GameStop Bets on Bitcoin Despite Financial Woes

GameStop shifts focus to Bitcoin: is the firm following Michael Saylorโ€™s $BTC play?

Astronaut approaching a Bitcoin in space.
Created by Gabor Kovacs from DailyCoin

GameStop (GME) stock rallied after the video game retailer announced plans to invest in Bitcoin ($BTC), signaling a shift toward cryptocurrency as part of its financial strategy.

Announces Bitcoin Investment Plans

GameStopโ€™s stock (GME) surged over 12.4% to $28.75 on Tuesday after the video game retailer announced a major shift in its investment strategy: adding Bitcoin ($BTC) to its treasury reserves.

Gamestop (GME) stock price surged after the company announced its investment policy update. Source: Yahoo Finance

In a brief statement, GameStop confirmed that its board unanimously approved an update to its investment policy, allowing the company to invest in Bitcoin. 

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However, no specifics were provided regarding the timeline, the proportion of reserves to be allocated, or how GameStop plans to raise funds for the investment. 

Inspired by Saylorโ€™s Bitcoin Play?

The announcement follows speculation ignited by GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen about a month ago when he tweeted a picture with MicroStrategyโ€™s CEO Michael Saylor, a well-known Bitcoin advocate.

MicroStrategy has aggressively accumulated Bitcoin through convertible debt offerings and senior secured notes. 

The company has issued convertible bonds, allowing investors to exchange them for shares, and leveraged low-interest senior secured debt to buy more BTC. 

The company now holds over 447,000 Bitcoin. The strategy has paid off, with MicroStrategyโ€™s stock soaring over 84% in the past year, fueled by Bitcoinโ€™s price surge.

Will GameStopโ€™s Move Impact Bitcoinโ€™s Price?

Michael Saylor quickly expressed support for GameStopโ€™s decision, posting on X: โ€œThey are adopting the winning strategy. The Golden Bull Run is happening.โ€

However, it remains unclear how much impact GameStopโ€™s Bitcoin investment will have on the cryptocurrency market, especially given the companyโ€™s latest financial struggles.

GameStop reported $1.28 billion in net sales for the Q4, marking a 28% decline from the same period the previous year, signaling weakening revenue. 

Additionally, its adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) dropped from $64.7 million to $36.1 million year-over-year, suggesting declining profitability amid falling sales or rising operating costs.

Why GameStop Still Matters in Crypto?

GameStop became the epicenter of the 2021 memestock mania due to a combination of retail investor enthusiasm, short squeezing, and social media hype. 

Users on Redditโ€™s r/WallStreetBets noticed that hedge funds had heavily shorted GameStop (GME), betting its price would fall.

In response, retail traders coordinated a massive buying spree, driving up GMEโ€™s price from under $20 to over $400 at its peak. 

This short squeeze forced hedge funds like Melvin Capital to cover their positions at huge losses. 

The frenzy was fueled by commission-free trading platforms like Robinhood, viral social media posts, and a populist backlash against Wall Street. Robinhood later restricted GME trading, sparking controversy and congressional hearings.

Why This Matters

GameStopโ€™s Bitcoin investment could signal growing corporate adoption of $BTC beyond traditional finance and tech firms.

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This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

Author
Simona Ram

Simona Ram is the senior journalist at DailyCoin, focusing on in-depth investigations of the cryptocurrency sector. Simona has minor holdings in Bitcoin.

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