McDonald’s Declines Shareholder Push for Bitcoin Treasury Plan Amid SEC Support

In a move that’s stirred conversations in both corporate and crypto circles, McDonald’s has opted not to entertain a shareholder-backed proposal urging the fast-food giant to adopt Bitcoin as part of its financial strategy. The decision was supported by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), signaling a green light for the company to sidestep the topic at its upcoming annual shareholder meeting.

The initiative came from the National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank and McDonald’s shareholder, which formally proposed that the company invest in Bitcoin. The group’s argument drew on McDonald’s well-known status as a real estate-heavy enterprise, contending that Bitcoin offers better liquidity and stronger long-term value appreciation than traditional assets like cash or bonds.

“Real estate has been a reliable store of value, but it won’t appreciate over time nearly as much as Bitcoin will—and it’s not liquid like Bitcoin is,” the proposal stated. “As more companies move toward holding Bitcoin, McDonald’s risks being left behind.”

This suggestion mirrors similar moves by high-profile companies such as MicroStrategy, led by Michael Saylor, which has aggressively added Bitcoin to its balance sheet over the past few years. Other firms, like GameStop, have recently made headlines for exploring similar strategies, while some—like Microsoft—have seen shareholders vote against crypto-based financial shifts.

In response to the Bitcoin proposal, McDonald’s legal team sought confirmation from the SEC that it could omit the topic from its shareholder materials. On March 28, the SEC responded affirmatively, stating that the proposal pertains to the company’s “ordinary business operations”—a key distinction that allows corporations to exclude certain shareholder suggestions from official discussion.

With that regulatory backing, McDonald’s will not include the Bitcoin treasury proposal in its agenda for the May shareholders’ meeting, effectively closing the door—at least for now—on joining the ranks of crypto-forward corporations.