Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by superbcarrot 1944 days ago
This is one of the worst things a startup can do with their money. I wonder how many will try it just because they want to emulate Tesla.
2 comments

Not a great thing for Tesla to do. It’s one step away from Google buying Microsoft stock instead of reinvesting it or buybacks.
Your analogy brings up an interesting point.

A better example is the actual case of Microsoft buying Facebook stock to gain exposure to a burgeoning digital network https://www.vox.com/2017/10/23/16412108/facebook-microsoft-2...

Microsoft also bought Apple stock to bail them out when they were struggling back in the early 00s.
owning digital currencies is not even remotely "one of the worst things a startup can do with their money". it is not an investment. it is not productive. but it is not a bad idea.
In other words, it's a gamble. And it has terrible effects on the public image of the company if you ask me. If I was a stockholder, that would make me question the long-term stability of the company, if the executive has tendencies towards such behavior.
I'm only half joking when I say this but I think you're neglecting to consider that the Venn diagram of investors/speculators bullish on Tesla and bullish on BTC is a single circle.