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Crypto’s Big Trump Gamble Is Risky

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He stands on a stage at the Bitcoin Conference, in Nashville, and says how much he likes crypto people. He announces a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve. He promises to free Ross Ulbricht. He hands out burgers at PubKey, in NYC. He even forms his own DeFi project, World Liberty Financial, complete with an insider-y governance model (what better way to signal one’s fidelity to crypto than that?)

Trump says and does all the things crypto wants to hear and he attracts millions in donations as a result. The loudmouths go to bat for him, culture warriors in performative hatred. He occupies political space that the Biden Administration and the Harris campaign could have occupied if they weren’t so craven to the Warren Wing. He says all the right things, because Trump is the master of saying what people want him to say. He fits perfectly with crypto’s goals, because his politics are adaptable to any situation and crypto was desperate for a friend.

I’ll confess that all this makes me personally uncomfortable, not because I have any great love for Kamala Harris, but because Trump has a long track record of being a fair-weather friend. He could just as easily take an entirely opposite view of crypto, if it suits him, and he has. I’m worried about crypto’s embrace of Trump because I find it hard to believe that Trump shares principles that attracted me to crypto.



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Bitcoin Policy Institute

The US Should Establish A Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

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This morning, the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI) released a 53-page report on the pros of the United States establishing a strategic bitcoin reserve (SBR).

The authors of the report touched on four key benefits of holding bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset:

  • Economic and monetary stability — bitcoin is a hedge against currency debasement and debt instability
  • Geopolitical competition — the US could gain a strategic advantage over other countries that are contemplating starting a bitcoin reserve and can reinforce the US’ influence over global financial standards
  • Energy and climate — Bitcoin mining can be leveraged to accelerate the movement toward renewable energy
  • Financial inclusion and human rights — the US can promote both the concepts of individual freedom and financial inclusion for both US citizens and those abroad

While I agree that the US’ establishing an SBR would have these benefits, I also think it would send a certain message loud and clear: We embrace change in the United States.

We can tell the world that we’re aware of Bitcoin’s numerous positive attributes and that we want to use them to our advantage.

In doing so, we can shift the narrative around Bitcoin from something to be feared and controlled to something that should be embraced and utilized, and we can stand behind a tool that can be used to increase the financial buoyancy of both people and institutions around the globe instead of standing in its way.





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Elections

I’m Grateful for Trump’s Embrace of Bitcoin

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Co-founder of BTC Media eleven years ago, I am passionate about the future of Bitcoin – and in the spirit of free speech and democracy on this election eve – I feel compelled to share my first Bitcoin Magazine opinion article. Weeks ago our editor-in-chief, Aaron Van Wirdum, published his Take, “Trump Does Not Give a Damn About Bitcoin,” and he invited submissions of a counter-take.

Our company was founded on the mission of hyperbitcoinization. Since the beginning, educating Main Street on Bitcoin has been core to our values. We’ve made great strides. I believe Trump – as standing president – with pro-Bitcoin advisors, could significantly fast-track Main Street’s embrace of Bitcoin, create the world’s most pro-Bitcoin economy, and commute Ross Ulbricht’s sentence… a powerful trifecta.

The resounding skepticism found in Aaron’s TAKE is not a sentiment that I share; rather, I trust in Trump’s declared support for Bitcoin. His inner circle is full of fervent Bitcoiners and those who have signaled support for Bitcoin: his children, JD Vance, Elon Musk, RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy, Senators Lummis, Blackburn, Hagerty and Scott plus many, many more.

As a newcomer to the Bitcoin space, Trump, like many, is still learning. I recognize and appreciate his ever-student curiosity and desire to fully grasp the future of money. A U.S. president with exposure to Bitcoin, who surrounds himself with pro-Bitcoin advisors and policies, is certainly a more favorable alternative than the openly-hostile administrations of the past and present.

In Aaron’s TAKE, Trump was chastised for failing to transact his own bitcoin purchase at a campaign stop at PubKey – a Bitcoin bar in Greenwich Village; again, there is no stone to throw here. I was elated that Trump accepted PubKey owner Thomas Pacchia’s invitation to make a campaign stop (and as I understand it, that was an invitation extended to both V.P. Harris and Trump, with only Trump accepting). The transaction was a gesture, facilitated by the community, and was a well-received and celebratory moment for that small business and for the global network of Bitcoin businesses that have struggled for this level of acceptance by politicians.

Like others, you might be questioning if donations and votes are the driving force of Trump’s interest in Bitcoin. Does it actually matter what drives any of us as we strive for a common good? We are a diverse community with diverse reasons for embracing Bitcoin — whether a desire for financial sovereignty, an investment opportunity, a sudden inability to purchase basic necessities during a protest, a distrust in the existing financial system and, yes, even politicians seeking the Bitcoin community’s support through donations and votes.

The Bitcoin Community knows Bitcoin will flourish and thrive in spite of politics; however, not all issues are apolitical. At Nashville’s Bitcoin 2024 conference (and the Libertarian National Convention), Trump stated, unequivocally, that he will free Ross Ulbricht if given the opportunity as President. The Ulbricht family needs a miracle, and it is Trump who pledges to deliver it.

I had the golden opportunity to meet Trump backstage at Bitcoin 2024 (alongside two strong, intelligent women – his granddaughter Kai and her mother Vanessa). I found Trump to be warm, humorous, and sincere. I wholeheartedly welcome Trump to Bitcoin and appreciate bipartisanship support in freeing Ross and our mission of hyperbitcoinization.

I encourage you all to vote this Tuesday, and to join Bitcoin Magazine and Stand With Crypto for The Road to Election Day, live from Las Vegas, this Tuesday, November 5, 2024, beginning at 3 p.m. PST. 



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Adoption

Crypto wins the vote in the 2024 US elections

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Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial.

The 2024 US election campaigns have been a masterclass in how to compel a large group of people to elect their country’s leaders. In a short time, we’ve seen sentiments shift after each candidate began their campaign trails and made promises to voters surrounding issues such as immigration, cost of living, and reproductive rights.

From spreading memes about migrants eating cats and dogs and the humorous “coconut tree” remark to the decisive role of lobbying regulators, the similarities between pushing political messaging and crypto narratives are difficult to ignore. 

Crypto is no stranger to compelling messages. One of the most memorable phrases in crypto history, “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on the brink of second bailout for banks,” contained in Bitcoin’s (BTC) genesis block, is a reminder of the powerful messaging that has helped propel the industry forward. For crypto to win the “people’s vote” again, the industry can learn from several foundational communication principles we observed in this year’s elections.

Tapping into the psyche of the masses with memes

The use of memes in political messaging this election cycle has helped candidates engage the voter base and shift their perceptions. 

In July, singer Charli XCX took to her almost 3.7 million followers on X to endorse Kamala Harris with a three-word X-post, “kamala IS brat.” Brat was an album launched by Charli XCX, with notable colors of neon lime green and black. The Harris campaign quickly adopted the theme into their campaign color scheme, resulting in the “Kamala is brat” meme exploding across the web and TikTok, introducing a new cultural reference that positively shaped discourse. This is particularly significant for young and new voters who are increasingly getting their news through social media, according to Pew Research.

Originating from evolutionary biology, memetics, the study of memes explores how ideas, behaviors, and cultural phenomena spread. The light-heartedness of the medium allows people to digest complex or unsettling political realities in a more approachable way, impacting voter attitudes at an emotional level​. 

Crypto has seen its successful application through memecoins like Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and Dogwifhat (WIF), which leverage meme culture to build communities and hype. Similar to political memes spreading ideology, memecoins spread economic narratives through humor and social media engagement. 

The overall industry needs to see a return to memes that captivate users broadly. Popular memes like ‘diamond hands,’ ‘WAGMI’ (we’re all gonna make it), and HODL (hold on for dear life) have in the past spread beliefs about crypto like wildfire. The industry needs to craft new memes and leverage new moments to maintain its relevance and resonate with broad audiences again.

The use of emotional and purpose-driven messaging

Political campaigns also provide examples of how emotionally resonant, purpose-driven language connects with supporters. 

Donald J. Trump’s campaign used many bold statements of purpose that studies show resonate with themes of strength and patriotism. Among the most popular is the campaign’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) message. His appeal is connected to the psychological readiness in the US culture for an antihero figure, who represents someone bold and unconstrained by typical political decorum and the willingness to challenge the status quo. This was symbolized in Trump’s call to “fight, fight, fight!” that spread following the assassination attempt in July.

The web3 parallel is the need to evoke purpose when speaking to end-users by bypassing complex jargon in favor of emotionally engaging language. Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Helius Labs, a key crypto opinion leader, uses direct and emotionally engaging messaging to resonate with crypto enthusiasts. His commentary, which centers around key trends and recent events, enhances his credibility as a key spokesperson for Solana (SOL) and blockchain tech broadly.

Similarly to how political campaigns use soundbites that reflect the core values of the voter, web3 projects and founders need to rely more on using memorable statements that create an emotional connection, creating greater buy-in from a wider audience. 

Lobbying to engage policymakers more seriously

Lobbying played a notable role in this year’s elections. The health of US citizens became an issue that rose in prominence when health lobbyist Calley Means reconnected Republican and independent presidential candidates Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This played a part in RFK dropping out of the race to support Trump’s campaign, catalyzing the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement and may make a difference in the final election outcome. 

The US crypto industry itself has experienced regulatory hostility towards companies after the FTX collapse. Since then, there has been a growing realization that the use of money in politics is simply the way the system operates. Lobbying is needed for the industry’s priorities to be heard in the halls of Congress. 

The last two years saw a major uptick in advocacy efforts for better US crypto policy. As of mid-October, crypto-focused super PACs (political action committees) had spent over $134 million to persuade voters to elect Congress members who support crypto. Just this week, the CEO of Coinbase, Brian Armstrong, announced the company was committing an additional $25 million to support the Fairshake PAC leading up to the 2026 midterms to elect pro-crypto candidates. 

A continuation of this strategy by US companies could lead to significant shifts in US policy and could see better reception of crypto by users locally, with a ripple effect globally. 

The 2024 US elections were littered with examples of masterful communication tactics that can be adopted by crypto projects. As the focus of the industry begins shifting from infrastructure development to the growth of consumer applications across various verticals, these strategies will be increasingly important in persuading users about why they should choose the products offered instead of the many other alternatives available to them. 

Debra Nita

Debra Nita

Debra Nita is the associate director and head of growth at YAP Global, a crypto-native PR firm. With over a decade of strategic communications and product marketing experience, Debra helps leading crypto and web3 projects gain publicity and build their reputation through top-tier media coverage, leadership, and narrative development. Her expertise includes layer-1 blockchains, rollups, decentralized finance, zero knowledge and cryptography, and stablecoins. Debra has also been a speaker and hackathon judge at leading crypto conferences, including ETHDenver, Mainnet in NYC, ETHToronto, and ETH Kuala Lumpur.



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