Trump’s Fundraising Event Charges $844,600 per Seat
US presidential candidate Donald Trump has announced that he will hold a private fundraising event at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference in Nashville on July 27. Participants 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 to deliver a speech.
According to the invitation, participants can choose to pay $60,000 for the opportunity to have a photo taken with Trump or $100,000 for a dual photo. Bloomberg reports that $844,600 is the maximum amount allowed for joint donations under campaign finance laws.
Special guests at the event include Trump’s vice presidential candidate, Senator J.D. 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 host 100 to 150 donors, who will have the opportunity to interact with influential guests. After the event, participants will also have reserved front-row seats to watch Trump’s speech on Bitcoin.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the funds raised will go to Trump’s joint fundraising committee, the “Trump 47 Committee.” The committee can then transfer the funds to Trump’s campaign, the Republican National Committee, and Republican committees in various states.
The invitation also mentions the option to donate using cryptocurrency, which is not surprising considering that The Wall Street Journal reported Trump as the first major presidential candidate to accept cryptocurrency donations in May. According to recent federal campaign finance filings, Trump’s campaign raised $3 million through cryptocurrencies in the second quarter, with Bitcoin and Ethereum being the primary currencies received.
Trump’s Stance on Cryptocurrency
Trump’s fundraising at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference reflects a shift in his position on cryptocurrency. Last month, Trump met with executives from the cryptocurrency mining industry at Mar-a-Lago in Florida and expressed support for Bitcoin mining. He told attendees that he loves and understands cryptocurrency.
This is in stark contrast to his position five years ago when he served as president. At that time, Trump expressed 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 cryptocurrency can be seen as a key factor in winning people’s support. In June, the co-founders of the Gemini cryptocurrency exchange, the Winklevoss brothers, 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 to end the “hostile” attitude of the Biden administration and Democratic lawmakers towards the cryptocurrency industry if elected.
Additionally, following the recent shooting incident involving Trump, many investors believe that the chances of Trump returning to the White House have reached new highs. Combined with Trump’s strong support for cryptocurrency, they predict that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will receive more attention and support in the future.
Sources: Bloomberg, WSJ, FOX