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MicroStrategy Founder Michael Saylor Criticized For Controversial Proposal

Key Points:

MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor faced backlash after suggesting Bitcoin holders trust “too big to fail” banks instead of using self-custody.
Prominent figures criticized Saylor’s comments, accusing him of undermining Bitcoin’s role as a decentralized currency.

MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor became a target of the Bitcoin community with his suggestion that users should allow large financial institutions to keep custody of their Bitcoin rather than keeping them in self-custody.

MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor Now Changed His Stance

His comments represent a change of heart from his earlier self-custody advocate comments when the FTX implosion occurred in November 2022. During that time, MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor replied that self-custody of Bitcoin ensures that powerful custodial organizations cannot corrupt the system.

In an interview with financial reporter Madison Reidy on October 21, Saylor insisted that holders would be better off leaving their assets in the care of “too big to fail” banks, underlining at the time that would provide a safety net in case of losses. He also referred to any concerns over government confiscation as “unnecessary.”

Saylor Faces Backlash Over Bitcoin Custody Shift

Saylor’s about-face on self-custody has set off a firestorm of criticism among Bitcoiners. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin publicly dissented from Saylor’s comments, employing the descriptor “batshit insane.”

Sina, founder of Bitcoin custody firm 21st Capital, declared that Saylor was destroying the use case for Bitcoin as a currency, saying, “Saylor is on a mission to relegate Bitcoin into an investment pet rock and halt its usage as a currency.”

As would be expected, Saylor remains upbeat about Bitcoin’s long-term value despite the pushback. Having assumed the role of CEO, he led MicroStrategy to its current status as the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, with over 252,220 BTC in its portfolio.

He previously went as far as to predict that Bitcoin could rise to $13 million per coin by 2045, further solidifying his optimism about Bitcoin’s future, though many took him to task over the comments regarding custodianship.

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Harold

With a passion for untangling the complexities of the financial world, I've spent over four years in financial journalism, covering everything from traditional equities to the cutting edge of venture capital. "The financial markets are a fascinating puzzle," I often say, "and I love helping people make sense of them." That's what drives me to bring clear and insightful financial journalism to the readers of Coincu.