Trump uses BTC to pay bar- first public use of bitcoin by a former president

Republican Party presidential nominee Donald Trump has become the first former U.S. president to use Bitcoin in a public transaction. The campaign stop took place at a New York City bar and restaurant known for its acceptance of the cryptocurrency.

On September 18, Trump visited the establishment, where he used Bitcoin to purchase hamburgers. The event, which was also reported on Trump’s Truth Social account, was attended by Bitcoin advocate and Professional Capital Management CEO Anthony Pompliano.

This unexpected move comes just days after Trump announced the launch of his own token through the World Liberty Financial crypto platform, which is reportedly run by members of his family.

The former president’s embrace of cryptocurrency marks a significant shift from his previous stance, having once dismissed Bitcoin as a “scam” and described crypto as being “based on thin air.”

However, Trump’s campaign has recently taken a more crypto-friendly approach. He has advocated for Bitcoin miners and even spoke at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville. The NYC bar visit seems to be a continuation of this new strategy, with Trump handing out what he called “crypto burgers” to attendees.