Michael Saylor, the outspoken Bitcoin advocate and Chairman of MicroStrategy, is about to make a bold pitch to Microsoft’s board of directors on why the tech giant should consider investing in Bitcoin. Saylor, who has led MicroStrategy in amassing over 100,000 Bitcoins, has been invited to present his case in a three-minute slot—an opportunity he’s not wasting.
Speaking at a VanEck-hosted X Spaces on November 19, Saylor revealed that he would deliver a brief presentation to the Microsoft board, emphasizing the benefits of Bitcoin as an asset that could stabilize and reduce risk for the company’s stock. “The activist that put that proposal together contacted me to present to the board, and I agreed to provide a three-minute presentation,” Saylor explained. Despite only having a few minutes, he plans to make a compelling case for Bitcoin as a strategic investment for Microsoft.
Earlier, Saylor had proposed a confidential meeting with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to discuss Bitcoin, but that offer was declined. Nevertheless, the upcoming three-minute presentation will push forward his vision of why tech companies like Microsoft should consider adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets as a way to shield against the volatility of their earnings-based stock values.
The Push for Bitcoin: Why Microsoft Should Listen
In October, Microsoft announced that one of the key voting items on its agenda for December would be whether to assess the idea of investing in Bitcoin. The proposal, put forth by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), draws attention to the success of MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin strategy. The proposal points out that MicroStrategy’s share price has outperformed Microsoft by over 300% this year, despite doing far less business. This stark contrast between the companies’ market performances has caught the eye of some shareholders and activists.
Saylor himself argued that companies like Microsoft, Berkshire Hathaway, Apple, Google, and Meta could all benefit from adopting a similar strategy. “It ought to be put on the agenda of every company,” he said. “They all have huge hordes of cash, and they’re all burning shareholder value.” He’s advocating for Bitcoin to become a part of their long-term strategy to protect against inflation and volatility.
Saylor went on to explain that 98.5% of Microsoft’s value is tied to its quarterly earnings, with only 1.5% of its stock value coming from tangible assets. He believes that by diversifying into something like Bitcoin, a tangible, hard asset, Microsoft’s stock would become more stable, less risky, and better insulated against market fluctuations.
“It would be a lot more stable stock and a much less risky stock if half of the enterprise value of the stock was based upon tangible assets or property like Bitcoin,” he argued. This, he believes, would not only stabilize Microsoft’s financial profile but could also unlock tremendous shareholder value.
The Vote and the Pressure on Microsoft’s Board
The proposal for Microsoft to assess investing in Bitcoin will be put to a shareholder vote on December 10. The board of directors, however, has already made its position clear: it is recommending a vote against the proposal. According to Microsoft, the company already evaluates a wide range of assets, including Bitcoin, and sees no need to make a formal commitment to purchasing the cryptocurrency.
Despite this recommendation, the NCPPR’s Ethan Peck believes that the proposal could place Microsoft in a difficult position. If the company moves forward with the assessment and ultimately decides not to invest in Bitcoin, it may face pressure from its shareholders. Peck speculates that the sheer visibility of the proposal and the growing influence of Bitcoin advocates may force Microsoft to take the idea more seriously.
Currently, Microsoft’s board consists of 12 members, including CEO Satya Nadella, who also serves as the board’s chairman. The group includes high-ranking executives from major corporations like The Walt Disney Company, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and GSK. With such influential figures at the helm, it remains to be seen whether the board will be swayed by Saylor’s pitch or if Microsoft will maintain its course on cryptocurrency investments.
What’s at Stake for Microsoft?
As the December vote draws nearer, all eyes will be on Microsoft’s decision regarding Bitcoin. Will the company follow in the footsteps of other businesses that have adopted Bitcoin as a treasury asset? Or will it stick with its current strategy and avoid taking on the perceived risks of cryptocurrency? Regardless of the outcome, the conversation around Bitcoin and its role in corporate strategy is likely to intensify. If Microsoft does choose to move forward with Saylor’s advice, it could signal a new era of corporate Bitcoin adoption—one where companies embrace digital assets as a hedge against economic uncertainty and market volatility.
