Saquon Barkley, a prominent figure in the National Football League and a vocal supporter of Bitcoin, recently shared reflections on his investment approach following an exchange with Michael Saylor, founder of Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR), a company known for substantial Bitcoin holdings.
During the Coinbase annual State of Crypto Conference held on July 22, 2025, Barkley recalled a conversation in which Saylor encouraged him to commit fully to Bitcoin by "throwing it all in." Despite this strong endorsement, Barkley admitted he hesitated at the time and did not follow Saylor’s recommendation entirely. Looking back, the running back acknowledged that he perhaps should have paid closer attention to Saylor’s advice, given the bullish stance Saylor maintains on Bitcoin.
However, Barkley clarified his stance on investment guidance more broadly. He expressed a reluctance to advise others on the magnitude of their individual investments, emphasizing the importance of personal education and understanding before entering any investment arena.
"That’s not just only when it comes to crypto or when it comes to investing. It's life," Barkley stated. "You got to educate yourself on stuff before you just step into it." This perspective underscores Barkley’s approach to financial decisions, highlighting a preference for informed choice over bold, uninformed commitments.
Barkley’s engagement with Bitcoin dates back to 2021, when he made a pioneering decision to receive his endorsement income entirely in Bitcoin. This payment was processed through Strike, a payments company specializing in Bitcoin transactions, reflecting Barkley’s early support for cryptocurrency integration into personal finance.
It is noteworthy that despite Barkley’s early interest and Saylor’s persistent advocacy for Bitcoin, recent market data indicates a downward trend in the valuations tied to this space. Since Barkley’s interview in July 2025, Strategy Inc.’s stock price has experienced a decline exceeding 60%, while Bitcoin itself has lost approximately 20% of its value.
Michael Saylor’s own journey with Bitcoin is marked by transformation. Originally a skeptic, Saylor has evolved to lead the world’s largest Bitcoin-holding enterprise, with holdings valued at over $65 billion according to bitcointreasuries.net. He is recognized for encouraging high-profile individuals, including Eric Trump, executive vice president of The Trump Organization, to leverage assets such as the Mar-A-Lago estate to fund Bitcoin investments.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin was trading at $95,430, representing a modest decline of 0.54% over the previous 24 hours, as per data from Benzinga Pro. Additionally, Strategy Inc.’s shares showed minor recovery in after-hours trading, gaining 0.90% following a 4.70% loss during regular trading hours, closing at $170.91.
Despite these brief movements, Strategy Inc. continues to display a weaker price trend across short, medium, and long-term periods, and maintains a low Value ranking within Benzinga’s Edge Stock Rankings, indicating ongoing challenges in its market positioning.
In sum, Barkley’s experience and reflections provide insight into the complexities of high-risk investments such as Bitcoin. His advocacy for informed decision-making highlights an important principle for individual investors navigating volatile markets, while the fluctuating performance of related equities and cryptocurrencies illustrates the inherent uncertainty within this asset class.