Michael Saylor, a luminary in the tech world, has cast his vote for Bitcoin as a beacon of perfection in our economically imperfect world.
In a world filled with financial uncertainty, shifting geopolitical landscapes, and recurrent economic downturns, Michael Saylor, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of business intelligence software company MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ: MSTR), makes a compelling statement: “Bitcoin is a perfect thing in an imperfect world.” This assertion, while bold, holds merit when viewed through a certain lens.
In August 2020, MicroStrategy announced that it had invested in Bitcoin, purchasing 21,454 bitcoins for $250 million as a “primary treasury reserve asset.”
Saylor said at the time:
“Our decision to invest in Bitcoin at this time was driven in part by a confluence of macro factors affecting the economic and business landscape that we believe is creating long-term risks for our corporate treasury program ― risks that should be addressed proactively.“
By April 5, 2023, MicroStrategy had increased its Bitcoin holdings to 140,000 bitcoins, acquired for approximately $4.17 billion at an average price of $29,803 per bitcoin.
Bitcoin, as the pioneering cryptocurrency, has established itself as a unique financial asset, presenting a new vision for financial systems globally. Its decentralized nature challenges traditional banking systems, offering a solution where financial control is distributed among the users rather than a central authority. This eradicates the risk of manipulation, political influence, or economic instability, common issues that plague traditional currencies.
Moreover, Bitcoin’s design is rooted in scarcity, with a cap of 21 million coins, creating an inbuilt resistance to inflation. This is a stark contrast to traditional currencies that are often subjected to inflation due to the policies of central banks. In an era of rampant quantitative easing and growing national debt, this feature of Bitcoin provides a level of security against inflationary pressures.
Bitcoin’s transactional transparency and immutability also set it apart. With blockchain technology, all transactions are traceable, visible, and unalterable, offering a level of accountability unparalleled in traditional banking. This transparency could potentially deter financial crimes, reduce corruption, and foster trust among users.
However, the claim of Bitcoin as a “perfect thing” is not without controversy. Bitcoin has faced criticism over its energy consumption, price volatility, and use in illicit activities.
Yet, the concept of ‘perfection’ is subjective, and perhaps what Saylor means is that Bitcoin embodies an ideal or a goal – a financial system that is decentralized, secure, transparent, and resistant to inflation – rather than it being flawless in every respect.
In this sense, Saylor’s statement holds merit. Bitcoin, despite its imperfections, offers an innovative solution to many of the challenges our current financial systems face. It encapsulates a striving for a more democratic, transparent, and stable financial world, thus making it a ‘perfect thing’ in an imperfect world.
