The Road Not Taken: A Bitcoin Tale of Regret and Wisdom

The Gridiron Star's Glimpse into Crypto Wisdom

National Football League standout Saquon Barkley, known for his interest in the cryptocurrency market, once received a compelling suggestion from MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor: to invest substantially in Bitcoin, the leading digital currency.

A Missed Opportunity? Barkley's Bitcoin Contemplation

During an interview at Coinbase's annual State of Crypto Conference in July 2025, the Philadelphia Eagles player shared a memorable interaction with Saylor regarding Bitcoin investment. Saylor's direct counsel was to commit fully, a notion Barkley hesitated to embrace at the time. Reflecting on this, Barkley acknowledged that he perhaps should have followed the advice of the prominent Bitcoin advocate.

Barkley's Prudent Counsel for Aspiring Investors

Barkley firmly stated that he would never dictate investment amounts to others. He stressed the universal principle of self-education before venturing into any financial endeavor, be it conventional investments or cryptocurrencies. This philosophy guided his approach, even though he began receiving endorsement earnings in Bitcoin back in 2021, facilitated by Strike, a Bitcoin payment platform. Interestingly, since his initial venture, MicroStrategy's stock has seen a significant decrease, while Bitcoin's value has also experienced a notable dip.

From Skeptic to Enthusiastic Bitcoin Proponent: Michael Saylor's Transformation

Michael Saylor, who was once skeptical about Bitcoin, has since become a staunch supporter, transforming his company into the world's largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, with reserves exceeding $65 billion. Saylor is renowned for his efforts to convert others to the Bitcoin cause, even advising Eric Trump to consider leveraging the Mar-A-Lago estate for Bitcoin investment.

Market Dynamics: Current Cryptocurrency and Stock Performance

As of the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at approximately $95,430, experiencing a slight decrease over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, MicroStrategy's shares, after an initial post-market increase, closed lower during regular trading hours, reflecting a weaker trend in the short, medium, and long term, according to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings.