Michael Saylor predicts a decade-long surge in Bitcoin fueled by AI and ETFs.

Bitcoin’s spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have sparked a rush among institutional investors, and this trend will be further fueled by the growth of autonomous artificial intelligence (AI), according to Michael Saylor, co-founder and executive chairman of MicroStrategy. Speaking at the Bitcoin Atlantis conference, Saylor stated that the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs has led to a period of significant institutional adoption. He predicted that by 2035, 99% of all Bitcoin will have been mined, marking the start of a growth phase. Currently, 93.5% of the 21 million Bitcoin that will ever be issued have already been mined. Saylor explained that spot Bitcoin ETFs are currently serving as a distribution channel to only a fraction of interested parties, but he expects this to increase to 100% once banks and institutional wirehouses facilitate Bitcoin trades. He also emphasized the importance of Bitcoin in securing the internet from malicious actors in the AI revolution. Saylor believes that autonomous AI will drive demand for Bitcoin as it requires digital energy to function. Additionally, he noted that concerns about Bitcoin’s environmental impact may decrease over time as the cryptocurrency becomes more energy-efficient and attention shifts to AI’s energy demands. Lyn Alden, an investment strategist and Bitcoin commentator, added that more nations embracing Bitcoin will lead to increased demand and financial hubs. Alden argued that restrictive policies on Bitcoin can hinder investment opportunities in the long run and it is better to embrace the cryptocurrency. Lawrence Lepard, an investment manager and Bitcoin advocate, suggested that capital controls imposed by oppressive regimes actually encourage adoption, citing Nigeria as an example. Despite previously banning Bitcoin, Nigeria now has the highest peer-to-peer market volumes in the world.