Apple Leadership Shift Sparks Speculation Over Crypto Investment

Apple's incoming leadership shift has sparked speculation about the company's stance on cryptocurrency. Tim Cook, who stepped down as CEO on September 1, had expressed his views on Bitcoin in a 2021 interview with The New York Times.

Cook stated that he personally owns crypto but believed Apple shouldn't invest in it because its customers buy Apple stock for exposure to the company's own performance, not cryptocurrency. He declined to reveal how much he holds, citing a desire to maintain separation between his personal and professional life.

The numbers since Cook's statement have indeed favored him, with Bitcoin reaching a record near $68,991 in November 2021 and surpassing $77,244 by Sunday last week. Meanwhile, Apple shares closed at $175.35 in 2021 and ended Friday at $319.70, roughly an 82% increase.

With John Ternus taking over as CEO, the question remains whether Apple will change its stance on cryptocurrency investment under new leadership. As a hardware engineer with no finance background, Ternus's views on crypto are unclear. The decision to invest in or avoid crypto currently rests within Apple's payments division, rather than the treasury.