JD Vance: I own a fair amount of bitcoin

JD Vance: I own a fair amount of bitcoin

Vice President JD Vance has made headlines by declaring his continued ownership of Bitcoin during his keynote speech at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference in Las Vegas. The event, held on Wednesday, drew a packed crowd and featured several high-profile speakers, including Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, as well as White House cryptocurrency advisor David Sacks.

In his speech, Vice President Vance emphasized his personal commitment to the crypto cause, stating, "I still own a fair amount of Bitcoin today." This declaration underscores the Trump administration's strong pivot towards digital assets and signals a shift in Washington's approach to innovation. Vance also reflected on his early support for Bitcoin, noting that his views were shaped during his 2022 Senate run [1].

The Vice President praised the grassroots efforts of crypto advocates, crediting them with tangible political victories, including Bernie Moreno's Senate win over Democrat Sherrod Brown. He emphasized the importance of political involvement, warning that unless the crypto community remains engaged, the industry will be ignored by politics [1].

Vance drew a distinction between Bitcoin and AI, quoting a Silicon Valley mentor: "One of my great mentors in Silicon Valley always told me that Bitcoin — that the crypto community — was about exit, and artificial intelligence was about voice." He urged the crypto community to continue advocating for their cause, stating, "You gotta keep on choosing voice" [1].

The event marked the Trump administration's latest overture to the cryptocurrency industry, which has grown in prominence and drawn allies from both parties despite skepticism about its volatility [2]. The price of Bitcoin has leaped nearly 60% in the last year, further solidifying its status as a major asset class [2].

The Vice President's speech comes amid growing criticism from Democrats and ethics experts about the potential conflict of interest posed by Mr. Trump's crypto ventures. However, the White House has strongly denied any conflict-of-interest issues, stating that Trump's assets are held in a trust managed by his children [2].

References:
[1] https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/policy/jd-vance-declares-i-still-own-a-fair-amount-of-bitcoin
[2] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jd-vance-bitcoin-event-today-trump-administration-crypto-ties-grow/