The battle over digital freedom of expression and the adoption of Bitcoin

After successfully influencing the strategic choices of GameStop, Matt Cole, CEO of Strive Asset Management, now turns the spotlight on Intuit

The battle over digital freedom of expression and the adoption of Bitcoin in major U.S. companies gains a new chapter. After successfully influencing the strategic choices of GameStop, Matt Cole, CEO of Strive Asset Management, now turns the spotlight on Intuit, a giant in financial software known for products like TurboTax and QuickBooks.

In a passionate open letter addressed to the CEO of Intuit, Sasan Goodarzi, and the chair of the board of directors, Susan Nora Johnson, Cole questions the company’s business policies, accusing it of ideological censorship and lacking strategic vision on the future of digital money.

What is the essence of the dispute

At the center of the dispute, a recent episode involving Mailchimp, the email marketing platform owned by Intuit. The account of the Trojan Bitcoin Club, a student organization active at the University of Southern California, was deactivated after sending messages containing references to Bitcoin. Only after strong public pressure, the account was reactivated.

According to Cole, this event is not an isolated case but part of a broader pattern of deplatforming involving developers, entrepreneurs, and educators active in the Bitcoin sector. The adoption of restrictive content policies by Mailchimp is interpreted as an ideological use of moderation tools, rather than an approach based on neutral management of business risks.

In addition to image problems, Cole warns Intuit about the legal and regulatory risks arising from behaviors perceived as discriminatory. In the United States, attention from federal authorities — such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — is growing towards censorship practices by technology platforms.

The use of the so-called “Acceptable Use Policy” of Mailchimp seems, according to Cole, more like a political tool than a protection against real threats. A practice that, if confirmed, could call into question the respect of the fiduciary duty towards the shareholders.

But Cole does not limit himself to criticism. In his letter, he proposes an alternative direction: he invites Intuit to include Bitcoin in its corporate balance sheet, following the example of GameStop, and to reform internal policies to eliminate any form of ideological bias.

The adoption of Bitcoin is not presented as a symbolic act, but rather as a strategic hedge against the risks posed by intelligenza artificiale. According to Cole, products like TurboTax could soon be challenged by the growing capability of AI tools, which graphically could completely automate tax filing, reducing the need for complex software solutions.

“While appreciating Intuit’s commitment to the development of artificial intelligence, we believe that an alternative protection is also necessary, and we believe that Bitcoin is the best available option.”

The successful precedent: GameStop and the shift towards the “Bitcoin Standard”

The intervention on Intuit comes a few weeks after a sensational success for Strive. Last February, Cole had sent a proposal to GameStop, to convert part of its cash reserves — about 5 billion dollars — into Bitcoin. The board of directors embraced the idea: GameStop confirmed the intention to accumulate Bitcoin on its balance sheet and successfully completed an operation of 1.5 billion dollars in convertible notes.

This move will be the first step towards what Cole calls the “Bitcoin Standard,” a treasury strategy is inspired by the need to preserve value in the long term in an increasingly uncertain macroeconomic context. For Strive, this is a model to replicate in other American companies, to promote governance based on “apolitical excellence” and concrete commitments in favor of shareholders and customers, rather than on political or cultural orientations.

Bitcoin as a lever for a business paradigm shift not only in Intuit

Matt Cole, through his actions with Strive Asset Management, aims to reform the principles of corporate finance, pushing companies to recognize Bitcoin not only as a speculative asset, but as a token of financial sovereignty and strategic resilience.

Adding Bitcoin to the balance sheet, according to Cole, is not just a matter of return: it is a fundamental element of protection against potential system shocks, both technological and economic, caused for example by aggressive automation or aggressive inflationary policies.

In this scenario, the adoption of Bitcoin becomes a choice full of implications: it is not just about asset allocation, but about ideological and economic positioning in the future of global business.

The battle continues: between pressure and change of strategy

The battle between Matt Cole and Intuit is just the latest front in a broader confrontation between the world of traditional finance and the new frontiers of the decentralized digital economy. The message sent by Strive is a clear signal to companies: ignoring the transformative potential of Bitcoin and adopting policies driven by ideologies can compromise not only reputation but also the long-term value for shareholders.

With GameStop already moving towards Bitcoin, now all eyes are on Intuit. Its response will not only determine a company policy, but could influence the entire industry’s approach towards cryptocurrencies in an era of rapid technological changes.