In a historic move, Donald Trump became the first US president to accept Bitcoin Lightning Network payments for campaign donations. This announcement marks an important step in integrating Bitcoin into mainstream politics, underscoring Trump’s commitment to advancing the future of Bitcoin in the United States.
The Trump campaign partnered with Open Node, a leading provider of Bitcoin and Lightning Network infrastructure, to facilitate these donations. Supporters can now contribute to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign using Bitcoin through the Lightning Network, a technology designed to enable fast, low-cost transactions.
“OpenNode is proud to partner with Anedot to integrate Bitcoin into the political donation process,” OpenNode told Bitcoin Magazine. “This is a perfect marriage between OpenNode’s cutting-edge Bitcoin technology stack and Anedot’s robust platform for political and nonprofit organizations. The Trump campaign’s adoption of our solution is powerful evidence of how political campaigns and nonprofits across the country can seamlessly accept Bitcoin donations. “
Last weekend, while speaking at a Libertarian Party convention, Trump underlines his dedication to fostering a pro-Bitcoin environment in the United States, stating that he will “ensure that the future of crypto and Bitcoin is made in the United States” and that he will “support the right to self-custody for the country’s 50th anniversary. million crypto holders.
Trump’s support for Bitcoin goes beyond campaign donations. During the same speech, President Trump made a historic commitment to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road and an early Bitcoin pioneer, to time served if elected president.
“He has already served 11 years,” he said. said. “We’re going to take him home.”
Being the first president in U.S. history to accept Bitcoin as a campaign donation underscores Trump’s broader strategy to attract more than 50 million cryptocurrency enthusiasts and investors to the country. By aligning himself with the Bitcoin community, the leading presidential candidate has further positioned himself as a forward-thinking leader who embraces technological advancement and financial freedom.
Just yesterday, current US President Joe Biden vetoed pro-Bitcoin legislation that would have been a huge victory for Bitcoin, demonstrating its reluctance to support the industry. The bill Biden vetoed would have allowed highly regulated financial companies to hold Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
For more information on Trump’s Bitcoin campaign donations, visit his website. here.
