Microsoft Shareholders to Vote on Bitcoin Investment Proposal Amidst Market Volatility

On December 10, Microsoft shareholders are set to vote on a significant proposal that could determine whether the tech giant will consider adding Bitcoin to its balance sheet. The proposal, titled “Assessment of Investing in Bitcoin,” was submitted by the National Center for Public Policy Research and argues that Bitcoin is an excellent hedge against inflation.

The vote, scheduled for 8:30 AM PST, comes at a time when Bitcoin has recently surged, partly due to endorsements from global leaders such as President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite this, Microsoft’s board of directors has recommended voting against the measure, citing that the company already evaluates a broad range of assets, including Bitcoin, as part of its existing investment strategy.

Microsoft’s history with Bitcoin has been cautious; the company briefly accepted Bitcoin as a payment method in 2014 but suspended the option in 2016 due to low usage and regulatory uncertainties. Revisiting Bitcoin investment now could signal a significant shift in strategy, aligning with the broader corporate trend toward cryptocurrency adoption.

The outcome of the vote is anticipated to have far-reaching implications. If approved, Microsoft would join a growing list of companies embracing digital assets, potentially influencing other tech giants to follow suit. However, prediction market traders and the company’s board expect the proposal to be rejected, with only an 11% likelihood of approval.

Microsoft is currently focused more on artificial intelligence (AI) than on crypto, having committed significant funds to AI and machine learning since 2019. The company has invested approximately $13 billion in OpenAI, highlighting its priority on advancing technologies like natural language processing and computer vision.

Despite the board’s recommendation against the proposal, institutional demand for Bitcoin remains strong. Recent data shows significant inflows into Bitcoin Spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), indicating persistent interest in the cryptocurrency. MicroStrategy, a major advocate for corporate Bitcoin adoption, has also recently acquired more Bitcoin, further highlighting the growing institutional interest in digital assets.