Due partly to its Bitcoin holdings, Tesla’s financial performance improved in the fourth quarter of 2024.
A change in accounting regulations resulted in a $600 million gain for the corporation. By making this change, Tesla could value its Bitcoin at market rates.
Telsa makes $600M on Bitcoin
A new rule issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Beginning in 2025, the rule requires businesses that own digital assets to mark those assets to market every quarter.
The new FASB rule allows corporations to adopt this adjustment early, which Tesla appears to have done. Before this regulation, businesses had to register their digital assets using their lowest valuation at the time of possession.
Tesla’s Bitcoin assets have significantly increased in value after being adjusted to reflect current market pricing. Furthermore, according to its Q4 earnings report, Tesla did not sell any Bitcoin.
Tesla’s Bitcoin holdings increased from $184 million in the prior quarters before the rule change to $1.076 billion in Q4 2024. The sharp rise is indicative of Bitcoin’s shifting market value, which has fluctuated over time.
The market value of Bitcoin rose by $600 million as a result, improving Tesla’s financial results. With the company’s Q4 GAAP income of $2.3 billion, the Bitcoin gain was a major contributor to the outcomes.
“It’s important to point out that the net income in Q4 was impacted by a $600 million mark-to-market benefit from Bitcoin due to the adoption of a new accounting standard for digital assets,” CFO Vaibhav Taneja reportedly noted on the earnings call.
According to Bitcoin Treasuries, Tesla holds 9,720 BTC, making it the sixth-largest publicly traded company holding Bitcoin.
In 2021, Tesla bought 43,200 Bitcoin to get into the market. Over the years after this first acquisition, Tesla traded off a portion of its Bitcoin holdings.
Concerns regarding the impact of the new accounting regulations on Microstrategy’s profits have also been raised by the shift in Tesla’s Bitcoin valuation.
Good grief, booking a $600M gain on their BTC.
Tesla has 11,509 Bitcoin.
What on earth is going to happen when MicroStrategy announce their earnings next week. They have 471,107 Bitcoin and most likely will also take advantage of the new FASB accounting rule. https://t.co/6gV6XYsZP4
— Don McAllister (@donmcallister) January 29, 2025
Gary Gensler’s MIT return triggers hiring freeze for graduates at Gemini exchange
The Gemini cryptocurrency exchange’s co-founder, Tyler Winklevoss, declared that the business will no longer be accepting interns and MIT grads. As long as former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler is still employed by the company, the hiring freeze will stay in place.
The audacious action is a reflection of the continuous conflict between regulatory agencies and the cryptocurrency industry.
Tyler Winklevoss sends strong message to MIT
Gensler rejoined the faculty at MIT Sloan School of Management as reported. After years of directing the SEC’s assault on the cryptocurrency sector, Gensler is making a comeback. In light of this, Tyler Winklevoss made a powerful statement at MIT. He expressed Gemini’s determination to avoid any kind of association with Gensler.
As long as @MIT has any association with Gary Gensler, @Gemini will not hire any graduates from this school. Not even interns for our summer intern program. https://t.co/fi0WMIVCLp
— Tyler Winklevoss (@tyler) January 30, 2025
Cameron Winklevoss, the second twin, has refrained from commenting on the situation. But until Gensler is fired, he reaffirmed demands to boycott MIT grads.
Every crypto company should boycott MIT grads until Gary is fired. What a way to ruin the reputation of such an illustrious institution!
We can use peace and our own market discretion where Gary used coercion and extortion. https://t.co/xAJy0stCW2
— Erik Voorhees (@ErikVoorhees) January 30, 2025
Among the business leaders leading the charge for pro-crypto legislation are the Winklevoss twins. They have contributed significantly to pro-crypto candidates and causes and have been quite engaged in political circles. The twins have also contributed to President Donald Trump’s campaign and engaged in other noteworthy political fundraising activities.
When combined, it shows why they don’t like Gensler because of the unfair regulations that were implemented during his time. Discussions concerning the controversy’s effects on MIT students and alumni have also been sparked. MIT alumni responded to the comments made by Caitlin Long, the founder and CEO of Custodia Bank.
Oooooh, as Gensler returns to MIT, are MIT alums pushing back?? The world has changed—the crypto industry has already urged boycotting of law firms that hired revolving-door ex-govt regulators that attacked the law-abiding industry. Is that about to expand to universities too??💡 https://t.co/ezUgl83nTj
— Caitlin Long 🔑⚡️🟠 (@CaitlinLong_) January 29, 2025
In fact, MIT alumni are being enlisted in the cryptocurrency movement by Matt Huang, co-founder of the crypto-focused investment firm Paradigm. This is probably a reaction to the criticism that followed Gensler’s return. Huang graduated from the same university with a B.S. in mathematics.
If you are an MIT alum in crypto, please get in touch
— Matt Huang (@matthuang) January 29, 2025
Coinbase CLO The appeal has already been answered by Paul Grewal, who graduated from MIT with an SB. This demonstrates the range of Winklesvoss’s positions, causing responses both inside and outside of the bitcoin community. Winklevoss was backed by certain industry participants who criticized Gensler’s regulatory strategy at the SEC.
Perfect response
All crypto companies should sign a pledge not to hire from any educational facilities who financially support Gensler in any way.
He’s a complete fraud, and clearly working to assist in formation of a globalist, socialist world government.
Never to be…
— CHEX Magnet (@simoncase78) January 30, 2025
On the other hand, some have defended Gensler’s scholarly work. They mentioned how well he performed in the several classes he took prior to joining the SEC.
Anyone watch Gensler’s online MIT classes?
I did. His lessons weren’t bad. It was a surprise to see him get absolutely nothing accomplished while SEC chair.
— Tom (@RunningLow) January 30, 2025
Despite Gemini’s strong opposition to Gensler’s return to MIT, the exchange still has to deal with regulatory issues. The business recently agreed to pay a $5 million punishment in a settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Gemini did not, however, acknowledge or refute claims that it had misled the regulator. Furthermore, Gemini declared its withdrawal from the Canadian market, primarily due to regulatory pressures.
The results may have long-term effects as the relationship between academia, regulation, and the cryptocurrency sector becomes a hot topic of discussion.
SEC acknowledges Canary Capital’s Litecoin ETF application
The SEC formally recognized Canary Capital’s 19b-4 filing for a Litecoin ETF, sending a significant indication of approval. After Ethereum, this is the first cryptocurrency ETF to be given this approval, and it gives the Commission a deadline to accept or reject it.
The price of LTC has already increased once more as a result of these ETF rumors. Although the SEC’s action is a very good sign, the majority of the other cryptocurrency ETF applications have not yet been addressed by the Commission.
Canary Capital: The first Litecoin ETF?
Although it has its supporters, Litecoin ETFs have occasionally been viewed as “dark horse candidates” for cryptocurrency ETFs. According to ETF analysts James Seyffart and Eric Balchunas, it has a better chance of being approved than Solana or XRP, and their prediction is coming true.
The SEC accepted Canary Capital’s 19b-4 application for an LTC ETF today.
First alt coin 19b-4 to be acknowledged, rest were told to withdraw by Genz SEC. Throw in the comments from SEC on the S-1 and this filing is by far the furthest along checking all the boxes. Q now is will this SEC wait the full 240 days or approve more rapidly. Unknown. https://t.co/iXwq9PkLGr
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) January 29, 2025
This specific milestone in the SEC’s ETF approval process is particularly significant. Balchunas clarified that this 19b-4 acknowledgment locks in a fixed timeframe in reference to prior unsuccessful Solana ETF attempts.
Within the next 240 days, this Litecoin ETF will either be approved or rejected, regardless of the process that takes place in between.
The price of Litecoin (LTC) has, of course, been impacted by these ETF rumors. The value of LTC increased by 12% following the Nasdaq’s initial filing of this form 19b-4.
The asset also benefited from Grayscale, another ETF producer, filing its own application last week. This trend continues today with fresh forward impetus thanks to the SEC’s 19b-4 acknowledgment.
This small move, however, does not ensure that Canary Capital’s Litecoin ETF will be successful. Numerous cryptocurrency ETF applications, many with slim prospects of success, have flooded the SEC after Gary Gensler’s resignation.
The SEC’s actions in this case will be a crucial piece of information. The SEC may not accept all cryptocurrency ETFs, even if it begins to approve some.