MicroStrategy Chairman Michael Saylor explained the company’s Bitcoin acquisition that surprised skeptics on the latest episode of The Iced Coffee Hour.
Michael Saylor, the founder of MicroStrategy, recently disclosed the audacious approach that enabled his company to establish itself as the first public corporation to invest heavily in Bitcoin (BTC).
Saylor emphasized the initial $250 million purchase of Bitcoin in August 2020 when discussing the decision.
This action was considered unprecedented in the corporate world.
Michael Saylor Discusses MicroStrategy’s Investment in Bitcoin
The MicroStrategy founder deemed Bitcoin as the “solution for 8 billion people’s problem.”
Furthermore, he added, “It’s the biggest innovation in money or property rights in the history of the human race. It’s like fire or electricity, it’s this new monetary protocol which is going to elevate humanity to new levels.”
Furthermore, Saylor emphasized that MicroStrategy executed the action in an act of “desperation.”
He disclosed in a recent interview with The Iced Coffee Hour that the Bitcoin acquisition was their final recourse to avert the company’s closure.
However, Saylor voiced concerns about Bitcoin’s infamous volatility, fretting that substantial declines might astonish investors and provoke legal disputes.
As a result, MicroStrategy coupled its Bitcoin acquisition with a $250 million stock buyback at a premium, structured as a Dutch auction, to mitigate these risks.
Furthermore, this action enabled shareholders who were opposed to the Bitcoin strategy to sell their shares at a premium, effectively reallocating the shareholder pool to consist solely of investors who supported Bitcoin.
Unexpectedly, the amount of shares tendered was only $60 million, thereby leaving $175 million available for further Bitcoin purchases.
As a result, MicroStrategy acquired an additional $425 million worth of Bitcoin.
Meanwhile, as no other publicly traded company had invested in Bitcoin more than a few million dollars, this resolute action established MicroStrategy as an innovator.
MicroStrategy declared Bitcoin to be its principal treasury reserve asset as the news began to circulate.
Consequently, they challenged conventional methods of capital allocation, including currency reserves and bond investments.
MicroStrategy Benefits Greatly From The Move
Following this announcement, the stock price of the company multiplied, facilitating the acquisition of an extra $650 million.
MicroStrategy issued a convertible debt offering at 0% interest within six months, to invest another billion dollars in Bitcoin.
Furthermore, other public companies were astounded by the company’s assertive approach towards acquiring Bitcoin.
Moreover, reports surfaced regarding Square and Tesla’s Bitcoin investments.
Despite the capricious nature of the market and regulatory ambiguities, such as the prohibitions imposed by China on Bitcoin mining and trading, Saylor maintained an unwavering conviction in Bitcoin’s potential.
In addition, he posited that Bitcoin symbolizes a paradigm shift in money and property rights.
Furthermore, to augment its Bitcoin holdings, MicroStrategy continued to raise capital over four years via debt and equity offerings.
The company had allocated $7.5 billion towards Bitcoin as of June 2024, when its market value varied between $14 and $15 billion.
Meanwhile, by implementing this audacious approach, the company notably amplified its enterprise value from $600 million to more than $30 billion, and its market capitalization surged from $1 billion to $30 billion.
MicroStrategy’s stock exhibited an exceptionally strong performance relative to esteemed tech giants and major indices, including Nvidia, Tesla, Amazon, and Apple.
In his conclusion, Saylor acknowledged the turbulent nature of Bitcoin’s price fluctuations, both in terms of sentiment and finances.
However, he also underscored the profound impacts that Bitcoin had on the financial success of MicroStrategy.
The company’s rise from desperation to being a leader in corporate Bitcoin investing is a remarkable story of strategic innovation and tenacity.