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From the 27th to the 29th of May, the Bitcoin Conference 2025 filled the halls and stages of the Venetian Convention Center in Las Vegas with over 30,000 participants, 5,000 companies, and more than 400 speakers. The theme of this year’s Conference was freedom, financial sovereignty, maturing regulatory frameworks, and the advancing integration of Bitcoin into mainstream finance. Following on from Donald Trump’s keynote speech in 2024, Vice President JD Vance reinforced the U.S. government’s support of digital assets and highlighted the administration’s recent initiatives, including the establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Other speakers over the three-day event included Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy, Ross Ulbricht, Founder of Silk Road, Cynthia Lummis, U.S. Senator from Wyoming, among many more.
Having watched this year’s keynote speeches, we take a look back over the Bitcoin Conference 2025 and reflect on what the widespread support seen this year will spell out for crypto adoption and utility moving forward.
About the Bitcoin Conference 2025
This year’s Conference stood as a welcome reminder and celebration of Bitcoin’s transition from fringe innovation to an established financial asset. The great diversity of voices and appearances at the 2025 event was a testament to the support Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency industry has garnered over recent years, including both retail and institutional interest. Keynotes and panels covered a spectrum of themes, including scaling solutions on Bitcoin Layer 2 networks, the regulatory implications of stablecoins, and the geopolitical consequences of national Bitcoin reserves.
The presence of high-level government figures, such as JD Vance and other members of the U.S. administration, Cynthia Lummis, U.S. Senator from Wyoming, and Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, demonstrated how Bitcoin has become a legitimate component of economic policies around the world. But for many, such as Jack Mallers of Strike and Paolo Ardoino of Tether, the focus remained on Bitcoin’s utility, the blockchain’s infrastructural backbone, robust mining frameworks and decentralized scaling.
JD Vance reinforces U.S. government support of Bitcoin
Perhaps the most prominent keynote speaker to address the 30,000-strong crowd was JD Vance. As the first sitting U.S. Vice President to appear at a Bitcoin-focused event, he firmly emphasized the administration’s intention to foster innovation, safeguard financial sovereignty, and position the U.S. as a competitive hub for digital asset development. He highlighted the government’s recent decision to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve, which signaled an unprecedented shift toward viewing Bitcoin as a national economic resource rather than a speculative asset.
While the political implications of Vance’s appearance will undoubtedly be interpreted through a variety of lenses, what remains clear is the maturing relationship between the public sector and the wider crypto industry. Regulatory certainty, infrastructure investment, and governmental engagement were all major themes throughout the conference and Vance’s keynote served as a powerful affirmation of the growing alignment between innovation and policy. For companies operating within the Bitcoin space, this top-level governmental endorsement is an encouraging indication that constructive regulation may finally be catching up with the needs and demands of today’s consumers and investors.
Keynote speakers at the Bitcoin Conference 2025
The Bitcoin Conference 2025 was a veritable who’s who of the crypto industry. Speakers and panelists ranged from corporate executives and fintech founders to policymakers and freedom-of-speech advocates. Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy, returned to the stage after a successful 2024 appearance, with his characteristic conviction and championing Bitcoin as the most reliable long-term store of value. He pointed out Bitcoin’s massive global demand and presented his “21 ways to wealth” through Bitcoin, tailored for individuals, families, and small businesses. Jack Mallers, CEO of Strike, advocated Bitcoin’s role in real-world payments, challenging the perspective of some in the space that Bitcoin is best suited for holding rather than spending.
In a controversial and debate-rousing appearance, Ross Ulbricht, labeling himself as “Freedom Fighter”, spoke of his support for decentralization and liberty within the crypto community. Ulbricht was recently granted a presidential pardon after serving over a decade in prison. He is best known as the founder of Silk Road, an early darknet marketplace that used Bitcoin for anonymous transactions. Elsewhere, the inclusion of traditionally skeptical voices, such as economist Peter Schiff, demonstrated the conference’s broad appeal and its willingness to host critical viewpoints alongside staunch supporters.
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