Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, has recognized an $80 million unrealized gain on its Bitcoin holdings during the third quarter of 2025. This move follows the adoption of new accounting standards. The information comes directly from the company’s Q3 earnings report, marking a significant shift in how Tesla’s Bitcoin gains in Q3 are reported.
According to the financial report, the $80 million figure represents the value appreciation of Tesla’s digital assets. The company maintains its approximately 9,720 BTC, having not sold any coins since the second quarter of 2022. Previously, accounting rules did not allow reflecting these gains until a sale. However, the new FASB regulation (ASU 2023-08) allows companies to measure crypto assets at their “fair value.”
The milestone is relevant because it offers a more accurate financial picture of firms with Bitcoin treasuries. Under the old guidelines, companies could only record impairment losses if Bitcoin’s price dropped. They could never show unrealized gains, distorting the true value on their balance sheets. Tesla’s adoption of this new rule (issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board) was highly anticipated by investors.
Will Bitcoin become a standard reserve asset for corporations?
This accounting change could incentivize other corporations to hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets. By being able to report fair-value gains, the digital asset becomes more attractive for corporate treasuries. Although Tesla’s holding has not changed, the transparency in Tesla’s Bitcoin gains in Q3 could reduce the perceived volatility in the stocks of companies (like MicroStrategy and Tesla) that hold BTC.
Tesla’s report is one of the first high-profile examples of the new cryptocurrency accounting in action. This move sets an important precedent for other public companies exploring digital assets. Analysts will be closely watching whether this increased financial transparency encourages broader corporate adoption of Bitcoin over the coming fiscal quarters.
