VP JD Vance to Headline Bitcoin Conference, a Year After Trump's Speech
A Look Ahead at Crypto's Political Landscape.
Bitcoin Conference to Feature Vice President JD Vance, Following Trump's Precedent
In a thrilling turn of events, Vice President JD Vance will grace the stage of the Bitcoin 2025 conference as the headline speaker. This move marks a significant milestone, as it will be the first time a vice president publicly endorses Bitcoin at a crypto event.
Last year, President Donald Trump delivered a speech at Bitcoin 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee, during his campaign trail. His talk, which echoed his support for cryptocurrencies, emphasized the production of future Bitcoins by American businesses and urged investors to hang onto their stashes.
Vice President Vance, who's no stranger to the crypto world, disclosed in 2021 that he owned Bitcoin worth between $100,000 and $250,000 while campaigning for the Senate. He had also worked under libertarian billionaire investor Peter Thiel, a strong crypto advocate.
Since Trump's re-election, he's taken bold steps to support the crypto industry. He's established a strategic Bitcoin reserve, amassed a separate digital assets stockpile, signed the first crypto-related bill into law, and even launched his own Solana meme coin shortly before his inauguration.
Trump's crypto ventures have drawn criticism from some top Democrats and industry observers, who believe he's leveraged his position to bolster his business interests. However, his actions have garnered praise from leading crypto advocates for his deregulatory measures.
Joining Vice President Vance at Bitcoin 2025 will be President Trump's two eldest sons, Eric and Donald Jr., as well as David Sacks, the White House's AI and crypto czar.
The Bitcoin 2025 conference will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, from May 27-29.
Edited by James Rubin
Inside Scoop: The Evolution of Crypto Politics
The political landscape of cryptocurrencies has seen substantial changes, notably in relation to U.S. Presidents and Vice Presidents. Here's a summary of the key developments:
Initial skepticism: In his first term (2017-2021), Donald Trump expressed doubts about Bitcoin, labeling it a "scam" to challenge the U.S. dollar[3]. However, his viewpoint shifted during his second campaign.
Crypto advocacy: Trump's second term saw him earn the title of the "crypto president" for his robust support of digital assets[3]. His campaign raked in substantial donations from the crypto industry[4].
JD Vance: Vance, Trump's running mate in the 2024 election, was the first known Bitcoin owner to run for vice-president[1].
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve proposal: In July 2024, Trump proposed the establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve if elected. Senator Cynthia Lummis' BITCOIN Act, which supported this proposal, was blocked by Democratic opposition[1].
Current events: Since his second inauguration, Trump has actively championed crypto deregulation and launched a crypto firm with his sons[2][5]. He also introduced a $Trump meme coin in January 2025, which generated considerable trading fees[3].
U.S. Government Involvement: The United States is believed to hold an estimated 200,000 BTC, making it the largest known state holder of Bitcoin as of March 2025[1]. The government has also moved towards less regulation, reflected in the disbanding of the Justice Department agency responsible for cryptocurrency crime[3].
- Vice President JD Vance, known Bitcoin owner and former campaign staffer of crypto advocate Peter Thiel, will be the first Vice President to publicly endorse Bitcoin at a crypto event, headlining the Bitcoin 2025 conference.
- Despite early skepticism towards Bitcoin during his first term, President Donald Trump's stance on cryptocurrencies drastically changed during his second campaign, earning him the moniker of the "crypto president."
- In politics, cryptocurrencies have witnessed significant shifts, with Trump's running mate for the 2024 election, VP JD Vance, being the first known Bitcoin owner to run for vice-presidency.
- Political developments in cryptocurrency have expanded beyond traditional political roles, with former President Trump launching his own Solana meme coin and proposing the establishment of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve during his campaign for re-election in 2024.
