The Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas has become a hotbed of confrontation between pure Bitcoin supporters, who believe in the apolitical nature of 'digital money', and the loyal MAGA (Make America Great Again) faction of former President Donald Trump. The strong presence of Trump insiders has overshadowed the dissenting voices from the proponents of pure Bitcoin, creating a tense and conflicting atmosphere.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, the first to own Bitcoin among Vice Presidents, received a warm cheer from the audience at the conference. He is considered to be more 'crypto-savvy' compared to Donald Trump. Many attendees, mostly conservatives, expressed strong support for the administration that is 'embracing Bitcoin'.
However, not everyone is a fan. Adam Walker, a self-proclaimed 'political agnostic', argues that the establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve in the U.S. through #TRUMP signed in March has 'strayed from Bitcoin's original cypherpunk ideals'. This event also saw the emergence of 'normies' flocking to the conference, which Bitcoin developers like Casey Rodarmor believe is 'flattering both Bitcoin and the state', despite the inherent contradictions between the two concepts.
Beneath the patriotic facade and decor reminiscent of #MAGA , there exists a core group of Bitcoin holders who are steadfast in the anti-state philosophy of this technology. They are dissatisfied with Trump's release of memecoin, which has helped his family increase their wealth by approximately $2.9 billion. Erik Cason, author of 'Cryptosovereignty', warns that the politicization of Bitcoin is 'truly dangerous for everyone' as it could turn Bitcoin into a tool of a political party, leading to backlash from the opposition.
Even Ross Ulbricht, the former operator of the Silk Road black market and a symbol of cryptocurrency operating beyond state control, who was pardoned by Trump, emphasized the need to 'stay true to the principles' of Bitcoin: freedom, decentralization, and unity. His appearance at the conference, despite being pardoned by the very state he sought to circumvent, is a quintessential example of the complexity of the relationship between cryptocurrency and politics.
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