Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of MicroStrategy, will present a Bitcoin investment strategy to Microsoft’s board, following a shareholder proposal to assess Bitcoin as a potential corporate treasury asset.
Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of MicroStrategy and a prominent Bitcoin advocate, is set to deliver a three-minute presentation to Microsoft’s board of directors regarding Bitcoin as a potential corporate investment strategy. Saylor confirmed the engagement during a Nov. 19 X Spaces event hosted by VanEck, revealing that the opportunity arose through an activist shareholder proposal.
Michael Saylor to present to Microsoft's board next month on adding #Bitcoin to their corporate treasury.
— TFTC (@TFTC21) November 19, 2024
Shareholder activists secured him a 3-minute slot for the pitch. pic.twitter.com/nrayrMMmqF
“The activist that put that proposal together contacted me to present to the board, and I agreed to provide a three-minute presentation — that’s all you’re allowed — and I’m going to present it to the board of directors,” Saylor stated.
The proposal to assess Bitcoin as an investment was spearheaded by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) and will be a voting item during Microsoft’s December board meeting. The proposal points to MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin investment strategy, noting that its share price has outperformed Microsoft’s by over 300% this year, despite MicroStrategy’s smaller business scale.
Saylor emphasized the relevance of Bitcoin for large corporations with substantial cash reserves. “It’s not a bad idea to put it on the agenda of every company,” Saylor remarked, suggesting that corporations like Apple, Google, and Meta should also consider Bitcoin to preserve shareholder value.
Microsoft’s board previously recommended voting against the proposal, citing that the company already evaluates a broad range of investable assets, including Bitcoin. However, Ethan Peck, deputy director of NCPPR’s Free Enterprise Project, told Cointelegraph that Microsoft might face scrutiny if the assessment leads to a decision against Bitcoin investment.
The proposal comes at a time when Bitcoin-focused corporate strategies are gaining traction. MicroStrategy, the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, has seen significant appreciation in its stock price due to its aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy. As of now, the company holds over 331,200 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $30 billion.
Microsoft’s board of directors, including high-profile members such as CEO Satya Nadella and executives from Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and Disney, will weigh the proposal. A favorable decision could mark a significant shift in corporate Bitcoin adoption, further legitimizing it as a strategic asset for treasury management.
