Bitcoin Advocate Michael Saylor Urges Microsoft CEO to Add BTC to Treasury Amid Shareholder Proposal
Key Highlights:
– Michael Saylor pushes for Microsoft to invest in Bitcoin, pointing to a 971% BTC price increase over the past three years.
– MicroStrategy’s stock hits a 25-year high at $235.89, reflecting the success of its Bitcoin strategy.
– BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, IBIT, attracts $23.5 billion, indicating strong institutional interest.
Michael Saylor, a well-known Bitcoin proponent, has called on Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to consider adding Bitcoin to the company’s treasury. This suggestion aligns with a recent shareholder proposal submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), urging Microsoft to evaluate Bitcoin as a treasury asset.
Saylor, who has been a vocal advocate for Bitcoin, emphasized that investing in BTC could provide significant returns, especially as traditional assets face inflation-related pressures.
Michael Saylor Cites MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin Strategy as a Model:
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Saylor proposed a “next trillion-dollar” opportunity to Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, encouraging the tech giant to integrate Bitcoin into its financial portfolio. MicroStrategy, which Saylor leads, has accumulated 252,220 BTC, worth over $17 billion, with an acquisition cost of around $9.9 billion.
This bold strategy has paid off, with MicroStrategy’s stock price reaching a 25-year peak of $235.89, reflecting more than a 10% gain. The company’s market capitalization now stands at $43.6 billion, largely boosted by its Bitcoin holdings, despite the firm’s net asset value.
Saylor compared this trend to the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust prior to its conversion to a spot Bitcoin ETF. He argued that Microsoft’s scale and influence could make Bitcoin integration highly profitable, especially considering the 971% rise in BTC’s value over the last three years, outperforming corporate bonds and short-term treasury bills.
However, Saylor’s calls for Microsoft to adopt Bitcoin have faced some criticism, particularly around the idea of major banks providing Bitcoin custody services.
Exploring Bitcoin for Microsoft’s Treasury:
A shareholder proposal from the National Center for Public Policy Research has urged Microsoft’s board to consider Bitcoin as a part of its treasury management strategy. The proposal argues that Microsoft’s current investments in U.S. government securities and corporate bonds may not adequately protect against inflation.
It suggests that even a small Bitcoin allocation, as little as 1% of Microsoft’s assets, could serve as a hedge against currency devaluation. Additionally, BlackRock, Microsoft’s second-largest shareholder, has been a major player in Bitcoin’s institutional adoption, with its Bitcoin ETF, IBIT, driving substantial inflows.
Recently, IBIT recorded $300 million in new investments, bringing its total inflows to over $23.5 billion, highlighting growing institutional interest in Bitcoin. This trend could bolster Saylor’s argument for Microsoft to consider similar opportunities.
The shareholder vote on this proposal is scheduled for December 10 during Microsoft’s annual meeting. However, Microsoft’s board has recommended voting against the proposal, citing the volatility of Bitcoin as a key concern.
