Co-Founder of BTC Media For eleven years, I’ve been passionate about the future of Bitcoin – and in the spirit of free speech and democracy on the eve of the election – I feel compelled to share my first opinion piece in Bitcoin Magazine. Weeks ago, our editor-in-chief, Aaron Van Weerdom, published his article “Trump Doesn’t Care About Bitcoin” and invited counter-opinions.
Our company was founded on the mission of Hyperbitcoinization. From the beginning, educating Main Street about Bitcoin has been central to our values. We have made great strides. I believe that Trump – as a sitting president – with pro-bitcoin advisors, could dramatically accelerate Main Street’s embrace of bitcoin, create the most pro-bitcoin economy in the world, and mitigate Ross Ulbricht’s sentence… a powerful trifecta.
The resounding skepticism in Aaron’s article is not a sentiment I share; Rather, I trust Trump’s stated support for Bitcoin. His inner circle is full of Bitcoin enthusiasts and those who have shown support for Bitcoin: his sons, JD Vance, Elon Musk, RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy, Senators Lummis, Blackburn, Haggerty and Scott plus many, many more.
As a newcomer to the Bitcoin space, Trump, like many, is still learning. I recognize and appreciate his abiding curiosity and desire to fully understand the future of money. Certainly, a Bitcoin-exposed US president, who surrounds himself with pro-bitcoin advisors and policies, is a more suitable alternative than openly hostile administrations of the past and present.
In Aaron’s article, Trump was reprimanded for failing to make his own Bitcoin purchase transaction at a campaign stop at PubKey — a Bitcoin bar in Greenwich Village; Again, there’s no stone to cast here. I was thrilled that Trump accepted PubKey owner Thomas Paccia’s invitation to stop campaigning (as I understand it, that was an invitation to both Vice President Harris and Trump, and only Trump accepted it). The deal was a gesture, facilitated by the community, and was a well-received and celebratory moment for those small businesses and for the global network of Bitcoin companies that had struggled for this level of acceptance by politicians.
Like others, you may be wondering if donations and votes are the driving force for Trump’s interest in Bitcoin. Does it actually matter what drives any of us in our pursuit of the greater good? We are a diverse community with diverse reasons for embracing Bitcoin – whether it be the desire for financial sovereignty, investment opportunity, a sudden inability to purchase basic necessities during a protest, distrust of the current financial system, and yes, even politicians seeking Bitcoin. Support the community through donations and Votes.
The Bitcoin community knows that Bitcoin will thrive and prosper despite politics; However, not all issues are apolitical. At the 2024 Bitcoin Conference in Nashville (and the Libertarian National Convention), Trump stated unequivocally that he would fire Ross Ulbricht if given the chance as president. The Ulbricht family needs a miracle, and Trump is the one vowing to make it happen.
I had the golden opportunity to meet Trump backstage at Bitcoin 2024 (along with two strong, smart women – his granddaughter Kay and her mother Vanessa). I found Trump warm, humorous, and sincere. I warmly welcome Trump to Bitcoin and appreciate the bipartisan support in freeing Ross and our mission to turn Bitcoin hyper.
I encourage you all to vote on Tuesday and join Bitcoin Magazine and Stand With Crypto The road to Election Daylive from Las Vegas, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, starting at 3 p.m. PT.
This article is a takes. The opinions expressed are entirely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.