Conor McGregor Proposes National Bitcoin Reserve for Ireland

Former UFC champion Conor McGregor has proposed the establishment of a national Bitcoin reserve as part of his independent presidential campaign in Ireland. McGregor, who announced his candidacy on May 9, 2025, believes that such a reserve would empower the people by giving them control over their money, aligning with the decentralization principles of cryptocurrency. He stated that "crypto in its origin was founded to give power back to the people," echoing the core philosophy of Bitcoin.

McGregor has not provided specific details on how the reserve would be funded or its scale. However, he has reached out to industry leaders for consultation. He has invited Anthony Pompliano, host of The Pomp Podcast, and David Bailey, who previously advised former US President Donald Trump on crypto matters, to join him for discussions on X Spaces. McGregor has indicated plans to host sessions to flesh out the details of his proposal, inviting these experts to share their ideas and feedback.

In a significant development, McGregor is set to meet with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to discuss Bitcoin adoption strategies for Ireland. The meeting is expected to take place at the Bitcoin Nation State Summit, with an Irish Strategic Bitcoin Reserve as a key agenda item. El Salvador has been a pioneer in national Bitcoin adoption, continuing to acquire Bitcoin despite pressure from the International Monetary Fund. McGregor has expressed interest in various cryptocurrencies, seeing potential in transparent and trustless applications within the crypto space.

McGregor’s campaign faces several challenges. Ireland’s next presidential election must be held by November 11, 2025, and any initiative to establish a Bitcoin reserve would require support from lawmakers and the central bank. As a European Union member, Ireland’s monetary policy is tied to the euro, adding complexity to any Bitcoin reserve proposal. Additionally, McGregor is contesting a civil court decision that found him guilty of sexual assault and has previously been investigated for hate speech, which may undermine his credibility with voters.

McGregor’s track record in the crypto world shows mixed results. In early April 2025, the Real World Gaming team conducted a 28-hour presale of a token named REAL with McGregor’s backing. Despite aiming to raise a minimum of $1 million, they collected only about $392,300 and refunded all buyers. Currently, only a few governments, including the US, El Salvador, and Bhutan, have established Bitcoin reserves, and these initiatives came from established government authorities, making McGregor’s grassroots campaign approach unusual.

McGregor’s plan remains conceptual as he prepares for further discussions with crypto experts and his meeting with President Bukele. Irish voters will ultimately decide if they want a fighter-turned-politician handling complex financial policy. The proposal to establish a national Bitcoin reserve is a bold move that, if successful, could set a precedent for other nations considering similar initiatives. However, the path to implementation is fraught with challenges, both political and legal, that McGregor will need to navigate carefully.