Bitcoin Miami Day 2 - Awesome Lineup
Keynote Speakers Steal the Show
The Bitcoin Conference 2023 in Miami Beach rolled out an outstanding lineup of speakers for Day Two. A presidential candidate, a past presidential candidate, one of the world’s leading economists, and much more.
Michael Saylor Packs the Room and Doesn’t Disappoint
MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor, one of the world’s biggest proponents of Bitcoin and surely its leading ambassador, highlighted Day Two with a twenty minute keynote. Saylor talked of why his company went to a “Bitcoin standard” and transformed their balance sheet from a liability into an asset. Not content to let their hundreds of millions of dollars fall victim to inflation, Saylor set out to convert their cash to Bitcoin, with the objective of having it grow over the long term.
Thereby converting their balance sheet from a liability into a money-making asset.
Some key takeaways from Saylor’s talk:
“Bitcoin is the most secured financial asset in the world. Bitcoin is the world’s most promising new asset class.”
“All of the failures of crypto and exchanges are positive for Bitcoin.”
“The confusion between Bitcoin and crypto is shrinking. There is an awareness that Bitcoin is not crypto.” Thank goodness.
On the world’s many corporations potentially converting to a Bitcoin standard for customer loyalty rewards:
“The universal frequent flyer mile is the Satoshi.”
And this gem:
“Bitcoin is going to be the last crypto asset standing in the United States.”
Some powerful stuff. Saylor never disappoints.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Embodies the Bitcoin Spirit
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., son of the late US Attorney General and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, packed the house and excited the crowd with his advocacy of privacy and free speech. Kennedy, running for President as a Democrat, sounds much like a Libertarian, and as such embraces the principles of Bitcoin.
Some of Kennedy’s best quotes from today:
“Free money is as important to freedom as is free expression.”
"Crypto is a tool to fight against government control and expansion.”
“I will defend the right to self-custody your Bitcoin. The whole point is to be decentralized.”
As an advocate for the environment, Kennedy acknowledges that the crypto community, including Bitcoin, can do better in advancing the use of renewable energy sources in mining. However, he cautions against the government overreach in this area by saying:
“The environmental argument should not be used as a smokescreen for suppressing the Bitcoin agenda.”
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard Highlights the Afternoon Session
Before a packed room, former Hawaii Congresswoman and military veteran Tulsi Gabbard delivered a keynote that emphasized fighting back against government overreach and highlighted how Bitcoin can play a part in that.
Keeping sovereign control over your money was the main theme of Gabbard’s talk, and it played well with the Bitcoiners in the house. Gabbard last year left the Democratic party after running for President in 2020 as a Dem.
She sounded more like a Libertarian, a la Kennedy, but did not announce any plans to run for a future elected office.
Bitcoin Rockstar Saifedean Ammous Fires Up the Crowd
Perennial favorite Saifedean Ammous, famed Austrian economist and author, highlighted sections of his latest book, “Principles of Economics,” and spoke of how Bitcoin can free citizens from the tyranny and control of central banks.
Ammous’ previous books, “The Bitcoin Standard” and “The Fiat Standard” are best-sellers and are considered among the best for learning the basics about Bitcoin, and well, about money in general.
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Issue No. 109, May 19, 2023
Rick Mulvey is a CPA, crypto consultant, and frequent contributor to Bitcoin Magazine. He writes about all things Bitcoin, and yells at the Yankees and Giants. He also runs marathons and makes wine, neither professionally.