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At Bitcoin 2025, Crypto Purists and the MAGA Faithful Collide

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JD Vance is the first US vice president to own bitcoin, worth between $250,000 and $500,000 per an August 2024 disclosure.

Many of the 35,000 conference goers identify as conservatives fed up with “woke nonsense” But not everyone’s fan: “We're blessed to have an administration that's embracing bitcoin, and JD actually understands it”.

Some bitcoin holders are willing to forgive Trump ’s memecoin antics.

But others cite more self-serving reasons for fawning over the president's crypto plays.

Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht 's appearance at the conference is paradoxical: His anti-state sentiment has been sanctioned by the state he wanted to bypass.

Will Hernandez , president of the Bitcoin Association of El Salvador , says the conference gave his government “a shitload of tickets” Bilal Bin Saqib , CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council , says his government is setting up its own strategic bitcoin reserve.

China 's top priority is always to watch what the [ US ] vice president and president do,” Huang says.