Bitcoin Declines Even as JD Vance Declares Crypto Has a ‘Champion’ in the White House

Despite the hype surrounding this event, crypto markets did not follow the optimism in real time. As Vance rallied the crowd of crypto enthusiasts with promises of regulatory reform and full-throated support from the Trump administration, the price of Bitcoin slid almost 4% over the three days of the conference.

Price dip

Bitcoin’s price dip suggests that the enthusiasm surrounding a newly forged alliance between Washington and the crypto world alone will not drive meteoric digital asset prices. Institutional investors and asset managers are still calling for substantial regulatory clarity surrounding the digital asset space. Trump’s tariff onslaught and geopolitical flare-ups are also impacting investor sentiment and asset allocations this year. 

While Bitcoin 2025 drew a record 35,000 attendees for 3 days of networking, discussions and partying in Las Vegas, the enthusiasm surrounding this event did little to boost crypto fortunes.  

Regulatory hurdles

Indeed, high-profile speakers like the Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis —often dubbed the “Crypto Senator” for her advocacy in Washington—noted the many regulatory and policy hurdles that will need to be overcome.  

"We are trying to change as fast as we can"

“Part of the problem in the last four years has been largely regulatory agencies that have been very hostile towards digital assets, so we are trying to change as fast as we can … It doesn’t happen overnight. We don’t even have a confirmed IRS [Internal Revenue Service] director in place yet.”  

Nonetheless, Vice President Vance stressed the importance of immediate regulatory action, stating in his speech “If we fail to create regulatory clarity now, we risk chasing this $3 trillion industry offshore,” he warned. “President Trump is going to fight to make sure that doesn’t happen.”