On January 17, BTC Inc. and Stand With Crypto will host the first-ever Crypto Ball at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.
The event celebrates the inauguration of President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. Tickets? A cool $2,500 each. Time? 8:00 p.m. to midnight. Attire? Black tie, of course.
With cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and valet parking, the crypto industry is making sure it’s seen, heard, and, most importantly, taken even more seriously than it already has been.
Crypto’s millions flood Trump’s inauguration
Trump’s inauguration committee has raked in $200 million so far, with projections of hitting $225 million by the big day. This is one of the largest in history, and crypto money is all over it. Ripple alone dropped $5 million, making it one of the top donors. Coinbase and Kraken each donated at least $1 million.
Big tech names like Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sam Altman joined the mix, each contributing $1 million. The tech sector sees crypto’s rising influence and wants a piece of the action—or at least a favorable regulatory shake-up.
Paul Atkins, a long-time crypto ally, is expected to replace SEC chair Gary Gensler. If this happens, it would end what the industry sees as an era of hostility. Atkins is viewed as someone who gets it—I mean, this guy first invested in Bitcoin over ten years ago.
Other nominees include Scott Bessent for Treasury and Howard Lutnick for Commerce. Both have pro-crypto views.
Crypto’s regulatory reset?
Later today, the 119th Congress will get to work. They’re mostly Republicans eager to push Trump’s picks through as quickly as possible, paving the way for big changes in regulations. For the crypto community, this can’t happen fast enough. Everyone’s counting on Trump to sign executive orders right after he’s sworn in.
The real action kicks off on January 20. The day starts early, with security gates opening at 6:00 a.m. ET to accommodate the crowds. By 9:30 a.m., musical performances will warm up the audience. At 11:30 a.m., dignitaries will gather for opening remarks on the Capitol’s West Front.
Then J.D. Vance will take his oath as vice president, followed by Donald Trump swearing in as the 47th president of the United States.
His inauguration speech is expected to lay out all plans for the next four years, and crypto insiders will be listening closely. Why? Because the industry anticipates immediate executive orders that could change everything.
Gary Gensler, the current SEC chair, is gonna resign right before the inauguration begins. After the ceremony, Trump and Vance will head to the President’s Room for photos and transitional documents. Lunch at the National Statuary Hall will bring together congressional leaders and select guests, setting the tone for the administration’s first official day.
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