Donald Trump is making headlines with his upcoming fundraiser at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Scheduled for late July, this event offers exclusive opportunities to meet the Republican presidential candidate. A photo op costs $60,000, and a seat at a private roundtable costs $844,600. Trump’s move to attract Bitcoin’s top donors shows he’s aiming to secure their financial support. This also brings into question how much influence these wealthy donors might have on his policy decisions.
The fundraiser is expected to attract about 150 top donors. High-profile GOP figures such as Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio and former Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii are included. Participants will hear Trump speak on Bitcoin, highlighting his new advocacy for U.S. leadership in the cryptocurrency market.
Trump’s pro-crypto stance is seen as a strategic plan to win the elections. After criticizing Bitcoin in 2019, he now advocates for the U.S. to lead in the crypto market. This aligns with the crypto-friendly stance of his VP pick, J.D. Vance, who plans to revise the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21) to support the crypto industry better. Vance was recently reported to hold over $100,000 worth of Bitcoin. Bitcoin was trading at $63,604.58, down 1.52% over the last 24 hours.
Crypto leaders like Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood support Trump’s stance on crypto.
Trump’s endorsement has sparked interest in the crypto community. This has led to a rise in Trump-related meme coins and speculation about Bitcoin being included as a strategic reserve asset. This potential policy shift, suggested by figures like Dennis Porter of the Satoshi Action Fund, could significantly impact the global economy and reinforce Bitcoin’s status as digital gold.
However, some, like Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, express concerns about the broader economic implications of Trump’s candidacy.
At Bitcoin 2024, speakers include Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Vivek Ramaswamy, and Senators Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn. Kennedy has committed to protecting the right to use Bitcoin. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden’s campaign seeks guidance on digital asset policies but hasn’t made significant announcements. The Chamber of Progress has urged Biden to support clear crypto regulation, noting that Trump has used the current lack of clarity to his advantage.
On Polymarket, users predict a 63% chance of Trump winning the next election, compared to 13% for Biden.
