According to U.Today, exactly two years ago, Michael Saylor, the chairman and cofounder of MicroStrategy, made a significant statement about Bitcoin's potential. Saylor asserted that Bitcoin's economic function is to provide property rights to 8 billion people. This statement was highlighted by Bitcoin historian Pete Rizzo in a recent post on X, emphasizing its relevance both then and now, despite Bitcoin's fluctuating price.
Saylor's declaration came during a challenging period marked by a bear market influenced by macroeconomic factors and failures within the crypto industry, notably the collapse of Terra Luna in May 2022. At that time, Bitcoin was trading around $20,000. Saylor's perspective underscores Bitcoin's potential beyond mere investment speculation, focusing on its role in empowering individuals globally through secure, decentralized property rights.
Since Saylor's statement, Bitcoin has experienced significant growth, rising more than threefold and currently trading at $67,202. Saylor began purchasing Bitcoin in 2020 as an inflation hedge and alternative to cash. MicroStrategy, under Saylor's leadership, has continued to invest heavily in Bitcoin, spending over $2.4 billion on the cryptocurrency in 2024 alone. The company has amassed 226,331 Bitcoin, valued at over $13.3 billion, with Bitcoin's value increasing by 600% since the start of its acquisition in 2020. Concurrently, MicroStrategy's shares have surged by approximately 1,000% during this period.
MicroStrategy, the largest publicly traded corporate holder of Bitcoin, recently announced a 10-for-1 stock split to make its shares more accessible to investors and employees. The enterprise software company has spent $8.3 billion on Bitcoin, resulting in an 80% paper gain on its assets. This strategic move reflects Saylor's continued confidence in Bitcoin's long-term potential and its role in the global financial landscape.
