Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for the U.S. presidential elections, delivered a compelling spеech at the Bitcoin 2024 Conference on Saturday, positioning himself as a staunch advocate for cryptocurrency.
Speaking to a packed audience in Nashville, Tennessee, the former president outlined his crypto-related policies and aimed to win over crypto voters by promising regulatory changes and highlighting the strategic importance of Bitcoin. He electrified the crypto community over the weekend with a series of bold promises that could reshape U.S. policy on digital assets.
Trumpās address began with а bold promise: firing SEC Chairman Gary Gensler on his first day back in office, should he be re-elected. āI will appoint a new SEC chairman who bеlieves America should build the future, not block the future,ā Trump stated firmly.Ā
The audience responded with enthusiastic chants of his name, reflecting the widespread dissatisfaction with current regulatory approaches to crypto. But that was just the start of his speech.
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In a significant policy declaration, Trump pledged that under his administration, the government would retain its 210,000 Bitcoins and any future acquisitions. He proposed establishing a Strategic National Bitcoin Stockpile, intended to serve as a national asset for all Americans. āThis stockpile will serve as a cornerstone of our economic strategy,ā he asserted, underscoring the potential economic benefits of maintaining a robust national reserve of Bitcoin.
But Trump’s speech also featured pointed criticism of the current administration. He labeled President Joe Bidenās leadership a āfascist regimeā and specifically targeted Vice President Kamala Harris, his Democratic opponent in the elections, calling her āradicalā and āworse than Biden.ā He argued that the Biden-Harris administrationās policies on cryptocurrency are harmful to the nation.
āThe Biden-Harris Administrationās repression of crypto and Bitcoin is wrong and itās very bad for our country,ā Trump declared. He warned that their victory in the upcoming election would be disastrous for the crypto community. āLet me tell you, if they win this election, every one of you will be gone. They will be vicious. They will be ruthless. They will do things that you wouldnāt believe.ā
These comments came shortly after a group of Democrats acknowledged in a letter that many Americans perceive their party as anti-crypto. The letter cautioned that this perception could significantly impact the November elections and recommended a more progrеssive approach to cryptocurrency. The group advised Harris to appoint a crypto-friendly SEC chair and consider a pro-crypto vice presidential candidate.
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Addressing the substantial energy demands of Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence (AI), Trump proposed constructing fossil fuel-based power plants to ensure a reliable electricity supply. His goal is to position the U.S. as a āBitcoin mining powerhouseā with the lowest energy costs globally. āWe will very simply drill baby, drill,ā Trump announced, promising that fossil fuels would be utilized in an āenvironmentally friendly way.ā Despite his previous criticisms of AI as a ādangerous thing,ā Trump expressed confidence in balancing energy production with environmental concerns.
Trumpās speech at the Bitcoin 2024 conference marked a strategic effort to secure support from the cryptocurrency community by promising regulatory reforms and a pro-crypto administration. His vision for a Strategic National Bitcoin Stockpile and energy policies aimed at supporting Bitcoin mining highlight his intent to integrate cryptocurrency into the national economic framework.
