American electric car maker Tesla revealed that it has purchased $1.5 billion (about 1.7 trillion won) worth of bitcoin, and said it plans to sell its electric car with bitcoin in the future.
In a report published to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the 8th (local time), Tesla said, “We bought bitcoin to maximize cash returns and secure flexibility,” and it is possible to invest some more capital in cryptocurrency Informed that there is.
He added, “We expect to use bitcoin as a payment method for our products in the near future.”
In this regard, CNBC, the US economic media, said, “If Tesla starts payment through bitcoin, it will become the first automobile company to trade in cryptocurrency.” The latest sign that there is,” he analyzed.
He also quoted Mike Novogratz, founder of Galaxy Digital, a US-based cryptocurrency investment company, saying “Tesla’s decision is a pioneering move ahead of other companies.”
On the news of Tesla’s purchase that day, the price of bitcoin soared, exceeding 50 million won, recording a record high.
It seems that Tesla’s full-fledged bitcoin purchase decision was influenced by CEO Elon Musk. In the meantime, Musk has shown great interest by spreading admiration for cryptocurrency through various media and SNS.
Musk said at the social media clubhouse on the 1st, “I should have bought bitcoin 8 years ago,” and “I think bitcoin is a good thing at this point, and I’m a bitcoin supporter.”
Prior to this, on the 25th of last month, he appeared in a podcast and mentioned that “cryptocurrency will be useful in replacing illegally used cash.”
As Musk has global influence, the cryptocurrency market fluctuated greatly according to his comments.
When the hashtag’Bitcoin’ was posted on his SNS on the 29th of last month, the price of bitcoin on that day increased by up to 20% from the previous day. Coin prices have skyrocketed by 53%.
[ 경기신문 = 이성훈 기자 ]