December 18, 2025

Bitcoin’s Biggest Test Yet: Why Public Companies Could Trigger the Next Major Move

What's Really Behind Bitcoin's Recent Dip

Let's talk about something important that's not getting much attention: Bitcoin is facing a big test right now, and it's not because of regular everyday investors.

The pressure is coming from public companies that hold Bitcoin as an asset. They're now dealing with the fallout from the recent market drop.

In the past year, companies like Tesla, Coinbase, MicroStrategy, Block, and GameStop put a lot of Bitcoin on their books. This action made Bitcoin seem more legitimate to Wall Street, but it also created another problem.

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SEC Rule Affecting Companies Holding Bitcoin

There's an accounting rule from the SEC that's causing some headaches for companies holding Bitcoin. Basically, if a company owns Bitcoin and its price decreases, they must report that drop as a loss.

The tricky part? They have to do this even if they don't sell any of their Bitcoin.

So, when it's time to report earnings, many companies might have financial reports that don't look great. This might not be because the company did poorly, but just because the price of Bitcoin went down at the wrong moment.

GameStop's Earnings Highlight Crypto Accounting Problems

GameStop's recent earnings report really shows a problem with how companies account for crypto. Last quarter, they reported a net income of $169 million, which is pretty good. They also hold over 4,700 Bitcoin. The problem is Bitcoin dropped over $28,000 since last quarter. GameStop might have to report losses of over $130 million because of that. This could wipe out over 90% of their income.

Keep in mind, these are just paper losses. GameStop didn't actually sell any Bitcoin, and they didn't do anything wrong.

GameStop isn't alone. Any company that holds Bitcoin is dealing with this issue.

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Which Companies Are Most at Risk?

A few big companies might have issues reporting their earnings because of Bitcoin.

  • Block (Square) - Almost half their income could vanish because of Bitcoin's price going down.
  • Tesla - They might have to report more losses, even though they haven't sold any Bitcoin.
  • Coinbase - Bitcoin's ups and downs could make their losses seem way bigger than they really are.
  • MicroStrategy - They might have to report billions in losses again, even if they don't sell any Bitcoin.

These numbers don't really show how well these companies are doing. They just show how Bitcoin's price changes and how outdated accounting rules can skew how their profits look.

Why Crypto Can Feel Like Riding a Rollercoaster

From 2023 to 2025, lots of companies jumped into Bitcoin, but many are still learning just how volatile crypto can be. They enjoyed the price increases, but they haven't experienced the downturns yet—like when the market drops and it feels like you're losing all your money.

So, when these losses appear, people get nervous. It's not that Bitcoin is different, but the people holding it aren't used to such big price changes.

Common Concerns During Price Drops

When people get scared, they start asking familiar questions:

  • Is there something wrong with Bitcoin's technology?
  • Is the blockchain still secure?
  • Could quantum computing destroy everything?
  • Should we sell to cut our losses?

These concerns aren't new. They're the same ones that come up every time prices go down, and emotions take over. It’s a pattern that has been around with Bitcoin for a while.

What Earnings Season Means for the Market

If companies start blaming Bitcoin for missing their earnings targets, some big investors might pull back. This isn't because there's something wrong with Bitcoin, but because they don't fully get how it works.

This lack of understanding could cause some bumps in the short run, but it won't change where Bitcoin is headed in the long run.

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Why This Could Become a Major Bitcoin Accumulation Opportunity

Here’s the silver lining: if companies panic-sell or report weak numbers, Bitcoin could enter one of the best accumulation windows before its next major move.

Despite volatility, Bitcoin’s fundamentals remain unchanged:

  • Fixed supply

  • Unmatched network security

  • Growing global adoption

  • Increasing long-term demand

This moment is less about Bitcoin’s weakness and more about a psychological test for new institutional holders.

The Bottom Line: It's Not Bitcoin, It's How Investors Think

Bitcoin isn’t the real problem here. The real question is whether these newer institutional investors can handle the kind of volatility that has always been part of Bitcoin’s behavior.

If Bitcoin bounces back before earnings season, this whole thing will likely be forgotten. If it doesn't, things might get shaky for a bit, but it could lead to a more stable base down the line.

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Joel Peterson


Joel escaped the corporate rat race back in 2002 after discovering the power of the internet – and he’s been helping others do the same ever since. In 2013, he helped launch one of the first Bitcoin mining farms in the U.S., which ignited his passion for crypto. That journey ultimately led to the creation of The Crypto Code – a premier crypto education, research, and software company with a global team of over 40 employees and thousands of students around the world.

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