Donald Trump becomes the first former US president to use Bitcoin in a real-world transaction.
On September 18, at the Pubkey bar in New York, Mr. Trump bought hamburgers with Bitcoin and distributed them to supporters, marking a clear change in his views on cryptocurrencies.
Pubkey confirmed the transaction on social network X (formerly Twitter), and Trump himself Chia the event via his Truth Social platform. The event was also attended by Anthony Pompliano, CEO of Professional Capital Management and one of Bitcoin's most prominent advocates.
Pompliano’s appearance attracted further attention from the crypto community. Trump also humorously referred to the hamburgers he handed out as “crypto burgers,” creating a positive interaction with the event attendees.
Trump has previously criticized Bitcoin as a “scam.” However, during the 2024 election campaign, he expressed support for Bitcoin Miners and even spoke at the Bitcoin 2024 conference.
The event at Pubkey comes just two days after Trump announced the launch of a new Token through his family-run crypto platform World Liberty Financial, a project that shows Trump’s growing outreach to the crypto community.
According to the latest financial report, Trump currently owns at least $ 1 million in cryptocurrency. Although not the first former US president to come into contact with Bitcoin, Trump's actions are still an important mark, showing that cryptocurrency is increasingly penetrating American politics.
The event also raised questions about the views of Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump's opponent, on cryptocurrencies. While Harris has not officially endorsed cryptocurrencies, an adviser to her has said she would support policies that promote the growth of the industry. Future Forward, a political action committee that endorses Harris, also accepts cryptocurrency contributions, reflecting the growing Vai of digital assets in politics.
