Syncing your Substr view...
In this long-overdue episode, I take a hard, first-principles look at so‑called “digital credit” — issuing liabilities against Bitcoin — with MicroStrategy/Strategy’s preferreds as the prime case study. I lay out what works (clear dividends, accrual features, and board accountability mechanisms) and what doesn’t, and why a headline B– credit rating means little if the core asset backing the structure can’t be independently validated. I also explain why fast‑and‑loose wording on earnings calls invites avoidable SEC scrutiny and fuels both low‑signal attacks and low‑signal cheerleading. From my 30 years in risk, I contrast traditional asset verification with today’s crypto accounting realities: FASB’s standard still doesn’t require proof of key control or move‑ability of coins. I argue that large holders should implement auditor‑observable proofs of ownership and custody transparency before scaling digital‑credit products — and I outline the minimum bar I’d require to consider this a durable asset class rather than a black box with latent, systemic risk.