Microsoft Shareholders to Vote on Bitcoin Investment Proposal

In December, Microsoft shareholders will have the opportunity to vote on a proposal regarding the potential addition of Bitcoin to the company’s balance sheet. This information was disclosed in a recent filing with the U.S. securities regulator dated October 24.

Details of the Proposal

The filing reveals that the topic of “Assessment of Investing in Bitcoin” will be brought forth for a vote at a meeting scheduled for December 10. However, Microsoft’s board has already expressed its recommendation against the proposal, citing that the company routinely evaluates a diverse range of investment opportunities, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Background of the Proposal

The National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) is behind the push for this proposal. They noted the significant success of MicroStrategy’s investment strategy in Bitcoin, which has reportedly outperformed Microsoft by over 300% this year despite MicroStrategy conducting a smaller scale of business. This highlights a shift in institutional and corporate interest in Bitcoin, particularly through the introduction of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.

• Bitcoin’s volatility presents risks but also potential advantages as a hedge against inflation.
• The NCPPR suggests companies consider holding at least a portion of their assets, even as little as 1%, in Bitcoin.

Further Information

The NCPPR describes itself as a “non-partisan, free-market, independent conservative think tank” dedicated to protecting the liberties of Americans across generations.

While the likelihood of Microsoft proceeding with a Bitcoin investment appears low at this time, the company has previously accepted Bitcoin payments for its Xbox online store from 2014 to 2018. Currently, Microsoft is more focused on advancements in artificial intelligence than blockchain technology.

As of October 24, Microsoft’s stock price remained stable, with a slight increase of 0.03%, bringing it to $424.70 according to financial data.