During the meeting, Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood provided nuanced commentary about the company’s stance on digital assets.
Hood emphasized that Microsoft has accepted Bitcoin as a payment method since 2014 and continues to evaluate cryptocurrency as a potential asset class. The company maintains US$78.5 billion in cash and short-term investments, with its treasury team consistently assessing various investment options.
“It’s something we cover with the board consistently and continue to assess different categories year-to-year,” Hood said.
The proposal from the National Center for Public Policy Research suggested diversifying Microsoft’s US$484 billion in assets to combat inflation. The resolution argued that corporations have a potential fiduciary duty to explore assets with higher appreciation potential than traditional bonds.
Notable Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor spoke in support of the proposal, arguing for cryptocurrency’s potential value. However, Microsoft’s shareholders decided against the resolution, with the board citing existing comprehensive investment evaluation processes.
While some traditional companies remain cautious about cryptocurrency, the fact that Microsoft is still leaving the door open to Bitcoin shows they are increasingly willing to keep digital assets under serious consideration as part of broader investment strategies.
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