Tesla buys RM6b in bitcoin, to accept as car payment

Tesla buys RM6b in bitcoin, to accept as car payment

Good news, bitcoin miners and investors. Tesla has just announced that it bought US$1.5 billion (RM6 billion; roughly 8% of its reserves) in bitcoin, sending its value skyrocketing to new heights. The typically volatile cryptocurrency surged nearly 14% to a record high of US$43,625 (RM177,095) shortly after Tesla’s disclosure, Reuters reports.

At current prices, 0.8 bitcoins would be enough to buy an entry-level Tesla Model 3. And you could, because CEO Elon Musk said the company will soon be accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment for its electric cars, making it the first automaker in the world to do so.

“We expect to begin accepting bitcoin as a form of payment for our products in the near future, subject to applicable laws and initially on a limited basis, which we may or may not liquidate upon receipt,” the company said. However, it’s not yet known when Tesla will actually begin accepting bitcoin as payment.

Musk is a known and longtime supporter of cryptocurrencies and said that bitcoin is on the verge of getting broad acceptance. “I do think at this point bitcoin is a good thing. And, so, I am a supporter of bitcoin. Like I said, I was late to the party, but I am a supporter of bitcoin,” he said.

Since the announcement, analysts have said that other companies should look into accepting digital currencies as part of their business scheme. Mike Novogratz, founder of Galaxy Digital said “it’s what customers want, it’s where the world is moving.” Some see this as a step towards legitimising cryptocurrency as a mainstream currency, and it’s only a matter of time before other players follow suit.

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Matthew H Tong

An ardent believer that fun cars need not be fast and fast cars may not always be fun. Matt advocates the purity and simplicity of manually swapping cogs while coping in silence of its impending doom. Matt's not hot. Never hot.

 

Comments

  • Venza on Feb 09, 2021 at 10:16 am

    Nice Tesla

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • start-a-fight on Feb 09, 2021 at 11:37 am

    elon musk twit on dec 2020 saying that crypto currencies is as BS as fiat money.. long time supporter?? he pump up dogecoin just this year by hyping it up on socmed and suddenly he’s avid supporter..
    is just like how tesla started, history repeating itself.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Bieight on Feb 09, 2021 at 12:43 pm

    Elon musk is a genius

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Sang Neela Uttama on Feb 09, 2021 at 1:27 pm

    breaking: Satoshi Nakamoto is Elon Musk

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
 

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