In a transfer that has reignited ongoing hypothesis throughout the Bitcoin neighborhood, GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen met with Technique (previously MicroStrategy) Government Chairman Michael Saylor on Saturday. Cohen subsequently shared a photograph on X depicting him alongside Saylor—with out offering any extra context.
The put up as soon as once more sparked rumors that GameStop might be considering a Bitcoin treasury technique much like what Technique has pioneered beneath Saylor’s management. Notably, this isn’t a brand new rumor, however there was no concrete proof to this point that GameStop has taken any official steps towards a BTC-centric company technique.
Will GameStop Undertake Bitcoin?
Nonetheless, the sight of the 2 executives collectively has energized the rumor mill. One notable voice, Heisenberg (@Mr_Derivatives), commented on X Cohen’s {photograph} “might be the delicate trace” of a forthcoming BTC adoption, permitting the retailer to remodel into “a BTC holding firm very similar to MSTR.” He additionally hinted that beneath such a state of affairs, the inventory would possibly “simply 5-10x by the top of this decade,” or doubtlessly sooner.
One key factor driving the chatter is the power of GameStop’s steadiness sheet. Tim Kotzman, host of The Bitcoin Treasuries Podcast, underscored on X that as of October 31, 2024, the gaming retailer reported roughly $4.616 billion in money, money equivalents, and marketable securities.
He highlighted a current change within the firm’s funding coverage that grants Cohen “the authority to speculate […] in cryptocurrencies with out requiring shareholder or board approval.” Based on Kotzman, this coverage shift opens the door for a “Bitcoin Treasury Firm” state of affairs, but he was fast to notice that “as of December 2024, there have been no public disclosures indicating that such investments have been made.”
“If GameStop $GME, have been to speculate its $4.6 billion money reserves into BTC, it might purchase roughly 48,000 BTC. This may make GameStop the second largest company holder of Bitcoin, rating behind MicroStrategy and surpassing MARA Holdings,” Han Akamatsu famous through X.
BritishHODL (@BritishHodl), a Bitcoin fanatic, posted that GameStop “GameStop might be the straw that breaks the camels again on Wall Avenue of firms adopting the Bitcoin Reserve Technique of MSTR to create shareholder worth.”
In the meantime, crypto commentator @ProtestFiat took a extra aggressive stance, suggesting that “GameStop […] adopting Bitcoin” would possibly create a state of affairs the place quick sellers discover themselves scrambling, given the potential for a sudden spike in share value. In a put up, she outlined a sequence of steps: from the preliminary treasury announcement to subsequent share choices used to purchase extra Bitcoin—every part doubtlessly fueling extra rallies and quick squeezes.
Although extremely hypothetical, this argument resonates with the recollections of the 2021 “meme inventory” phenomenon, throughout which GameStop’s share value skilled a dramatic run-up and inflicted heavy losses on some quick sellers.
Whereas the commentary from merchants and podcast hosts underscores the intrigue round a doable Bitcoin pivot, it’s important to notice the hole between rumor and actuality. Traditionally, Cohen has been tight-lipped concerning any crypto-related strikes for the corporate, at the same time as GameStop dabbled with NFTs and blockchain tasks prior to now. For the second, no verifiable proof suggests an imminent buy of BTC or different cryptocurrencies.
At press time, BTC traded at $97,083.
Featured picture created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
