Tesla cars can be bought in Bitcoin
Tesla customers can now buy their car with Bitcoin, company chief Elon Musk has said. Mr Musk, a well known Bitcoin enthusiast, made the unexpected announcement in a tweet.
And in an apparent bid to assuage fears of Bitcoin enthusiasts who want to see the ecosystem thrive, Mr Musk said: "Bitcoin paid to Tesla will be retained as Bitcoin, not converted to fiat [government-controlled] currency"
In the US, orders for new Tesla cars can now be secured with the equivalent of a $100 deposit in Bitcoin. The facility would be rolled out to other countries in the coming months, Mr Musk said.
Bitcoin's volatile price makes its use to buy real-world goods somewhat complicated. For example, Tesla's terms and conditions say if a refund is needed, it can pay in either the exact amount of Bitcoin paid or in US dollars based on the dollar price of the car - whichever it wants. So if the price of Bitcoin shoots up before a refund is issued, the customer could lose out.