Bitcoin continues its unprecedented climb, closing in on the $100,000 milestone after reaching $99,500 earlier this week. But not everyone is celebrating Bitcoinâs meteoric rise.
MicroStrategy, the largest institutional holder of Bitcoin, saw its shares fall by 16% after Citron Research disclosed its short position against the company.
Citronâs report praised Bitcoin and MicroStrategy Chairman Michael Saylor, while arguing that the companyâs valuation has become âdisconnected from Bitcoinâs fundamentals.â Michael Saylor joined Squawk Box to address these concerns and defend the companyâs business strategy.
Saylor described MicroStrategy as a âBitcoin treasury companyâ that operates with a unique model designed to maximize Bitcoinâs returns. He explained that the company leverages Bitcoinâs volatility through stock premiums, convertibles, and fixed-income securities, and passes that value on to shareholders. According to Saylor, the companyâs stock offers â2x BTC, 2x volatility,â appealing to investors looking for greater exposure to Bitcoin.
Noting recent successes, Saylor noted that MicroStrategy recently completed a $4.6 billion at-the-market (ATM) offering with a 70% Bitcoin spread, generating nearly $3 billion in five days. Similarly, a $3 billion convertible note raised this week with an 80% Bitcoin spread generated $2.4 billion. Saylor estimates that these moves could add more than $30 billion to shareholder value over the next decade.
When asked about the inherent risks of a leveraged Bitcoin position, especially during a downturn, Saylor acknowledged that there is a possibility of a âBitcoin extinction-level event.â However, he downplayed such a scenario, citing Bitcoinâs 60% steady annual growth rate (ARR) and long-term ARR expectation of 29% over the next 21 years.
âEvery long investor at MicroStrategy is a Bitcoin maximalist or advocate,â Saylor said, adding that the company is well-positioned to succeed even if Bitcoin experiences short-term pullbacks. âEven if Bitcoin drops to $70,000, we will still make billions of dollars in profits through our arbitrage strategies,â he said.
Saylor also weighed in on MicroStrategyâs comparisons to Bitcoin ETFs, suggesting that MicroStrategy offers unique advantages. Unlike ETFs that primarily hold overnight deposits, MicroStrategy has $35 billion in âpermanent capital,â allowing it to issue long-term bonds and benefit from high Bitcoin spreads. For investors, Saylor suggested three options: direct Bitcoin investments, Bitcoin ETFs, or MicroStrategyâs leveraged Bitcoin strategy.
The executive also touted the companyâs convertible bonds as an ideal investment vehicle, stating that they provide downside protection while providing exposure to Bitcoinâs upside risk.
Saylor ended the discussion with a bold prediction: Bitcoin could reach $13 million per coin by 2045, Saylor said, citing the assetâs unparalleled performance as a store of value. âEvery Bitcoin you donât buy today will cost you $13 million in the future,â he warned.
*This is not investment advice.