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At the recent Bitcoin Conference 2024, held in Nashville, Tennessee, politicians and speakers from all sides of the United States political spectrum made their stance on crypto clear —the future is DeFi. With keynote speeches from highly influential figures such as Donald Trump, Michael Saylor, Edward Snowdon, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Cathie Wood, the Conference presented a round-up of big ideas, plans, and warnings about crypto and its political backing. The common thread to every speaker’s contribution was that Bitcoin and its surrounding infrastructure have huge potential and present endless possibilities for both individual and national financial health. From the Lightning Network changing lives in Africa today to Bitcoin being “the currency of hope” of tomorrow, the various speakers hailed Bitcoin’s power to change lives both at home and abroad.
In this article, we delve into the highlights of some of the most impactful speeches and interviews from the Bitcoin Conference 2024, exploring the diverse perspectives and visions shared by these prominent figures.
Donald Trump’s promises for a Bitcoin future
In a keynote speech that shifted the crypto market both during and after the fact, Donald Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential candidate, lauded Bitcoin and those in the industry, promising that if he were to be elected come November, he would supercharge Bitcoin growth and make the U.S. the crypto mining capital of the world. His pledges were met with cheers from the crowd, some of whom sported “Make Bitcoin Great Again” merchandise in both Bitcoin orange and MAGA red. But the crowd’s biggest reaction came when Trump promised to fire Gary Gensler, chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, on his first day in office, which resonated with audience members who have felt targeted by Gensler’s scrutiny of the crypto market. In a characteristic display of confidence, Trump’s speech may have been one of the factors responsible for a 3% Bitcoin price hike at the time, taking the asset to around $69,700 per BTC. Could a MAGA win pave the way for digital assets to move freely into the mainstream financial sphere?
RFK Jr. underscores Bitcoin as the currency of hope and freedom
The first presidential candidate to speak at the Bitcoin Conference 2024 was Robert F. Kennedy Junior (RFK). Kennedy began his speech by positioning himself as a member of the crypto community, one of many present, and emphasized Bitcoin’s role in promoting freedom, optimism, independence, democracy, and transparency, declaring it “the currency of hope.” He also advocated for the transactional freedom offered by Bitcoin and crypto, as something as crucial as freedom of expression, criticizing the Canadian government’s recent freezing of protestors’ bank accounts.
Criticizing both the Trump and Biden administrations, RFK pointed out how excessive money printing has eroded the middle class, driven up inflation, and diminished the dollar’s value, leading to increased financial struggles for young people, including delayed life milestones and economic sacrifices. In short, RFK’s speech underscored his long-term vision of Bitcoin as a transformative force for economic stability and individual freedom and privacy for the American people, presenting it as a remedy to the financial pressures exacerbated by current monetary policies, and a chance to drive wealth back into the country from other nations.
Michael Saylor highlights the benefits of digital capital
“Bitcoin is immortal, immutable, and immaterial capital,” stated Michael Saylor, co-founder of MicroStrategy, in his keynote speech at the Bitcoin Conference 2024, hailing Bitcoin as an infinite digital asset that bypasses the woes of climate change, war, entropy, and inflation that physical assets succumb to only too often. A staunch proponent of cryptocurrency and Bitcoin in particular, Saylor estimated back in June 2024 that Bitcoin would reach $10 million. In his speech on the 26th of July, he increased this estimate to $13 million per coin by 2045. Then, regarding individual Bitcoin strategy, he suggested making Bitcoin your primary treasury asset, converting your excess earnings into Bitcoin, and even taking out cheap loans to purchase more of the digital currency in order to achieve long-term financial security. Saylor’s strong belief in the enduring value and potential growth of Bitcoin, as well as a strategic approach to maximizing wealth, points to a possible future in which Bitcoin becomes a central asset in both personal and corporate financial strategies.
Edward Snowden warns against joining a cult
The day before Trump spoke at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference, Edward Snowden delivered a sobering speech in which he warned against the growing interest of politicians in the cryptocurrency space. Addressing an audience that included several Republican senators, congresspeople, and one Democrat, Snowden questioned the presence of politicians at the event, suggesting it felt “unusual” and potentially disingenuous. He warned attendees to exercise caution and not blindly follow political figures, stating, “Cast a vote, but do not join a cult,” and emphasized that politicians have their own agendas and interests. While Snowden’s concerns about political motives were evident, the audience focused more on the perceived threat from regulatory pressures rather than the risk of political manipulation.
Cathie Wood and Alyse Killeen discuss Bitcoin’s power as a payment
In another insightful exchange, Cathie Wood and Alyse Killeen discussed Bitcoin’s future as a transformative means of payment. Wood emphasized Bitcoin’s unique qualities as a global, decentralized monetary system and its ability to facilitate online payments, particularly micropayments, highlighting the power and potential of the Lightning Network. This Layer 2 solution is already changing lives in regions such as Africa, strengthening the micro gig economy and micro labor force by allowing entrepreneurs to transact B2B and B2C and get their businesses off the ground.
In a similar vein to RFK Jr., Wood also touched on Bitcoin’s positive impact on renewable energy, noting its potential to utilize surplus energy from solar and wind sources for mining efforts. Finally, on the topic of regulation, she expressed great optimism about recent developments, as well as potential future developments, such as those proposed by former President Trump and the possibility of a “strategic Bitcoin reserve,” making reference to Michael Slayor’s predictions of Bitcoin value and what that could do for the U.S. economy. To conclude her contribution, she used the word “transformational” in reference to the future of finance, where Bitcoin is a key player: it’s a technology, a monetary system, and a new asset class.
Other speakers from the Bitcoin Conference 2024 included Caitlin Long, who discussed Bitcoin’s role in traditional banking; Russel Brand, who talked about Bitcoin, free speech, decentralization, and the future of technology alongside Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski; and Max Keiser and Stacey Herbert, who shared their insights on El Salvador’s groundbreaking adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender.
To learn more about crypto as a form of payment, and how, as a merchant or business, to accept crypto payments from your customers, visit www.forumpay.com, or get in touch with our sales team to discuss any questions you may have.
