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.
![Microsoft](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/cu_JSpH1qitkRGVF32Z8JBrL0BA=/567x207/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/ZSRTIWADAFCE3ORRNQ4UV54HFE.png)
![Microsoft Store](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/IRRjf4D3rdy_VD9HdxvabOoxoFc=/560x267/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/NDKQTUJF5VHGDAGUOAW3KCVGTI.png)
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.
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](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/yAiV0VJspeJMiWgSjFhZ5fQpbbw=/560x211/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/SOKUTXYT2BAIRPJNZXDEAFNLLU.png)
Will Wheeler, CEO, expresscoin
![Microsoft Expresscoin](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/IKejCTxF0UyfOArP7IC8R6NQc88=/560x165/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/KCRCA7QASZHABDU7BEZWSGOZYQ.png)
Adam Ludwin, founder, Chain
![Screen Shot 2014-12-11 at 10.14.05 PM](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/1tQP_1EnqvmpEk8LJ1ea4gWi1uE=/560x169/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/K5C64A2UN5DCBOQ2TLDDTA7QDY.png)
Josh Rossi, VP of business development, Bitfinex
![Josh Rossi, Microsoft](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/EbCcjH6Xb3byu-si-wm5JVavBYk=/560x207/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/VQ3MAYTMJFHEXCP2CNFXEBBBKQ.png)
Kevin Zhou, economist, Buttercoin
![Buttercoin, Kevin Zhou](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/6zdIKcgeqAB01u8tDAMcVvxXWGw=/560x168/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/RDA55S4E25CBXCBZMM2MHR33OA.png)
Raffael Danielli, market analyst, Matlab Trading
![Raffael Danelli, Microsoft](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/444mPpgfLClgds5e4G2j3G-GLqQ=/560x145/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/WZAH7NBNXRCPXNSQMYPA7TTLME.png)
Jeremy Allaire, CEO, Circle
![Microsoft](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/fMjfqEMS0ENn3UYR3zEebryYPDk=/560x236/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/TRI6YOFL5RAFBCGB3Y7QBZKBLU.png)
Jaron Lukasiewicz, CEO, Coinsetter
![Microsoft, Jaron](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/LBj_xhs-2ATNF0XhcUWVoFtVss0=/560x144/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/UBN4QKRE3FELJFPHJQ3QCL6IIE.png)
Haseeb Awan, co-founder, BitAccess
![Haseeb Awan, Microsoft](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/RaV6s8_OSnlwvakqBObujyYOflk=/560x169/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/5A3RP7V6JREAVG7OUQ7E2SRWDE.png)
Taariq Lewis, CEO, DigitalTangible
![Microsoft](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/n-NazrVupL68IQj-L_zL34vszEY=/560x179/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/XEHVVUU7EZFI5K4WNO4KHFNQ5U.png)
Jerry Brito, executive director, Coin Center
![Screen Shot 2014-12-11 at 10.18.49 PM](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/wtX3bl0QIP45p9S8kGKt-PCNvJE=/560x195/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/TIRU5KA7UZBBTMNQE2EWOP6764.png)
Jon Matonis, board member, Bitcoin Foundation
![Matonis, Microsoft](https://www.coindesk.com/resizer/WgVyWhhtSMfszOgmmDe6thylLQE=/560x144/filters:quality(80):format(jpg)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coindesk/AVELFTLG4ZBOXDDQD4NMIF7VZI.png)
Tanaya Macheel contributed reporting.
Microsoft store and Microsoft headquarters images via Wikipedia