Four Years In: MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin Bet Surpasses Warren Buffett’s Caution

Bitcoin Market Analysis

MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin Strategy Surpasses Warren Buffett’s Predictions

MicroStrategy has seen a staggering increase of 1,000% in its stock value since it made its initial Bitcoin investment, while Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway have notably lagged behind.

Bitcoin Market Analysis

MicroStrategy’s Journey with Bitcoin

MicroStrategy officially entered the Bitcoin market on August 10, 2020, becoming the first publicly traded entity to adopt Bitcoin as its core treasury reserve asset. Four years later, this strategic choice has proven to be incredibly beneficial, outpacing even the gains of Warren Buffett’s investment firm.

Profits from Bitcoin Holdings

As of August 10, 2024, MicroStrategy has accumulated 226,500 BTC, valued at approximately $13.771 billion, with an average acquisition cost of around $37,000. With Bitcoin trading at roughly $60,500, the company now enjoys unrealized profits nearing $5.39 billion.

MicroStrategy Bitcoin Purchases Over Time
MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin purchases over time. Source: SaylorTracker.com

Despite the significant profits, MicroStrategy has opted to retain its Bitcoin assets rather than liquidate any of its holdings. The company continues to express a desire to accumulate more Bitcoin, as evidenced by a recent transaction on August 1.

Comparison with Berkshire Hathaway

Since starting its Bitcoin acquisition journey in 2020, MicroStrategy’s MSTR stock has experienced immense growth, increasing by roughly 1,000%, which is 1.5 times greater than Bitcoin’s returns and 16.25 times the growth of the S&P 500 Index during the same timeframe.

MicroStrategy vs Bitcoin and S&P 500 Performance
Performance of MSTR compared to BTC/USD and the S&P 500 since August 2020. Source: TradingView

In contrast, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has not shared the same success. The Class A stock of Berkshire Hathaway, BRK.A, has grown just 104.75% during the same period, largely due to Buffett’s consistent skepticism toward Bitcoin, which has prevented the firm from considering investments in cryptocurrency.

Buffett infamously labeled Bitcoin as “rat poison squared” in 2018, while his associate, the late Charlie Munger, predicted in 2021 that BTC’s value could eventually collapse to zero.

Nonetheless, both Bitcoin and MicroStrategy have outperformed Buffett’s major stock holdings, including Apple, American Express, and Bank of America, in recent years.

MSTR Compared to Berkshire and Other Major Stocks
Returns of MSTR compared to BRK.A, AAPL, BAC, and AXP since August 2020. Source: TradingView

Despite MicroStrategy’s remarkable performance, some investors believe the stock is overvalued compared to its Bitcoin holdings. For instance, Sahm Adrangi, chief investment officer at Kerrisdale Capital, suggested it’s trading at an “unjustifiable premium” based on its software business alone.

“Bitcoin prices have to go up for the value of the company to increase. If they go down, the value of the company goes down. The company should be trading at the value of Bitcoin,” Adrangi stated.

This content does not serve as investment advice. Every financial decision carries risks, and it is crucial for readers to conduct their own thorough research before making any investment choices.

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