Can Michael Saylor Get Microsoft to Buy Bitcoin?

Michael Saylor’s presentation to the Microsoft board in December 2024 is a cornerstone of his mission to promote Bitcoin as an important asset for corporate financial management. Saylor, an ardent Bitcoin advocate and Executive Chairman of MicroStrategy, has positioned himself as a leading voice in driving Bitcoin adoption among institutional and business players.

The presentation to Microsoft, one of the world’s most influential technology companies, aimed to align the promise of Bitcoin with Microsoft’s innovative legacy and financial strategy. Today Michael Saylor released the video and slides of his presentation.

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Background information on Michael Saylor and Bitcoin Advocacy

Michael Saylor’s advocacy for Bitcoin began with a bold pivot Microstrategy in 2020, in which the company restructured its treasury strategy to acquire and hold Bitcoin as a primary reserve asset. Saylor’s move was based on his belief that Bitcoin is a transformative technology similar to the Internet that represents a shift in the fundamental structure of value storage and transfer. Until December 2024, Microstrategy had accumulated billions of dollars worth of Bitcoin and weathered market volatility to become a symbol of corporate belief in Bitcoin’s long-term value.

Saylor’s core thesis revolves around Bitcoin as “digital gold,” a modern equivalent of the world’s most trusted store of value but with superior properties. Unlike traditional assets, Bitcoin is decentralized, limited (maximum 21 million coins), and immune to the inflationary pressures of monetary policy. Saylor consistently argues that Bitcoin is not just an asset class, but a technological innovation that secures value in an increasingly digital and uncertain world.

Key themes from Saylor’s presentation at Microsoft

Saylor’s pitch to Microsoft was a carefully crafted argument that he focused on The strategic relevance of Bitcoin for the company and its shareholders. His lecture can be divided into several core topics:

1. Bitcoin as the culmination of technological waves

Saylor described Bitcoin as the latest development in a series of groundbreaking technological transformations:

• 1980s: The rise of personal computing (e.g. Microsoft’s fundamental success with Windows).
• 1990s: The emergence of the Internet as a universal communication medium.
• 2000s and beyond: The proliferation of mobile computing and cloud services.
• 2020s: The era of “digital capital” led by Bitcoin.

This positioning was reflected in Microsoft’s history of leveraging transformative technologies to build dominant market positions. By highlighting Bitcoin as the next big innovation, Saylor aligned its adoption with Microsoft’s role as a technology pioneer.

Source: Michael Saylor

2. The rise of digital capital

Saylor presented Bitcoin as the world’s first and most robust form of digital capital. With a market capitalization of over $2 trillion in 2024, Bitcoin had become the seventh largest asset in the world, trailing only giants such as Gold, Apple and Microsoft itself. He argued that Bitcoin exponential growthreinforced by increasing institutional acceptance, marks a unique financial and technological paradigm shift.

Saylor’s claim was clear: Those who don’t adopt Bitcoin risk falling behind as the world transitions from traditional assets to digital capital. He predicted that Bitcoin could grow into a $200 trillion market within the next two decades, driven by:

• Institutional adoption.
• The financialization of Bitcoin (e.g. ETFs, derivatives).
• Growing recognition of Bitcoin as the ultimate store of value.

Source: Michael Saylor

3. Bitcoin vs. traditional assets

A key part of the presentation was Saylor’s criticism of traditional assets used to preserve capital:

• Gold: Vulnerable to inflationary pressures and outperformed by Bitcoin over the last decade.
• Property: Illiquid, location dependent and vulnerable to regulatory risks.
• Fiat and bonds: Hollowed out by inflation and with falling real returns.

Saylor argued that Bitcoin is superior because it:

• Is inherently scarce (21 million supply cap).
• Operates on an open, secure and transparent blockchain network.
• Is globally transferable, programmable and immune to physical seizure or geographic risk.

The aim of this argument was to portray Bitcoin as a revolutionary advance that addresses the shortcomings associated with legacy assets.

Source: Michael Saylor

4. Strategic value for Microsoft

Saylor tailored his argument specifically to Microsoft’s strategic goals. He presented data showing how Bitcoin adoption has strengthened MicroStrategy’s financial performance and market position:

• Bitcoin’s performance since then MicroStrategys The first acquisition of 2020 had far outperformed major asset classes and technology stocks, including Microsoft shares.
• He noted that companies holding Bitcoin saw higher trading volume and investor interest, which increased shareholder value.

For Microsoft he suggested the following:

• Put some of its significant cash reserves into Bitcoin to diversify and hedge against inflation.
• Using Bitcoin as a tool to appeal to younger, tech-savvy shareholders who see Bitcoin as the currency of the future.
• Strengthening Microsoft’s branding as an innovator at the forefront of transformative technologies.

Source: Michael Saylor

5. Robust Bitcoin fundamentals

Saylor provided an in-depth analysis of Bitcoin’s resilience and security:

• Hash rate: Bitcoin’s computing power had reached unprecedented levels, making it the most secure decentralized network in the world.
• Institutional adoption: Big players like BlackRock, Fidelity and sovereign wealth funds integrated Bitcoin into their portfolios.
• Regulatory dynamics: Governments around the world increasingly recognized Bitcoin’s legitimacy, and positive action was emerging in major markets.

Saylor emphasized that these fundamentals make Bitcoin an asset with unparalleled durability and growth potential.

Saylor’s presentation to Microsoft was not just a financial pitch, but a visionary argument for a fundamental shift in how value is stored and transferred in the digital age. Calling Bitcoin both a hedge against macroeconomic risks and a driver of innovation, Saylor invoked Microsoft’s dual identity as a financial powerhouse and a technology pioneer.

Strengthen

1. Consistent with Microsoft Heritage: Saylor has effectively linked Bitcoin to Microsoft’s history of adopting transformative technologies.
2. Convincing data: His talk included hard data on Bitcoin’s growth and performance compared to traditional assets and stocks.
3. Visionary design: By positioning Bitcoin as a “digital asset,” Saylor captured its broader implications beyond mere financial returns.

Source: Michael Saylor

Diploma

Michael Saylor’s presentation at Microsoft summarizes his broader mission to integrate Bitcoin into the mainstream corporate world. By weaving a narrative that connects Bitcoin’s technological prowess with its financial potential, Saylor made a compelling argument that Microsoft should consider adopting Bitcoin as a strategic asset. Regardless of whether Microsoft follows through on its recommendations or not, the presentation underscores the growing importance of Bitcoin in the evolving digital finance landscape.