Crypto Assets once again become the focus across the USA: Highlights and phenomena from the 2024 Bitcoin Conference

On July 27, 2024, the Bitcoin Conference concluded in Nashville, Tennessee. The event attracted several well-known figures, making Crypto Assets once again the focus of attention across the United States. During the conference, multiple speakers made compelling statements, and some noteworthy phenomena emerged.

The commitment of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was active at the conference, promising to issue three executive orders related to Bitcoin if elected president:

1. It is instructed to transfer approximately 200,000 Bitcoin held by the government to the Ministry of Finance as "strategic assets".
2. Instruct the Treasury 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 questioned his competitors' stance on crypto assets, believing that they need to explain how their personal values align with those of Bitcoin holders.

Senator Cynthia Lummis's Proposal

Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis announced that she will propose a measure directing the U.S. Department of the Treasury to purchase 1 million Bitcoins over a five-year period. Lummis believes that this move could offset the impact of dollar depreciation.

She said: "Bitcoin is a great means of preserving value. Over the past four years or so, it has grown by about 55% each year. In the same period, the US dollar has depreciated, and we have seen an increase in the inflation rate."

The bill will also require the U.S. Treasury to self-custody Bitcoin in multiple geographical locations and hold these tokens for at least 20 years, unless sold to "reduce debt".

Edward Snowden's Privacy Concerns

Former NSA employee Edward Snowden emphasized the privacy issues surrounding Bitcoin in his keynote speech at the conference. 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, making it possible to trace transaction histories, which may expose users' sensitive information. He believes that this transaction tracking not only affects Bitcoin but also involves all forms of Crypto Assets transactions.

The phenomenon of "gender discrimination" has attracted attention

Despite the positive remarks at the conference, there were also critical voices. Some pointed out that there is a gender discrimination issue in the encryption industry. Statistics show that only about 13% of the speakers at this conference were women, a proportion that has declined in recent years.

A study found that from 2016 to 2018, women accounted for 25% of keynote or solo speakers at global tech conferences. Another survey of conferences across various industries found that the number of male speakers is still twice that of female speakers.

The Crypto Assets Women Association recently released a report highlighting the gender disparity in the industry. A survey conducted at the end of 2023 showed that 82% of the women surveyed believe that there is sexual harassment in the industry.

It is worth noting that some crypto companies have begun to take action on the issue of "gender discrimination". For example, some companies have terminated partnerships due to inappropriate parties hosted by partners, and some company founders have resigned due to allegations of sexual misconduct.

The Bitcoin conference also considered gender inclusivity, scheduling a "Women's Brunch" event in the agenda.

As the crypto industry gradually moves towards the mainstream, addressing issues such as gender discrimination will become an important part of the industry's healthy development.