Microsoft's Board Advises Shareholders Against Voting For Bitcoin Investment
According to a recent filing by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) will hold its annual shareholders meeting on 10 December, where investors will vote on several proposals, including whether the company should assess adding Bitcoin to its balance sheet.
One key proposal titled "Assessment of investing in Bitcoin" will be put to a vote.
However, Microsoft's board has already recommended voting against the proposal, stating that they "evaluate a wide range of investable assets," including Bitcoin.
The filing further emphasizes that Microsoft's management has thoroughly considered this matter already.
Bitcoin May Be Volatile But Holds Certain Benefits
The National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) is driving the proposal, citing MicroStrategy's Bitcoin investment strategy, which has outperformed Microsoft by over 300% this year, despite MicroStrategy being a much smaller company.
NCPPR also pointed out that institutional and corporate adoption of Bitcoin is becoming more prevalent, particularly with the rise of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
While acknowledging Bitcoin's volatility, NCPPR argued that it could serve as a hedge against inflation and low corporate bond yields.
It noted:
"At minimum, companies should evaluate the benefits of holding some, even just 1% of its assets in Bitcoin.”
As a self-described "non-partisan, free-market, independent conservative think tank," NCPPR aims to promote long-term financial security and liberty for Americans.
Although Microsoft remains focused on artificial intelligence (AI) rather than blockchain, it already accepts Bitcoin for online purchases at its Windows and Xbox stores.
If Microsoft were to invest directly in Bitcoin, it would join the limited ranks of US companies doing so.
For now, however, an investment seems unlikely, as the firm prioritises other technologies.
Despite the debate over Bitcoin, Microsoft's stock price remained stable, with only a slight increase of 0.031% on 25 October, reaching $424.73, according to Google Finance.