Tesla Moves 11,500 Bitcoins to Unknown Wallets: What’s Behind the Move?

Tesla's Bitcoin Holdings in Flux After Years of Stagnation

Elon Musk's Tesla has made a significant move, transferring over 11,500 Bitcoins (approximately $765 million) to unknown wallets. This action leaves Tesla with a negligible amount of BTC in its wallets.

The Bitcoin movement was detected by Arkham Intelligence, a crypto data firm. The new wallets do not appear to be linked to any crypto exchanges, suggesting that Tesla may not be planning to sell its Bitcoin.

While Tesla and SpaceX hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets, it is unclear how much Musk personally believes in the cryptocurrency. In a recent interview, he expressed belief in the value of Bitcoin and other coins but indicated a preference for Dogecoin.

Tesla remains the fourth-largest Bitcoin holder among publicly traded U.S. companies, behind MicroStrategy, Marathon Digital Holdings, and Riot Platforms. Tesla initially acquired $1.5 billion in Bitcoin in 2020 but has gradually reduced its holdings. The company sold a portion in 2021 and a significant amount in 2022 when Bitcoin's price plummeted.

Tesla's relationship with Bitcoin has been complex. In 2021, it briefly accepted Bitcoin payments for vehicles but reversed the decision due to environmental concerns. Musk has stated that Tesla will reconsider accepting Bitcoin when mining becomes more environmentally friendly, but that has not yet occurred.