Trump fundraising event asks for $844,600 per seat
US presidential candidate Donald Trump has announced that he will host a private fundraising event at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference in Nashville on July 27. Attendees will need to pay $844,600 to secure a seat at the roundtable meeting. During the annual Bitcoin conference organized by BTC Media LLC, Trump is also expected to take the main stage and deliver a speech.
According to the invitation, attendees can choose to pay $60,000 for the opportunity to have a photo taken with Trump, or $100,000 for a dual photo opportunity. Bloomberg reports that $844,600 is the maximum joint donation amount allowed by campaign finance law.
Special guests at the event include Trump’s vice presidential candidate, Senator JD Vance from Ohio, as well as Trump’s Republican primary opponent Vivek Ramaswamy and Senator Bill Hagerty from Tennessee. Bloomberg reports that the event is expected to accommodate 100 to 150 donors who can engage with influential guests. After the event, attendees will also have the opportunity to watch Trump’s speech on Bitcoin from front-row seats.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the funds raised will go to Trump’s joint fundraising committee, the “Trump 47 Committee.” The committee can transfer funds to Trump’s campaign, the Republican National Committee, and Republican committees in various states.
The invitation also mentions the option to donate using cryptocurrencies, which is not surprising considering that The Wall Street Journal reported Trump became the first major presidential candidate to accept cryptocurrency donations in May of this year. According to recent Federal Election Commission filings, Trump’s campaign raised $3 million in cryptocurrencies during the second quarter, primarily in Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Trump’s stance on cryptocurrencies
Trump’s fundraising at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference represents a shift in his stance on cryptocurrencies. Last month, Trump met with high-profile figures from the cryptocurrency mining industry at Mar-a-Lago in Florida and expressed his support for Bitcoin mining. He told attendees that he appreciates and understands cryptocurrencies.
This is in stark contrast to his position five years ago when he was president. At that time, Trump expressed his dislike for cryptocurrencies and even suggested that their value was based on “thin air” and could facilitate drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
His change in stance on cryptocurrencies can be seen as one of the key factors in winning over supporters. In June, the co-founders of the Gemini cryptocurrency exchange each donated $1 million worth of Bitcoin to support Trump. Bitcoin Magazine even referred to Trump as the “best choice for Bitcoin.” Trump has promised that if elected, he will end the Biden administration’s and Democratic lawmakers’ “hostile” attitude toward the cryptocurrency industry.
Furthermore, following the recent shooting incident involving Trump, many investors believe that the chances of him returning to the White House have reached a new high. Combined with Trump’s strong support for cryptocurrencies, they predict that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies may receive more attention and support in the future.
Sources: Bloomberg, WSJ, FOX