MicroStrategy (NASDAQ: MSTR), now rebranded as ‘Strategy,’ has once again made headlines, this time not just for its Q4 earnings report but also for its fresh identity and the launch of a Bitcoin-branded merchandise store.
However, despite being the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin (BTC), the company does not accept cryptocurrency payments for its merchandise platform, which sparked widespread discussion in the crypto community.
Rebranding and Bitcoin purchases
The announcement came just hours before Strategy’s earnings call, featuring a newly revamped website and a dedicated online store selling branded merchandise. However, users quickly noticed that Bitcoin payments were not an option, with only credit cards available, further fueling controversy.
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The rebranding comes amid an eventful week for the company, which also expanded its preferred stock offering.
Meanwhile, its Q4 earnings report showed a net loss of $3.03 per share, a sharp contrast to the $0.50 per share income reported a year earlier.
The loss was largely attributed to an impairment charge on its substantial Bitcoin holdings, which currently stand at 471,107 BTC—worth over $46 billion at Bitcoin’s price of around $97,000. Despite the quarterly loss, Strategy remains bullish on its Bitcoin position, targeting a $10 billion gain on its holdings in 2025.
MSTR stock is trading at $338.26 at press time, reflecting a 0.91% loss on the day. However, on a broader scale, the stock is up around 6% over the past week.
Michael Saylor and the Bitcoin-as-money debate
Michael Saylor, the executive chairman of Strategy, has been one of Bitcoin’s most vocal advocates.
However, his stance on using Bitcoin for everyday transactions has been far less enthusiastic. A resurfaced 2020 tweet from Saylor highlights his long-held position:
“Using Bitcoin as a MoE [Medium of Exchange] for small transactions is challenging because accounting costs, transaction fees, & taxes all skyrocket. It’s heroic but often unnecessary. Better to leave your working capital in a fiat account and use your favorite mobile app for routine money transfers.”
Michael Saylor
While Bitcoin’s scaling solutions, such as the Lightning Network, aim to make transactions more efficient, the company appears to be leaning more towards traditional payment options, treating Bitcoin as digital gold rather than a functional currency.
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