Will Microsoft Finally Embrace Bitcoin ? Shareholders Set to Decide

Could Microsoft find itself in the crosshairs of its own shareholders for not having invested in Bitcoin ? Current events raise this question as the tech giant faces pressure ahead of a critical vote in December orchestrated by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR). At stake is a proposal aimed at officially assessing the opportunity to invest in Bitcoin, an asset that has become essential on the global economic scene. As tech giants increasingly turn their attention to cryptocurrencies, this situation places Microsoft at a strategic crossroads that could influence its relationship with shareholders and affect its reputation.

An appeal to Microsoft’s fiduciary duty

In December, Microsoft shareholders will be called to vote on a proposal introduced by the NCPPR, an independent research center focused on free enterprise. This proposal aims to compel Microsoft to seriously evaluate the potential interest in investing in Bitcoin. According to Ethan Peck, deputy director of the NCPPR’s free enterprise project, “Microsoft has a fiduciary obligation to its shareholders.” Peck clarifies that if Microsoft chooses to “publicly and explicitly determine that it is not in the interest of the company’s shareholders to buy Bitcoin” and subsequently, the price of Bitcoin rises significantly, this could justify legal action from shareholders.

Microsoft, for its part, did not take long to respond. In a statement to shareholders, the board recommended voting against this proposal and explained that the company is already evaluating “a wide range of investable assets,” including Bitcoin. However, the NCPPR argues that this approach is insufficient, particularly in light of the rise of companies adopting Bitcoin strategies, such as MicroStrategy, whose stock performance has outpaced that of Microsoft, despite a significantly lower revenue.

Between dialogue and growing pressures

This proposal from the NCPPR is not only aimed at Microsoft. It opens a broader debate on the place of cryptocurrencies in the strategies of large companies. Ethan Peck stated that, “even if the proposal fails, it will have succeeded in opening an important dialogue between Microsoft and its shareholders,” which raises awareness that could bear fruit in a future vote. The fact that the debate is now on the table could thus give visibility to proponents of Bitcoin investment, both at Microsoft and in other tech companies.

From an immediate financial standpoint, this pressure from shareholders could mark the beginning of a broader trend, where publicly traded companies would be encouraged to more seriously explore cryptocurrencies. As the first Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) enter the market, this demand could well strengthen. If Microsoft were to ignore these calls and Bitcoin embarks on a new ascent, this could generate tensions with its shareholders, while also amplifying the influence of pro-Bitcoin companies in the public debate.

As the world of tech companies gradually adapts to the crypto era, Microsoft may well be forced to reassess its strategic priorities under the influence of shareholder pressure. Regardless of the outcome of the vote, the issue raised by the NCPPR has opened a relevant and unprecedented debate that could influence other large companies. In this context, it remains to be seen whether Microsoft and its peers will ultimately turn to Bitcoin to satisfy both their shareholders and the demands of a rapidly changing digital economy.