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Back in March, Musk announced Tesla was accepting Bitcoin for its electric cars. Earlier this year the EV company even bought $1.5 billion of the cryptocurrency.
On Wednesday afternoon, that all ended. Musk tweeted that the cryptocurrency’s “great cost to the environment” meant Tesla won’t be offering the payment option for its zero-emissions vehicles.
According to the environmental group Sierra Club, Bitcoin mining produces as much carbon dioxide each year as New Zealand. The next 30 years of Bitcoin mining could raise the world’s temperature two degrees Celsius, the group claims. Not a good look for a company centered around sustainability and freedom from fossil fuels.
Only yesterday, Musk asked his Twitter followers about allowing Dogecoin for Tesla purchases. Doge isn’t the same as Bitcoin, but it’s similar enough. Musk has been tweeting and talking about Dogecoin for several weeks, including on last week’s Saturday Night Live. In January, Musk changed his Twitter bio to #bitcoin.
Tesla still has its Bitcoin bounty but Musk said the company won’t sell it until mining uses more sustainable energy.
He also noted that Tesla is interested in finding more energy efficient cryptocurrencies, but he didn’t name any specific coins, which might’ve led to a huge frenzy.
