Former President Donald Trump has become the first ex-U.S. president to use Bitcoin for transactions. On September 18, Trump visited a popular New York City bar and restaurant known for accepting cryptocurrency. There, he paid for hamburgers using Bitcoin, making headlines in the crypto world.
The event was highlighted in a post by Pubkey on X (formerly Twitter), where it was revealed that Trump bought a dozen hamburgers of $998.70, which he then distributed to attendees, humorously dubbing them “crypto burgers.”
Anthony Pompliano, a prominent Bitcoin advocate and CEO of Professional Capital Management, was present, and the event was also shared on Trump’s Truth Social account.
This Bitcoin transaction came shortly after Trump announced the launch of a new token through the World Liberty Financial crypto platform, managed by his family members.
Despite his previous criticisms of Bitcoin, calling it a “scam” and “based on thin air,” Trump has shown increasing support for cryptocurrency. He has even advocated for Bitcoin miners as part of his 2024 campaign and spoke at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville.
Reports suggest that Trump holds at least $1 million in crypto assets. Former President Bill Clinton has also been known to hold Bitcoin, which was given to him at a 2016 event.
With just 48 days remaining until the U.S. election, Trump is actively campaigning in New York, a state where he faces tough competition. An August ActiVote poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris leading Trump by 16 points in New York.
While Harris has not made crypto a focus of her campaign, she has expressed support for policies that promote industry growth. The political action committee Future Forward, which supports Harris, also announced the acceptance of cryptocurrency donations.
This unusual campaign moment underscores Trump’s evolving stance on Bitcoin and highlights its growing influence in U.S. politics.
Also Read: Trump Hails Crypto as ‘Fledging’ but a ‘Massive Business’
