'Bad Bitcoin take' — Crypto community reacts to Saylor's kidney-selling advice

Organ trafficking is illegal in most countries; plus, sellers typically get far less from the hefty prices buyers might pay.

'Bad Bitcoin take' — Crypto community reacts to Michael Saylor's kidney-selling advice

Key Takeaways

  • Michael Saylor suggested selling organs instead of Bitcoin, sparking criticism.
  • Saylor's past advice included extreme measures like mortgaging homes for Bitcoin.

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When Bitcoin crashes, Saylor’s our guy, but this time, the vibe is off for many.

Strategy founder Michael Saylor suggested Bitcoin holders should sell one of their kidneys if they need money rather than selling their Bitcoin.

The comment came as Bitcoin fell below $80,000 on Thursday, reaching its lowest level since last November.

The statement drew sharp criticism from crypto community members and industry figures, who condemned it as irresponsible given health and ethical concerns surrounding organ selling.

This adds to Saylor’s history of advocating extreme measures for Bitcoin investment. During previous market downturns, he encouraged investors to liquidate assets and maximize credit card debt to purchase Bitcoin on leverage.

In a FOX Business interview, the Bitcoin bull also suggested people mortgage their homes to invest in Bitcoin.

“First you told people to max out their credit cards and mortgage their homes to buy Bitcoin. Now you’re telling them to sell off their organs. Have you no shame?” criticized gold advocate Peter Schiff in a comment on Saylor’s post.

The Bitcoin skeptic pointed out that if people had followed Saylor’s advice when Bitcoin was trading around $50,000, they would now be facing high interest payments on credit card debt, with current rates reaching 24%.

However, others think Saylor’s ‘sell a kidney’ thing was just a bad joke or hyperbole that reflects his strong belief in Bitcoin’s long-term potential.

Regardless, critics argue that his prominent role in the crypto space demands more responsible public communication.

And some simply joked or gave satirical takes on the issue.

The price of a human kidney on the black market varies widely. According to a report from Dr. Bertalan Mesko, PhD, kidney prices on black markets can range from $50,000 to $120,000, though sellers typically receive only a fraction and middlemen capture most profits.

It’s important to note that organ trafficking is illegal in most countries, and this is not financial or health advice.

Saylor’s Strategy currently holds 499,096 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $41 billion at current market prices. The company’s shares traded at $245 after market opening Friday, down 15% year-to-date.

At press time, Bitcoin traded at $83,500, showing a decline of over 10% year-to-date, per TradingView.

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