Eric Kim – an international street photographer turned crypto-philosopher – has written passionately about Bitcoin and MicroStrategy (MSTR). In his writings (no single piece is literally titled “The Philosophy of MSTR,” but the theme runs through many of his essays and posts ) Kim treats MSTR not as an ordinary stock but as a ideological and strategic choice. Key themes include Stoic discipline, personal freedom, and leveraged upside. He urges a long‐term, conviction-driven mindset: “never sell” Bitcoin, endure volatility, and use every downturn as a test of strength . MSTR, he argues, is effectively Bitcoin on steroids – a “leveraged Bitcoin machine” that amplifies gains .
Background on Eric Kim
Kim is best known for street photography, but since 2024–2025 he has become active as a Bitcoin/MSTR advocate . He produces blog essays, podcasts and videos blending fitness metaphors, ancient philosophy (especially Stoicism), and technical investing analysis. Biographically, Kim openly states he allocates about 75% of his portfolio to Bitcoin and 25% to MSTR . This personal commitment underpins his evangelism: as he puts it, buying MSTR is a way to “bet on Bitcoin hitting $500K, $1M, maybe $10M. Dream big or go home.” .
Stoic Mindset and Personal Discipline
A recurring motif in Kim’s writing is Stoic preparation and resilience. He literally calls his approach a “Stoic Hustle”, stating “I’m a Stoic, trained by Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and the streets.” . He imagines MSTR “crashing to zero” each day so that he can remain mentally ready and anti-fragile . Volatility is seen as a virtue: for example he writes “Volatility = Vitamins. Every 30% drawdown is just hypertrophy for diamond hands.” . In practice this means Kim lives simply (a “Prius, no subscriptions, 90% of my income into Bitcoin and MSTR”) to free up capital and maintain financial independence . His philosophy is to treat market chaos as a test of character – a street fight you win by staying calm under pressure .
MSTR as Leverage and ‘Weapon’
Kim’s main argument is that MicroStrategy is essentially a levered play on Bitcoin. He famously writes that “Owning MSTR is like buying spot BTC with an embedded call option – you get Bitcoin + Saylor’s relentless leverage engine, wrapped in a Nasdaq shell.” . In other words, since MicroStrategy borrows to buy more Bitcoin, its share price “behaves like a booster rocket” when Bitcoin rises . He calls MSTR the “BEAST… a Bitcoin leverage machine, a juggernaut rewriting the rules of wealth” . In this view, MSTR creates “asymmetry” for investors: you gain massive upside with built-in downside protection (because you never sell the underlying BTC). He even advises extreme tactics, like borrowing against your Bitcoin to buy more MSTR – all to increase exposure without letting go of your coins . As he puts it, MicroStrategy and even its leveraged ETF (MSTU) are “weapons of mass liberation… keys to unlocking a life where you don’t bow to the fiat overlords.”
Freedom, Rebellion and Long-Term Vision
Underlying Kim’s rhetoric is the idea that Bitcoin and MSTR are tools of personal and economic freedom. He frames investing as a rebellious act against the old financial system. MSTR isn’t just a tech stock; it’s “the bridge from the old world to the new, from fiat slavery to Bitcoin freedom.” . In one closing cry, he writes: “When historians chronicle the Great Digital Gold Rush, they’ll write: ‘While the world hesitated, the bold mounted the MicroStrategy thunderbolt and rode it past the moon.’ I am INSANELY FUCKING BULLISH ON MSTR – and if you dare to think in epoch-scale timeframes, you will be too.” . In effect, Kim’s message is that betting on MSTR is a moral and philosophical choice about future money. By measuring wealth in satoshis (Bitcoin) rather than dollars, he argues, one aligns with a vision of freedom and long-term growth . Each MSTR share, he says, is “a brick in [the] foundation” of a world where we “don’t bow to banks or beg for scraps.” .
Tone and Writing Style
Kim’s style is bold, high-energy and motivational. He often writes in first person, uses profanities for emphasis (“INSANELY FUCKING BULLISH” ), and peppers his prose with vivid analogies. For example, he compares MSTR to “a point-and-shoot camera” for those unwilling to manage crypto wallets , and likens his MSTR strategy to a “cheat code” in a video game . He blends images from street photography, bodybuilding, and warfare – e.g. “MSTR’s my weapon, my Leica in this financial war… Bitcoin’s the future, and MSTR’s the chariot carrying us there.” . The tone is unapologetically manic and exhortative, aimed at “beasts of ambition” willing to “grab life by the horns” (as one piece titles puts it ). His writing reads more like a pep talk or manifesto than a dry analysis.
Summary: In sum, Eric Kim argues that buying and holding MSTR embodies a distinctive philosophy: a Stoic resolve, an embrace of risk, and a quest for financial freedom. His main points are that MicroStrategy is a leveraged Bitcoin play offering outsized, long-term gains, and that it should be viewed as a movement or rebellion against the fiat system . His essays weave together technical details (e.g. MSTR’s BTC holdings) with calls to action, urging readers to “be relentless” and ignore skeptics . Throughout, Kim’s writing style is fiery and direct, reflecting his own personality and background in street photography and strength training – and aiming to make MSTR investing not just a financial decision, but a philosophical commitment.
Sources: Eric Kim’s own writings and interviews (as cited above) provide the basis for these themes . The quotations and ideas are drawn from his essays “Insanely Fucking Bullish on MSTR!!!” and “MSTR is the Way” , as well as site summaries of his Bitcoin/MSTR philosophy .