Michael Saylor ‘Praises’ Ethereum & Solana in Rare Comments

Michael Saylor, the man who once compared Ethereum and Solana to "balsa wood and clay," just name-dropped both networks as viable platforms for distributing Bitcoin-backed credit products. The comment came during his keynote at the Bitcoin for Corporations conference, held as part of Strategy World 2026 in Las Vegas on February 24-25.

The clip went viral almost immediately. For a figure who barely acknowledges anything outside of Bitcoin, this was unusual.

What Did Saylor Actually Say?

During a presentation he titled "Digital Credit," Saylor laid out his vision for programmable, Bitcoin-backed financial instruments. While describing how these products could reach investors globally, he listed several distribution channels.

The exact quote: "The platform that you distribute that on could be an exchange, it could be a bank, it could be a network like Solana or Ethereum, or it could be a corporate platform."

No deep dive into either chain's technology. No price predictions. No endorsement of SOL or ETH as investments. He simply listed them as plumbing, rails that could carry tokenized credit products alongside traditional systems like banks and exchanges.

But context matters. This is Michael Saylor. The guy who holds over 717,000 BTC on his company's balance sheet and has spent years telling anyone who will listen that Bitcoin is the only digital asset worth owning.

Why Is This a Big Deal?

Less than a year ago, Saylor likened Bitcoin to "steel" while calling Ethereum and Solana "balsa wood and clay bricks" in an interview with The Block. He warned that leveraging those tokens could lead to "catastrophe." Similar critiques surfaced throughout 2025, consistent with his well-known Bitcoin maximalist position.

However, cracks in that wall have appeared before. In late 2024, Saylor admitted he misjudged Ethereum's potential and said its ETF approval was a net positive for the broader crypto asset class.

This latest comment isn't a reversal of his stance. Bitcoin remains the foundation in Saylor's framework, the "digital capital" that backs everything. But by naming Solana and Ethereum specifically as distribution networks for Strategy's credit products, he's acknowledging a practical, multi-chain reality that most of the industry has already accepted.

How Did the Market React?

The clip spread fast across X. Solana's official account posted it, pulling in over 737,000 views, more than 5,200 likes, and 860 reposts.

On the price side, Solana rallied roughly 13% in the days after the clip circulated, though broader market sentiment and stablecoin liquidity on the network likely contributed to the move. Ethereum saw a more modest uptick.

Community Reactions Were Mixed

• Bullish takes: Some users pointed to the comments as a signal that market structures are converging, with Bitcoin as the base layer and multiple chains serving as distribution rails.
• Skeptical takes: Others called the coverage clickbait, noting Saylor listed ETH and SOL neutrally among several options, not as preferred networks. A few emphasized the nuance: he was describing plumbing, not picking favorites.

What Was the Keynote Really About?

The Ethereum and Solana mention was a footnote in a much larger presentation. Saylor spent the bulk of his keynote outlining Strategy's vision for "digital credit," specifically their STRC (Stretch) preferred stock instrument, which pays an 11.25% annual yield backed by Bitcoin collateral.

He positioned STRC as a revolution in the credit market, arguing it offers double-digit returns with deferred capital gains tax treatment and low volatility. He compared it favorably to $300 trillion worth of what he called "garbagey credit" currently in global markets.

The broader pitch: Strategy converts volatile Bitcoin into stable yield instruments that appeal to retail investors, corporate treasurers, and retirees who would never buy BTC directly.

Ethereum and Solana entered the conversation only as potential networks for distributing these tokenized credit products globally.

The Bottom Line

Whether this is the start of a broader thaw or just a one-off acknowledgment of market reality, it's worth watching. When the loudest Bitcoin maximalist in corporate finance starts saying the quiet part out loud, the industry tends to notice.

Sources:

• Strategy.com — Bitcoin for Corporations conference agenda and details
• Bitcoin Magazine’s YouTube - Strategy World 2026 Day 1 livestream - Full video featuring Saylor's "Digital Credit" presentation
• @solana on X - Solana's official repost of the Saylor clip
• Bitget - Conference overview and Saylor's Bitcoin as reserve asset comments