Key Takeaways
- Michael Saylor reaffirmed his support for Bitcoin self-custody after facing criticism.
- Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin strongly criticized Saylor's initial comments.
- Bitcoin spot ETFs in the U.S. have surpassed $20 billion in net inflows.
MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor expressed his support for Bitcoin self-custody in a Wednesday post on X, following criticism from the Bitcoin community.
Saylor clarified that while he supports self-custody for those “willing and able,” he also believes in the freedom for individuals and institutions to choose between self-custody and regulated custodians.
Recent interview
This clarification comes after Saylor’s recent interview, in which he advocated for holding Bitcoin through regulated entities like BlackRock and Fidelity, calling it a safer option.
His comments led to pushback from prominent figures, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who labeled Saylor’s stance as “insane” and warned against the risks of regulatory capture.
Bitcoiners respond
Saylor’s remarks also drew criticism from Bitcoin advocate Max Keiser and Casa co-founder Jameson Lopp, both of whom emphasized the importance of self-custody for decentralization, security, and network governance.
Responding to the backlash, Saylor stated:
Bitcoin benefits from all forms of investment by all types of entities and should welcome everyone.
His comments come as Bitcoin continues to gain traction among institutional investors, with net inflows of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. recently surpassing $20 billion.
