$BTC Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency infamous for its price volatility and environmental impact, has become a focal point of the US presidential campaign.

On July 27, the former US president and Republican nominee for the upcoming election, Donald Trump, headlined the biggest Bitcoin conference of the year in Nashville. In his speech, Trump claimed he will make the US the “crypto capital of the planet and the Bitcoin superpower of the world” if returned to the White House after November’s election. His comments were met with rapturous applause from the crowd.

Trump’s courting of the crypto industry is almost certainly a political move. The Trump campaign has raised US$25 million (£19.6 million) from the sector since it started accepting cryptocurrency donations in May, and it is expected to receive even more following the event in Nashville.

His public backing of crypto undoubtedly boosted investor optimism. The price of Bitcoin surged to almost US$70,000 on July 29, its highest level in more than six weeks, before dropping back to US$62,000 a few days later.