Bitcoin will be on the spotlight once again as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. chooses a cryptocurrency conference in Miami as the venue for his first public appearance as a US presidential candidate.
The iconaclastic Democrat has shown support for a sector of the economy that many ecologists and other climate change activists hold responsible for a major portion of the problem.
At the conference, one of the most prominent topics of conversation that attendees are anticipating will be Bitcoin.
Before stepping on the stage at the event dubbed as the “biggest Bitcoin event in the world,” sceptics had already voiced their concerns regarding the cryptocurrency industry’s role in contributing to climate change.
Kennedy, The Bitcoin Supporter
In spite of these concerns, Kennedy has been a vocal proponent of the industry, and his attendance at the event is crucial since it provides him with the opportunity to engage in conversation with a sizeable segment of the voting population.
It was a clever move on Kennedy’s part to agree to deliver a lecture at the Bitcoin 2023 conference because it gives him the opportunity to hobnob with a substantial segment of his supporters, and perhaps new ones.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a staunch advocate of bitcoin. Image: LinkedIn
And, in spite of the fact that many Democrats may not share his views on cryptocurrencies, he might win over the millions of faithful customers of the electorate.
Brandon Green, chief of staff to conference organizer BTC Media, said:
“We asked him to speak after hearing his positive comments toward the bitcoin industry.”
Bitcoin: A Major ‘Lifesaver’ And ‘Innovation Engine’
It is crucial that Kennedy will be present at the conference together with other political figures such as the Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, former Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, and the governor of the Indonesian province of West Java.
Green disclosed that Kennedy will not receive payment for his attendance. In addition, Kennedy’s publicist, Stefanie Spear, stated that the presidential aspirant would not accept speaking fees for any events that took place during his candidature for president in 2024.
According to Kennedy, the enterprise surrounding bitcoin is “a major innovation engine” that has the potential to be utilized in the fight against authoritarian governments.
In addition, he defended Bitcoin on the grounds that it facilitates transactions outside the purview of central authorities. The king of cryptocurrencies, in his words, is a “lifesaver for people’s movements around the world.”
However, ecologists, who view Bitcoin as a major contributor to the phenomenon of global warming, have taken issue with his perspective. Concerns about the amount of energy used by the cryptocurrency sector have been voiced by a significant number of environmental advocacy groups.
Total market cap of cryptocurrencies currently at $1.13 trillion. Chart: TradingView.com
In 2021, the mining of bitcoin alone was responsible for the consumption of more energy than the entirety of Argentina.
Meanwhile, Anthony Scaramucci, a billionaire who is supportive of cryptocurrencies and who served as former President Donald Trump’s communications chief for a short period of time, thinks that Kennedy’s backing of cryptocurrencies may put him closer to the hearts of millions of dedicated users of those cryptocurrencies.
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