The Financial Godzilla
In finance and cryptocurrencies, there are very few names as controversial as that of Michael Saylor. Recently, Saylor, chairman of MicroStrategy, made bold headlines with his daring opinion of likening Bitcoin to Godzilla, a gigantic mythical creature recognized because of its invincibility and potential to cause mass destruction. According to Saylor, Bitcoin is to revolutionize and probably kill the current models of fiat finances. Big statement: got me thinking about the future of finance and where Bitcoin might fit.
Michael Saylor said this during the BTC Prague conference, where analysts put the increased adoption of Bitcoin and its incredible performance. He argued that this is not another case of an electronic money system, but instead, it is a force powerful enough to dismantle the existing financial regime.
Indeed, he went so far as to say that all of our financial and political models, built up over millennia, could be undone by Bitcoin. This bold talk is typical of Saylor, but is there any substance behind his words?
Among the many points that hit home was Saylor's attack on today's statisticians and their methods from long ago. These wizards of finance, he laments, are very much like the medieval warrior armed with bows and arrows setting out to defeat an adversary who already possesses advanced weapons. Today's financial system is thus not ready to battle against the kind of disruption involved in something like Bitcoin. To be fair, it's a bit of an exaggeration, but it works well to drive his point home: our financial systems need better innovation and adaptability.
The prospect of what Bitcoin might do to the current financial model is exciting yet terrifying at the same time. It brings the chance of a more transparent financial system, with much less manipulation and corruption, because it is not centralized. At the same time, such a vast change will bring instability and uncertainty. Most cannot fathom how this would feel if Bitcoin shattered one's established structures. Saylor does not only see this as possible but inevitable.
Also worthy of note is Saylor's guidance to investors in cryptocurrency. "Don't make a huge, speculative bet on it, and don't try to time it," he said in an interview on MicroStrategy's earnings call. Instead, he advocates for a steady, thoughtful approach. That is good advice in general in the highly volatile world of cryptocurrencies. It reminds me that while Bitcoin has great potential, it also carries significant risks, and anybody investing in it will do so with caution and a long-term perspective. Another exciting aspect of Saylor's argument is what he refers to as "Join the Swarm." a social media posting with an AI-generated image of a bee and a Bitcoin mascot. This implies that the power of Bitcoin depends on the community. That is the power of a growing global network building a solid force of Bitcoin believers and holders.
That's a powerful vision: Bitcoin, you see, is not an asset - it is a movement; it is a real revolution that happens right before our eyes because of the committed and passionate community behind it.
But Saylor's comments do not come without controversy. Many label his predictions as overly optimistic, downplaying the challenges and risks associated with adopting Bitcoin: "Regulatory hurdles and technological issues pose significant problems for anyone who sees a future dominated solely by Bitcoin. Not least among these is that cryptocurrency markets remain extremely volatile.".