Microsoft Urges Shareholders to Vote Against a Proposal to Assess Bitcoin as a Diversification Investment: Filing

The National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank, has notified shareholders of Microsoft that it intends to propose a Bitcoin Diversification Assessment at the company’s annual meeting on Dec. 10, a filing shows.

In a Schedule A filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, Microsoft laid out issues that will be discussed at the company’s next shareholder meeting. One of the proposals suggests that the tech firm should look into bitcoin to hedge against inflation and other macroeconomic influences.

The board recommends shareholders to vote against this proposal, the filing reveals, arguing that Microsoft already “carefully considers this topic.”

“Past evaluations have included Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies among the options considered, and Microsoft continues to monitor trends and developments related to cryptocurrencies to inform future decision making,” according to a company statement in opposition of the proposal.

“As the proposal itself notes, volatility is a factor to consider in evaluating cryptocurrency investments for corporate treasury applications that require stable and predictable investments to ensure liquidity and operational funding. Microsoft has strong and appropriate processes in place to manage and diversify its corporate treasury for the long-term benefit of shareholders and this requested public assessment is unwarranted,” it said.

The National Center for Public Research, a member of Project 2025 argued that bitcoin is an “excellent, if not the best, hedge against inflation,” and that at minimum, companies should invest 1% of its total assets into the cryptocurrency.

Microsoft’s top shareholders include Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street.