The Middle East stands poised to transform into the “Switzerland of the 21st century” by adopting bitcoin-based banking, lending, and digital currency solutions, according to Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy (MSTR).
During an extensive speech at Bitcoin MENA, Saylor encouraged the region to capitalize on what he called a $200 trillion opportunity. He emphasized enabling financial institutions to securely hold bitcoin assets, provide credit backed by BTC, and eventually introduce digital money products that generate yields.
“If your goal is for your country to become the global hub for digital banking… if you aspire to be the Switzerland of this century, then focus on these three concepts: big, bigger, and biggest,” Saylor explained.
He described a “big idea” as sovereign wealth funds investing in bitcoin. The “bigger idea” involves establishing banks that custody bitcoin and extend loans secured by it. The “biggest idea” entails launching digital money accounts supported by BTC-backed credit instruments offering returns up to 8% without volatility.
“You won’t just attract small amounts of bitcoin capital,” said Saylor. “You will draw billions or even trillions from investors unfamiliar with bitcoin.”
Saylor asserted that the United States is currently leading a worldwide regulatory shift favoring bitcoin adoption. He highlighted widespread support among government leaders: “There’s strong consensus across U.S. leadership,” he noted. “Donald J. Trump has expressed his commitment to making America a dominant force in bitcoin and crypto assets.”
He also mentioned personal discussions with top officials including the Vice President, Treasury Secretary, SEC Chairperson, Commerce Secretary—each viewing bitcoin as strategically important.
Saylor pointed out how major U.S. banks previously hesitant about cryptocurrency are now actively embracing it.
“Within just one year these large banks have shifted from avoiding crypto services to engaging deeply,” he said. “In recent months I’ve been contacted by BNY Mellon, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Charles Schwab JPMorgan Chase and Citi—they’re all beginning credit issuance against Bitcoin or related derivatives like IBIT.”
The company Strategy holds over 660 thousand bitcoins and is rolling out various BTC-backed financial products such as perpetual preferred shares and short-term notes paying monthly dividends.
“We’re compressing long durations—120 or even 240 months—into one month’s payment cycle,” Saylor explained simply: “Pay me now.”
This wave of innovation represents what Saylor calls a new financial paradigm: “Digital capital generates digital credit; digital credit creates digital money—that’s truly revolutionary.”