Michael Saylor, the avid Bitcoin supporter and co-founder of trade analytics software company MicroStrategy (MSTR), has integrated Bitcoin’s Lightning Network into his business messaging. This suggests that anyone can send bitcoin (BTC) to the 58-year-old billionaire using the saylor@microstrategy.com email address.
The Lightning Network is a second layer solution built on top of Bitcoin block chain that allows transactions to be completed faster, at lower cost and in a scalable way.
Michael Saylor merges BTC Lightning address into company email
In a Tweeter published on April 17, the company’s former CEO shared a screenshot of some bitcoin transactions sent to “saylor@microstrategy.com” by others in the form of Satoshis or “Sats” – the smallest unit of Bitcoin.
The integration uses the Lightning Address protocol, which allows developers to replace a standard Lightning invoice or payment request with an Internet identifier such as an email address.
MicroStrategy integration is facilitated by the Lightning Address protocol, which allows users to bind an “Internet ID” such as an email address, instead of copying wallet addresses or using QR codes. It’s unclear if MicroStrategy has integrated the feature into all of the company’s corporate emails.
The Lightning Network can execute 1 million transactions per second (TPS) for 1 Satoshi, or about four hundred. The Lightning Network is Bitcoin’s Layer 2 scaling solution that aims to make Bitcoin transactions cheaper and faster.
Saylor, reportedly worth around $1.2 billion and whose company has raised around 140,000 BTC (about $4 billion at current prices), received small bitcoin donations from enthusiasts after he tweeted about the integration.
MicroStrategy BTC investment
MicroStrategy has spent $4.17 billion acquiring 140,000 BTC since March 2021, when the company began buying. According to data from Buy Bitcoin Worldwide, the company’s average purchase price is $29,800.
At the current Bitcoin price of $29,400, MicroStrategy has only lost 1.3% of its total investment. However, the company returned to profitability for a brief period last week when Bitcoin broke above the value of $30,000.
This move by Saylor underscores his unwavering belief in Bitcoin’s future as a global currency and payment system. As a strong Bitcoin advocate, Saylor led MicroStrategy’s corporate strategy of acquiring Bitcoin as a cash reserve asset.
MicroStrategy made headlines in 2020 when it became the first publicly traded company to invest a significant portion of its cash reserves in Bitcoin. The investment entity has continued to accumulate Bitcoin aggressively ever since.
Saylor’s integration of his work email address with the Lightning Network demonstrates his commitment to practical Bitcoin adoption and his willingness to explore innovative crypto use cases. This development can revolutionize the way businesses transact with Bitcoin, making it faster, cheaper, and more accessible for day-to-day operations.
Year-to-date reports indicate that in the first quarter of this year, institutional ownership of MicroStrategy shares increased by 121%, which includes sudden increases in exposure of major entities. Bank of America, which increased its holdings by nearly $60 million, was the biggest buyer, followed by Capital Group and Fidelity Investments.
Bank of America is now MicroStrategy’s fourth largest shareholder, after Capital, Vanguard and BlackRock, along with Vanguard and black rock increasing their bets.
Thanks to Saylor’s visionary leadership, MicroStrategy has become a pioneer in the adoption of Bitcoin by businesses. This latest development further reinforces the company’s reputation as a pioneer in the crypto space.