President Donald Trump sent a clear message to the crypto community at the Blockworks Digital Asset Conference in Manhattan on Thursday: The US should become the undisputed “Bitcoin superpower” and the “crypto capital of the world.” He sharply attacked the policies of his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Trump spoke at the Blockworks Digital Asset Conference on Thursday in front of hundreds of spectators at the Jacob Javitz Center in Manhattan. Blockworks founder Jason Yanowitz emphasized that it was the first time a sitting president had spoken at a crypto conference.
Trump, originally scheduled to arrive at 10:40 a.m. ET, arrived about 20 minutes late at 11:00 a.m. ET and reiterated his well-known promises to strengthen the crypto industry. At the same time, he used the opportunity to rail against the policies of his predecessor, Joe Biden. “We are ending the last administration’s regulatory war on crypto and Bitcoin – that includes ending the lawless ‘Operation Choke Point 2.0,'” Trump said firmly.
Earlier this month, Trump called for an end to “Operation Choke Point 2.0” at the White House Crypto Summit. This term was coined in 2023 by Castle Island Ventures co-founder Nic Carter and refers to “Operation Choke Point 1.0” from 2013. At that time, the U.S. Department of Justice attempted to restrict banking services for industries with a high risk of fraud and money laundering.
Although Trump hasn’t yet signed an executive order against so-called “debanking,” his previous steps demonstrate determination: In early March, he signed an executive order creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve and digital asset reserve. This measure is intended to enable the government to maximize its cryptocurrency holdings instead of, as Trump put it, “foolhardily selling them for a fraction of their long-term value, as Biden has done.” The terms “reserve” and “reserve” are often used interchangeably, but experts point out differences: While a reserve implies more passive management of existing holdings, a reserve could imply active purchases by the government.
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