The Mustard Seed—a bitcoin and long-term thinking podcast

Passive capital is chasing bitcoin to $1,000,000+ with Michael Saylor

6 snips

Jul 16, 2025

Michael Saylor, Chairman of MicroStrategy, is a passionate advocate for Bitcoin as a treasury asset. In this discussion, he reveals how companies can unlock trillions in passive capital with preferred equity while arguing Bitcoin's potential to outperform the S&P 500 long-term. Saylor explains strategic methods for Bitcoin treasury management, including the use of BTC-backed credit for market defense and the overall reshaping of capital markets around digital scarcity. He urges corporations to rethink traditional finance principles to fully harness Bitcoin's advantages.

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ADVICE

Bitcoin Strategy Priorities

Prioritize making the core operating business cash flow positive and stable before expanding Bitcoin strategy.
Clearly communicate your plan for cash flow, equity issuance, and credit strategy regarding Bitcoin acquisition.

ADVICE

Use Preferred Securities for Leverage

Bitcoin treasury companies should issue preferred securities instead of senior debt, junk bonds, or convertible debt.
Copy MicroStrategy's preferred securities structure to attract investors familiar with their predictable performance.

INSIGHT

Bitcoin's Superior Long-Term Growth

Bitcoin's long-term growth rate will likely decelerate from ~55% to 20% annually over 20 years due to the law of large numbers.
Bitcoin should outperform the S&P 500 because it lacks corporate, currency, and political risks that burden traditional equities.

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Bitcoin is eating the financial system. In this episode, Michael lays out the blueprint for bitcoin treasury companies and explains why preferred equity is the key to unlocking trillions in passive capital. We explore how MicroStrategy’s strategy could be copied, why bitcoin should outperform the S&P 500 long term, and how capital markets are being reshaped around digital scarcity. Michael also breaks down how to weaponize BTC-backed credit to protect NAV, force short squeezes, and magnetize index fund flows.TIMESTAMPS:0:00 – Intro1:00 – First priority as director of bitcoin strategy3:11 – Should bitcoin companies copy MSTR’s preferreds?5:02 – Structuring credit: BTC ratings from 2 to 106:25 – Long-term CAGR for bitcoin vs S&P 5008:28 – Why bitcoin has fewer risks than stocks10:36 – The global index with no counterparty risk15:14 – Is bitcoin a global productivity index?16:56 – Will MSTR join the S&P 500?18:14 – Why Vanguard owns MSTR19:23 – Unlocking passive capital for bitcoin21:14 – Why BTC companies magnetize capital23:24 – Mag 7 adoption playbook: fast vs slow25:47 – Most CEOs don’t want the money27:15 – Who should adopt bitcoin—and who won’t29:20 – Why MSTR is going all-in on preferreds31:21 – Preferreds are better than convertibles32:32 – Will BTC companies still trade above NAV in bear markets?34:09 – Why 2022 was a crypto-catalyzed bear market35:14 – Difference between 1.1x and 100x leverage37:07 – How to defend BTC NAV with credit instruments39:14 – How to create a bitcoin short squeeze41:20 – Why shorts don’t have the courage43:20 – The future of BTC-backed credit and equity45:04 – A new theory of bitcoin corporate finance49:30 – Copy MSTR: it’s good for everyone50:26 – Harvard’s outdated bitcoin case study52:16 – Why the smartest firms are making bad moves54:16 – Why academics ignore strategy’s success55:15 – How the world could look in four years57:09 – Final thoughts and wrap-up