Exhibit
10.53


 


FORM
OF Promissory Note (2022)


 


Soluna
Holdings, Inc.


 


Promissory
Note


 


	Face Amount:       $__,000,000.00 	, 2022







New
York, NY


 


FOR
VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned Soluna Holdings, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Borrower”), promises to pay
to the order of [____], its successors or assigns (the “Lender”), [_____] MILLION DOLLARS ($__,000,000) (the
“Face Amount”) by           , 2027 (the “Maturity Date”) as provided herein or on such earlier date
as this Note is required or permitted to be repaid as provided hereunder.


 


Section
1.             Maturity; Interest. The Face
Amount shall be repaid in cash at the Maturity Date; provided, that this Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time and
from time-to-time upon three (3) prior business days’ written notice, without penalty. This Note shall bear interest at
the annual rate of two percent (2%) per annum.


 


Section
2.             Repayment. Repayment of the
Note may occur as follows: (a) at the Maturity Date or (b) upon the first business day of each month that the Borrower keeps open
a private offering of its 9.0% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock”), at
the Lender’s sole election upon written notice to Borrower, the Lender shall have the right but not the obligation to subscribe
for shares of Preferred Stock by presenting this Note in whole or in part as legal tender to purchase such shares of Preferred
Stock at price per share of Preferred Stock on the date immediately preceding the closing of such subscription. So long as no
Event of Default has occurred, such repayment shall satisfy Borrower’s obligations pursuant to this Note in full and this
Note shall be of no further force and effect. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if this Note is not repaid by May
2, 2022, then this Note shall automatically without any further action by either the Borrower or Lender be subscribed for the
Preferred Stock.


 


Section
3.              Transferability. This Note
and any of the rights granted hereunder are freely transferable or assigned by Lender, in whole or in part, in its sole discretion;
provided, there is notice to the Borrower.


 


Section
4.              Event of Default.


 


(a)           In
the event that any one of the following events shall occur (whatever the reason and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary
or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court, or any order, rule or regulation of
any administrative or governmental body), it shall be deemed an Event of Default:


 


(i)          Any default in the payment of the principal of, interest on or other charges in respect of this Note, or any other note issued
by the Borrower for the benefit of the Lender or any other creditor, as and when the same shall become due and payable;


 






    


     

    




(ii)         Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any other material covenant, agreement or warranty contained in, or otherwise commit
any breach or default of any provision of this Note or any other agreement between the Borrower and the Lender or any other creditor;


 


(iii)        There shall be a breach of any of the representations and warranties set forth in this Note or any transaction document executed
contemporaneously herewith; or


 


(iv)        Borrower, shall commence, or there shall be commenced against Borrower any applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws as now or
hereafter in effect or any successor thereto, or Borrower commences any other proceeding under any reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction whether now or
hereafter in effect relating to Borrower or there is commenced against Borrower any such bankruptcy, insolvency or other proceeding
which remains undismissed for a period of sixty (60) days; or Borrower is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt; or any order of relief
or other order approving any such case or proceeding is entered; or Borrower suffers any appointment of any custodian, private
or court appointed receiver or the like for it or any substantial part of its property which continues undischarged or unstayed
for a period of sixty (60) days; or Borrower makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or Borrower shall fail to
pay or shall state that it is unable to pay or shall be liable to pay, its debts as they become due or by any act or failure to
act expressly indicate its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any of the foregoing; or any corporate or other action is
taken by the Borrower for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing.


 


(b)           Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Lender shall give the Borrower notice of such occurrence, at which time the Borrower
shall have five (5) business days from receipt of such notice to pay the outstanding amount of the Note in full. In the event
that full payment is not made upon the expiry of the five (5) day period, a default penalty equal to 0.666% of the Face Amount
per month during the period of Default (the “Default Penalty”). Lender may then, at its sole discretion declare
the entire then outstanding Face Amount of this Note and any accrued but unpaid interest due hereunder immediately due and payable
(a “Default Declaration”), in which event the Lender may, at its sole discretion take any action it deems necessary
to recover amounts due under this Note.


 


(c)           Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Lender shall be entitled to receive, in addition to the Face Amount of the Note
and any accrued but unpaid interest due hereunder,, the Lender shall be entitled to recover all of its costs, fees (including
without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees and disbursements), and expenses relating collection and enforcement Note,
including all costs and expenses incurred by it in enforcing its rights under the Note and any transaction document entered into
contemporaneously herewith.


 






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(d)           The failure of Lender to exercise any of its rights hereunder in any particular instance shall not constitute a waiver of the
same or of any other right in that or any subsequent instance with respect to Lender or any subsequent holder. BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT THE LOAN EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTE IS A COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION. BORROWER FURTHER WAIVES DILIGENCE, DEMAND, PRESENTMENT FOR PAYMENT,
NOTICE OF NONPAYMENT, PROTEST AND NOTICE OF PROTEST, AND NOTICE OF ANY RENEWALS OR EXTENSIONS OF THIS NOTE. BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT IT MAKES THIS WAIVER KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY, WITHOUT DURESS AND ONLY AFTER CONSIDERATION OF RAMIFICATION THIS WAIVER WITH
ITS ATTORNEYS. Lender may immediately and without expiration of any grace period enforce any and all of its rights and remedies
hereunder and all other remedies available to it under applicable law. The remedies available to the Lender upon the occurrence
of an Event of Default shall be cumulative.


 


Section
5.             Notices. Any and all notices,
service of process or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be given or made pursuant to any of the provisions
of this Note shall be deemed to have been duly given or made for all purposes when hand delivered or sent by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, overnight mail or courier as follows: 





If
to Lender, at:


 


[____]


 


Attn:


 


Or
such other address as may be given to the Borrower from time to time


 


If
to Borrower, at:


 


Soluna
Holdings, Inc. 


325
Washington Avenue Extension 


Albany,
New York 12205 


Attn:
 Michael Toporek, CEO


 


Or
such other address as may be given to the Lender from time to time


 






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Section
6.             Usury. This Note is hereby
expressly limited so that in no event whatsoever, whether by reason of acceleration of maturity of the loan evidenced hereby or
otherwise, shall the amount paid or agreed to be paid to the Lender hereunder for the loan, use, forbearance or detention of money
exceed that permissible under applicable law. If at any time the performance of any provision of this Note or of any other agreement
or instrument entered into in connection with this Note involves a payment exceeding the limit of the interest that may be validly
charged for the loan, use, forbearance or detention of money under applicable law, then automatically and retroactively, ipso
facto, the obligation to be performed shall be reduced to such limit, it being the specific intent of the Borrower and the Lender
that all payments under this Note are to be credited first to interest as permitted by law, but not in excess of (i) the
agreed rate of interest set forth herein or therein or (ii) that permitted by law, whichever is the lesser, and the balance
toward the reduction of principal. The provision of this Section 6 shall never be superseded or waived and shall control every
other provision of this Note and all other agreements and instruments between the Borrower and the Lender entered into in connection
with this Note. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Borrower waives any right to assert the defense of usury.  


 


Section
7.             Governing Law; Waiver of Jury
Trial. This Note and the provisions hereof are to be construed according to and are governed by the laws of the State of Nevada,
without regard to principles of conflicts of laws thereof. Borrower agrees that the state and federal courts sitting in Clark
County, Nevada shall have exclusive jurisdiction in connection with any dispute concerning or arising out of this Note or otherwise
relating to the parties relationship. In any action, lawsuit or proceeding brought to enforce or interpret the provisions of this
Note and/or arising out of or relating to any dispute between the parties, Lender shall be entitled to recover all of its costs
and expenses relating collection and enforcement of this Note (including without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees
and disbursements) in addition to any other relief to which Lender may be entitled and all costs of collection, including any
legal fees associated with this Note will be paid by the Borrower. Each party agrees that any process or notice to be served or
delivered in connection with any action, lawsuit or proceeding brought hereunder may be accomplished in accordance with the notice
provisions set forth above or as otherwise provided by applicable law. BORROWER HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,
PROCEEDING, CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT, AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO
THIS NOTE.


 


Section
8.             Successors and Assigns. Subject
to applicable laws, this Note and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the successors of Borrower and the successors and assigns of Lender.


 


Section
9.             Amendment. This Note may be
modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived only with the written consent of Lender and Borrower.


 


Section
10.           Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of
this Note shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this
Note shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition
or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Note.


 






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Section
11.           Issuance of Warrants. Borrower will issue to Lender
a three-year Class D Warrant for 1,000,000 shares of Borrower’s Common Stock.


 


[SIGNATURE
PAGE TO FOLLOW]



 






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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has caused this Promissory Note to be duly authorized officer and/or such individual borrower as of
the date first above indicated.


 


	 	Soluna
Holdings, Inc.

	 	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name:  Michael Toporek
	 	 	Title: Chief Executive Officer 




 






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