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Intuit’s deplatforming and anti-bitcoin stance could harm shareholder value, Cole said, while urging adoption of BTC as a strategic hedge.
Apr 15, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Matt Cole, CEO of Strive Asset Management, fresh from persuading video retailer GameStop to convert some of its cash reserve into bitcoin (BTC), wrote to urge financial software developer Intuit (INTU) to reverse what he described as "censorship policies" and an “anti-bitcoin bias” that could jeopardize long-term shareholder value.
In an open letter dated April 14 addressed to Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi and board Chair Susan Nora Johnson, Cole pointed to a recent incident in which Intuit’s Mailchimp email marketing platform disabled the account of the Trojan Bitcoin Club, a student organization at the University of Southern California, for mentioning the cryptocurrency in emails to its members.
“We are concerned that Intuit’s censorship policies and anti-bitcoin bias threaten to destroy the shareholder value the company has worked so hard to create,” Cole wrote saying he was writing on behalf of his clients, who include Intuit shareholders. Although Mailchimp later reinstated the account following public pressure, Cole said the episode reflects a “broader pattern of deplatforming” that includes bitcoin developers, educators, and businesses.
Cole said such actions expose Intuit, known for its TurboTax tax preparation software and QuickBooks accounting software, to reputational and legal risks, particularly as public concern around tech censorship grows and federal regulators — including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — begin investigating platform discrimination based on speech or affiliations.
“Mailchimp’s Acceptable Use Policy is being used as a political weapon, rather than a tool to mitigate legitimate business risk,” Cole wrote, adding that “customers and shareholders alike are starting to question whether Intuit is making decisions based on ideology rather than fiduciary duty.”
The letter called on Intuit to reinstate accounts banned for bitcoin-related content, revise Mailchimp’s content policies to eliminate political considerations. It also urged Intuit to consider adding bitcoin to its corporate treasury as a hedge against artificial intelligence disruption.
“We believe TurboTax, Intuit’s flagship product, has a high risk of being automated away by AI,” Cole wrote. “While we appreciate Intuit’s investments in AI internally, we believe an additional hedge is warranted—and that a bitcoin war chest is the best option available.”
The move follows Coles' February letter to GameStop, in which he urged the company to convert its $5 billion cash reserve into bitcoin. Since receiving the letter, GameStop confirmed that it will add bitcoin to its balance sheet and has successfully completed a $1.5 billion convertible note offering — positioning itself as one of the first major retailers to align its treasury strategy with what Strive called the “Bitcoin standard.”
The move marked a significant early win for Strive’s broader campaign to reshape corporate finance and governance around what Cole describes as “apolitical excellence” and long-term shareholder value, free from ideological agendas.
Strive Engagement Letter to Intuit (Strive Asset Management)
James Van Straten
James Van Straten is a Senior Analyst at CoinDesk, specializing in Bitcoin and its interplay with the macroeconomic environment. Previously, James worked as a Research Analyst at Saidler & Co., a Swiss hedge fund, where he developed expertise in on-chain analytics. His work focuses on monitoring flows to analyze Bitcoin's role within the broader financial system. In addition to his professional endeavors, James serves as an advisor to Coinsilium, a UK publicly traded company, where he provides guidance on their Bitcoin treasury strategy. He also holds investments in Bitcoin, MicroStrategy (MSTR), and Semler Scientific (SMLR).
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