Former US President and Republican candidate for the upcoming elections, Donald Trump, expressed his support for the digital assets industry in a post on Truth Social.
“I am very positive and open to crypto companies and everything related to this new and growing industry. Our country must be a leader in this field. No second place. Dishonest Joe Biden, on the other hand, the worst president in our country’s history, wants [the crypto industry] to die a slow and painful death. This will never happen under me!” wrote Trump.
During a speech at the National Libertarian Party Convention, the politician stated that the future of cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin “will be created in the US.” He also promised to support the right to self-custody of assets for 50 million national holders of digital currencies.
“I will also immediately end the humanitarian crisis on our southern border.” — President Donald Trump
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“I will keep [Senator] Elizabeth Warren away from Bitcoin, I will never allow CBDC, I will also stop Joe Biden’s crusade to crush the crypto industry,” Trump declared from the podium.
According to CoinDesk, during the same speech, the Republican leader promised to free Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht if elected president.
“If you vote for me, on the first day I will commute Ross Ulbricht’s sentence to time served. He has already served 11 years, we will take him home,” said Trump.
In 2015, Ulbricht was sentenced to two life terms without the possibility of parole. He was found guilty of drug trafficking via Silk Road, conspiracy to transport drugs, computer hacking, money laundering, and leading a criminal enterprise.
In 2018, Ross Ulbricht appealed his sentence, claiming his rights were violated during the investigation and subsequent trial. However, the US Supreme Court rejected the petition.
At that time, organizers of the Free Ross Ulbricht campaign posted a petition on Change.org asking US President Donald Trump to pardon the Silk Road founder. However, he was not included in the list of 73 people approved by the former head of state in January 2021 before leaving the White House.
The Ulbricht case attracted widespread public attention. According to the Free Ross website, more than 250 organizations, notable individuals, and opinion leaders have spoken out for his release. In 2019, venture capitalist Tim Draper joined their ranks. Later, Elon Musk stated that the sentence for the Silk Road creator was too harsh.
In March 2024, Trump stated that he does not plan to interfere with the use of Bitcoin or other digital assets if he wins the November elections.
He described the first cryptocurrency as “an additional form of currency” that will require appropriate regulation by the authorities. According to the politician, Bitcoin has already “taken on a life of its own.”
According to a Paradigm survey, about 48% of voters who own digital assets plan to vote for Trump in the upcoming US presidential elections. Another 38% support Biden, while 13% remain undecided.