Crypto Assets Once Again Take Center Stage in the US: Highlights from the 2024 Bitcoin Conference

Recently, the 2024 Bitcoin Conference concluded in Nashville, Tennessee. This conference attracted many well-known figures, making Crypto Assets once again the focus of attention across the United States. During the conference, several speakers made striking remarks, while also revealing some phenomena that are worth noting.

Commitment of Presidential Candidates

U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was active at the convention. He promised that if elected, he would issue three executive orders related to Bitcoin:

1. Transfer approximately 200,000 Bitcoins held by the government to the Ministry of Finance as "strategic assets".
2. Instruct the Ministry of Finance to purchase 550 Bitcoins daily until the reserves reach 4 million coins.
3. Declare all Bitcoin to USD transactions as non-reportable and tax-exempt transactions.

Kennedy also criticized his competitors for their shift in stance on Crypto Assets, questioning whether their personal values align with those of Bitcoin holders.

Senator's Proposal

Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis announced that she will propose a measure directing the U.S. Treasury to purchase 1 million Bitcoins over five years to offset the impact of dollar devaluation. Lummis believes that Bitcoin is a good store of value that can change the current debt and deficit predicament in the United States.

Concerns About Privacy Issues

Former NSA employee Edward Snowden emphasized the privacy issues surrounding Bitcoin in his keynote speech. He pointed out that Bitcoin transactions are not anonymous and can be traced back to individuals, which poses a risk to personal privacy. Snowden clarified that most transactions can be linked through various channels, which may expose sensitive user information.

Gender Discrimination Phenomenon

Despite the positive remarks at the conference, some pointed out that there is a gender discrimination issue in the crypto assets industry. Statistics show that only about 13% of the speakers at the 2024 Bitcoin conference are women, a percentage that has declined in recent years.

A survey found that 82% of the interviewed women believe that there is sexual harassment in the crypto industry. In addition, there are also malicious comments targeting women on crypto social media.

Some crypto businesses have begun to take action on this issue. For example, some companies have terminated partnerships due to inappropriate parties hosted by partners, and some company founders have left due to allegations of misconduct.

This Bitcoin conference also took gender inclusivity into consideration by organizing special events for women. However, the encryption industry still has a long way to go in terms of gender equality.

Overall, the 2024 Bitcoin Conference not only showcased the development prospects of Crypto Assets but also exposed some challenges facing the industry. As Crypto Assets gradually move towards the mainstream, these issues will require collective efforts from the industry to resolve.