Former President Donald Trump is set to deliver a keynote speech at the world’s largest bitcoin conference, positioning himself and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), as pro-cryptocurrency advocates.
The event, held in Nashville, Tennessee, came at a time when cryptocurrency has emerged as a highly contentious issue during this election cycle.
High-profile technology executives have rallied to show their support and donations to Trump, including a $1 million Bitcoin donation from twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, co-founders of cryptocurrency exchange Gemini.
In June, former President Trump signaled a shift in his stance towards the cryptocurrency industry by calling for all remaining Bitcoin to be mined within the United States.
President Trump, who has previously been critical of cryptocurrencies, said in 2019, “I don’t like Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. They are not money and their value is highly volatile and unfounded. Unregulated crypto assets could facilitate illegal activity, including drug trafficking and other illegal activities.”
President Trump reiterated this position earlier this year, saying he would not support the creation of a central bank digital currency if elected, calling it a “dangerous threat to freedom.”
The event is scheduled to begin at 3pm EDT.
Check out the video above.
