Robert F. Kennedy Jr. kicked off his speech at Bitcoin 2024 by celebrating the essence of liberty and equality. He called out on the importance of recognizing the full human equality of all people, regardless of religion, race, or wealth. “This is a day of affirmation, a celebration of Liberty,” he declared, reinforcing that equality should be extended to everyone.
Insights and Plans for Bitcoin
Kennedy’s commitment to Bitcoin has deepened over the past year through discussions with a wide range of Bitcoin community members, including miners, policymakers, and financial experts. He laid out his plans for Bitcoin if elected president: “I intend, as president of the United States, to sign an executive order on day one directing the Department of Justice and the US Marshals to transfer the approximately 200,000 Bitcoin held by the US government to the United States Treasury, where it will be held as a strategic asset.”
Kennedy also detailed his plan to have the US Treasury purchase 550 Bitcoin daily until the US has built a reserve of at least 4 million Bitcoins. “This policy will give us about the same proportion of total Bitcoin as our nation holds of global gold reserves, approximately 19%,” he explained. Additionally, he promised to sign an executive order making Bitcoin transactions with the US dollar unreportable and non-taxable, and treating Bitcoin as an eligible asset for 1031 exchanges into real property.
“Bitcoin is the currency of hope; it is the perfect currency.”
Bitcoin Community Observations
He then highlighted the unique unity within the Bitcoin community despite their diverse views. “The Bitcoin Community reminds me of how American politics ought to be—fiercely diverse but ultimately united in our aspirations and our belief in our country,” he noted. He also described Bitcoin as a symbol of hope, representing technology for freedom, independence, democracy, and transparency. “Bitcoin is the currency of hope; it is the perfect currency,” he said.
Personal Journey and Convictions
Kennedy shared his personal journey with Bitcoin, recounting his initial skepticism until he saw the Canadian government’s actions against truckers during a protest. “It occurred to me immediately that transactional freedom was as important as freedom of expression in the First Amendment,” he remarked. His belief in Bitcoin grew stronger, leading him to invest a large portion of his personal wealth in Bitcoin after winning the Monsanto case. “I took most of that check, which represented the largest portion of my personal wealth, and I invested it all in Bitcoin,” he revealed.
A Bigger Picture
The presidential candidate sees Bitcoin as a crucial tool for incentivizing investments in green and renewable energy production. “Bitcoin mining is the ideal partner for renewable energy and variable power projects like wind and solar,” he stated. He also advocates for backing US debt obligations with hard assets, including Bitcoin and precious metals, to restore financial stability and global leadership. “Bitcoin can fortify the dollar and secure America’s position in cyberspace,” he asserted.
Kennedy highlighted Major Jason Lowry’s thesis on Bitcoin as a cyber defense system, capable of protecting online identities and data. “Bitcoin has been mischaracterized as money when it is a cyber defense system that will protect our online identities and data in cyberspace,” he explained. He also stressed the importance of financial and transactional privacy, guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment. “Bitcoin guarantees property rights with freely transactable Bitcoin; no government will be able to confiscate or tax your wealth at the border,” he concluded.
“Bitcoin is the currency of freedom, liberty, and hope. It restores self-sovereignty back to the individual, the whole purpose of American democracy.”
Final Remarks
In closing, Kennedy urged Americans to carefully consider their choices and vote based on the candidates’ beliefs and actions. “Bitcoin is the currency of freedom, liberty, and hope. It restores self-sovereignty back to the individual, the whole purpose of American democracy,” he emphasized. He declared his commitment to the Bitcoin community, stating, “I don’t think of myself as red, blue, or even purple. Instead, I think of myself as orange—the color of freedom.”
Other notable speakers at Bitcoin 2024 included Michael Saylor, the founder of MicroStrategy, and presidential candidate Donald Trump.