Bitcoin’s future depends on people, not governments, experts say

ambcryptoPublished on 2026-03-04Last updated on 2026-03-04

Abstract

Experts at Bitcoin Investor Week emphasized that Bitcoin's long-term success depends on public adoption rather than government support. Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) CEO Phong Le outlined the company's three-phase approach to Bitcoin investment, evolving from direct purchases to issuing equity instruments like perpetual preferreds, aimed at attracting traditional finance. Both Le and KindlyMD CEO David Bailey expressed strong long-term optimism, with Le stating they have no plans to sell Bitcoin unless it stagnates at $8,000 for five years. Bailey argued Bitcoin's progress is inevitable with growing ownership, though he predicted significant consolidation, with half of Bitcoin Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs) potentially disappearing in 18 months. Bitcoin's price broke key resistance, rising 7% to target $78,800.

Bitcoin’s long-term success is still being questioned to date.

Anthony Pompliano discussed it alongside the CEO of Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, Phong Le, and David Bailey, who is the CEO and chairman of KindlyMD, at Bitcoin Investor Week in New York.

They outlined what Bitcoin [BTC] needed to succeed and projected the potential outcomes for the rapidly rising narrative of Bitcoin Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs). Still, their long-term views remained optimistic.

Strategy’s three phases of buying BTC

Looking at Strategy [MSTR], which is the first BTC public holding company, it played a considerable role in graduating the crypto into Wall Street and traditional finance.

First, Strategy invested about $600 million in BTC. In the second phase, MSTR leveled up with the leverage coming primarily through convertible notes, which hit $12 billion.

However, the CEO said the move was not right for the long term.

Its latest phase was in 2025, when they raised $7 billion as they became a digital credit company issuing perpetual preferreds, which are equity instruments.

For instance, Stretch (STRC) traded on Nasdaq with an average volume of $150 million per day.

Regarding this, Phong Le said,

“If you want to match something like Bitcoin which has long duration high volatily, we need to provide a short duration low volatility product. That was STRC is.”

These products were accelerating BTC adoption as they shielded BTC investors who cannot stomach its volatility but wanted BTC’s underlying returns.

The CEO still recommended that those who wanted to buy BTC needed to have a long duration, like 4 to 5 years or so. Asked when they were selling their Bitcoins, Phong said,

“We are not selling our Bitcoin...but if Bitcoin trades at $8,000 for 5 years straight.”

What Bitcoin needs to be successful

The question of Bitcoin’s long-term success depended on the people rather than the government itself. In regard to this, David Bailey was bullish on Bitcoin, saying,

“If we really want the progress to continue, we need more people to own Bitcoin every year. And it’s just an inevitability...And Bitcoin will be successful with or without the government.”

The governments have seen it in their best interest to work with Bitcoin. For instance, the U.S. government moved 0.3346 BTC valued at $22,650, which could just be routine wallet management or testing flows.

Projections on Bitcoin DATs

While both Phong and Bailey agreed it was still early for Bitcoin, their projections for DATs were divided.

In Phong Le’s view, the more DATs there were, the better it was for Bitcoin. Bailey argued that still, these DATs needed inherent strengths like those of Strategy to be successful.

While he noted there was a lot of capital in DATs, Bailey said,

“I think half of those companies are going to disappear over the next 18 months. There is going to be a lot of consolidation that’s going to occur.”

Speaking of consolidation, BTC’s had just broken above the range between $62,960 and $70,900. It was up about 7% in 24 hours, and maintaining this momentum could push the price past $78,800.


Final Summary

  • Bitcoin Investor Week captures Strategy’s role in graduating Bitcoin to traditional markets.
  • Bailey says that Bitcoin needs the people and voters to succeed, not the government, but he projects that half of DATs could die in 18 months.

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Related Questions

QWhat are the three phases of Strategy's (MSTR) Bitcoin acquisition as outlined in the article?

AFirst, Strategy invested about $600 million in BTC. In the second phase, they used leverage from convertible notes, raising $12 billion. The latest phase in 2025 involved raising $7 billion by issuing perpetual preferreds as a digital credit company.

QAccording to the experts, what is the key factor for Bitcoin's long-term success?

AThe experts state that Bitcoin's long-term success depends on people and more individuals owning it every year, not on government support. David Bailey called it an 'inevitability' that Bitcoin will be successful with or without the government.

QWhat is the purpose of the STRC product mentioned by Phong Le?

AThe purpose of STRC is to provide a short-duration, low-volatility product that matches Bitcoin's long-duration, high-volatility nature. It accelerates BTC adoption by shielding investors who cannot stomach Bitcoin's volatility but want its underlying returns.

QWhat was David Bailey's projection for Bitcoin Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs)?

ADavid Bailey projected that half of the companies in the Bitcoin DAT space would disappear over the next 18 months, predicting that a lot of consolidation would occur. He argued that DATs need inherent strengths, like those of Strategy, to be successful.

QWhat recent price movement did Bitcoin article mention, and what was the potential next target?

AThe article mentioned that Bitcoin had broken above the range between $62,960 and $70,900 and was up about 7% in 24 hours. It stated that maintaining this momentum could push the price past $78,800.

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