One of the organizers behind a crypto conference Donald Trump will attend reportedly plans to hold a $15 million fundraiser for his reelection campaign.
According to a July 15 Washington Post report citing people familiar with the matter, Bitcoin Magazine CEO David Bailey will hold a fundraiser for Trump “later this month” — suggesting that it will be at the Bitcoin Conference in Nashville or immediately afterward. The fundraiser will come after Republicans are expected to officially nominate Trump to be the party’s presidential candidate at the Republican National Convention.
The Republican National Convention and Bitcoin Conference — featuring many prominent conservatives, industry leaders, and lawmakers — will come amid increasing political tension and violent rhetoric in the United States. On July 13, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, a registered Republican, attempted to assassinate Trump, who was speaking to a crowd of supporters at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Trump had announced his appearance at the crypto conference before the attempted assassination but confirmed after the incident that he would still be speaking. The former US president was convicted of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records in May. However, a July opinion issued by a conservative-led Supreme Court could challenge that conviction. Trump’s sentencing was set for September at the time of publication, mere weeks before the US election.
‘Wag the dog’ using crypto?
While in office from 2017 to 2021, Trump called cryptocurrencies “not money” and “based on thin air.” He later referred to Bitcoin (BTC) as a scam but seemed to have shifted strategy shortly after announcing his reelection campaign in 2022. As a 2024 presidential candidate, Trump said his campaign would accept crypto and planned to have all remaining BTC mined in the United States.
The Republican contender is expected to announce his vice-president pick on July 15 at the Republican National Convention. Cointelegraph reached out to the Trump campaign but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Related: Chamber of Progress says Biden can ‘still win’ on crypto against Trump
There are 113 days until US election day, and it’s unclear which names will be on the ballots in 2024. Trump still faces possible prison time for his criminal conviction and was found liable for sexual assault and fraud in separate New York civil cases.
Following a June 27 debate between Trump and Joe Biden, some Democratic strategists and lawmakers have called for the US President to step down for potential candidates like Vice President Kamala Harris. At 81 years old, potentially serving until 85 should he win a second term, Biden is the oldest person in US history to ever run for president.
Magazine: Crypto voters are already disrupting the 2024 election — and it’s set to continue
