Former US President and Republican Party leader Donald Trump stated in an interview with CNBC that he does not intend to interfere with the use of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies if he wins the election in November.
“If you think of it, it’s an additional form of currency. We did a limited edition sneaker run of 1,000 sneakers. And you could go through crazy new currencies,” says @realDonaldTrump on #crypto. “I like staying with the dollar. I hate when countries go off the dollar.” pic.twitter.com/8NCg4OplKS
— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) March 11, 2024
“If you think about it, it’s an additional form of currency,” Trump stated.
The former president acknowledged that he “has fun and allows people to pay in BTC.” However, when asked if he invests in cryptocurrency, he replied negatively.
“[Bitcoin] was widely used, and I’m not sure I would want to give it up at this point,” the politician added.
At the same time, he emphasized the importance of the American national currency, comparing the departure from the dollar standard to a defeat.
Trump first commented on Bitcoin in July 2019, stating that the asset’s value is extremely volatile and generally unsupported.
Meanwhile, former national security advisor John Bolton wrote in his memoirs that Trump expressed his dislike for cryptocurrency as early as May 2018.
In September 2021, the politician described investing in digital assets as a “potentially expected disaster.” Prior to that, he stated that Bitcoin “looks like a scam,” and the euphoria around it weakens the dollar.
However, Trump later changed his stance on the industry. According to the analytical platform Arkham Intelligence, in January 2024, cryptocurrencies totaling $2.65 million were held at the politician’s address.
Earlier in February, the former US president stated that the current development of Bitcoin will require authorities to introduce specific regulations. In his view, the first cryptocurrency has already “taken on a life of its own.”
For insights on what American politicians have said about digital assets and how they have justified their positions, read ForkLog’s material: