Amazon is facing renewed calls from shareholders to consider Bitcoin as part of its treasury strategy. The proposal, backed by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), argues that incorporating Bitcoin into Amazon’s $88 billion cash reserves could safeguard shareholder value while aligning with emerging financial trends.
The resolution requests Amazon’s board to evaluate the long-term advantages of Bitcoin as a treasury asset, citing its potential to hedge against inflation and its historical outperformance of traditional financial instruments like corporate bonds.
Bitcoin as a Hedge Against Inflation
The NCPPR’s proposal highlights concerns about inflation, suggesting that traditional metrics, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI), may underestimate actual inflation rates, which it estimates at closer to 10%. Bitcoin’s decentralized nature and finite supply make it an attractive option for corporations looking to protect their reserves from inflationary pressures.
The think tank pointed to corporate pioneers like MicroStrategy, which holds over 402,000 BTC valued at $40 billion, and Tesla as examples of successful Bitcoin adoption. The proposal also suggested that Amazon’s adoption of Bitcoin could catalyze a broader corporate shift, with potential ripple effects on other tech giants, including Apple.
Industry Leaders Call for Amazon to Embrace Bitcoin
Industry figures have joined the call for Amazon to explore Bitcoin integration. Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao has publicly advocated for the tech giant to accept Bitcoin payments, framing it as the next logical step in embracing digital currencies.
This move comes shortly after the NCPPR proposed a similar Bitcoin diversification strategy at Microsoft’s annual shareholder meeting on December 10. The proposal urged Microsoft to allocate at least 1% of its assets to Bitcoin as a hedge against macroeconomic pressures.
While Microsoft’s board opposed the initiative, arguing that cryptocurrencies have already been evaluated and are continuously monitored for strategic opportunities, the proposal reflects a growing trend among corporations reassessing Bitcoin’s role in treasury management.
MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor Weighs In
Earlier this month, Michael Saylor, co-founder of MicroStrategy and a prominent advocate for corporate Bitcoin adoption, urged Microsoft’s board to expand its Bitcoin holdings. Saylor’s company remains one of the largest corporate holders of Bitcoin, emphasizing its potential as a transformative financial tool.
