Microsoft is facing a shareholder proposal to assess investing in Bitcoin. This has sparked debate about whether the tech giant will add Bitcoin to its treasury.
Microsoft’s Stance: A “No” on Bitcoin
Microsoft’s board of directors has recommended voting against the proposal. They argue that it’s unnecessary because they already consider cryptocurrencies as part of their investment strategy. They’ve evaluated Bitcoin in the past and continue to monitor the crypto market.
Who Holds the Power?
Microsoft’s shareholders are a mix of institutional investors, public companies, and individuals. The largest shareholders, Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street, could have a significant impact on the outcome.
- Vanguard, Microsoft’s largest shareholder, is known to be against Bitcoin and is likely to vote “no.”
- BlackRock, the second-largest shareholder, has embraced Bitcoin and even offers a Bitcoin ETF.
- State Street has shown some interest in cryptocurrencies, but it’s unclear how they’ll vote.
Experts Weigh In
Most analysts believe the proposal will fail. They point to Vanguard’s opposition and the fact that Microsoft’s board is already considering cryptocurrencies.
- Matthew Sigel of VanEck: “Microsoft Shareholders to Vote on Proposal to Invest in Bitcoin. MSFT Board Advises ‘Nay’. No-Coiner Vanguard owns ~9%.”
- Nate Geraci of The ETF Store: “Gonna go out on a limb & predict Microsoft’s largest shareholder (Vanguard) will be voting ‘no’ on adding btc to the balance sheet…”
- Di Lewis of BTC Inc.: “0% chance Microsoft adds bitcoin to their balance sheet this decade.”
- Adam Cochran of CEHV: “This is a fringe proposal by a think tank shareholder, and is not a serious consideration by Microsoft at large.”
Overall, it seems unlikely that Microsoft will invest in Bitcoin anytime soon. The proposal is facing strong opposition from key shareholders and the company’s board.
