I’m going to call it pandering, as he wasn’t pro Bitcoin in his first term. You have to wonder if trying to get more Bitcoin mining in the USA is a play for a 51% attack, which is a vulnerability in Bitcoin if you can get control of more than 50% of the mining power and manipulate incoming transactions and possibly doing double spends (most useful purpose would be to shake confidence in Bitcoin). And you’d have to say a country capable of destroying mining installations around the world could make a play in that direction. But then there are an awful lot of people running their own mining hardware who belong to mining pools who could switch and resist. But seeing this OCGFC member suddenly support the protocol makes me wonder what the play is other than bringing in more votes. And the federal government just forced a Chinese Bitcoin mining operation here in Cheyenne to shut down for “national security”, which was ridiculous.
https://thelibertydaily.com/trump-wants-bitcoin-made-usa-after-hosting-mining/
By Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge
(ZeroHedge)—Donald Trump reiterated his support for the Bitcoin mining industry on Wednesday after hosting a meeting with several executives from United States crypto mining firms.
Today was a historic moment in our journey towards hyperbitcoinization. The former and next President of the United States gathered America’s hashrate and committed to championing our cause in DC and on the global stage. Bitcoin will THRIVE in 🇺🇸
Orange Man+Orange Coin= Good pic.twitter.com/YhfzoJg19g
— David Bailey🇵🇷 $0.65mm/btc is the floor (@DavidFBailey) June 12, 2024
As Bitcoin Magazine reports, among the attendees were representatives from leading Bitcoin mining firms, including CleanSpark, Riot Platforms, Marathon Digital, and other notable industry players. Key figures present included S Matthew Schultz from CleanSpark, Jason Les and Brian Morgenstern of Riot Platforms, Salman Khan of Marathon Digital, and Terawulf board member Amanda Fabiano, formerly Head of Mining at Galaxy and Director of Bitcoin Mining at Fidelity.
Today, Riot CEO, @JasonLes_, and Riot’s Head of Public Policy, @MorgensternNJ, met with @realDonaldTrump to discuss #Bitcoin mining and energy. 🇺🇸
“President Trump will protect your right to own Bitcoin, to mine Bitcoin, to transact with Bitcoin, and for many of us, to work in… pic.twitter.com/T0CFKR3hOv
— Riot Platforms, Inc. (@RiotPlatforms) June 12, 2024
“Our industry has faced an enormous amount of political struggle, fueled by misinformation and misguided narratives,” TeraWulf’s Fabiano said on X.
“Our industry needs politicians that are interested in learning about the benefits of Bitcoin and Bitcoin mining.”
In a June 11 post on the Trump-owned Truth Social, the presidential candidate said he wanted “all the remaining Bitcoin to be MADE IN THE USA!!! [sic]” and claimed it would help the country be “energy dominant.”
He claimed Bitcoin was the country’s “last line of defense” against a central bank digital currency. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said in March the U.S. was “nowhere near recommending or let alone adopting a central bank digital currency in any form.”
Trump recently stressed that the United States must not settle for “second place” when it comes to crypto and even declared himself as the “crypto president” earlier in June.
Trump’s supportive stance is in stark contrast to President Joe Biden’s who has proposed a 30% electricity tax on Bitcoin miners in the country, with the sector is facing mounting political pressure over its emissions, energy consumption and possible impact on power grids.