Michael Saylor is an American entrepreneur, technologist, and author, best known for his leadership in the technology and cryptocurrency sectors. Here are key aspects of his career and influence:

### Background:

- **Education**: Saylor graduated from MIT with a degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics.

- **Early Career**: Before founding his own company, he worked at DuPont and later at Boston Consulting Group.

### MicroStrategy:

- **Founder and CEO**: In 1989, Saylor founded MicroStrategy, a company that developed business intelligence and mobile software. Under his leadership, MicroStrategy became a significant player in enterprise analytics and software.

- **Public Company**: He took MicroStrategy public in 1998, one of the standout IPOs of the dot-com era.

### Bitcoin Advocacy:

- **Bitcoin Investment**: In August 2020, Saylor announced that MicroStrategy would begin holding Bitcoin on its balance sheet as a treasury reserve asset. This move was unprecedented for a publicly-traded company at the time, marking Saylor as a prominent advocate for Bitcoin.

- **Philosophy**: Saylor has promoted Bitcoin as a superior form of money due to its scarcity (with a capped supply at 21 million coins) and its properties as a store of value, often referring to it as "digital gold."

- **Public Statements**: He's very active on social media, especially Twitter, where he frequently discusses Bitcoin's potential to protect against inflation and currency debasement.

### Influence in Crypto:

- **Educator**: Saylor has taken on a role as an educator in the cryptocurrency space, hosting webinars, writing articles, and giving talks to explain Bitcoin's technology, economics, and implications.

- **Impact**: His decisions have influenced other corporations to consider Bitcoin as an asset class, leading to a broader acceptance and investment by institutional investors.

- **Conferences**: He hosts "Bitcoin for Corporations," an annual event aimed at teaching corporate executives about Bitcoin.

### Publications:

- **Books**: Saylor has authored several books on technology and business, including "The Mobile Wave," which explores the impact of mobile technology on society.

### Controversies:

- **MicroStrategy Stock**: There have been periods of volatility in MicroStrategy's stock price, partly due to its Bitcoin investments. Critics have pointed to the risk associated with such a large portion of the company's assets being tied to a single cryptocurrency.

- **SEC Settlement**: In 2000, MicroStrategy settled with the SEC for $325 million related to accounting irregularities, a significant event in Saylor's earlier career.

### Current Role:

- **Executive Chairman**: As of the most recent information, Michael Saylor has transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman of MicroStrategy, focusing more on strategic direction, including the company's Bitcoin strategy, while Phong Le serves as CEO.

Michael Saylor's advocacy for Bitcoin has made him a central figure in the cryptocurrency community, influencing both corporate and public perceptions of digital currencies.