Trump to Address Digital Assets Summit as First Sitting President
U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a speech via a recorded video at Blockworks' Digital Asset Summit (DAS) in New York City tomorrow, July 3. This historic appearance makes him the first sitting U.S. president to address a Bitcoin and cryptocurrency conference, underscoring the growing mainstream acceptance of digital assets in financial policy. Trump previously spoke in person at the industry's largest conference in Nashville last summer while campaigning, and his return as president signals continued government support for Bitcoin.
Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Legislative Progress
Trump's address at DAS occurs just two weeks after he signed an executive order creating the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, a landmark policy that designates Bitcoin as a critical component of the nation's financial future. Bo Hines, Executive Director of Digital Assets for President Trump, spoke earlier this week at the summit, reiterating the administration's intention to acquire Bitcoin through budget-neutral methods. He stated, 'I think it’s high time that our President started accumulating assets for the American people, which is what President Trump is doing rather than taking it away.' He compared Bitcoin accumulation to gold reserves, saying, 'You know, I’ve been asked all the time, it’s like how much do you want? Well, that’s like asking a country how much gold do you want – as much as we can get.'
The executive order has already spurred legislative action. Senator Cynthia Lummis and Representative Nick Begich have each introduced plans for the United States to acquire 1 million BTC over the next five years, aiming to build a long-term reserve of the scarce asset. Today at DAS, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer expressed confidence that such legislation would pass before the end of the current Congress.
Summit Highlights: Industry Leaders Gather
Aside from Trump's address, the DAS agenda on July 3 includes a keynote speech by Michael Saylor of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) and a fireside chat with Bitcoin historian Pete Rizzo. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart will moderate a panel featuring BlackRock's Head of Digital Assets Robbie Mitchnick and Nasdaq's Head of U.S. Equities & Exchange-Traded Products Giang Bui. They will delve into the evolving landscape of Bitcoin ETFs and institutional adoption, reflecting the deepening integration of digital assets into traditional finance.