Tesla’s refusal to “hodl” Bitcoin (BTC) have resulted in a missed alternative of over $300 million in income.
Tesla’s Bitcoin funding technique to date
Tesla’s preliminary foray into Bitcoin started in February 2021 with a groundbreaking $1.5 billion funding. On the time, BTC’s value was round $36,000.
For the reason that first reported BTC steadiness on Feb. 8, 2021, Tesla’s inventory value is down roughly 40% in opposition to Bitcoin, particularly:
- TSLA vs. BTC: -40.1%
- BTC vs. USD: +7.39%
- TSLA vs. USD: -35.7%

Nonetheless, in a stunning flip, Tesla bought about 10% of its holdings in March 2021. Then, within the second quarter of 2022, the corporate sold roughly 75% of its Bitcoin reserves. As Tesla CEO Elon Musk famous, these gross sales meant to show Bitcoin’s liquidity and to bolster Tesla’s steadiness sheet throughout unsure monetary intervals.
Had Tesla retained its whole Bitcoin funding, the corporate may have seen a hypothetical revenue of over $300 million, contemplating the present Bitcoin worth of roughly $41,500.
Nonetheless, the corporate’s remaining Bitcoin holdings, estimated at around 9,720 BTC, have remained regular in current quarters, reflecting a extra conservative method in what merchants anticipate to be a bullish year for Bitcoin.
Tesla nonetheless holds 9,720 #Bitcoin value $385m and didn’t promote anybody This fall, 2023. pic.twitter.com/lFFBy6v9I4
— Radar (@RadarHits) January 25, 2024
Tesla could not promote the remaining Bitcoin
Apparently, Tesla’s earlier Bitcoin gross sales appeared within the quarters reporting weaker free money flows. It’s the money that an organization generates after spending the cash required to keep up or develop its enterprise operations.
For instance, within the first quarter of 2021, Tesla’s sale of Bitcoin, valued at $272 million, constituted a staggering 93% of the corporate’s free money flows throughout that interval.

Equally, in Q2 2022, Tesla’s 73% discount in free money flows coincided with its Bitcoin gross sales.
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In easy phrases, Musk relied on BTC to bolster funds throughout Tesla’s tighter money intervals. He could not have to make use of the identical technique now, nonetheless, given Tesla’s growing free money flows all through 2023.
In This fall, 2023, for instance, Tesla’s free money circulation was robust at $2.1 billion, contributing to a complete of $4.4 billion for the 12 months.
$TSLA Tesla This fall FY23:
• Income +3% Y/Y to $25.2B ($0.6B miss).
• Gross margin 18% (-6pp Y/Y).
• Working margin 8% (-8pp Y/Y).
• Capex +24% Y/Y to $2.3B.
• Free money circulation +45% Y/Y to $2.0B.
• Non-GAAP EPS $0.71 ($0.03 miss).
• Deliveries +20% Y/Y to 485K.
• FY24: Quantity… pic.twitter.com/pnOzZkCAde— App Economic system Insights (@EconomyApp) January 24, 2024
Quite a few analysts forecast a rise in Bitcoin’s value in 2024, attributing their optimism to the approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the USA and the anticipated affect of the upcoming Bitcoin halving occasion as key drivers behind their predictions.
This text doesn’t comprise funding recommendation or suggestions. Each funding and buying and selling transfer includes danger, and readers ought to conduct their very own analysis when making a choice.