Microsoft shareholders have decisively rejected a proposal to invest in Bitcoin, marking a setback for cryptocurrency advocates seeking mainstream corporate adoption.
The proposal, spearheaded by the National Center for Public Policy Research, aimed to direct the technology giant toward Bitcoin investment as an inflation hedge. The conservative think tank has been particularly active in corporate governance, filing over 60 proposals at Fortune 500 companies on issues ranging from diversity initiatives to cryptocurrency investments.
Bitcoin's remarkable performance this year, with gains exceeding 118% since January, failed to sway Microsoft's leadership. The company explicitly recommended shareholders vote against the proposal. Their rationale centered on cryptocurrencies' volatility and Microsoft's requirement for "stable and predictable investments to ensure liquidity and operational funding."
Keith Dolliver, Microsoft's deputy general counsel, indicated during the annual shareholder meeting that detailed voting results would be published on the company's website imminently. The Bitcoin proposal was among six shareholder initiatives rejected during Tuesday's meeting, according to preliminary tallies.
The proposal's rejection comes amid growing political interest in Bitcoin's potential role in national finance. The US President-elect Donald Trump has proposed converting seized Bitcoin into a "strategic national Bitcoin stockpile" to address national debt. Several US states have explored similar initiatives. Critics, particularly conservative economists, warn such moves could trigger artificial price inflation at taxpayers' expense.
Microsoft's Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood addressed the company's cryptocurrency stance during the meeting's Q&A session. "We have accepted some cryptocurrencies as payment since 2014," Hood noted. She emphasized the company's balance sheet priorities: "to preserve capital, to allow a lot of liquidity, [and] to be able to fund our operations and partnerships and investments."
The contrast between Microsoft's cautious approach and MicroStrategy's Bitcoin strategy is stark. MicroStrategy has accumulated $37 billion in Bitcoin, driving its shares up more than 450% this year. Microsoft's more conservative approach has yielded a 26% year-to-date increase in share value.
Michael Saylor, in a three-minute video appeal to Microsoft shareholders, argued that global corporations could preserve substantial value through Bitcoin investment. "Microsoft has a choice to make: Cling to the past or embrace the future," he stated. Despite his advocacy, Microsoft's shareholders remained unconvinced.
The decision reflects broader corporate hesitancy toward cryptocurrency investment, even as Bitcoin experiences significant market gains. Few non-crypto companies have followed MicroStrategy's aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy, suggesting continued mainstream resistance to cryptocurrency treasury adoption.