the SEC with respect to audit committee membership. We also believe that Mr. Shuaiheng Zhang qualifies as our audit
committee financial expert, as such term is defined in Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K. Our board of directors has adopted a written
charter for the Audit Committee, which is attached as an exhibit to this Report.
67
| | |
The
audit committees duties, which are specified in our Audit Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:
| 
| reviewing
and discussing with management and the independent auditor our annual audited financial statements, and recommending to the board whether
the audited financial statements should be included in our Form 10-K; | 
|
| 
| discussing
with management and the independent auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation
of our financial statements; | 
|
| 
| discussing
with management major risk assessment and risk management policies; | 
|
| 
| monitoring
the independence of the independent auditor; | 
|
| 
| verifying
the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible
for reviewing the audit as required by law; | 
|
| 
| reviewing
and approving all related-party transactions; | 
|
| 
| inquiring
and discussing with management our compliance with applicable laws and regulations; | 
|
| 
| pre-approving
all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditor, including the fees and terms of the services
to be performed; | 
|
| 
| appointing
or replacing the independent auditor; | 
|
| 
| determining
the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the
independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work; | 
|
| 
| establishing
procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or
reports which raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies; and | 
|
**
*Compensation
Committee*
Our
Compensation Committee currently consists of Mr. Lei Zhang, Mr. Yun Zhang, and Mr. Shuaiheng Zhang, with Mr. Lei Zhang serving as the
chairman of the Compensation Committee. We anticipate that each of the members of our Compensation Committee will be independent under
the applicable Nasdaq listing standards. Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee, which is
attached as an exhibit to this Report.
The
compensation committees duties, which are specified in our Compensation Committee Charter, include, but not limited to:
| 
| reviewing
and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officers compensation, evaluating
our Chief Executive Officers performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration
(if any) of our Chief Executive Officers based on such evaluation; | 
|
| 
| reviewing
and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers; | 
|
| 
| reviewing
our executive compensation policies and plans; | 
|
| 
| implementing
and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans; | 
|
| 
| assisting
management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements; | 
|
| 
| approving
all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our executive officers and
employees; | 
|
68
| | |
| 
| producing
a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and | 
|
| 
| reviewing,
evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors. | 
|
**
*Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee*
Our
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for, among other matters: (1) identifying individuals qualified to become
members of our board of directors, consistent with criteria approved by our board of directors; (2) overseeing the organization of our
board of directors to discharge the boards duties and responsibilities properly and efficiently; (3) identifying best practices
and recommending corporate governance principles; and (4) developing and recommending to our board of directors a set of corporate governance
guidelines and principles applicable to us.
Our
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee currently consists of Mr. Shuaiheng Zhang, Mr. Yun Zhang and Mr. Lei Zhang, with Mr. Yun
Zhang serving as the chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. We anticipate that each of the members of our Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee will be independent under the applicable Nasdaq listing standards. Our board of directors has adopted
a written charter for the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, which is available on our corporate website at www.gdculturegroup.com.
****
**Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation**
None
of our executive officers currently serves, and in the past year has not served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation
committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors.
****
**Delinquent
Section 16(a) Reports**
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than
ten percent of our common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. These reporting persons are also
required to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely upon a review of such Forms, during the year ended
December 31, 2025 and the period from January 1, 2026 until the date of this Report, all of the directors and officers filed the required
Section 16 reports on time. We believe with respect to share exchange transaction during our fiscal year 2025, due to administrative oversight, the Form 4 for each
of our 10% stockholders, Yan Wang and Qing Wang, to report such transaction that occurred in October 2025, were not filed on a timely
basis.
****
**Code
of Ethics**
We
have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of our employees, including our chief executive officer, chief financial officer and
principal accounting officer. Our Code of Ethics is attached as an exhibit to this Report. If we amend or grant a waiver of one or more
of the provisions of our Code of Ethics, we intend to satisfy the requirements under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding the disclosure of
amendments to or waivers from provisions of our Code of Ethics that apply to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer
and principal accounting officer by posting the required information on our website at the above address.
**Item
11. Executive Compensation**
The
following table provides disclosure concerning all compensation paid for services to GDC in all capacities for our fiscal years ended
December 31, 2025 and 2024 provided by (i) each person serving as our principal executive officer (PEO), (ii) each person
serving as our principal financial officer (PFO) and (iii) our two most highly compensated executive officers other than
our PEO and PFO whose total compensation exceeded $100,000 (collectively with the PEO, referred to as the named executive officers
in this Executive Compensation section).
****
**Summary
Compensation Table**
| 
Name and Principal
Position | | 
Fiscal Year | | 
Salary ($) | | | 
Bonus ($) | | | 
Stock Awards ($) | | | 
Option Awards ($) | | | 
Other Compensation ($) | | | 
Total ($) | | |
| 
Xiao Jian Wang | | 
2025 | | 
| 50,000 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 50,000 | | |
| 
(CEO, President, Chairman of the Board, and Director) | | 
2024 | | 
| 50,000 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 50,000 | | |
| 
Zihao Zhao | | 
2025 | | 
| 77,036 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 77,036 | | |
| 
(CFO) | | 
2024 | | 
| 30,000 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 30,000 | | |
| 
Cai Lu | | 
2025 | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | |
| 
(COO) | | 
2024 | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | |
69
| | |
**Grants
of Plan Based Awards in the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2025**
During
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, no shares of Common Stock were granted to our officers and directors under the equity incentive
plans.
****
**Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End**
None.
****
**Employment
Contracts, Termination of Employment, Change-in-Control Arrangements**
We
have entered into employment agreements with each of our executive officers, respectively, (each an Employment Agreement,
collectively, the Employment Agreements). Under these agreements, each of our executive officers is employed for a specified
time period. We may terminate employment for cause, at any time, without advance notice or remuneration, for certain acts of the executive
officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a crime, or misconduct or a failure to perform agreed duties. The executive officer
may resign at any time with a three-month advance written notice.
The
officers also agreed to enter into additional confidential information and invention assignment agreements and are subject to certain
non-compete and non-solicitation restrictions for a period of one year following termination.
**Director
Compensation**
The
following table represents compensation earned by our non-executive directors in 2025.
| 
Name | | 
Fees earned in cash ($) | | | 
Stock awards ($) | | | 
Option awards ($) | | | 
All other compensation ($) | | | 
Total ($) | | |
| 
Lei Zhang (1) | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Yun Zhang (2) | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Shuaiheng Zhang (3) | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
(1) | Mr.
Lei Zhang was appointed as a director of the Company, effective April 26, 2024. | 
|
| 
(2) | Mr.
Yun Zhangwas appointed as a director of the Company, effective April 26, 2024. | 
|
| 
(3) | Shuaiheng
Zhang was appointed as a director of the Company,effective February9, 2023. | 
|
****
**Item
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters**
The
following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 27, 2026 based on information
obtained from the persons named below, with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock, by:
| 
| each
person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock; | 
|
| 
| each
of our executive officers and directors that beneficially owns shares of our common stock; and | 
|
| 
| all
our executive officers and directors as a group. | 
|
70
| | |
****
Unless
otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares
of common stock beneficially owned by them.
The
percentage ownership information shown in the table below is based on that there were 60,759,711 shares of common stock outstanding as
of March 27, 2026. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is 111 Town Square Place,
Suite #1203, Jersey City, NJ 07310.
| 
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | | 
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership | | | 
Percent of Class | | |
| 
Directors and Named Executive Officers | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Xiao Jian Wang, Chief Executive Officer, Presidentand Chairman of the Board | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Zihao Zhao, Chief Financial Officer | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Lu Cai, Chief Operating Officer | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Lei Zhang, Director | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Shuaiheng Zhang, Director | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Yun Zhang, Director | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
All officers and directors as a group (6 persons): | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
5% Beneficial Owner | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
None | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
****
**Changes
in Control**
****
There
has been no change in control during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025.
**Item
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence**
****
**Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions**
The
balances due to related parties as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 were presented in Other payables related parties
in the consolidated balance sheets. The details are set out below:
| 
Name
of related party | 
| 
Relationship | 
| 
Nature | 
| 
December31,
2025 | 
| 
| 
December31,
2024 | 
| |
| 
Xiaojian
Wang | 
| 
Chief
Executive Officer | 
| 
Accrued
compensations | 
| 
$ | 
100,000 | 
| 
| 
$ | 
50,000 | 
| |
| 
Xiaojian
Wang | 
| 
Chief
Executive Officer | 
| 
Interest-free
loans to the Company* | 
| 
| 
- | 
| 
| 
| 
349,485 | 
| |
| 
Xiaojian
Wang | 
| 
Chief
Executive Officer | 
| 
Invoices
paid on behalf of the Company | 
| 
| 
2,150 | 
| 
| 
| 
50,000 | 
| |
| 
Zihao
Zhao | 
| 
Chief
Finance Officer | 
| 
Accrued
compensations | 
| 
| 
60,833 | 
| 
| 
| 
50,833 | 
| |
| 
Zihao
Zhao | 
| 
Chief
Finance Officer | 
| 
Reimbursement | 
| 
| 
2,033 | 
| 
| 
| 
1,948 | 
| |
| 
Total | 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
$ | 
165,016 | 
| 
| 
$ | 
502,266 | 
| |
| 
* | From September 2024 to March 2025, Mr. Xiaojian Wang, the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company (CEO), lent $399,485 to the Company through six loan agreements, for working capital purposes. Pursuant
to the loan agreements, these loans are non-interest bearing and are due from September 2025 to January 2026, respectively. From March
2025 to May 2025, the Company repaid $399,485 in full to the CEO. | 
|
71
| | |
****
*Related
Party Transaction*
As disclosed in Note 1, the Company purchased 100% equity interest
of Pallas from the Sellers, on September 29, 2025. Two shareholders of the Company, who beneficially own 12.86%, in the aggregate, of
the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, immediately before the execution of the Transaction, also serve as the directors
and share voting and dispositive power over the shares issued by the Target. Accordingly, the Pallas Transaction constitutes a related
party transaction for the Company pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K.
As
of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the balance of other payables - related parties were $165,016 and $502,266, respectively, mainly consisted
of accrued compensation of the Companys officers, interest - free loans received from the Companys officers and operating
related fees paid by the Companys officer on behalf of the Company. As of December 31, 2025, the interest-free loans received
from the Companys officers were fully repaid.
For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded
compensation expenses to its officers amounted to $127,036 and $80,000, respectively, for their services provided to the Company.
**Director
Independence**
Nasdaq
listing standards require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An independent director is defined
generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship
which in the opinion of the companys board of directors, would interfere with the directors exercise of independent judgment
in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Shuaiheng Zhang, Mr. Lei Zhang and
Mr. Yun Zhang are independent directors as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules. Our independent
directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
**Item
14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.**
GGF
was appointed by the Company to serve as its independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. HTL
International, LLC (the HTL) was appointed by the Company to serve as its independent registered public accounting firm
for fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
**
*Audit
Fees.*Audit fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our year-end financial statements and
services that are normally provided by our auditors in connection with regulatory filings. The aggregate fees billed by GGF for professional
services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2025 totaled $210,000. The aggregate
fees billed by HTL for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of the financial information
included in our Forms 10-Q for the respective periods and other required filings with the SEC for the years ended December 31, 2025 and
2024 totaled $60,000 and $180,000, respectively.
**
*Audit-Related
Fees.*Audit-related services consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to performance
of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under Audit Fees. These services include attest
services that are not required by statute or regulation and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards. During
the year ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, we did not pay GGF or HTL for consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting
standards.
**
*Tax
Fees*. We did not pay GGF or HTL for tax services for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.
**
*All
Other Fees*. We did not pay GGF or HTL for other services for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.
****
**Pre-Approval
Policy**
Our
audit committee was formed upon the consummation of our initial public offering. As a result, the audit committee did not pre-approve
all of the foregoing services, although any services rendered prior to the formation of our audit committee were approved by our board
of directors. Since the formation of our audit committee, and on a going-forward basis, the audit committee has and will pre-approve
all auditing services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for us by our auditors, including the fees and terms thereof (subject
to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described in the Exchange Act which are approved by the audit committee prior to
the completion of the audit).
72
| | |
****
**PART
IV**
****
**Item
15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules**
(a)
The following documents are filed as part of this Report:
(1)Financial
Statements
(2)Financial
Statements Schedule
All
financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the amounts are immaterial and not required, or the required
information is presented in the financial statements and notes thereto in Item 15 of Part IV below.
(3)
Exhibits
We
hereby file as part of this Report the exhibits listed in the attached Exhibit Index. Exhibits which are incorporated herein by reference
can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington D.C.
20549. Copies of such material can also be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.
20549, at prescribed rates or on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.
73
| | |
**EXHIBIT
INDEX**
| 
Exhibit
Number | 
| 
Description of Document | |
| 
2.1 | 
| 
Share Exchange Agreement, datedSeptember 10, 2025, by and among GD Culture Group Limited, Pallas Capital Holding Ltd and the shareholders of Pallas Capital Holding Ltd, filed as exhibit 2.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed on September 16, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
3.1 | 
| 
Articles of Incorporation, filed as exhibit 3.1 to the registration statement on Form S-1 filed on May 10, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
3.2 | 
| 
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, filed as exhibit 3.2 to the registration statement on Form S-1 filed on May 10, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
3.3 | 
| 
Certificate of Amendment of Articles of Incorporation, filed as exhibit 3.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed on May 18, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
3.4 | 
| 
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, filed as exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on November 8, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
3.5 | 
| 
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, filed as exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on January 10, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
3.6 | 
| 
Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, filed as exhibit 3.2 to the current report on Form 8-K filed on January 10, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
4.1 | 
| 
Description of Securities, filed as exhibit 4.1 to the annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 18, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
4.2 | 
| 
Form of Placement Agent Warrant, filed as exhibit 4.3 to the current report on Form 8-K filed on February 18, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
4.3 | 
| 
Form of Placement Agent Warrant, filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the current report on Form 8-K filed on May 17, 2023 and incorporate herein by reference | |
| 
4.4 | 
| 
Form of Pre-funded Warrants, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the current report on Form 8-K filed on November 3, 2023 and incorporate herein by reference | |
| 
10.1 | 
| 
Share Purchase Agreement by and among Makesi IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd. and the shareholders of Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd., dated September 16, 2022, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on September 19, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.2 | 
| 
Technical Consultation and Service Agreement, by and between Makesi IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.and Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd., dated September 16, 2022, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on October 5, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.3 | 
| 
Equity Pledge Agreement, by and among Makesi IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd. and the shareholders of Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd., dated September 16, 2022, filed as exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on October 5, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.4 | 
| 
Equity Option Agreement, by and among Makesi IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd. and the shareholders of Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd., dated September 16, 2022, filed as exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on October 5, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.5 | 
| 
Voting Rights Proxy and Financial Support Agreement, by and among Makesi IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd. and the shareholders of Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd., dated September 16, 2022, filed as exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on October 5, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.6 | 
| 
Agreement to Assign Technical Consultation and Service Agreement, by and between Makesi IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.and Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd., dated February 27, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on February 27, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.7 | 
| 
Agreement to Assign Equity Pledge Agreement, by and among Makesi IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd. and the shareholders of Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd., dated February 27, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on February 27, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.8 | 
| 
Agreement to Assign Equity Option Agreement, by and among Makesi IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd. and the shareholders of Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd., dated February 27, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on February 27, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
74
| | |
| 
10.9 | 
| 
Agreement to Assign Voting Rights Proxy and Financial Support Agreement, by and among Makesi IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd. and the shareholders of Shanghai Highlight Media Co., Ltd., dated February 27, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on February 27, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.10 | 
| 
Termination Agreement by and among Makesi IoT Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Sichuan Wuge Network Games Co., Ltd.and the shareholders of Sichuan Wuge Network Games Co., Ltd., dated September 28, 2022, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on September 30, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.11 | 
| 
Director Offer Letter to Shuaiheng Zhang, dated February 9, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on February 9, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.12 | 
| 
Form of Placement Agency Agreement, dated May 1, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on May 4, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.13 | 
| 
Form of RD Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and certain Purchasers, dated May 1, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on May 4, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.14 | 
| 
Form of PIPE Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and certain Purchasers, dated May 1, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on May 4, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.15 | 
| 
Form of Amendment to RD Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and certain Purchasers, dated May 16, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on May 17, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.16 | 
| 
Form of Amendment to PIPE Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and certain Purchasers, dated May 16, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on May 17, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.17 | 
| 
Employment agreement between GD Culture Group Limited and Xiao Jian Wang, dated April 21, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on April 21, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.18 | 
| 
Employment agreement between GD Culture Group Limited and Zihao Zhao, dated April 21, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on April 21, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.19 | 
| 
Software Purchase Agreement, dated June 22, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on June 27, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.20 | 
| 
Share Purchase Agreement, dated June 26, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on June 28, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.21 | 
| 
Termination Agreement, dated September 26, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on September 26, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.22 | 
| 
Equity Purchase Agreement, dated October 27, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on October 27, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.23 | 
| 
Placement Agency Agreement, dated November 1, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on November 3, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.24 | 
| 
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and certain Purchasers, dated October 31, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on November 3, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.25 | 
| 
Form of Amendment to the Securities Purchase Agreement, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on November 17, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.26 | 
| 
Warrant Exchange Agreement, dated November 1, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on November 3, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.27 | 
| 
Amended and Restated Equity Purchase Agreement, dated November 10, 2023, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on November 13, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.28 | 
| 
Placement Agency Agreement, dated March 22, 2024, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on March 26, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.29 | 
| 
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and certain Purchasers, dated March 22, 2024, filed as exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on March 26, 2024 | |
| 
10.30 | 
| 
Director Offer Letter to Yun Zhang, dated April 26, 2024, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on April 26, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.31 | 
| 
Director Offer Letter to Lei Zhang, dated April 26, 2024, filed as exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on April 26, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference | |
75
| | |
| 
10.32 | 
| 
Software Purchase Agreement between the Company and Shanxi Gangdong Cultural Media Co., Ltd. dated May 31, 2024, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on June 6, 2024 and incorporated herein as reference | |
| 
10.33 | 
| 
At-The-Market Issuance Sales Agreement, dated February 10, 2025, by and between the Company and Univest Securities, LLC, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on February 10, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.34 | 
| 
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and certain Purchasers, dated March 4, 2025, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on March 7, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.35 | 
| 
Placement Agency Agreement, dated March 4, 2025, by and between the Company and Univest Securities, LLC, filed as exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on March 7, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.36 | 
| 
Software Purchase Agreement, dated April 28, 2025, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on April 30, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.37 | 
| 
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and certain Purchasers, dated May 2, 2025, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on May 6, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.38 | 
| 
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and certain Investors, dated May 11, 2025, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on May 13, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.39 | 
| 
Employment agreement between the Company and Zihao Zhao, dated June 27, 2025, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on On Julv 3, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.40 | 
| 
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and certain Purchasers, dated October 24, 2025, filed as exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on October 29, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
10.41 | 
| 
Placement Agency Agreement, dated October 24, 2025, filed as exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on October 29, 2025 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
14.1 | 
| 
Code of Business and Ethics, filed as exhibit 14.1 to the registration statement on Form S-1 filed on June 16, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
19.1 | 
| 
Insider Trading Policies, filed as exhibit 19.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company filed on April 2, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
21.1 | 
| 
List of Subsidiaries, filed as exhibit 21.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company filed on April 2, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
23.1* | 
| 
Consent of HTL International, LLC | |
| 
23.2* | 
| 
Consent of GGF CPA LTD | |
| 
23.3* | 
| 
Consent of Junjin Law Firm | |
| 
31.1* | 
| 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a). | |
| 
31.2* | 
| 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a). | |
| 
32.1** | 
| 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer required by 18 U.S.C. 1350. | |
| 
32.2** | 
| 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by 18 U.S.C. 1350. | |
| 
97.1 | 
| 
Policy Relating to Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation, filed as exhibit 97.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company filed on April 2, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
99.1 | 
| 
Form of Audit Committee Charter, filed as exhibit 99.1 to the registration statement on Form S-1 filed on June 16, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
99.2 | 
| 
Form of Compensation Committee Charter, filed as exhibit 99.2 to the registration statement on Form S-1 filed on June 16, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference | |
| 
101.INS | 
| 
Inline XBRL Instance Document. | |
| 
101.SCH | 
| 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. | |
| 
101.CAL | 
| 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. | |
| 
101.DEF | 
| 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. | |
| 
101.LAB | 
| 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. | |
| 
101.PRE | 
| 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. | |
| 
104 | 
| 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). | |
| 
* | Filed herewith | 
|
| 
** | Furnished herewith | 
|
**Item
16. Form 10K Summary**
None.
76
| | |
****
**CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA**
****
| | | Page | |
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - GGF CPA LTD (PCAOB ID: 2729) | | F-2 | |
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - HTL International, LLC (PCAOB ID: 7000) | | F-3 | |
| Consolidated Financial Statements: | | | |
| Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 | | F-4 | |
| Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 | | F-5 | |
| Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders Equity for the Years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 | | F-6 F-7 | |
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 | | F-8 | |
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | | F-9 | |
F-1
| | |
**REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM**
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
GD Culture Group Limited
**Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements**
We have audited the accompanying consolidated
balance sheet of GD Culture Group Limited (the Company) and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2025, and the related consolidated
statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders equity, and cash flows for the year ended December 31,
2025, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial
statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2025 and the results of
its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2025, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States of America (U.S. GAAP).
**Basis for Opinion**
These consolidated financial statements are the
responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys consolidated financial
statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and
the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the
standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated
financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we
engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding
of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys
internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess
the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures
that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the
consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide
a reasonable basis for our opinion.
**Critical Audit Matter**
The critical audit matter communicated below is
a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated
to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and
(2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter
in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit
matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
*Existence and Rights to Digital Assets*
As described in Note 3 to the consolidated financial
statements, as of December 31, 2025, the Company recorded digital assets with a fair value of approximately $663 million, which were held
in a third-party custody wallet.
We identified the evaluation of the existence
of and the Companys rights to its digital assets as a critical audit matter due to the nature and extent of audit effort required
to address the matter, which includes a significant involvement of more experienced engagement team members. Subjective auditor judgment
was required in determining the nature and extent of audit procedures and the sufficiency of audit evidence obtained to test the digital
assets recognized by the Company.
The following are the primary procedures we performed
to address this critical audit matter: we evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over
the existence of the Companys investment in digital assets and the Companys rights over its investment in digital assets;
we reviewed the custodial agreement to obtain understanding of the Companys rights and obligations in relation to the digital
assets held in custody; we evaluated the reliability of the third-party custodian, performed the reconciliation of digital assets per
the Companys records to the custodial service ledgers and the public blockchain, and obtained confirmation of the Companys
investment in digital assets held with the third-party custodian as of December 31, 2025, and compared the results of the confirmation
to the Companys record; we also assessed the sufficiency of audit evidence obtained by evaluating the cumulative results of the
audit procedures.
| 
/s/ GGF CPA LTD | |
| 
| 
| |
| 
We have served as the Companys auditor since 2026. | |
| 
| 
| |
| 
Guangzhou, the Peoples Republic of China | |
| 
| 
| |
| 
March 27, 2026 | 
| |
F-2
| | |
**REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM**
To
the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
GD Culture Group Limited
****
**Opinion
on the Consolidated Financial Statements**
****
We
have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of GD Culture Group Limited (the Company) and its subsidiaries
as of December 31, 2024, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders
equity, and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial
statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
the Company as of December 31, 2024 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2024, in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP).
**Basis
for Opinion**
****
These
consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion
on the Companys consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance
with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part
of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing
an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our
audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether
due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence
regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
| /s/ HTL International, LLC | |
| | | |
| We have served as the Companys auditor from 2023 to 2026. | |
| | | |
| Houston, Texas | |
| | | |
| March 17, 2025 | | |
| | | |
F-3
| | |
**GD
CULTURE GROUP LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES**
**CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS**
| 
| | 
December31, | | | 
December31, | | |
| 
| | 
2025 | | | 
2024 | | |
| 
ASSETS | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
CURRENT ASSETS | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Cash and cash equivalents | | 
$ | 456,041 | | | 
$ | 22,538 | | |
| 
Other receivables, net | | 
| 41,803 | | | 
| 9,195 | | |
| 
Prepayments | | 
| 331,588 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Total current assets | | 
| 829,432 | | | 
| 31,733 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
EQUIPMENT, NET | | 
| 3,477 | | | 
| 7,781 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS, NET | | 
| 987,988 | | | 
| 1,342,333 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
OTHER ASSETS | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Intangible assets, net | | 
| 5,090,238 | | | 
| 1,102,400 | | |
| 
Other assets | | 
| 250,740 | | | 
| 250,740 | | |
| 
Digital assets | | 
| 662,996,878 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Total other assets | | 
| 668,337,856 | | | 
| 1,353,140 | | |
| 
Total assets | | 
$ | 670,158,753 | | | 
$ | 2,734,987 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
CURRENT LIABILITIES | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Other payables and accrued liabilities | | 
$ | 507,745 | | | 
$ | 401,821 | | |
| 
Other payables - related parties | | 
| 165,016 | | | 
| 502,266 | | |
| 
Lease liabilities - current | | 
| 353,648 | | | 
| 427,984 | | |
| 
Income tax payable | | 
| 187,995 | | | 
| 141,810 | | |
| 
Total current liabilities | | 
| 1,214,404 | | | 
| 1,473,881 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
OTHER LIABILITIES | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Lease liabilities non-current | | 
| 781,216 | | | 
| 1,104,552 | | |
| 
Deferred tax liabilities | | 
| 20,988 | | | 
| 153,911 | | |
| 
Total other liabilities | | 
| 802,204 | | | 
| 1,258,463 | | |
| 
Total liabilities | | 
| 2,016,608 | | | 
| 2,732,344 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Preferred stock, $0.0001par value,1,000,000,000 and 20,000,000shares authorized,noshares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Common stock, $0.0001par value,10,000,000,000 and 200,000,000shares authorized,57,318,111and11,167,294shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively | | 
| 5,732 | | | 
| 1,117 | | |
| 
Additional paid-in capital | | 
| 937,770,530 | | | 
| 82,758,975 | | |
| 
Accumulated deficit | | 
| (270,071,082 | ) | | 
| (83,194,386 | ) | |
| 
Accumulated other comprehensive income | | 
| 152,627 | | | 
| 152,585 | | |
| 
Total GD Culture Group Limited shareholders equity (deficits) | | 
| 667,857,807 | | | 
| (281,709 | ) | |
| 
Noncontrolling interest | | 
| 284,338 | | | 
| 284,352 | | |
| 
Total shareholders equity | | 
| 668,142,145 | | | 
| 2,643 | | |
| 
Total liabilities and shareholders equity | | 
$ | 670,158,753 | | | 
$ | 2,734,987 | | |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
| | |
**GD
CULTURE GROUP LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES**
**CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS**
| 
| | 
For the Years Ended December31, | | |
| 
| | 
2025 | | | 
2024 | | |
| 
OPERATING EXPENSES | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Selling and marketing expenses | | 
$ | (300,000 | ) | | 
$ | (2,402,908 | ) | |
| 
General and administrative expenses | | 
| (5,054,062 | ) | | 
| (5,055,507 | ) | |
| 
Research and development expenses | | 
| (2,256,000 | ) | | 
| (797,500 | ) | |
| 
Impairment of intangible assets | | 
| (852,800 | ) | | 
| (2,755,659 | ) | |
| 
Provision of credit loss expenses | | 
| - | | | 
| (3,150,000 | ) | |
| 
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES | | 
| (8,462,862 | ) | | 
| (14,161,574 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS | | 
| (8,462,862 | ) | | 
| (14,161,574 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Interest income | | 
| 6,435 | | | 
| 8,671 | | |
| 
Unrealized loss on fair value changes of digital assets | | 
| (178,507,882 | ) | | 
| - | | |
| 
Sublease rental income | | 
| 32,609 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
TOTAL OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME | | 
| (178,468,838 | ) | | 
| 8,671 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES | | 
| (186,931,700 | ) | | 
| (14,152,903 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
LESS: INCOME TAX BENEFIT | | 
| 54,977 | | | 
| 32,101 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
NET LOSS | | 
$ | (186,876,723 | ) | | 
$ | (14,120,802 | ) | |
| 
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | | 
| (27 | ) | | 
| (284,641 | ) | |
| 
Net loss attributable to shareholders of common stock | | 
| (186,876,696 | ) | | 
| (13,836,161 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
- Foreign currency translation adjustment | | 
| 55 | | | 
| (14,544 | ) | |
| 
- Fair value changes of convertible note receivables | | 
| - | | | 
| (102,027 | ) | |
| 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), net of tax | | 
| 55 | | | 
| (116,571 | ) | |
| 
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS, net of tax | | 
$ | (186,876,668 | ) | | 
$ | (14,237,373 | ) | |
| 
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | | 
| (14 | ) | | 
| (378,491 | ) | |
| 
Comprehensive loss attributable to shareholders of common stock | | 
| (186,876,654 | ) | | 
| (13,858,882 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON STOCKS | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Basic and diluted | | 
| 30,344,325 | | | 
| 9,565,918 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Loss per share available to common shareholders | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Basic and diluted | | 
$ | (6.16 | ) | | 
$ | (1.45 | ) | |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
| | |
**GD
CULTURE GROUP LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES**
**CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY**
**For
the Year Ended December 31, 2025**
****
| 
| | 
Attributable
to GD Culture Group Limited Shareholders | | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
Total | | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
Additional | | | 
| | | 
| | | 
Accumulated
Other | | | 
GD
Culture
Group
LimitedShareholders | | 
| 
Non | | | 
Total | | |
| 
| | 
Preferred
Stock | | | 
Common
Stock | | | 
Paid-in | | | 
Subscription | | | 
Accumulated | | | 
Comprehensive | | | 
(Deficits) | | | 
controlling | | | 
Shareholders | | |
| 
| | 
Shares | | | 
Amount | | | 
Shares | | | 
Amount | | | 
Capital | | | 
Receivable | | | 
Deficit | | | 
Income | | | 
Equity | | | 
Interest | | | 
Equity | | |
| 
Balance,January1,2025 | | 
| - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
| 11,167,294 | | | 
$ | 1,117 | | | 
$ | 82,758,975 | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | (83,194,386 | ) | | 
$ | 152,585 | | | 
$ | (281,709 | ) | | 
$ | 284,352 | | | 
$ | 2,643 | | |
| 
Net
loss | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| (186,876,696 | ) | | 
| - | | | 
| (186,876,696 | ) | | 
| (27 | ) | | 
| (186,876,723 | ) | |
| 
Issuance
of common stock for cash | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 3,564,534 | | | 
| 356 | | | 
| 3,907,304 | | | 
| 17,390 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 3,925,050 | | | 
| - | | | 
| 3,925,050 | | |
| 
Issuance
of prefunded warrants for cash | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 3,615,226 | | | 
| (17,390 | ) | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 3,597,836 | | | 
| - | | | 
| 3,597,836 | | |
| 
Exercise
of November 2023 Registered Warrants | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 952,644 | | | 
| 95 | | | 
| (95 | ) | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Issuance
of common stock for acquisition of certain software | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 2,444,295 | | | 
| 245 | | | 
| 5,988,278 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 5,988,523 | | | 
| - | | | 
| 5,988,523 | | |
| 
Issuance
of common stock for acquisition of Pallas | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 39,189,344 | | | 
| 3,919 | | | 
| 225,726,702 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 225,730,621 | | | 
| - | | | 
| 225,730,621 | | |
| 
Related
party capital contribution | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 615,774,140 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 615,774,140 | | | 
| - | | | 
| 615,774,140 | | |
| 
Foreign
currency translation | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 42 | | | 
| 42 | | | 
| 13 | | | 
| 55 | | |
| 
BALANCE,
December 31, 2025 | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 57,318,111 | | | 
| 5,732 | | | 
| 937,770,530 | | | 
| - | | 
| (270,071,082 | ) | | 
| 152,627 | | | 
| 667,857,807 | | | 
| 284,338 | | | 
| 668,142,145 | | |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
| | |
**GD
CULTURE GROUP LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES**
**CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY**
**FOR
THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER31, 2024**
| 
| | 
Attributable
to GD Culture Group Limited Shareholders | | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
Additional | | | 
| | | 
Accumulated Other | | | 
Total GDCulture GroupLimited
Shareholders | | | 
Non | | | 
Total | | |
| 
| | 
PreferredStock | | | 
Common
Stock | | | 
Paid-in | | | 
Accumulated | | | 
Comprehensive | | | 
Equity | | | 
controlling | | | 
Shareholders | | |
| 
| | 
Shares | | | 
Amount | | | 
Shares | | | 
Amount | | | 
Capital | | | 
Deficit | | | 
Income | | | 
(Deficits) | | | 
Interest | | | 
Equity | | |
| 
Balance, January1,2024 | | 
| - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
| 5,453,416 | | | 
$ | 545 | | | 
$ | 77,530,221 | | | 
$ | (69,358,225 | ) | | 
$ | 175,306 | | | 
$ | 8,347,847 | | | 
$ | 3,813,636 | | | 
$ | 12,161,483 | | |
| 
Net loss | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| (13,836,161 | ) | | 
| - | | | 
| (13,836,161 | ) | | 
| (284,641 | ) | | 
| (14,120,802 | ) | |
| 
Issuance of common stock for cash | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 810,277 | | | 
| 81 | | | 
| 829,798 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 829,879 | | | 
| - | | | 
| 829,879 | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock for acquisition of 13.33% ownership of Shanghai Xianzhui | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 400,000 | | | 
| 40 | | | 
| 3,150,753 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 3,150,793 | | | 
| (3,150,793 | ) | | 
| - | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock for acquisition
of copyright | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 1,560,000 | | | 
| 156 | | | 
| 1,247,844 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 1,248,000 | | | 
| - | | | 
| 1,248,000 | | |
| 
Exercise of pre-funded warrants | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 1,489,385 | | | 
| 150 | | | 
| 504 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 654 | | | 
| - | | | 
| 654 | | |
| 
Exercise of February 2021 Registered Warrants | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 92,756 | | | 
| 9 | | | 
| (9 | ) | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Exercise of November 2023 Registered Warrants | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 1,361,460 | | | 
| 136 | | | 
| (136 | ) | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Foreign currency translation | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| 79,306 | | | 
| 79,306 | | | 
| (93,850 | ) | | 
| (14,544 | ) | |
| 
Reversal of
fair value changes of convertible notes receivable | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| (102,027 | ) | | 
| (102,027 | ) | | 
| - | | | 
| (102,027 | ) | |
| 
Balance,December31,2024 | | 
| - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
| 11,167,294 | | | 
$ | 1,117 | | | 
$ | 82,758,975 | | | 
$ | (83,194,386 | ) | | 
$ | 152,585 | | | 
$ | (281,709 | ) | | 
$ | 284,352 | | | 
$ | 2,643 | | |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-7
| | |
**GD
CULTURE GROUP LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES**
**CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS**
| 
| | 
For the Years Ended December31, | | |
| 
| | 
2025 | | | 
2024 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Net loss | | 
$ | (186,876,723 | ) | | 
$ | (14,120,802 | ) | |
| 
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Depreciation of equipment | | 
| 4,304 | | | 
| 4,730 | | |
| 
Amortization of intangible assets | | 
| 1,147,885 | | | 
| 692,755 | | |
| 
Amortization of right-of-use assets | | 
| 354,345 | | | 
| 424,264 | | |
| 
Unrealized loss on fair value changes of digital assets | | 
| 178,507,882 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Provision of credit loss expenses on convertible notes | | 
| - | | | 
| 2,500,000 | | |
| 
Provision of credit loss expenses on loan receivable | | 
| - | | | 
| 650,000 | | |
| 
Impairment of intangible assets | | 
| 852,800 | | | 
| 2,755,659 | | |
| 
Deferred income tax | | 
| (132,923 | ) | | 
| (173,911 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Other receivables | | 
| (32,608 | ) | | 
| 264 | | |
| 
Prepayments | | 
| (331,588 | ) | | 
| 1,284,280 | | |
| 
Other payables and accrued liabilities | | 
| 1,154 | | | 
| 378,536 | | |
| 
Lease liabilities | | 
| (397,672 | ) | | 
| (349,679 | ) | |
| 
Taxes payable | | 
| 46,185 | | | 
| 141,810 | | |
| 
Other payables - related parties | | 
| 12,235 | | | 
| 131,948 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Net cash used in operating activities | | 
| (6,844,724 | ) | | 
| (5,680,146 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Loan to a third party | | 
| - | | | 
| (1,900,000 | ) | |
| 
Repayment ofloan to a third party | | 
| - | | | 
| 1,250,000 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Net cash used in investing activities | | 
| - | | | 
| (650,000 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock | | 
| 3,907,660 | | | 
| 829,879 | | |
| 
Proceeds from issuance of prefunded warrants | | 
| 3,619,997 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Proceeds from exercise of prefunded warrants | | 
| - | | | 
| 654 | | |
| 
Proceeds from related party loans | | 
| 50,000 | | | 
| 349,485 | | |
| 
Proceeds from shareholder loan | | 
| 100,000 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Repayments to a related party | | 
| (399,485 | ) | | 
| - | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Net cash provided by financing activities | | 
| 7,278,172 | | | 
| 1,180,018 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGE ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | | 
| 55 | | | 
| (2,852 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | | 
| 433,503 | | | 
| (5,152,980 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR | | 
| 22,538 | | | 
| 5,175,518 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR | | 
$ | 456,041 | | | 
$ | 22,538 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Cash paid for income tax | | 
$ | 31,761 | | | 
$ | - | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS OF INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock for acquisition right, title, and interest in and to the certain software | | 
$ | 5,988,523 | | | 
$ | 1,248,000 | | |
| 
Initial recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liability | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | 205,539 | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock for 13.3333% interest in SH Xianzhui | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | 3,150,793 | | |
| 
Exercise of November 2023 Registered Warrants | | 
$ | 95 | | | 
$ | 136 | | |
| 
Exercise of pre-funded warrants pursuant to the Warrant Exchange Agreements | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | 93 | | |
| 
Exercise of February 2021 Registered Warrants | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | 9 | | |
| 
Issuance of common stock for acquisition Pallas | | 
$ | 225,730,621 | | | 
$ | - | | |
| 
Capital contribution from related parties | | 
$ | 615,774,140 | | | 
$ | - | | |
| 
Fair value changes of convertible notes receivable | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | (102,027 | ) | |
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-8
| | |
****
**GD
CULTURE GROUP LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES**
**NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**Note
1 Nature of Business and Organization**
GD Culture Group Limited (GDC or
the Company), formerly known as Code Chain New Continent Limited, is a Nevada corporation and a holding company. The Company
currently conducts its operations through the Company and its subsidiary, AI Catalysis Corp. (AI Catalysis). Historically,
the Companys business focused on artificial intelligence-driven digital human creation and customization as well as live streaming
and e-commerce activities. The Company has recently begun adjusting its strategic direction and has been scaling back certain artificial
intelligence-related initiatives while evaluating new opportunities to utilize its existing artificial intelligence and virtual content
generation technologies. As part of this strategic transition, the Company is expanding into the interactive reading and narrative entertainment
market. The Companys subsidiaries, Citi Profit Investment Holding Limited (Citi Profit BVI), Highlights Culture Holding
Co., Limited (Highlight HK), Shanghai Highlight Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Highlight WFOE) are holding companies
with no material operations. The Companys subsidiary, Shanghai Xianzhui Technology Co., Ltd. (SH Xianzhui), previously
engaged in marketing-related services but does not currently conduct business operations and has no material operating activities.
SH Xianzhuiwas incorporated by Highlight
WFOE and two other shareholders on August 10, 2023. SH Xianzhui is principally engaged in the provision of social media marketing agency
service. Highlight WFOE initially owned60% of the total equity interest of SH Xianzhui. On October 27, 2023, the Company entered
into an equity purchase agreement with Highlight WFOE and Beijing Hehe Property Management Co., Ltd. (Beijing Hehe), which
was amended on November 10, 2023 (such equity purchase agreement, as amended, the Agreement for purpose of this section
Investment in JV), pursuant to which the Highlight WFOE agreed to purchase13.3333% of the equity interest in SH Xianzhui
from Beijing Hehe and the Company agreed to issue400,000shares of common stock of the Company, valued at $2.7820per
share, the average closing bid price of the common stock of GDC as of the five trading days immediately preceding the date of the Agreement,
to Beijing Hehe or its assigns. On January 11, 2024, the Company issued the400,000shares of its common stock, at the price
of $2.5per share, to Beijing Hehe and the transaction was completed. As of December 31, 2025, the Company owns73.3333% of
the total equity interest of SH Xianzhui.
AI Catalysis is a Nevada corporation, incorporated
on May 18, 2023. AI Catalysis is expected to bridge the realms of the internet, media, and artificial intelligence (AI)
technologies. Positioned at the crossroads of traditional and streaming media, AI Catalysis plans to elevate the experience of media with
AI-based interactive and smart content, aiming to transform the whole media landscape.
**Acquisition
of Pallas**
On
September 8, 2025, the Company (the Acquirer),Pallas Capital Holding Ltd, a British Virgin Islands company incorporated
on June 30, 2025 (Pallas or the Target), and the shareholders of the Target (each a Seller
and collectively, the Sellers) executed an agreement and plan of securities exchange (the Share Exchange Agreement,
and the transactions contemplated thereby, collectively, the Pallas Transaction), pursuant to which, the Sellers wish to
sell to the Acquirer, and the Acquirer wishes to purchase from the Sellers,100% interest in and to the ordinary shares of the Target
(the Target Shares). In exchange for the Target Shares, the Acquirer shall issue an aggregate of39,189,344shares
of the Companys common stock (the GDC Shares) to such Sellers. On September 29, 2025, the Sellers transferred to
Acquirer10,000shares of Target Shares, being all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of the Target, and received
in exchange certificates representing the39,189,344GDC Shares. Thereafter, Pallas became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company.
Pallas
was established for the primary purpose of holding digital assets as a long-term reserve, with the objective of achieving potential appreciation
in value. As of December 31, 2025, Pallas held7,500units of Bitcoin.
Two shareholders of the Company, who beneficially own12.86%,
in the aggregate, of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, immediately before the execution of the Pallas Transaction,
also serve as the directors and share voting and dispositive power over the shares issued by the Target. Accordingly, the Transaction
constitutes a related party transaction for the Company pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K.
F-9
| | |
Referring to Financial Accounting Standards Board
(FASB) ASC Topic 805-10-55-5, the Company applied two steps (including step 1, screen test and step 2, evaluation of process
and input) in evaluating whether the acquisition was an asset acquisition or a business combination. Pallas had no operations except for
holding Bitcoin as a reserve, and substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in its Bitcoin. Therefore,
the Company decided that Pallas cannot constitute a business and such Pallas Transaction should be accounted for as an asset acquisition.
The purchase consideration is measured based on the fair value of the Companys common stock issued and the consideration is further
allocated to the value of the asset acquired in the transaction. Given the related party nature of the Pallas Transaction and the fact
that the acquired digital assets are highly liquid and have observable market prices, which indicated that the fair value of the assets
acquired is far higher than the fair value of the common stock issued, management concluded that the such Pallas transaction indicated
a capital contribution from the shareholders. Accordingly, the excess of the fair value of the digital assets acquired over the fair value
of the common stock issued should be recorded as an increase in additional paid-in capital and the value of the assets acquired, which
was concurrently with the determination of the value of the assets acquired under asset acquisition.
**Subsidiaries
of the Company**
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect the activities of GDC and each of the following entities:
| Name | | Background | | Ownership | |
| Citi Profit BVI | | | A British Virgin Island company Incorporated in April 2019 | | 100% owned by the Company | |
| Highlight HK | | | A Hong Kong company | | 100% owned by Citi Profit BVI | |
| | | | Incorporated in November 2022 | | | |
| Highlight WFOE | | | A PRC limited liability company and deemed a wholly foreign owned enterprise (WFOE) | | 100% owned by Highlight HK | |
| | | | Incorporated in January 2023 | | | |
| AI Catalysis | | | A Nevada company | | 100% owned by the Company | |
| | | | Incorporated in May 2023 | | | |
| SH Xianzhui | | | A PRC limited liability company | | 73.3333% owned by Highlight WFOE | |
| | | | Incorporated in August 2023 | | | |
| Pallas | | | A British Virgin Islands company | | 100% owned by the Company | |
| | | | Incorporated in June 2025, acquired on September 29, 2025 | | | |
The Company has recently begun adjusting
its strategic direction and has been scaling back certain artificial intelligence-related initiatives while evaluating new opportunities
to utilize its existing artificial intelligence and virtual content generation technologies. As part of this strategic transition, the
Company is working on the development of a mobile and web platform for interactive fictionstory experiences where readers make
choices that branch the plot and lead to multiple endings.
**Liquidity
and Capital Resources**
As of December 31, 2025, the Company
had $456,041in its operating bank accounts and working capital deficit of approximately $0.3million. From January 2026 to
the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued, Mr. Xiaojian Wang, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company
(CEO), made advances of $340,000to the Company through, these advances are non-interest bearing and due on demand.
On January 23, 2025,
Green Oasis Limited, a shareholder holding less than5% ownership shares in the Company, provided a $100,000loan to the Company,
for working capital purposes, with maturity as of April 23, 2025. On April 25, 2025, Green Oasis Limited and the Company extended the
maturity date to July 23, 2025, which was further extended to July 23, 2026 through an amendment agreement.
On
March 4, 2025, the Company sold1,115,600shares of common stock at $0.896379per share, generating gross proceeds of
$1,000,000. The Company received net proceeds of $910,000after deducting underwriters fees of $70,000and a $20,000reimbursement
for the underwriters legal counsel and due diligence analysis expenses. The Company used the proceeds from the offering for working
capital purposes.
On
May 2, 2025, the Company completed a securities offering in which it agreed to sell (i)1,115,600shares of its common stock
at a purchase price of approximately $0.524per share and (ii)9,380,582pre-funded warrants at a purchase price of approximately
$0.523per warrant. As of December 31, 2025, the Company received gross proceeds of approximately $4.5 millionfrom the subscription of1,115,600shares
of its common stock and7,468,536pre-funded warrants.
The offering remains ongoing and has not yet been fully completed. Transaction costs incurred through December 31, 2025 included underwriters
fees of $314,343and a $20,000reimbursement for the underwriters legal counsel and due diligence expenses. As
of December 31, 2025, The Company used the proceeds from the offering for working capital purposes.
F-10
| | |
On
October 24, 2025, the Company sold1,333,334shares of common stock at $2.1per share, generating gross proceeds of $2.8million.
The Company received net proceeds of approximately $2.5million after deducting underwriters fees of $196,000and other
offering costs of $60,000. The Company used the proceeds from the offering for working capital purposes.
In March 2026, the CEO executed a Letter of Support
in which he agreed to provide continuing financial support to the Company for a period of at least 12 months from the issuance date of
the Companys consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025.
The
Company expects to continue incurring significant operating cash outflows to support its operations. Additional financing may be required
to sustain the business. Management will make its best efforts to secure the necessary funding to support the Companys operations.
The
Company evaluated its ability to continue as a going concern in accordance with ASC Subtopic 205-40, Presentation of Financial StatementsGoing
Concern, which requires management to assess whether there is substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going
concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued. The management assessed its liquidity position and concluded
that the Company will have sufficient liquidity to meet its obligations as they become due for at least the next twelve months from the
date the consolidated financial statements are issued.
**Note
2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies**
**Basis
of Presentation**
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America (U.S. GAAP) for information pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission
(SEC).
**Principles
of Consolidation**
The
consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of GDC and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions
and balances are eliminated upon consolidation.
**Use
of Estimates and Assumptions**
The
preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated
financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Significant accounting estimates
reflected in the Companys consolidated financial statements include the useful lives of intangible assets and equipment, impairment
of long-lived assets, collectability of receivables, discount rate used to measure present value of lease liabilities and valuation allowance
for deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
**Foreign
Currency Translation and Transactions**
The
reporting currency of the Company is the U.S. dollar. The PRC subsidiaries of the Company conduct their businesses in the local currency,
Renminbi (RMB), as its functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at the unified exchange rate as quoted set forth in
the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board at the end of the period. The statements of operations accounts are translated
at the average translation rates and the equity accounts are translated at historical rates. Translation adjustments resulting from this
process are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations
on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred.
Translation adjustments included in accumulated other comprehensive
income amounted to $213,626and $213,571as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. The consolidated balance sheets amount,
with the exception of shareholders equity at December 31, 2025 and 2024 were translated at6.9931RMB and7.2993RMB
to $1.00, respectively. The shareholders equity accounts were stated at their historical rate. The average translation rates applied
to consolidated statements of operations accounts for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 were7.1873RMB and7.1964RMBto
$1.00, respectively. The consolidated statements of cash flows are also translated at average translation rates for the periods, therefore,
amounts reported on the consolidated statements of cash flows will not necessarily agree with changes in the corresponding balances on
the consolidated balance sheets.
The
PRC government imposes significant exchange restrictions on fund transfers out of the PRC that are not related to business operations.
These restrictions have not had a material impact on the Company because it has not engaged in any significant transactions that are
subject to the restrictions.
F-11
| | |
**Cash
and Cash Equivalents**
****
As
of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company did not have any cash equivalents. All cash were unrestricted as to withdrawal and use and
were demand deposits placed with commercial banks.
**Prepayments**
****
Prepayments are advances paid to outside vendors
for services purchases. The Company has legally binding contracts with its vendors. Once the services are received, the amounts are recognized
as expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
**Credit Losses and Write-off Policy**
The Company evaluates financial assets, including
loan receivable and convertible notes for credit losses in accordance with applicable accounting guidance.
Loan receivable is assessed for credit loss
in accordance with *ASC 326, Financial Instruments Credit Losses (ASC 326)*. The Company evaluates expected credit losses based
on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. If it is determined that all or a portion of
the loan receivable is uncollectible, the Company records an allowance for credit losses through provision in the consolidated
statements of operations.
The Company accounted for credit losses on available-for-sale
(AFS) debt securities in accordance with *ASC 326-30, Financial InstrumentsCredit Losses*. Under ASC 326-30,
the Company evaluates AFS debt securities at each reporting date to determine whether a decline in fair value below amortized cost is
attributable to credit-related factors or non-credit factors. If a credit-related impairment is identified, the Company records an allowance
for credit losses through earnings, limited to the difference between amortized cost and fair value. Non-credit related declines remain
in accumulated other comprehensive income. If credit quality improves, previously recognized credit losses are reversed through earnings,
up to the amount of prior allowance. The Company assesses credit risk based on issuer financial health, market conditions, and macroeconomic
factors.
Financial assets are written off when management
determines that such amounts are uncollectible. Write-offs are recorded against the related allowance for credit losses. Write-offs of
financial assets that were previously fully reserved do not result in additional credit loss expense in the period of write-off.
For the years ended December
31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded provision of credit loss expenses of $nil and $3,150,000, respectively, in relation to its financial
assets. During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company wrote off the remaining balances of the loan receivable and convertible notes,
which had been previously fully reserved.
**Equipment**
****
Equipment
was stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method after consideration of the
estimated useful lives of the assets and estimated residual value.The estimated useful lives and residual value are as follows:
| | | Useful Life | | Estimated Residual Value | | |
| Office equipment and furniture | | 5years | | | 5 | % | |
The
cost and related accumulated depreciation of assets sold or otherwise retired are eliminated from the accounts and any gain or loss is
included in the consolidated statements of operations. Expenditure for maintenance and repairs are charged to earnings as incurred, while
additions, renewals and betterments, which are expected to extend the useful life of assets, are capitalized. The Company also re-evaluates
the periods of depreciation to determine whether subsequent events and circumstances warrant revised estimates of useful lives.
**Intangible
Assets**
Intangible
assets represent software copyright that are stated at cost, less accumulated amortization. Research and development costs associated
with internally developed patents are expensed when incurred. Amortization expense is recognized on the straight-line basis over the
estimated useful lives of the assets. The software copyrights have finite useful lives and are amortized using a straight-line method
that reflects the estimated pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible asset are to be consumed. The Company amortizes
the cost of software copyrights, over their useful life using the straight-line method. The Company also re-evaluates the periods of
amortization to determine whether subsequent events and circumstances revised estimates of useful lives.The estimated useful life
is as follows:
| | | Useful Life | |
| Software copyrights | | 5years | |
F-12
| | |
**Lease**
****
The
Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Leases that transfer substantially all of the benefits and risks incidental
to the ownership of assets are accounted for as finance leases as if there was an acquisition of an asset and incurrence of an obligation
at the inception of the lease. All other leases are accounted for as operating leases. The Company has no significant finance leases.
The
Company recognizes lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets on the balance sheet for leases. Operating lease right- of-use
assets (the ROU) are disclosed as non-current assets in the Companys consolidated balance sheets. Current maturities
of operating lease liabilities are classified as operating lease liabilities - current, and operating lease liabilities that will be
due in more than one year are disclosed as non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Operating lease right-of-use assets
and operating lease liabilities are initially recognized based on the present value of future lease payments at lease commencement. The
operating lease right-of-use asset also includes any lease payments made prior to lease commencement and the initial direct costs incurred
by the lessee and is recorded net of any lease incentives received. As the interest rates implicit in most of the leases are not readily
determinable, the Company uses the incremental borrowing rates based on the information available at lease commencement to determine
the present value of the future lease payments. Operating lease expenses are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the
lease.
The Companys lease has an initial term
of5.4years. The Companys lease agreements did not include non-lease components. Lease expense for fixed lease payments
is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Companys lease agreements do not contain any significant residual
value guarantees or restricted covenants.
The
Company evaluates the carrying value of ROU assets if there are indicators of impairment and reviews the recoverability of the related
asset group.
The
Company reassesses of a contract is or contains a leasing arrangement and re-measures ROU assets and lease liabilities upon modification
of the contract. The Company will derecognize ROU assets and lease liabilities, with differences recognized in the income statement on
the contract termination.
The Company evaluated the subleased office spaces in accordance with
the provisions of ASC Topic 842, Leases (ASC 842). Since the Company has not been relieved as the primary obligor of the
head lease, the Company cannot net the sublease income against its lease payment to calculate the lease liability and right-of-use (ROU)
asset. The Company records sub-lease income over the term of the subleases on a straight-line basis. The sublease income amounted to $32,609
and $nil for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, which was presented as other income on the accompanying consolidated
statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
**Impairment
for Long-lived Assets**
****
The Companys determination of whether or not an indication
of impairment exists at the cash generating unit level requires significant management judgment pertaining to intangible assets, including
a software copyright of AI Box, which is used for online living-stream and a software copyright of Chat Box, which is used for online
interactive entertainment scenarios, as well as the operating right-of-use (ROU) assets, including the offices
of the Company. Management considers both external and internal sources of information in assessing whether there are any indications
that the Companys intangible assets and ROU assets are impaired. Based on the evaluation, the Company recognized impairment losses
in long-lived assets of $852,800 and $2,755,659, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.
**Digital
Assets**
The Company holds digital assets primarily for
investment and treasury purposes rather than for use in the ordinary course of business. In accordance with*ASU 2023-08, IntangiblesGoodwill
and OtherCrypto Assets*, digital assets are accounted for as intangible assets measured at fair value, with changes in fair
value recognized immediately in earnings. Digital assets are initially recorded at cost, including acquisition-related fees (see Note
1). Subsequent to initial recognition, digital assets are measured at fair value at each reporting date, and unrealized gains and losses
are included in the statement of operations. Upon disposal, the difference between proceeds and carrying amount is recognized as a gain
or loss in earnings. The Company discloses the number of units held, cost basis, fair value, and any significant restrictions on the ability
to sell or transfer digital assets in the Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.
F-13
| | |
**Assets
Acquisition**
The
Company evaluates each transaction to determine whether it should be accounted for as a business combination or an asset acquisition
in accordance with*ASC 805, Business Combinations*. A transaction is accounted for as an asset acquisition when substantially
all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable
assets, and the acquired set does not include a substantive process capable of producing outputs.
In
assessing whether substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset, the
Company considers the nature of the assets, their risks and characteristics, and whether they represent a group of similar assets as
defined under ASC 805-10-55-5A through 55-5C.
For
transactions accounted for as asset acquisitions, the purchase consideration is measured based on the fair value of the consideration
transferred, which generally consists of the fair value of equity securities or other assets issued. The acquired assets and assumed
liabilities are recognized based on their relative fair values, and no goodwill is recognized.
**Fair
Value Measurement**
****
The
accounting standard regarding fair value of financial instruments and related fair value measurements defines financial instruments and
requires disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments held by the Company. The Company considers the carrying amount of cash,
other receivables, other payables and accrued liabilities to approximate their fair values because of their short-term nature.
The
accounting standards define fair value, establish a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosures of fair value measurement and enhance
disclosure requirements for fair value measures. The three levels are defined as follow:
| 
| Level
1 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets. | 
|
| 
| Level
2 inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are
observable for the assets or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instruments. | 
|
| 
| Level
3 inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value. | 
|
As
of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the carrying values of cash, other receivables and other payables approximate their fair values due to
the short-term nature of the instruments.
**Selling
and Marketing Expenses**
Selling
and marketing expenses mainly consist of marketing related expenses.
**General
and Administrative Expenses**
General and administrative expenses mainly consist
of (i) staff cost, rental and depreciation related to general and administrative personnel, (ii) professional expenses, and (iii) conference
expenses in relation to a developer conference.
**Research
and Development Expenses**
Research
and development expenses mainly consist of outsourced research and development expenses. Research and development expenses are expensed
as incurred.
****
**Income
Taxes**
****
The
Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The charge for taxation is based on the results for the fiscal year as
adjusted for items, which are non-assessable or disallowed. It is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively
enacted by the balance sheet date.
F-14
| | |
Deferred
taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method in respect of temporary differences arising from differences between the
carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and the corresponding tax basis used in the computation
of assessable tax profit. In principle, deferred tax liabilities are recognized for all taxable temporary differences. Deferred tax assets
are recognized to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which deductible temporary differences
can be utilized. Deferred tax is calculated using tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realized or the
liability is settled. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it is related to items credited or charged
directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance
when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the laws of the relevant taxing authorities.
An
uncertain tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is more likely than not that the tax position would be sustained
in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur.The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit
that is greater than50% likely of being realized on examination.For tax positions not meeting the more likely than
not test, no tax benefit is recorded. Penalties and interest incurred related to underpayment of income tax are classified as
income tax expense in the period incurred. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company recorded $90,000of penalty related
to the late filing of tax returns. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recorded $93,446 penalty and $2,053 interest for
failed filing the tax return timely.
**Interest**
****
Interest
income is mainly generated from bank deposits and other interest earning financial assets and is recognized on an accrual basis using
the effective interest method.
**Net
Income (Loss) per Share**
****
Basic
income (loss) per share is computed by dividing income (loss) available to common shareholders of the Company by the weighted average
common stocks outstanding during the period. Diluted income (loss) per share takes into account the potential dilution that could occur
if securities or other contracts to issue common stocks were exercised and converted into common stocks.
In
May 2023, November 2023 and May 2025, the Company issued and sold pre-funded warrants that are exercisable for shares of common stock
at a nominal exercise price. In accordance with ASC 260, these prefunded warrants are considered to be common stock equivalents and are
included in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share when the inclusion is dilutive. As the exercise price of the prefunded
warrants is nominal and substantially all conditions necessary to exercise the warrants have been met, the prefunded warrants are included
in the weighted average shares outstanding for both basic and diluted income (loss) per share. As of December 31, 2025,7,468,536pre-funded
warrants as described were outstanding.
For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024,1,260,665and2,312,006of
outstanding warrants (excluding the Pre-funded Warrants and Exchange Warrants) which are equivalent to convertible of1,059,277and2,110,618common
stocks, respectively, were excluded from the diluted income (loss) per share calculation due to their antidilutive effect.
**Comprehensive
Income (Loss)**
****
Comprehensive
income (loss) is defined as the changes in equity of the Company during a year from transactions and other events and circumstances excluding
transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Accumulated other comprehensive income of the Company
includes the foreign currency translation adjustments and unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale investments.
F-15
| | |
**Recently
Accounting Pronouncements**
In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards
Update (ASU) 2023-09,*Income Taxes*(Topic 740):*Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures*(ASU
2023-09), which requires disclosure of incremental income tax information within the rate reconciliation and expanded disclosures of income
taxes paid, among other disclosure requirements. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption
is permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2023-09 on a prospective basis for the 2025 annual reporting period. Refer to Note 10 - Taxes for
further detail.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03,*Income
Statement Reporting Comprehensive Income Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income
Statement Expenses* (ASU 2024-03) which requires detailed disclosures in the notes to financial statements disaggregating
specific expense categories and certain other disclosures to provide enhanced transparency into the nature and function of expenses. The
FASB further clarified the effective date in January 2025 with the issuance of ASU 2025-01, *Income Statement Reporting Comprehensive
Income Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Clarifying the Effective Date*(ASU 2025-01). ASU
2024-03 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within annual reporting periods beginning
after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The requirements should be applied on a prospective basis while retrospective
application is permitted. The Company does not expect to adopt this guidance early and does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have
a material impact on its future consolidated financial statements.
In March 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-05, Credit
Losses (Topic 326): *Simplifications to the Accounting for Short-Term Receivables and Contract Assets*. The update introduces practical
expedients that allow entities to simplify the estimation of expected credit losses for accounts receivable and contract assets by permitting
certain assumptions regarding current conditions and expectations of future economic conditions. The amendments are intended to reduce
the complexity and cost of applying the current expected credit loss model for short-term financial assets. The amendments in this update
are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption
is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements. The Company
does not currently expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
The
Company does not believe other recently issued but not yet effective accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material
effect on the Companys consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and
consolidated statements of cash flows.
**Note
3 Fair Value of Financial Instruments**
****
ASC
820, Fair Value Measurements states that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset
or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement
that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. The three-tiered
fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes which inputs should be used in measuring fair value, is comprised of: (Level I) observable inputs
such as quoted prices in active markets; (Level II) inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly
or indirectly and (Level III) unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data. The fair value hierarchy requires the
use of observable market data when available in determining fair value.The Companys assets and liabilities that were measured
at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows (in millions):
| 
| | 
December 31, 2025 | | | 
December 31, 2024 | | |
| 
| | 
Fair Value | | | 
Level I | | | 
Level II | | | 
Level III | | | 
Fair Value | | | 
Level I | | | 
Level II | | | 
Level III | | |
| 
Digitalassets(1) | | 
$ | 663 | | | 
$ | 663 | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | |
| 
Total | | 
$ | 663 | | | 
$ | 663 | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | | 
$ | | | |
As of December 31, 2025, the Companys digital
assets were comprised of7,500units of Bitcoin, at cost of $842million. These Bitcoins were originally held by Pallas
and continued to be held following the Companys acquisition of Pallas. In accordance with*ASU 2023-08, IntangiblesGoodwill
and OtherCrypto Assets*, the Company accounts for its crypto assets as indefinite-lived intangible assets measured at fair value,
with changes in fair value recognized in net income in each reporting period.
The
fair value of Bitcoin is determined based on quoted prices in active markets. The Company does not apply amortization to digital assets.
Gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value are presented within Other income in the consolidated statements
of operations.
As
of December 31, 2025, the fair value of the Companys Bitcoin holdings was $662,996,878. For the year ended December 31, 2025,
the Company recognized a net loss of $178,507,882 in the consolidated statements of operations related to changes in the fair value
of its Bitcoin holdings. There was no disposal of digital assets during the year ended December 31, 2025.
****
F-16
| | |
****
**Note
4 Prepayments**
****
Prepayments consisted of the following
as of December 31, 2025 and 2024:
| 
| | 
December 31,
2025 | | | 
December31, 2024 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Prepayments of operating lease | | 
$ | 45,325 | | | 
$ | - | | |
| 
Prepaid research and development fee* | | 
| 195,000 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Prepaid car rental | | 
| 75,648 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Other prepayments | | 
| 15,615 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Total prepayments | | 
$ | 331,588 | | | 
$ | - | | |
****
| | * | On July 8, 2025, the Company executed an agreement with a contractor for service activities related to the Interactive Reading Platform, pursuant to which, the Company agreed to pay the contractor $101,000 each month, starting from July 9, 2025, until the completion of the project or termination of this agreement. The contractor shall design, develop, and deliver an interactive reading platform. | |
****
**Note
5 Equipment, net**
****
Equipment, net consisted of the following
as of December 31, 2025 and 2024:
| 
| | 
December
31, 2025 | | | 
December31, 2024 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Office equipment and furniture | | 
$ | 14,190 | | | 
$ | 14,190 | | |
| 
Subtotal | | 
| 14,190 | | | 
| 14,190 | | |
| 
Less: accumulated depreciation | | 
| (10,713 | ) | | 
| (6,409 | ) | |
| 
Total | | 
$ | 3,477 | | | 
$ | 7,781 | | |
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024
amounted to $4,304and $4,730, respectively.
**Note
6 Intangible Assets, net**
****
Intangible assets consisted of the following as
of December 31, 2025 and 2024:
| 
| | 
December 31, 
2025 | | | 
December31, 2024 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Software | | 
$ | 4,890,092 | | | 
$ | 3,642,092 | | |
| 
Add: purchase of software* | | 
| 5,988,523 | | | 
| 1,248,000 | | |
| 
Subtotal | | 
| 10,878,615 | | | 
| 4,890,092 | | |
| 
Less: accumulated amortization | | 
| (2,184,403 | ) | | 
| (1,036,518 | ) | |
| 
Accumulated impairment | | 
| (3,603,974 | ) | | 
| (2,751,174 | ) | |
| 
Total | | 
$ | 5,090,238 | | | 
$ | 1,102,400 | | |
| 
* | On
April 28, 2025, the Company purchased one software- Chat Box, by issuance of2,444,295shares of the Companys common
stock. Chat Box is an immersive chatbot platform centered on Al technology, specifically designed for otaku enthusiasts and interactive
entertainment scenarios. | 
|
F-17
| | |
Amortization expenses for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024
were $1,147,885and $692,755, respectively.
As of December 31, 2025, the net book value of software copyrights
was $5,090,238, after deducting accumulated amortization of $2,184,403 and accumulated impairment of $3,603,974.Due to limited potential
economic benefits for varying reasons, the Company recognized impairment losses of $852,800 and $2,755,659, respectively,for the
years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, to the software copyrights.
Future
amortization of intangible assets are as follows:
| 
| | 
Amortization | | |
| 
FY2026 | | 
| 1,197,708 | | |
| 
FY2027 | | 
| 1,197,708 | | |
| 
FY2028 | | 
| 1,197,708 | | |
| 
FY2029 | | 
| 1,197,708 | | |
| 
FY2030 | | 
| 299,406 | | |
| 
Total future amortization of intangible assets | | 
$ | 5,090,238 | | |
**Note
7 Other Payables and Accrued Liabilities**
****
Other
payables and accrued liabilities consisted of the following as of December 31, 2025 and 2024:
| 
| | 
December31, | | | 
December31, | | |
| 
| | 
2025 | | | 
2024 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Professional service fee | | 
$ | 345,570 | | | 
$ | 375,085 | | |
| 
Payroll | | 
| 57,226 | | | 
| 26,558 | | |
| 
Advance from an investor (1) | | 
| 4,771 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Amounts due to shareholder (2) | | 
| 100,000 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Others | | 
| 178 | | | 
| 178 | | |
| 
Total | | 
$ | 507,745 | | | 
$ | 401,821 | | |
| 
(1) | Includes
advance from one of the warrant shareholders for the exercise of prefunded warrants. | 
|
| 
(2) | On January 23, 2025, Green Oasis Limited, which at the time held less than5% ownership shares in the Company, provided a $100,000loan to the Company, for working capital purposes, with maturity as of April 23, 2025. On April 25, 2025, Green Oasis Limited and the Company extended the maturity date to July 23, 2025, which was further extended to July 23, 2026 through an amendment agreement. | 
|
F-18
| | |
****
**Note
8 Related Party Balances and Transactions**
****
*Other
payables related parties:*
| Name of related party | | Relationship | | Nature | | December31, 2025 | | | December31, 2024 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Xiaojian Wang | | Chief Executive Officer | | Accrued compensations | | $ | 100,000 | | | $ | 50,000 | | |
| Xiaojian Wang | | Chief Executive Officer | | Interest-free loans to the Company* | | | - | | | | 349,485 | | |
| Xiaojian Wang | | Chief Executive Officer | | Invoices paid on behalf of the Company | | | 2,150 | | | | 50,000 | | |
| Zihao Zhao | | Chief Finance Officer | | Accrued compensations | | | 60,833 | | | | 50,833 | | |
| Zihao Zhao | | Chief Finance Officer | | Reimbursement | | | 2,033 | | | | 1,948 | | |
| Total | | | | | | $ | 165,016 | | | $ | 502,266 | | |
| 
* | From September 2024 to March 2025, Mr. Xiaojian Wang, the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company (CEO), lent $399,485 to the Company through six loan agreements, for working capital purposes. Pursuant
to the loan agreements, these loans are non-interest bearing and are due from September 2025 to January 2026, respectively. From March
2025 to May 2025, the Company repaid $399,485 in full to the CEO. | 
|
*Related
Party Transaction*
As disclosed in Note 1, the Company purchased100% equity interest
of Pallas from the Sellers, on September 29, 2025. Two shareholders of the Company, who beneficially own 12.86%, in the aggregate,
of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company, immediately before the execution of the Transaction, also serve as the directors
and share voting and dispositive power over the shares issued by the Target. Accordingly, the Pallas Transaction constitutes a related
party transaction for the Company pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K.
As
of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the balance of other payables - related parties were $165,016and $502,266, respectively, mainly
consisted of accrued compensation of the Companys officers, interest - free loans received from the Companys officers and
operating related fees paid by the Companys officer on behalf of the Company. As of December 31, 2025, the interest-free loans
received from the Companys officers were fully repaid.
For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company recorded
compensation expenses to its officers amounted to $127,036and$80,000, respectively, for their services provided to the Company.
**Note
9 Leases**
****
Leases
are classified as operating leases or finance leases in accordance with ASC 842*Leases*. The Companys operating leases
mainly related to the rights to use building and office facilities.For leases with terms greater than 12 months, the Company records
the related asset and liability at the present value of lease payments over the term.Certain leases include rental escalation clauses,
renewal options and/or termination options, which are factored into the Companys determination of lease payments when appropriate.
| | | December31, 2025 | | | December31, 2024 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Weighted average remaining lease term: | | | | | | | |
| Operating lease | | | 3.08years | | | | 3.63years | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Weighted average discount rate: | | | | | | | | | |
| Operating lease | | | 7.54 | % | | | 7.53 | % | |
F-19
| | |
****
The
balances for the operating leases where the Company is the lessee are presented as follows within the consolidated balance sheets:
| 
| | 
December31, 
2025 | | | 
December31, 2024 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Operating lease | | 
$ | 987,988 | | | 
$ | 1,342,333 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Lease liabilities | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Current portion of operating lease liabilities | | 
| 353,648 | | | 
| 427,984 | | |
| 
Non-current portion of operating lease liabilities | | 
| 781,216 | | | 
| 1,104,552 | | |
| 
| | 
$ | 1,134,864 | | | 
$ | 1,532,536 | | |
Future
lease payments under operating leases as of December 31, 2025 were as follows:
| 
| | 
Operating Leases | | |
| 
FY2026 | | 
| 423,573 | | |
| 
FY2027 | | 
| 401,127 | | |
| 
FY2028 | | 
| 409,149 | | |
| 
FY2029 | | 
| 34,605 | | |
| 
Total lease payments | | 
$ | 1,268,454 | | |
| 
Less: imputed interest | | 
| 133,590 | | |
| 
Present value of lease liabilities(1) | | 
$ | 1,134,864 | | |
| | (1) | As of December 31, 2025, present value of future operating lease payments consisted of current portion of operating lease liabilities and non-current portion of operating lease liabilities, amounting to $353,648and $781,216, respectively. | |
Lease expense for all the Companys operating leases for the
years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 were $433,089and $512,937, respectively. Lease payments for all the Companys operating
leases for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 were $528,437and $404,440, respectively.
For
the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company incurred $481,549 short-term lease expenses and the short-term lease payments were $624,011.
The Company did not incur any short-term lease expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Effective from December 1, 2025, the Company
subleased partial of the lease office space to a third party for the remaining of the head lease term. Since the Company has not been
relieved as the primary obligor of the head lease, the Company cannot net the sublease income against its lease payment to calculate
the lease liability and right-of-use (ROU) asset. The Company records sub-lease income over the term of the subleases on
a straight-line basis.
Future sublease income under operating leases
as of December 31, 2025 were as follows:
| 
| | 
Operating Leases | | |
| 
FY2026 | | 
| 425,218 | | |
| 
FY2027 | | 
| 400,461 | | |
| 
FY2028 | | 
| 408,471 | | |
| 
FY2029 | | 
| 69,209 | | |
| 
Total sublease receivable | | 
$ | 1,303,359 | | |
| 
Less: imputed interest | | 
| 147,481 | | |
| 
Present value of sublease income | | 
$ | 1,155,878 | | |
For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024,
the Company recorded sublease income of $32,609 and $nil respectively, as other income on the accompanying consolidated statements of
operations and comprehensive loss.
F-20
| | |
**Note
10 Taxes**
****
**Income
Tax**
****
*United
States*
**
GDC and AIC are corporations organized in the
state of Nevada and operated primarily in the state of New York. In December 2025, GDC and AIC moved their office to New Jersey. As a
result, they are subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax as well as state and local income taxes in New York and New Jersey.
For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, the applicable
statutory tax rates were as follows:
| 
| Federal
corporate income tax rate:21%; | 
|
| 
| New
York State corporate income tax rate:6.5%; | 
|
| 
| New
York City business corporation tax rate:8.85%; | 
|
| 
| Metropolitan
Transportation Business Tax Surcharge (MTA Tax):30% of the New York State corporate franchise tax liability; | 
|
| 
| New
Jersey State corporate income tax rate:9%; | 
|
The
Companys effective tax rate may differ from the statutory rates due to various factors, including non-deductible expenses, tax
credits, valuation allowances, and the impact of state and local taxes. Additionally, the Company evaluates uncertain tax positions in
accordance with ASC 740, recognizing tax benefits only if it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination.
*British
Virgin Islands*
Citi
Profit BVI and Pallas are incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and are not subject to tax on income or capital gains under current
British Virgin Islands law. In addition, upon payments of dividends by these entities to their shareholders, no British Virgin Islands
withholding tax will be imposed.
*Hong
Kong*
**
Highlight
HK is incorporated in Hong Kong and are subject to Hong Kong Profits Tax on the taxable income as reported in its statutory financial
statements adjusted in accordance with relevant Hong Kong tax laws. Highlight HK is subject to Hong Kong profit tax at a rate of8.25%
for assessable profits on the first HK$2million and16.5% for any assessable profits in excess of HK$2million for years
ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. The Company did not make any provisions for Hong Kong profit tax as there were no assessable profits
derived from or earned in Hong Kong since inception.
*PRC*
**
Highlight
WFOE and SH Xianzhui are governed by the income tax laws of the PRC and the income tax provision in respect to operations in the PRC
is calculated at the applicable tax rates on the taxable income for the periods based on existing legislation, interpretations and practices
in respect thereof. Under the Enterprise Income Tax Laws of the PRC (the EIT Laws), qualified small and micro enterprises
with annual taxable income not exceeding RMB3million are eligible for a preferential corporate income tax rate of5%
until December 31, 2027. This preferential rate is applied in accordance with relevant Chinese tax laws and regulations, and may be adjusted
by the authorities from time to time.
*Pretax Loss from Operations*
The components of pretax loss from operations
are as follows:
| 
| | 
Year Ended December31, | | 
|
| 
| | 
2025 | | 
|
| 
Domestic | | 
$ | (186,931,598 | ) | 
|
| 
Foreign | | 
| (102 | ) | 
|
| 
Loss before income taxes | | 
$ | (186,931,700 | ) | 
|
F-21
| | |
*Provision
(Benefit) for Income Taxes*
The
current and deferred components of income tax expenses from operations appearing in the consolidated statements of operations
are as follows:
| 
| | 
For the year ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2025 | | | 
2024 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Current tax expenses | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Federal | | 
$ | (90,000 | ) | | 
$ | (90,000 | ) | |
| 
State | | 
| 12,054 | | | 
| (51,810 | ) | |
| 
Total current tax expenses | | 
$ | (77,946 | ) | | 
$ | (141,810 | ) | |
| 
Deferred tax benefits | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Federal | | 
$ | 132,923 | | | 
$ | 173,911 | | |
| 
State | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Total deferred tax benefits | | 
$ | 132,923 | | | 
$ | 173,911 | | |
| 
Total benefits from income taxes | | 
$ | 54,977 | | | 
| 32,101 | | |
The Company adopted ASU 2023-09 for the annual period ending December
31, 2025, and elected to apply the amendments on a prospective basis. The following table presents the required disclosure pursuant to
ASU 2023-09 and is a reconciliation of the Company's income tax expense at the statutory federal tax rate to the Company's effective tax
rate for the year ended December 31, 2025:
| 
| | 
For the year ended
December 31, 2025 | 
| |
| 
U.S. federal statutory tax rate | | 
$ | (39,255,657 | ) | | 
| 21.00 | 
% | |
| 
State income taxes, net of federal effect (*) | | 
| (16,151,984 | ) | | 
| 8.64 | 
% | |
| 
Foreign Tax Effects: | | 
| | | | 
| | 
| |
| 
Peoples Republic of China: | | 
| | | | 
| | 
| |
| 
Foreign tax rate differential | | 
| 21 | | | 
| (0.00 | 
)% | |
| 
Change in federal valuation allowance | | 
| 1,885,325 | | | 
| (1.01 | 
)% | |
| 
Impairment and credit loss | | 
| - | | | 
| - | 
% | |
| 
Impairment loss on intangible assets | | 
| 255,840 | | | 
| (0.14 | 
)% | |
| 
Unrealized loss on digital assets | | 
| 53,552,364 | | | 
| (28.64 | 
)% | |
| 
Other | | 
| (340,886 | ) | | 
| 0.18 | 
% | |
| 
Effective Tax Rate | | 
$ | (54,977 | ) | | 
| 0.03 | 
% | |
| * | For the year ended December 31, 2025, state and local income tax in New Jersey comprised the majority of the state and local income
taxes, net of federal effect category. | |
**
The following table presents a reconciliation
of the Company's income tax expense at the statutory federal tax rate to the Company's effective tax rate for the year ended December
31, 2024:
| 
| | 
December31, 2024 | | |
| 
Statutory tax rate | | 
| | | |
| 
Federal | | 
| 21.00 | % | |
| 
State (net of federal effect) * | | 
| 12.56 | % | |
| 
Foreign tax | | 
| (1.21 | )% | |
| 
Provision of credit loss | | 
| (7.72 | )% | |
| 
Impairment loss on intangible assets | | 
| (5.97 | )% | |
| 
Change in valuation allowance | | 
| (19.05 | )% | |
| 
Others | | 
| 0.16 | % | |
| 
Effective tax rate | | 
| (0.23 | )% | |
| * | For the year ended December 31, 2024, state and local income taxes in New York and New York City comprise the majority of state and
local income taxes, net of federal effect category. | |
As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, income tax payable
to US tax authorities was $187,995and $141,810, respectively. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024,noincome tax was payable
to Chinese tax authorities.
F-22
| | |
For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company recorded $90,000
of penalty related to failed filing of tax returns.
*Income Taxes Paid*
The following table presents cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds
received, by jurisdiction during the year endedDecember31, 2025:
| 
| | 
December31, | | 
|
| 
| | 
2025 | | 
|
| 
Federal | | 
$ | - | | 
|
| 
State | | 
| | | 
|
| 
New York | | 
| 19,660 | | 
|
| 
New York City | | 
| 8,101 | | 
|
| 
New Jersey | | 
| 4,000 | | 
|
| 
Total cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds | | 
$ | 31,761 | | 
|
*Deferred
Tax Assets and Liabilities*
**
Deferred
income taxes reflect the net tax effects of loss and credit carryforwards and temporary differences between the carrying amounts of
assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The principal
components of the Companys deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 were as follows:
| 
| | 
December31, | | | 
December31, | | |
| 
| | 
2025 | | | 
2024 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Deferred tax assets | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Net operating losses carried forward | | 
$ | 7,875,558 | | | 
$ | 6,105,138 | | |
| 
Capitalized R&D | | 
| 478,350 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Reserves and Accruals | | 
| 17,168 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Provision of credit loss on note receivable and loan receivable | | 
| 945,000 | | | 
| 1,092,011 | | |
| 
Impairment loss of intangible assets | | 
| 987,090 | | | 
| 845,008 | | |
| 
Lease liability | | 
| 340,460 | | | 
| 605,169 | | |
| 
Unrealized loss on digital assets | | 
| 53,552,364 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Amortization of intangibles | | 
| 342,027 | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Total deferred tax assets | | 
$ | 64,538,017 | | | 
$ | 8,647,326 | | |
| 
Less: Valuation allowance | | 
| (64,261,937 | ) | | 
| (8,020,571 | ) | |
| 
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance | | 
$ | 276,080 | | | 
$ | 626,755 | | |
| 
Deferred tax liabilities | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Right - of - use assets | | 
$ | (296,397 | ) | | 
$ | (465,347 | ) | |
| 
Fixed assets | | 
| (671 | ) | | 
| - | | |
| 
Amortization of intangible assets | | 
| - | | | 
| (315,319 | ) | |
| 
Total deferred tax liabilities | | 
$ | (297,068 | ) | | 
$ | (780,666 | ) | |
| 
Total deferred tax liabilities, net | | 
$ | (20,988 | ) | | 
$ | (153,911 | ) | |
As
of December 31, 2025, the Group had tax losses carry forwards of approximately $5.3million from the entity in the PRC. The tax
loss in the PRC can be carried forward for fiveyears to offset future taxable profit and which will expire between 2028 and 2030
if not utilized. As of December 31, 2025, the Group had tax losses carry forwards of approximately $23.5million from the entities
in the U.S.The tax loss in the U.S. can be carried forward indefinitely.
The Company is subject to U.S. federal income
tax as well as state income tax in certain jurisdictions. The taxyears2023to2025remain open to examination
by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject.
Management
believes that the realization of the benefits from these losses appears uncertain due to the Companys operating history and continued
losses in the United States. Accordingly, the Company has provided a100% valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset to reduce
the asset to zero. Management reviews this valuation allowance periodically and makes changes accordingly.
F-23
| | |
**Note
11 Concentration of Credit Risk**
****
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash deposits.
****
Accounts
at each institution are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250,000. At December 31, 2025
and 2024, the Company didnothave any cash excess of the FDIC insured limit. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, $3,305and
$3,267were deposited with a financial institution located in the PRC, respectively. While management believes that these financial
institutions are of high credit quality, it also continually monitors their credit worthiness.
**Note
12 Equity**
**Statutory
Reserves and Restricted Net Assets**
In
accordance with the PRC Regulations on Enterprises with Foreign Investment, an enterprise established in the PRC with foreign investment
is required to make appropriations to certain statutory reserves, namely a general reserve fund, an enterprise expansion fund, a staff
welfare fund and a bonus fund, all of which are appropriated from net profit as reported in its PRC statutory accounts. A foreign invested
enterprise is required to allocate at least10% of its annual after-tax profits to a general reserve fund until such fund has reached50%
of its respective registered capital. Appropriations to the enterprise expansion fund and staff welfare and bonus funds are at the discretion
of the board of directors for the foreign invested enterprises. For other subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC, the general reserve fund
was appropriated based on10% of net profits as reported in each subsidiarys PRC statutory accounts. General reserve and
statutory surplus funds are restricted to set-off against losses, expansion of production and operation and increasing registered capital
of the respective company. Staff welfare and bonus fund and statutory public welfare funds are restricted to capital expenditures for
the collective welfare of employees. The reserves are not allowed to be transferred to the Company in terms of cash dividends, loans
or advances, nor are they allowed for distribution except under liquidation. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, there was no balance of
the PRC statutory reserve funds.
In
addition, under PRC laws and regulations, the Companys PRC subsidiaries are restricted in their ability to transfer their net
assets to the Company in the form of dividend payments, loans or advances. Amounts of restricted net assets include paid up capital and
statutory reserve funds of the Companys PRC subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the Company did not have any restricted
net assets.
Furthermore,
cash transfers from the Companys PRC subsidiaries to the Companys subsidiaries outside of the PRC are subject to the PRC
government control of currency conversion. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may restrict the ability of the Companys
PRC subsidiaries to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to the Company, or otherwise satisfy their foreign
currency denominated obligations.
**Common
Stock**
On
January 11, 2024, the Company issued the400,000shares of its common stock to Beijing Hehe for exchange of13.3333% of
the total equity interest of SH Xianzhui (as described in Note 1).
In
March 2024, the Company entered into a placement agency agreement (the March 2024 Placement Agency Agreement), with Univest
Securities, LLC (Univest), pursuant to which, Univest agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to sell the Companys
common stock in a registered direct offering and a concurrent private placement (the March 2024 Offering). Univest has
no obligation to buy any of the securities from the Company or to arrange for the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount
of securities.
Pursuant
to the March 2024 Offering, an aggregate of810,277shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001per share,
were sold to certain purchasers (the March 2024 Offering Purchasers), pursuant to a securities purchase agreement, dated
March 22, 2024 (the March 2024 Securities Purchase Agreement) at a price of $1.144per share, for aggregated
proceeds of approximately $0.9million. The Company paid Univest a cash fee equal to4.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised
in the March 2024 Offering. The Company also issued warrants to Univest to purchase up to40,514shares of common stock of
the Company at an exercise price of $1.373per share, (the March 2024 Placement Agent Warrants). The March 2024 Placement
Agent Warrants and the common stock underlying the March 2024 Placement Agent Warrants were not registered under the Securities Act,
pursuant to the registration statement of March 2024 Offering. The March 2024 Placement Agent Warrants were issued pursuant to an exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D promulgated
thereunder.
On
May 31, 2024, the Company entered into a software purchase agreement with Shanxi Gangdong Cultural Media Co., Ltd., a seller unaffiliated
with the Company (the SGCM). Pursuant to the agreement, the Company agreed to purchase and SGCM agreed to sell all of SGCMs
right, title, and interest in and to the certain software. The purchase price of the software shall be $1,248,000, payable in the form
of issuance of1,560,000shares of common stock of the Company, valued at $0.80per share. The Company used the software
to develop its AI business. On June 4, 2024, the Company issued1,560,000shares of common stock of the Company to the SGCMs
designees and the transaction was completed.
F-24
| | |
From
February 2024 to October 2024,1,489,385shares of the Companys common stock were issued due to the exercise of pre-funded
warrants, that were sold in the fiscal year 2023.
From
March 2024 to October 2024,1,361,460shares of the Companys common stock were issued due to the exercise of1,695,885registered
warrants issued in November 2023 (the November 2023 Registered Warrants).
In
August 2024,92,756shares of the Companys common stock were issued due to the exercise of54,646registered
warrants and84,244unregistered warrants that were issued in the fiscal year 2021.
On
February 10, 2025, the Company entered into an At-The-Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the ATM Agreement) with Univest
as the sales agent (the February 2025 Offering). Pursuant to the ATM Agreement, the Company may issue and sell from time
to time, shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of not more than $10,000,000through the sales agent or any
of its sub-agent(s) or other designees, acting as sales agent. Up to the date the consolidated financial statements were issued, the
Company has not issued or sold any shares under the ATM Agreement.
On
March 4, 2025, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the March 2025 Securities Purchase Agreement)
with certain investors for the sale of1,115,600shares of common stock at $0.896379per share (the March 2025
Offering), generating net proceeds in the amount of $910,000, after deducting underwriters fees of $70,000, equal to seven
percent (7%) of the aggregate gross proceeds raised in this Offering and reimbursement of $20,000for the underwriters legal
counsel and due diligence analysis expense. The Company used the proceeds from the offering for working capital purposes.
On
May 2, 2025, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the May 2025 Securities Purchase Agreement)
with certain investors for the sale of1,115,600shares of common stock at approximately $0.524per share
and9,380,582pre-funded warrants (the May 2025 Pre-Funded Warrants) at approximately $0.523per
warrant (the May 2025 Offering). As of December 31, 2025, the Company received gross proceeds of approximately $4.5
million for subscription of1,115,600shares of its common stock and7,468,536pre-funded warrants. The offering remains ongoing and has not yet been fully completed.
Transaction costs incurred through December 31, 2025 included underwriters fees of $314,343and a
$20,000reimbursement for the underwriters legal counsel and due diligence expenses. As of December 31,
2025, the Company used the proceeds from the offering for working capital purposes.
On
April 28, 2025, the Company entered into a software purchase agreement (the Agreement) with Gongzheng Xu and Qing Wang,
who are unaffiliated with the Company at the time (collectively, the GXQW). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company agreed
to purchase and the GXQW agreed to sell all of GXQWs right, title, and interest in and to the certain software (the Chat
Box). The purchase price of the software shall be payable in the form of issuance of2,444,295shares of the Companys
common stock. On April 28, 2025, the Company issued2,444,295shares of its common stock to GXQW and the transaction was completed.
The Company used the software to develop its AI business.
On
September 8, 2025, the Company, Pallas and the Sellers executed the Share Exchange Agreement, pursuant to which, the Sellers wish to sell
to the Acquirer, and the Acquirer wishes to purchase from the Sellers,100% interest in and to the Target Shares. On September 29,
2025, in exchange for the Target Shares, the Company issued an aggregate of39,189,344shares of the Companys common
stock to such Sellers.
On
October 24, 2025, the Company entered into securities purchase agreements (the October 2025 Securities Purchase Agreement)
with certain accredited investor, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell, in a private placement (the October
2025 Private Placement), an aggregate of 1,333,334 shares of the Companys common stock at a purchase price of $2.10 per
share, for gross proceeds in the amount of $2,800,000. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $2.5 million after deducting
underwriters fees of $196,000 and other offering costs of $60,000. The Company used the proceeds from the offering for working
capital purposes.
As
of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the total outstanding shares of the Companys common stock were57,318,111and11,167,294,
respectively.
F-25
| | |
**Warrants**
*Placement
Agent Warrants*
In
March 2024, the Company entered into a placement agency agreement (the March 2024 Placement Agency Agreement), with Univest,
pursuant to which, Univest agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to sell the Companys common stock in a registered direct
offering and a concurrent private placement (the March 2024 Offering). Univest has no obligation to buy any of the securities
from the Company or to arrange for the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of securities.
In
connection with the March 2024 Offering, the Company issued40,514shares of unregistered warrants (the March 2024 Placement
Agent Warrants) to Univest, at an exercise price of $1.373per share. The March 2024 Placement Agent Warrants and the common
stock underlying the March 2024 Placement Agent Warrants were not registered under the Securities Act, pursuant to the registration statement
of March 2024 Offering. The March 2024 Placement Agent Warrants were issued pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements
of the Securities Act provided in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.
As
of December 31, 2025, 695,535unregistered warrants issued to Univest were outstanding.
*Prefunded
Warrants*
In
connection with the May 2025 Offering, the Company issued7,468,536shares of pre-funded warrants, which is exercisable immediately.
From
February 2024 to October 2024, holders of1,489,763pre-funded warrants, issued in November 2023, exercised their options to
purchase1,489,385shares of the Companys common stock.
As
of December 31, 2025 and 2024,7,468,536andnilprefunded warrants were outstanding, respectively.
*Registered
Warrants*
On
March 26, 2024, October 16, 2024 and October 17, 2024, holders of1,695,885registered warrants issued in November 2023 (the
November 2023 Registered Warrants) exercised their options to purchase1,361,460shares of the Companys
common stock. On April 30, 2025, holders of1,051,341November 2023 Registered Warrants exercised their options to purchase952,644shares
of the Companys common stock, on a cashless basis.
As
of December 31, 2025 and 2024,565,130and1,616,471November 2023 Registered Warrants were outstanding, respectively.
*February
2021 Registered and Unregistered Warrants*
In
August 2024, holders of54,646registered warrants and84,244unregistered warrants issued in 2021 exercised their
options to purchase92,756shares of the Companys common stock, on a cashless basis. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024,
no warrants issued in 2021 were outstanding.
F-26
| | |
The
summary of warrant activities for the year ended December 31, 2025 were as follows:
| | | Warrants | | | Exercisable Into Number of | | | Weighted Average Exercise | | | Average Remaining Contractual | | |
| | | Outstanding | | | Shares | | | Price | | | Life | | |
| December 31, 2024 | | | 2,312,006 | | | | 2,110,618 | | | $ | 29.94 | | | | 3.46 | | |
| Granted | | | 7,468,536 | | | | 7,468,536 | | | | 0.001 | | | | - | | |
| Exercised | | | 1,051,341 | | | | 1,051,341 | | | | - | | | | - | | |
| December 31, 2025 | | | 8,729,201 | | | | 8,527,813 | | | $ | 45.79 | | | | 2.23 | | |
The
summary of warrant activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 were as follows:
| | | Warrants | | | Exercisable Into Number of | | | Weighted Average Exercise | | | Average Remaining Contractual | | |
| | | Outstanding | | | Shares | | | Price | | | Life | | |
| December 31, 2023 | | | 9,623,806 | | | | 5,394,642 | | | $ | 19.45 | | | | 4.54 | | |
| Granted | | | 40,514 | | | | 40,514 | | | | 1.37 | | | | 4.24 | | |
| Exercised | | | 7,352,314 | | | | 3,324,538 | | | | - | | | | - | | |
| December 31, 2024 | | | 2,312,006 | | | | 2,110,618 | | | $ | 29.94 | | | | 3.46 | | |
**Note
13 Commitments and Contingencies**
****
**Contingencies**
****
From
time to time, the Company may be subject to certain legal proceedings, claims and disputes that arise in the ordinary course of business.
Although the outcomes of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted, the Company does not believe these actions, in the aggregate, will
have a material adverse impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
**Note
14 Segment Reporting**
****
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07
Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures (ASU 2023-07), which improved the reportable
segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses enabling investors to better
understand an entitys overall performance and assess potential future cash flows. ASU 2023-07 requires entities with a single reportable
segment to provide all the disclosures required by the amendments in ASU 2023-07 and all existing segment disclosures in Segment Reporting
(Topic 280). ASU 2023-07 is effective for annual periods on January 1, 2024, and periods beginning on January 1, 2025. The Company adopted
this standard for its 2024 annual financial statements and applied this standard retrospectively for all prior periods presented in the
financial statements. ASU 2023-07 has no material impact on the Groups consolidated financial statements.
The
Company operates and manages its business as a single segment and hasoneoperating and reportable segment, the Virtual Content
Production.The CompanysChief Executive Officeris the chief operating decision-maker (CODM). When
making decisions about allocating resources and assessing the performance of the Company as a whole, the CODM review operating metrics
and consolidated financial statements.
The
Company concluded that consolidated net income (loss) reported in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income
(loss) is the measure of segment profitability, and consolidated total assets reported in the consolidated balance sheets is the measure
of segment assets. The CODM refers to consolidated operating results and financial condition when addressing strategic and operational
matters and allocating resources. Significant expense categories regularly provided to and reviewed by the CODM are those presented in
the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). As substantially all of the Companys long-lived assets
are located in the United States, and substantially all of the Companys expenses are derived from within the United States, no
geographical segments are presented.
**Note
15 Subsequent events**
The Company has evaluated subsequent
events that occurred after the balance sheet date up to March 27, 2026, which is the date of issuance of the consolidated financial statements.
Based on this review, the Company did not identify any subsequent event that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the consolidated
financial statements.
F-27
| | |
****
**SIGNATURES**
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on March 27, 2026.
| 
| 
GD CULTURE GROUP LIMITED | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
By: | 
/s/
Xiaojian Wang | |
| 
| 
| 
Name: | 
Xiaojian
Wang | |
| 
| 
| 
Title: | 
Chief
Executive Officer, President and
Chairman of the Board
(Principal Executive Officer) | |
| 
| 
By: | 
/s/
Zihao Zhao | |
| 
| 
| 
Name: | 
Zihao
Zhao | |
| 
| 
| 
Title: | 
Chief
Financial Officer and Director
(Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer) | |
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| 
Name | 
| 
Position | 
| 
Date | |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Xiaojian Wang | 
| 
Chief
Executive Officer, President and | 
| 
March
27, 2026 | |
| 
Xiaojian
Wang | 
| 
Chairman
of the Board of Directors 
(Principal Executive Officer) | 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Zihao Zhao | 
| 
Chief
Financial Officer and Director | 
| 
March
27, 2026 | |
| 
Zihao
Zhao | 
| 
(Principal
Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Shuaiheng Zhang | 
| 
Director | 
| 
March
27, 2026 | |
| 
Shuaiheng
Zhang | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Lei Zhang | 
| 
Director | 
| 
March
27, 2026 | |
| 
Lei
Zhang | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Yun Zhang | 
| 
Director | 
| 
March
27, 2026 | |
| 
Yun
Zhang | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
77