Industry Views: What Does Microsoft Mean for Bitcoin?

Following Microsoft's decision to embrace bitcoin, CoinDesk surveys thought leaders in the industry for their assessment of the news and its impact.

AccessTimeIconDec 11, 2014 at 10:55 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 14, 2021 at 2:03 p.m. UTC
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Microsoft Store
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Microsoft took the bitcoin world by surprise late last night with the sudden announcement that it would allow consumers to purchase its digital content with the digital currency.

The move, which opened its Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox platforms to a new payment method, provided a notable uptick in attention to the industry, as the price of bitcoin rose roughly 4% in its aftermath on the CoinDesk USD Bitcoin Price Index.

While volatility in the markets declined over the day, interest in Microsoft's decision held strong. Major tech and finance publications, from Forbes to Gizmodo, all profiled the announcement, and conversation about the company's decision had a strong presence on social media.

Characterizations of what the news meant for Microsoft were varied. BitPay suggested in an interview that the Washington-based Internet pioneer is seeking to move aggressively to court innovation, and that bitcoin is high on this agenda.

However, a Microsoft spokesperson was less enthusiastic when speaking to The Wall Street Journal, stating: "We are dipping our toe in the water, we are not going guns blazing on this yet."

Regardless of what the move means for Microsoft, this vote of confidence from a tech industry giant could have a wide range of effects on the bitcoin industry.

For more on what this impact will be, CoinDesk sought comment from a wide range of industry participants. View their full comments below:


Francesco DeParis, head of business development, Mirror

Screen Shot 2014-12-11 at 10.11.28 PM
Screen Shot 2014-12-11 at 10.11.28 PM


Will Wheeler, CEO, expresscoin

Microsoft Expresscoin
Microsoft Expresscoin


Adam Ludwin, founder, Chain

Screen Shot 2014-12-11 at 10.14.05 PM
Screen Shot 2014-12-11 at 10.14.05 PM


Josh Rossi, VP of business development, Bitfinex

Josh Rossi, Microsoft
Josh Rossi, Microsoft


Kevin Zhou, economist, Buttercoin

Buttercoin, Kevin Zhou
Buttercoin, Kevin Zhou


Raffael Danielli, market analyst, Matlab Trading

Raffael Danelli, Microsoft
Raffael Danelli, Microsoft


Jeremy Allaire, CEO, Circle

Microsoft
Microsoft


Jaron Lukasiewicz, CEO, Coinsetter

Microsoft, Jaron
Microsoft, Jaron


Haseeb Awan, co-founder, BitAccess

Haseeb Awan, Microsoft
Haseeb Awan, Microsoft


Taariq Lewis, CEO, DigitalTangible

Microsoft
Microsoft


Jerry Brito, executive director, Coin Center

Screen Shot 2014-12-11 at 10.18.49 PM
Screen Shot 2014-12-11 at 10.18.49 PM


Jon Matonis, board member, Bitcoin Foundation

Matonis, Microsoft
Matonis, Microsoft

Tanaya Macheel contributed reporting.

Microsoft store and Microsoft headquarters images via Wikipedia

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