Vice President JD Vance to Headline Bitcoin Conference, Following Trump’s Lead

Vice President JD Vance is set to headline the world’s biggest Bitcoin conference, one year after President Donald Trump spoke at the event. 

Bitcoin 2025’s organizers announced the news Friday, noting that it would be the first time a vice president has ever headlined a crypto event to make public support of Bitcoin. A source familiar with the vice president’s schedule confirmed to Decrypt that he will speak at the conference.

Last year, President Trump spoke at July’s Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, Tennessee, ahead of his November win and return to the White House.

The Republican president, who promised to help the industry during his campaign, said at the conference that all future Bitcoin should be minted by U.S. businesses, and urged investors to never sell their stash. 

Vice President Vance is also familiar with the crypto world. He disclosed in 2021 that he owned between $100,000 and $250,000 worth of Bitcoin while running for Senate, and worked under libertarian billionaire investor Peter Thiel—a crypto advocate. 

Since President Trump returned to office in January, he has established a strategic Bitcoin reserve and separate digital assets stockpile, and signed the first crypto-related bill into law, while his SEC has scrapped a number of lawsuits against firms in the space. He even launched his own Solana meme coin just days before his inauguration.

Trump’s crypto dealings have drawn scrutiny from top Democrats and industry observers who have said that he’s used his position to advance his own business interests. However, many leading industry advocates have praised his support and ratcheting back of regulatory controls. 

The president’s two eldest sons, Eric and Donald Jr., are both listed to speak at Bitcoin 2025, along with the White House’s AI and crypto czar, David Sacks. 

Bitcoin 2025 will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada from May 27-29.

Edited by James Rubin