Although Trump has not definitively declared his support for cryptocurrencies, he launched his collection of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in 2022, which quickly sold out.
Trump unveiled “The MugShot Edition,” his third series of digital trading cards, in 2023, seemingly capitalizing on a viral image of him. Adding a new twist, the Trump Digital Trading Cards have introduced Bitcoin BTC/USD Ordinals—unique digital assets inscribed onto satoshis, the smallest unit of Bitcoin.
This came after Trump expressed his disapproval of cryptocurrencies in 2019, saying, “I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air. Unregulated Crypto Assets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade and other illegal activity….”
However, the former president expressed opposition to central bank digital currencies (CBDC) last week. During a campaign stop in New Hampshire, Trump said, “Tonight, I’m also making another promise to protect Americans from government tyranny. I will never allow the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency.”
The crowd showed their approval with applause. Trump said, “I didn’t know you know so much … New Hampshire, brilliant people.”
On January 16, Ramaswamy, who has been a vocal supporter of cryptocurrencies, withdrew from the race, aligning his support with Trump.
With their departures, Phillips, a congressman from Minnesota, and Kennedy Jr. remain the sole presidential hopefuls openly supportive of cryptocurrency innovation. Phillips expressed his views at a December forum, emphasizing the need for leadership that does not suppress innovation in the cryptocurrency space, a sentiment that he feels neither Trump nor President Joe Biden fulfill.
On the other hand, Kennedy has distinguished himself by being the first presidential candidate to accept Bitcoin for campaign contributions.
Other candidates, such as Cornel West, Jill Stein, Nikki Haley, and Ryan Binkley, have remained silent regarding cryptocurrency.