Key Points
- Donald Trump used Bitcoin to purchase burgers at a crypto-friendly NYC bar, further demonstrating his commitment to cryptocurrency adoption.
- This event follows Trump’s recent pledge at the Bitcoin 2024 conference to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the world” if re-elected.
Trump’s Latest Crypto Endorsement
Former US President and 2024 Republican nominee Donald Trump has made another public display of cryptocurrency adoption on September 18, 2024. Trump used Bitcoin to purchase hamburgers at Pubkey, a Bitcoin-friendly bar and restaurant in New York City, during a campaign stop.
This move aligns with Trump’s recent pro-cryptocurrency stance and follows his significant announcements at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, Tennessee, as reported by Token Times AI.
Trump’s Evolving Crypto Vision
Trump’s use of Bitcoin at Pubkey is the latest in a series of pro-cryptocurrency actions and statements:
- At the Bitcoin 2024 conference, Trump vowed to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the world” if re-elected in November.
- He pledged to end the “war on crypto” and outlined several key policy proposals:
- Firing SEC Chair Gary Gensler
- Stopping the U.S. government from selling its Bitcoin holdings
- Creating a “strategic national Bitcoin stockpile”
- Ending “Operation Chokepoint 2.0” and other anti-crypto policies
- Supporting the development of stablecoins and the Bitcoin mining industry in the U.S.
- Trump compared the Bitcoin community to the early steel industry and predicted that Bitcoin would eventually overtake gold.
- He has incorporated pro-Bitcoin mining policies into his 2024 campaign platform.
This steady progression marks a significant shift from his previous stance, where he once called Bitcoin a “scam” and described cryptocurrencies as “based on thin air.”
The Pubkey Transaction
During his visit to Pubkey, Trump purchased at least a dozen hamburgers using Bitcoin, which he distributed to attendees, calling them “crypto burgers.” The transaction was recorded at block height 861871 on the Bitcoin blockchain, as reported by Pubkey on their X account.
Political Landscape and Cryptocurrency
Trump’s continued public use of Bitcoin and advocacy for cryptocurrency is part of a larger trend of political figures embracing digital assets. At the Bitcoin 2024 conference, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also presented an aggressive pro-Bitcoin stance, proposing to transfer 204,000 BTC into a strategic reserve and purchase 500 BTC daily if elected.
However, Edward Snowden, speaking at the same conference, cautioned the cryptocurrency community against becoming too aligned with political figures, advising them to “cast a vote, but don’t join a cult.”
Implications and Context
As the 2024 presidential campaign progresses, Trump’s embrace of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency technology is keeping digital assets at the forefront of policy discussions. This latest event at Pubkey serves as another example of how cryptocurrency is becoming an increasingly important topic in American politics.
The intersection of politics and cryptocurrency is likely to play a significant role in the upcoming election cycle, with candidates vying for support from the crypto community. As Trump and others continue to court the crypto vote, the impact of these policy proposals on the future of digital assets in the United States remains a topic of keen interest and debate.
