Michael Saylor Open to Advising Trump Administration on Crypto Strategy

By José Oramas December 19, 2024 In Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, Microstrategy
July 21, 2024, Paraguay. In this photo illustration, the MicroStrategy Incorporated logo is displayed on a smartphone screen
Source:AdobeStock
  • Michael Saylor is willing to advise Donald Trump on cryptocurrency policy if invited.
  • The company recently purchased an additional US$1.5B worth of Bitcoin, raising its total holdings to 439,000 BTC, valued at approximately US$45B.

MicroStrategy’s co-founder Michael Saylor said he’s willing to advise President-elect Donald Trump on cryptocurrency-related matters if asked. 

In an interview on Bloomberg Open Interest, Saylor said:

I’m always willing to provide a thought on constructive digital asset policy either in confidence or publicly. And if I’m asked to serve on some sort of Digital Assets Advisory Council. I probably would.

Michael Saylor

MicroStrategy’s Classification Issues

MicroStrategy will join the Nasdaq-100 index on December 23, alongside Palantir Technologies and Axon Enterprise. These firms will replace Super Micro Computer, Moderna and Illumina. 

But MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin holdings could pose challenges for its long-term inclusion in the index, mostly due to revenue source concerns. That means that while the company is classified as a technology firm offering business intelligence services, the insane amount of Bitcoin it buys alters this perception. 

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In other words, it doesn’t sound like the firm’s primary focus is selling business intelligence software but instead just buying a degenerate amount of BTC. Another problem: if Bitcoin, under Trump’s 2025 administration, changes its classification to a financial instrument, MicroStrategy would, most likely, be forced to reclassify its status as a financial company —and not a tech one

Talking about degenerate crypto buying sprees, the company recently bought an additional US$1.5B (AU$2.35B) worth of Bitcoin, bringing its total holdings to 439,000 BTC, valued at approximately US$45B (AU$72B). 

As I stated previously, this continued buying spree can be problematic, leading to a reclassification by the Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB). In other words, the firm’s entry into the prestigious Nasdaq 100 could be denied, as it’s limited to non-financial companies.

Related: Is $130K Bitcoin Next?

But Saylor doesn’t care. He just shrugs concerns like these off, saying MicroStrategy’s identity is not solely tied to its Bitcoin investments (wink). The company’s software division contributes about US$75M (AU$120M) annually in operating income, he says:

We have a very healthy software division now and we’re very proud of it. It’s profitable and it’s a core part of the company’s identity.

Michael Saylor

Saylor also framed the company as a “Bitcoin Treasury company” that prioritises shareholder value through treasury operations. He outlined three methods of value creation: operating income from software, unrealised investment income totaling US$18.6B (AU$29.9B), and strategic acquisitions similar to practices seen in companies like Apple.

José Oramas
Author

José Oramas

José is a journalist and translator with a keen interest in blockchain and cryptocurrencies.

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