Tesla Might Face Enormous Bitcoin Loss in Coming Earnings
Tesla might face enormous second-quarter losses due to its Bitcoin holdings — unless the crypto bounces back in the coming weeks.
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Elon Musk’s company said in February that it had purchased $1.5 billion Bitcoin and would start accepting the crypto as a form of payment — a decision it rescinded earlier this month. Musk tweeted that Tesla would resume accepting the crypto when there’s “reasonable clean energy usage by miners.”
During the first quarter, Tesla said it recorded $27 million of impairment losses on Bitcoin and also realized gains of $128 million through sales of the crypto, according to a Securities and Exchange filing. This added $101 million represents a fourth of Tesla’s net income for the quarter, which was $438 million, according to the filing.
In addition, the company said that “the fair market value of Bitcoin held as of March 31, 2021 was $2.48 billion.”
See: Tesla Will Resume Accepting Bitcoin When There Is ‘Reasonable Clean Energy Usage by Miners,’ Musk Says
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However, Bitcoin has been tumbling in recent weeks. The crypto was valued at $29,000 earlier this week, following China’s newly announced crackdown on the crypto which triggered the shuttering of several mining sites. As of this morning, Bitcoin bounced back to $34,000.
If Bitcoin is trading at $29,500 at the end of June, when Tesla wraps up its second quarter, the company would be sitting on a loss of almost $90 million, according to Barron’s.
“Investors are scratching their heads wondering why in the world would a major disruptor like Tesla, who is attempting to change the automotive world as we know it, want to burden itself with the unnecessary risk of holding onto Bitcoin’s volatility as an asset,” Christopher Davenport, CEO and founder of AutoParts4Less.com, tells GOBankingRates. “No one knows where the value of Bitcoin will be tomorrow, next week or next year. With huge stock valuation gains in 2020, it makes you wonder why Tesla is holding onto so much of Bitcoin’s risk.”
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Analysts are divided on what happens next to Bitcoin, as some see that $30,000 level holding and a return toward $40,000. Others point to weak demand, and say further declines are likely, according to CoinDesk.
Tesla will report its second-quarter earnings next month.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Tesla Might Face Enormous Bitcoin Loss in Coming Earnings
