Former President Donald Trump made waves at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville with his bold promises to the Bitcoin community if elected in 2024. Trump pledged to create a strategic national reserve of Bitcoin as an economic asset, positioning the United States as the crypto capital of the world.
In his speech, Trump vowed to end the anti-crypto stance of the current administration led by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. He promised to fire SEC Chairman Gary Gensler and appoint a more Bitcoin-friendly replacement. Additionally, Trump declared that the government would retain 100% of its current Bitcoin holdings, building up a national reserve over time.
The former president’s remarks resonated with the libertarian-leaning audience, with one attendee expressing a newfound willingness to vote for Trump in the upcoming election. Trump also reiterated his commitment to pardon Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, highlighting his support for Bitcoin and crypto as symbols of freedom and independence.
Following Trump’s speech, Bitcoin experienced a surge of over 3%, reaching its highest price in six weeks. Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also spoke at the conference, pledging to build a 4 million Bitcoin reserve if elected.
With Bitcoin emerging as a key issue in the 2024 campaign, Trump’s embrace of the cryptocurrency signals a strategic move to secure the support of the growing Bitcoin and crypto wing within the GOP. The enthusiastic reception in Nashville suggests that Trump’s strategy may be effective in capturing the Bitcoin vote in the upcoming election.