Bitcoin vs. Saylor: The Power and Danger of fanatical promotionToday I want to talk about Michael Saylor and his influence on many crypto minds and, to some extent, the movement of Bitcoin’s price.
It’s very important to understand who we’re listening to, who we’re following, and whether this person has hidden motives we don’t see due to lack of information or unwillingness to get it — due to our stubborn desire to see only what confirms our own fantasies and thoughts and serves our expectations.
Let’s turn on our reason and objectivity and face the facts.
Michael Saylor is a well-known figure in the crypto world. He promotes the idea of eternal Bitcoin growth and actively buys it to support his words. When the price drops, he even suggests his readers sell their organs, which, to me, is too much.
Let’s move to the facts — everything is Googleable, and promptable.
Facts:
📈 Hype of 2000
In 2000, he rode the dot-com hype with his company MicroStrategy. MicroStrategy was promoted as a pioneer in business analytics and data management software, and he saw himself solely as a visionary of the new economy.
The boom was sky-high — just read about the dot-com era. Stocks of new tech companies were soaring, and it was enough to say “software” and “I see the future.”
In 1998, MicroStrategy successfully held an IPO. In 2000, at the peak of the dot-com boom, the company’s stock reached an incredible $333 per share in March.
He skillfully used the hype, and here was his 2000 narrative:
Digital transformation: Saylor claimed the world was entering a new era where data would become the main asset of companies, and MicroStrategy — the key tool for processing and analyzing it.
Unlimited growth: In the dot-com era, Saylor pushed the idea that tech companies like MicroStrategy would grow exponentially, ignoring traditional financial constraints.
The future is now: Saylor created the feeling that MicroStrategy wasn’t just following trends but shaping them, offering solutions that would define the future of business.
At the same time, he was building a cult around himself, cultivating the image of a genius entrepreneur.
⚠️ Financial reporting scandal
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched an investigation into MicroStrategy. The company overstated revenues, which led to a stock crash (from $333 to $86 in one day) and a loss of investor trust. The stock kept falling and dropped to $0.4 (–100%!).
The SEC filed charges against Michael Saylor personally (CEO), as well as CFO Mark Lynch and the chief accountant. They were accused of intentionally misrepresenting financials to keep stock prices high.
SEC investigation results:
In December 2000, the SEC concluded the investigation, and MicroStrategy agreed to settle without admitting guilt:
* The company paid a $10M fine.
* Saylor, Lynch, and other executives paid personal fines.
* Saylor agreed to pay $8.28M in “disgorgement” (unjust enrichment) and a $350K fine — a total of about $8.63M.
* MicroStrategy committed to revising its reporting and implementing stricter internal controls.
In addition to the SEC settlement ($11M from leadership, including $8.63M from Saylor), MicroStrategy faced shareholder class-action lawsuits, which were settled for $10M.
No executives were criminally charged, but the company’s and Saylor’s reputations suffered greatly.
In other words, Michael didn’t have any moral hesitation about faking company profits during losses. But investors and journalists started asking questions — and the SEC came knocking.
Let’s call it what it is: Saylor committed fraud, using hype, promising endless growth, and creating a cult around himself as a “financial genius and visionary.”
Michael went quiet, and the media tone shifted quickly — from super-visionary to one of the biggest losers and scammers.
To give him credit, he managed to keep the company alive and kept a low profile until 2020, like a mouse. 20 years — a generation change and a new hype cycle.
And what does a tech visionary do? Of course — jump into the new wave. A chance to restore his image — probably more important to him than money.
🟠 Bitcoin Era, 2020
Before 2020, Saylor was a Bitcoin skeptic. In 2013, he even tweeted that “Bitcoin’s days are numbered” and compared it to gambling.
But in 2020, he changed his position after deeply studying crypto. His mission: to protect capital and restore his image as a prophet — and he decided to buy Bitcoin.
But his own money seemed insufficient, so he turned to borrowing.
Here’s how the scheme works:
1.MicroStrategy issues stocks and bonds
📈 They sell new MSTR shares → get cash.
💵 They issue bonds (debt papers) → investors give them money at interest.
2. They use that money to buy Bitcoin
🟧 All the raised funds go into BTC purchases.
They don’t sell. Just hold. Never lock in profit.
3. If BTC rises → MSTR stock price rises
MSTR becomes a kind of "BTC ETF."
📊 BTC growth = MicroStrategy’s market cap growth.
🔁 Then they repeat the cycle.
Stock price up → issue more shares/bonds → buy more BTC → repeat.
📌 The catch:
They use other people’s money (debt) to buy BTC.
They sell almost nothing.
They bet BTC will grow faster than interest on the debt.
So as long as the price goes up — everything is fine.
Let’s admit: his fanaticism, aggressive marketing, and bold statements have helped Bitcoin.
But the main question: will the inevitable market correction wipe out this belief in endless growth?
🔍 His personality
It’s crucial for us as traders and investors to understand who really runs the company or project. The personal traits of leaders are useful information that gives us insight and a behavioral map.
We need to research not only products and financials, but also the psychological types of those making the decisions.
Saylor’s aggressive marketing and loud statements are part of his personality.
He fed off the hype around his persona more than any growing bank balance.
And there’s nothing wrong with that — until you start deceiving people to keep attention on yourself.
For example, in the 2000s, *Forbes* noted that Saylor “sold the dream” of a new economy where traditional profit metrics didn’t matter.
It attracted investors — but didn’t reflect reality. Forbes hinted that his desire to maintain the genius image may have led to accounting manipulation.
Saylor created an "expectations bubble" that burst.
His desire to prove he’s a genius led to a disconnection from reality.
He often talks about himself as a genius and visionary (sounds like a grandiose ego).
He positions himself as the savior of capital through BTC (messiah complex).
He publicly mocks “weak hands” and traditional investors (shows superiority).
He never admits mistakes, even after losing billions (denial and overconfidence).
He repeats his ideas again and again (manic fixation on being right).
His speech is like a manifesto, not a dialogue. He doesn’t converse — he proclaims.
I don’t sense greed in him. I sense emptiness that demands a cult.
He doesn’t live for money — he is obsessed with the idea.
And that’s the problem — there’s no objectivity here. It feels more like revenge after the humiliation and downfall of 20 years ago.
He’s smart — no doubt. But it’s not just intelligence. It’s cold messianism.
Obsession, not passion.
Psychotype: Grand strategist with a humiliation trauma
Trait Behavior
Narcissistic core “I’m special, my vision is above all.”
Obsession with greatness “I must be the truth, not just be right.”
Hyper-rationality “I survive through logic, not feelings.”
Psychological armor “I won’t show weakness. If I break, I disappear.”
Fanatical visionary “My idea is supreme. I don’t need to be humble.”
💸 More facts:
In 2024, Michael paid a FWB:40M fine for tax evasion.
The accusation:
He didn’t pay income tax in D.C., while actively living there — yachts, property, planes, frequent visits.
His tax returns didn’t reflect reality, and the investigation used GPS, Instagram, flight data, banking, and other digital traces.
Saylor didn’t admit guilt but agreed to settle for around $40M.
His personal wealth is mostly in MicroStrategy shares (9.9% or ~$8.74B by end of 2024).
Theoretically, he can sell them — but he must file a report within two days.
Current status:
MicroStrategy owns 555,450 BTC
Average purchase price: ~$68,550
Total purchase cost: ~$38.08B
Unrealized profit: ~$14.7B
And remember — Saylor’s slogan: Forever HODL.
📉 But the key point:
The company’s current debt is $7.24B.
All is good — as long as the price rises.
Analysts estimate BTC would have to fall to ~$20K before MSTR is forced to liquidate.
But if BTC nears the break-even zone, fear might hit shareholders first — triggering stock sell-offs.
If MSTR shares fall — which is likely during a BTC crash — bondholders, especially those with convertible bonds (which make up most of the debt), might demand repayment.
That could force Saylor to sell BTC.
Because in a crypto winter, buyers for MSTR stock or bonds may disappear.
So BTC could fall — not because of actual sales, but from fear of those sales.
This is my main concern with Saylor’s oversized influence on the market.
🐍 A bit of “reptilian” theory
What if BlackRock *planned* to use Saylor’s hands to push Bitcoin and concentrate large amounts in one basket — then take it from him?
Among the main bondholders are big institutions:
* Allianz Global Investors
* Voya Investment Management
* Calamos Investments
* State Street
These bonds are usually unsecured and non-convertible, making them attractive to investors who want Bitcoin exposure without direct ownership.
In case of default, bondholders have priority over the company’s assets — including BTC reserves.
🏛 State Street Corporation
Public company traded on NYSE.
Its biggest shareholders: Vanguard Group and BlackRock .
If so — they could end up holding as much BTC as Satoshi.
BlackRock’s IBIT holds ~500K BTC.
MicroStrategy holds ~500K BTC.
🤔 Questions to reflect on:
* Is industry leader fanaticism good for the development of crypto?
* What is Michael Saylor really doing? Avenging the past? Or truly in love with the technology?
* What risks does a whale with media influence and fanaticism and pockets full of Bitcoin and debt pose to the market?
Waiting for your thoughts in the comments, dear traders! Hugs! 🤗
