Former U.S. President Donald Trump will be speaking at the Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, later this month. The conference organizers announced his participation on Wednesday, urging attendees to "witness history." Trump, the leading Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election, will join independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other notable figures.
Trump's appearance is a significant move to engage the Bitcoin community and convert their support into votes. In May, Trump's campaign began accepting donations in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and Solana. This followed a promise he made to his NFT holders at a Mar-a-Lago event, which was seen as pivotal in the national crypto policy debate. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a strong Bitcoin supporter, welcomed Trump's change of heart regarding Bitcoin.
ANNOUNCING: PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP TO SPEAK AT #BITCOIN2024 pic.twitter.com/F2mwECVMTW
— The Bitcoin Conference (@TheBitcoinConf) July 10, 2024
Kennedy noted that his supporters would back Trump if he exits the race. He cited polls showing he could outperform both major party candidates in a direct contest. "There's no scenario where President Biden can win," Kennedy stated in May.
Bitcoin has become a partisan issue in the U.S. The Republican Party recently pledged to protect Bitcoin and end what they call the Biden administration's "un-American crypto crackdown" in their draft policy. They promise to defend the right to mine Bitcoin and ensure Americans can self-custody their digital assets without government oversight.
Other notable politicians joining Trump and Kennedy include former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis, Tennessee Senators Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn, and former Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard. The conference will feature keynotes from MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor and whistleblower Edward Snowden, with Kennedy scheduled for a fireside chat.
Brian Hughes, a senior advisor to the Trump campaign, criticized the Biden administration for hindering innovation with more regulation and taxes. He contrasted this with Trump's vision of promoting American leadership in emerging technologies. Although Trump previously criticized Bitcoin, calling it "highly volatile and based on thin air," his recent shift has energized the crypto community. This includes the Winklevoss twins, co-founders of the Gemini cryptocurrency exchange, who donated $2 million in Bitcoin to Trump's campaign.
The Bitcoin Conference will be held from July 25-27 at Nashville's Music City Center. The exact timing of Trump’s speech is not yet confirmed. This event is expected to bring together influential voices in Bitcoin, highlighting the intersection of cryptocurrency and politics as the 2024 election approaches.
In summary, Trump’s participation in the Bitcoin Conference is part of his broader effort to win support from the crypto sector. By accepting cryptocurrency donations and advocating for Bitcoin-friendly policies, Trump aims to position himself as a champion of innovation. This aligns with the Republican Party's stance on protecting Bitcoin, setting the stage for a significant debate over crypto policy in the upcoming election.
