Microsoft has decided not to buy Bitcoin for now. This came after shareholders voted against the proposal at the company's annual meeting on Tuesday. Microsoft’s board had recommended that shareholders vote against it back in October. A filing with the SEC mentioned that "Microsoft's management already carefully considers this topic."
In other news, U.S. officials have changed their stance to support encryption after the recent "Salt Typhoon" cyberattacks. These attacks, linked to Chinese hackers, targeted governments and businesses. Digital privacy advocates are calling this a "watershed moment." Following the attacks, the FBI and CISA urged Americans to use encrypted messaging apps. Zooko Wilcox-O'Hearn, the creator of the privacy coin Zcash, shared his thoughts on social media.
Meanwhile, Amazon shareholders at a conservative think tank have proposed that the company create a Bitcoin treasury reserve. This suggestion, dated December 6, follows a significant surge in Bitcoin's value. The National Center for Public Policy Research is asking Amazon to consider holding at least 5% of its assets in Bitcoin. They believe this could help protect the value of the company's funds.
Additionally, Riot Platforms, a publicly traded Bitcoin mining firm, is looking to raise up to $500 million through a private offering of convertible notes. This funding aims to support more Bitcoin purchases and other corporate needs. The offering will be available to qualified institutional buyers and may allow for an additional $75 million in note purchases beyond the initial $500 million. These unsecured senior obligations are part of Riot's strategy to increase its Bitcoin holdings.