Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Saturday, Feb 22, 2025

Musk creates 'hype' with bitcoin ‘pump and dump’ comments

Musk creates 'hype' with bitcoin ‘pump and dump’ comments

The Tesla CEO says he 'might pump,' but doesn't 'dump' the cryptocurrency

Jordan Belfort, the former stockbroker and subject of the 2013 hit "Wolf of Wall Street," weighed in on Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s Bitcoin comment where he said, "I might pump, but I don't dump," arguing that while he may not need to, other people pump and dump around the "hype" the celebrity creates.

"I like Elon Musk and I think he’s rich enough, he doesn’t have to make an extra few dollars pumping and dumping," Belfort, who spent 22 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges of securities fraud and money laundering, told "Varney & Co." on Thursday.

"I think the problem is while he might not be pumping and dumping, people use his endorsement and they pump and dump around the hype that Elon creates."

Belfort made the comment one day after Musk said the "three meaningful assets" he personally owns besides his two companies are Bitcoin, Dogecoin and Ethereum.

"If the price of bitcoin goes down, I lose money," Musk said during the discussion hosted on a website for a "Bitcoin-focused initiative" called "The B Word" on Tuesday, along with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood. "I might pump but I don’t dump."

He also said Tesla and SpaceX own bitcoin during the cryptocurrency-themed discussion, which was hosted by the Crypto Council for Innovation, which touts itself as "a global alliance of crypto industry leaders."

The price of ethereum rose above $2,000 upon the billionaire's Tuesday announcement, according to Coindesk data. Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ripple, Cardano and most other cryptocurrencies were also up across the board Tuesday following Musk’s comments.

When asked why he's such a big fan of Dogecoin – a cryptocurrency based on a popular meme as a joke in 2013 – Musk said he likes dogs, memes and the fact that Dogecoin "doesn't take itself too seriously." He explained later that he believes some of the most unlikely investments end up becoming the most profitable.

In April of this year, Dogecoin saw a more than 500% price surge due in part to attention from Musk, making Dogecoin a household name – for crypto investors, at least.

Belfort brought up Dogecoin as an example of where Musk was "probably inadvertently being used" to pump and dump the cryptocurrency.

Critics accused Musk of manipulating the market through his praise and criticism of Bitcoin, as well as his unwavering support for Dogecoin, which started as a joke but has since gained immense pop.


Tesla announced in February that it was acquiring $1.5 billion worth of the cryptocurrency and would accept it as payment. In May, Musk later backtracked on the decision, saying the crypto's use of energy was a threat to climate change and the automaker would no longer accept it as payment.

However, during Wednesday’s conference, Musk said Tesla will most likely restart accepting bitcoin as payments once it investigates the amount of renewable energy used to mine the digital currency, Reuters reported.

Also in May, the China Banking Association warned members of risks associated with digital currencies.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies tanked that month with the largest market value of the group falling to the $30,000 level, dropping from its record $64,000 reached earlier this year.

Bitcoin was trading at about $32,400, as of Thursday afternoon, following the most popular cryptocurrency’s drop below the $30,000 mark two days before for the first time in a month.

Belfort told host Stuart Varney on Thursday that he is a cryptocurrency investor as well and is "in it for the long-term." He noted that some of his positions include investments in Bitcoin and Ethereum.

He also noted that he wouldn’t "put in any more than I could afford to lose."

Belfort said he hopes the price of bitcoin drops again because he "would buy more if it drops down more."

"I would love it to go lower because I’m a long-term investor so I don’t care if it goes up or down in the short-term," he told Varney.

"I would love it to go back to 5,000 [BTC] and buy a ton of it there and that would be a great thing."

He added that it’s "very dangerous" for those who "are trading bitcoin for the short-term," especially given how "volatile" the cryptocurrency can be.

"Anyone that says they know where it’s going next is lying," Belfort said. "No one knows where it’s going next."

He pointed out that the price of bitcoin is "susceptible to things like statements from Elon Musk, things that happen in China [and] other parts of the world."

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies remain unregulated within the U.S. financial system. The euphoria surrounding cryptocurrencies at the start of the year has been impacted by increased talk of regulation around the globe, which has weighed on bitcoin's price.

Belfort admitted that he has always been "scared of Bitcoin" because of all the uncertainty surrounding the cryptocurrency.

"Right now who knows what the U.S. is going to say with taxes, with regulation, is it a security, is it not and those are huge risks," Belfort went on to say.

"It’s still a nascent market until it really finds a footing," Belfort noted, adding that once cryptocurrencies are regulated "and the sovereign risk is more well-known," then analysts will "be able to start predicting it much more systematically."

He then pointed out that he believes the industry is "far enough along now, that I think the chances are far better than not that it stays with us and they don’t try to regulate it out of business."

He then stressed that he believes what is holding down the price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is all the "uncertainty on the regulatory front."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
The negotiation teams of Trump and Putin meet directly, establishing the groundwork for a significant advance.
Israeli Minister Urges Hamas to Surrender and Depart from Gaza.
Iran Considers Moving Its Capital Due to Urban Difficulties
Israel and Hamas Finalize Sixth Exchange of Hostages and Prisoners During Continuing Gaza Ceasefire
Leaders of BRICS to Gather in Rio de Janeiro for July Summit
Muhsin Hendricks, a trailblazing openly gay imam, was killed in South Africa.
Trump's special envoy for hostage affairs cautions Hamas against challenging Trump before Saturday's deadline.
Two British citizens apprehended in Iran amid escalating tensions.
Israel Issues Threat of Military Action as Hostage Negotiations with Hamas Continue
Hamas Coordinates Worldwide Solidarity Marches in Reaction to U.S. and Israeli Initiative
Israel Warns of Ending Gaza Ceasefire Due to Hostage Situation
King Abdullah II Dismisses US Proposal to Relocate Palestinians, Commits to Welcoming Gaza Children.
Lebanon Installs New Government with Hezbollah's Impact on Key Ministries
Report: Iran Attempted to Assassinate Trump During Election Campaign
U.S. Authorizes $7.4 Billion Arms Sale to Israel
Iran's Supreme Leader Rejects Nuclear Negotiations with the U.S.
UN Chief Denounces Trump's Gaza Plan, Cautions Against Ethnic Cleansing
Pressure Intensifies for a Free Trade Agreement between the UK and GCC in Light of Economic Difficulties
Israel to Withdraw from UN Human Rights Council Due to Accusations of Anti-Semitism
EU Reaffirms Gaza's Essential Role in Future Palestinian State Following Trump's Proposal
Iranian Currency Reaches All-Time Low Amid US 'Maximum Pressure' Initiative.
UN Reaffirms Ban on Deportation from Occupied Territories Amid US Gaza Proposal
Palestinians Fear Repeat of 'Nakba' Amid Ongoing Crisis in Gaza
UAE Aids in the Exchange of 300 Prisoners Between Russia and Ukraine
Egypt Seeks Global Backing for Two-State Solution Following US Proposal for Gaza Plan
Trump's Suggestion to 'Seize Control' of Gaza Represents a Significant Shift in US Policy
French President is the first EU leader to extend congratulations to the new Syrian President.
Tunisian President Appoints New Finance Minister Amid Economic Crisis
Trump Suggests U.S. 'Takeover' of Gaza, Prompting Global Worries
Trump's Proposal for Gaza Provokes Global Debate
President Trump Suggests Moving Gaza's Palestinian Population
Aga Khan IV, Spiritual Leader and Philanthropist, Dies at 88
Erdogan and Syria's Sharaa Talk About Collaboration to Counter Kurdish Militants
Trump Suggests U.S. Control of Gaza Strip Amid Ongoing Conflict
Trump Resumes 'Maximum Pressure' Strategy to Limit Iran's Oil Exports.
Ex-British Soldier Sentenced for Espionage on Behalf of Iran and Fleeing from Prison
Gazans in Egypt Reject Displacement, Struggle with Return to War-Torn Home
Queen Rania Urges Protection of Children’s Rights at Vatican Summit
Hamas Officials Ready to Begin Negotiations for Phase Two of Gaza Truce
Trump Expresses Caution Over Gaza Ceasefire as Netanyahu Visits Washington
Oman to Host 18th Indian Ocean Conference on Maritime Security and Trade
Emir of Kuwait Meets BlackRock CEO for Talks on Investment Opportunities
Queen Rania of Jordan Calls for Global Action on Children’s Rights at Vatican Summit
Egyptian President El-Sisi Invited for White House Meeting Following Jordanian King’s Visit
Queen Rania Calls for Protection of Children’s Rights at Vatican Summit
Israeli Military Operations Continue on Lebanon Border Amid Ceasefire Tensions
Israeli Hostage's Release Highlights Uncertainty Over Family's Fate
Israeli Military Operations Escalate in Southern Lebanon Amid Hezbollah Tensions
Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Announces 2025 Honorees
Kuwait Anticipates a 12% Increase in Budget Deficit for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year
×