What to expect from Bitcoin 2024

The man who could be re-elected president in November will be on stage at Bitcoin 2024, a historic moment for the world’s largest cryptocurrency.

The Bitcoin 2024 conference is approaching, and thousands of enthusiasts will be flocking to Nashville to talk all things crypto.

There are a few things that look set to be different this year. For one, the event is taking a break from Miami, where the industry’s best and brightest gather in a cavernous convention center.

The sentiment around BTC is also set to be much more optimistic. The world’s largest cryptocurrency was trading at $26,832.21 on the first day of Bitcoin 2023 in May last year. It has gained more than 140% since then.

As adoption has grown in recent years, the makeup of participants has changed significantly, evolving from a small number of nerds to a rich and diverse mix of investors, entrepreneurs, developers, and influencers.

The approval of exchange-traded funds based on Bitcoin’s spot price in January had a seismic impact on institutional investors, meaning Wall Street could see more exposure between July 25-27.

However, the announcement that created the most buzz among all of these was that the new Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, would appear on stage in Tennessee, despite having recently been the subject of an assassination attempt.

It’s hard to overemphasize how significant a development this is for Bitcoin, and a reflection of how far the feisty, decentralized cryptocurrency has come in recent years.

Why? Because it reinforces that BTC has become a nationally important issue for voters and part of the political discourse. Just a few years ago, it seemed like a pipe dream for a US presidential candidate to take time out of a campaign schedule to attend.

It will be interesting to see if Trump offers any insight into his legislative priorities for crypto — hints at what Bitcoin users can expect if he returns to the Oval Office. Any concrete announcements would have the potential to move markets in real time.

Given all this, it’s also possible that he’ll voice his usual criticisms of President Joe Biden, fail to mention Gary Gensler’s background as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and completely digress from the topic by talking about something that has nothing to do with Bitcoin.

The conference is also reportedly set to become a fundraising campaign, with Bitcoin Magazine CEO David Bailey hoping to raise $15 million for Trump’s campaign.

Speakers at the Bitcoin 2024 Conference in Nashville 🇺🇸

– Donald Trump
–Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
– Cathie Wood
– Michael Saylor
-Edward Snowden
– Vivek Ramaswamy

DROWNING! pic.twitter.com/ox1UBJQKsZ

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) July 16, 2024

Trump won’t be the only politician on stage, far from it. Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty is on a panel examining the policy outlook for Bitcoin in 2025, which could offer clues about how Congress plans to handle legislation after the election. His colleague Marsha Blackburn will also share the stage with one-time Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Beyond that, there will be a roll call of the usual faces that show up every year. MicroStrategy’s chief executive Michael Saylor will give a 30-minute keynote speech after his company bought 1% of the Bitcoin that will be held in reserve. Cathie Wood is another crowd favorite, as will Caitlin Long of Custodia Bank.

As usual, there are also a few participants that will cause controversy. One of them is the British comedian Russell Brand, who has faced accusations of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior from several women. He was investigated by the police and questioned by detectives.

The consequences of reports in the British press about his behaviour were severe. Brand was dropped by his agency, which said they had been “horribly misled” by the fallen star. A nationwide comedy tour was cancelled and YouTube blocked his page from receiving advertising revenue.

Now he’s moved to the lesser-known video-sharing site Rumble, and his politics have shifted even further to the right. Brand even appeared at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. While some Bitcoin users will welcome his appearance with open arms and speak out against what they call “cancel culture,” you have to wonder what message this sends to women — many will agree.

Beyond the usual chin-scratching talk about mining, banking, and regulation, Bitcoin 2024 will likely feature another glaring absence: the absence of a major announcement that pulls a rabbit out of a hat, as was seen when Nayib Bukele declared in 2021 that El Salvador had adopted BTC as legal tender.

Despite all of this, this is shaping up to be a news conference. Who knows, we may even see some TV channels broadcast Trump’s speech live, introducing Bitcoin to countless Americans in the process.