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CoinDesk 2025-01-20 17:46:17

Bitcoin Fades From Highs After Absence From Trump Inauguration Speech

A possible U.S. strategic bitcoin reserve will have to wait at least a bit longer as President Donald Trump didn't bring the subject up at his inauguration speech on Monday afternoon. In addition to that disappointment, a report showing GOP congressional priorities didn't include mention of bitcoin or crypto. Already on a wild ride both higher and lower over the past days, the price of bitcoin (BTC) fell during the speech, now testing the $100,000 level and down from an overnight high above $109,000. While the previous administration chose to focus on the negative in its unrelenting attacks on crypto over the past years, Trump has promised — and seems intent on delivering — policies embracing what possibly could become transformative technology. Among his moves prior to today, Trump appointed venture capitalist and former PayPal COO David Sacks as the White House's so-called "A.I. & Crypto Czar." He has also nominated longtime D.C. veteran and crypto advocate Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission. Trump's crypto embrace — at least to some — hasn't been without missteps. Just over the weekend, the president ignited a speculative frenzy with the Friday evening launch of the Trump memecoin, that was shortly followed by a memecoin associated with his wife Melania. "It’s absolutely preposterous that he would do this," said Nic Carter of crypto investment firm Castle Island Ventures and an otherwise major supporter of Trump. "They’re plumbing new depths of idiocy with the memecoin launch."