Former U.S. President and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump expressed his endorsement of cryptocurrency during an exclusive event for Trump NFT holders at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Trump voiced concern over crypto companies relocating outside the U.S. due to perceived hostility towards the industry, stating his intention to reverse this trend. He emphasized the importance of embracing cryptocurrency and allowing companies to operate within the country.
“Crypto is moving out of the U.S. because of hostility towards crypto,” Trump said. “We’ll stop it because I don’t want that—if we’re going to embrace it, we have to let them be here.”
Taking questions from the crypto-savvy crowd, Trump said he would welcome campaign donations in Bitcoin and other tokens.
Responding to questions from attendees, Trump indicated his openness to receiving campaign donations in Bitcoin and other digital tokens, signaling a shift in his stance towards digital assets.
Trump also took the opportunity to criticize President Joe Biden's understanding of cryptocurrency, as well as the chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, and their purported opposition to crypto.
Ron Hammond of the Blockchain Association noted the significance of Trump's remarks in light of recent developments, including the passage of a House resolution condemning the SEC's stance on crypto banking.
In a separate development, meme coins featuring caricatures of Trump and Biden experienced surges in value, with tokens like "Jeo Boden" and "Doland Tremp" reaching substantial market capitalizations.
Despite the popularity of the Biden-themed token, Trump expressed skepticism about its value, remarking on the significant sum associated with such an investment.
The event, described as an "extraordinary dinner" at Trump's Palm Beach residence, was offered as an exclusive experience for Trump NFT holders, underscoring the intersection of cryptocurrency and political engagement.