In the latest financial disclosures from Tesla Inc., the Elon Musk-helmed electric vehicle giant, there’s a notable absence of any Bitcoin transaction activities. This silence in their 2023 Q4 report suggests that Tesla has maintained its position in the crypto space, holding onto its Bitcoin.
Notably, Tesla’s decision not to buy or sell Bitcoin during the fourth quarter of last year coincides with the uptrend experienced by the crypto market.
Musk’s Tesla Holds Steady On Bitcoin
Tesla, recognized for its “forward-thinking” approach to technology and investment, holds 9,720 BTC. By not reporting BTC-related transactions, the company signals its continued confidence in Bitcoin as an investment.
This steadiness is noteworthy, considering the market’s volatility over the past months. Tesla’s decision to hold onto its BTC reserves suggests a strategic “long-term vision” for its cryptocurrency investment, aligning with its reputation as a leader in the technology space.
It is worth noting that the absence of Bitcoin transactions in Tesla’s 2023 Q4 report comes amid a broader financial picture for the company. In the same quarter, Tesla reported a revenue of $25.2 billion, marking a 3% increase year-on-year.
Although its earnings per share of 71 cents fell slightly short of analysts’ expectations, the company’s net income showed substantial growth, reaching $7.9 billion compared to $2.3 billion in the same quarter in 2022.
Tesla’s Dogecoin Adventure
In addition to its Bitcoin holdings, Tesla has made headlines with its dedicated “DOGE-Only Payment System.” This move, likely influenced by Elon Musk’s vocal support for Dogecoin, goes beyond mere “merchandise payments.”
A member of the Dogecoin community recently speculated that Tesla’s venture into Dogecoin payments serves multiple purposes. These include developing a native Dogecoin payment processor, training its customer service team in blockchain technology, and identifying common issues with crypto payments.
If I had to guess why the merch product mix is reduced to almost nothing now, it would be that the entire purpose of the ‘Doge for Tesla merch’ rollout was to:
1) Build a native Doge payment processor 2) Train a Customer Service team up specifically in blockchain tech 3) Learn…
— Doge Will Win (@Dogecoin_Wins) January 3, 2024
Meanwhile, During a recent discussion on X Space, Elon Musk confirmed that he still possesses a “bunch of Dogecoin.” However, regardless of Musk’s continued support for DOGE, the crypto has not been immune to the prevailing market conditions. In the past week, Dogecoin has experienced a 3.6% decrease, currently trading at around $0.07.
“I still own bunch of Dogecoin and SpaceX owns bunch of Bitcoin”
– Elon Musk in a X Space pic.twitter.com/FeRqzzgdN1
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) January 10, 2024
This downturn in Dogecoin’s value reflects the broader negative trend in the crypto market, primarily led by Bitcoin. Over the same period, BTC has seen a significant drop of nearly 10%, with its current trading price below $40,000.
Featured image from Unsplash, Chart from TradingView
