If you weren’t there in person, it would be hard to accurately describe how long and winding the line was to see Donald Trump speak at the Bitcoin conference. The wait to even pass through security and find a seat in the auditorium was hours long and thousands of folks were scrambling to find seats at the Nakamoto Stage early in the day. As the line snaked through the expo hall, it was easy to find an even distribution of Bitcoiners and Trump supporters (some were both) all eager to hear Trump speak. There was an excitement in the atmosphere, and while I didn’t share in the excitement, it did permeate the air in Nashville. Uber drivers were quick to point out that Trump was speaking at the conference. Around the city were large images of Trump’s face next to Bitcoin symbols advertising the conference. Trump-mania surely had taken over the conference, but it also seemed to take over the city of Nashville, too.
Trump's Impact on Bitcoin Community
I can’t deny that getting Donald Trump to speak at the Bitcoin Conference during an election year is a huge "get." It is an important moment for Bitcoin and we should all appreciate this development, in some sense, as a milestone that we can all be proud of as Bitcoiners. Trump's speech promised to lunge Bitcoin into the mainstream political conversation and thereby normalize an up and coming digital currency that most people still dismiss as "fake internet money". It was a moment we were all supposed to remember for the rest of our lives; this was Bitcoin’s chance to be included in serious conversations held by serious people.
Disappointment in Trump's Speech
If Trump had shown up for his speech on time, we would have known an hour earlier that this wasn’t going to happen. Instead, we waited. Once Trump did start his speech, it didn’t take long to realize that the folks waiting for hours all day were sold a bill of goods. Trump’s speech was a rambling, at times incoherent, stump speech with a few little nods toward crypto, and… I guess… Bitcoin thrown in for good measure. The first mention of Bitcoin came about six and a half minutes into his remarks. I don’t blame Trump for speaking about crypto more than Bitcoin; most politicians do. But while he was speaking at the Bitcoin conference, I was expecting him to spend more time discussing Bitcoin than his genius uncle who used to work at MIT. Alas, sometimes you just can’t set the bar low enough.
Reflections on Trump's Understanding of Bitcoin
The most concrete take away from hearing Trump speak about Bitcoin was the not-so-shocking realization that Robert Kennedy Jr. thinks more deeply about Bitcoin while he has his first cup of coffee each morning than Donald Trump has thought about Bitcoin during his entire life. All of Trump's best moments during his speech (and there were some) were lifted, whole cloth, from RFK Jr’s keynote address the day prior. The parts of the speech he didn’t copy from RFK Jr were dismissive, arrogant, pandering, and ill-informed. The value in watching the speech at all is that the single issue Bitcoin voters I keep hearing about now have an easy decision to make.
Evaluating the Impact of Trump's Involvement in Bitcoin
No doubt, there are plenty of Bitcoiners who love Trump and loved his speech. But there are also a surprising number of folks that see all this for what it is: a politician pandering for money and votes and an insecure Bitcoin community pandering for some borrowed legitimacy. Having a leading presidential candidate discuss Bitcoin has some positive effects, but the most serious people I know in the space also recognize there are some risks and dangers involved, too. Chief among these dangers is that by cozying up to Trump, the Bitcoin community risks alienating itself from pre-coiner audiences for the foreseeable future. This seems to be a point, I think, that is hard to comprehend if you already like Bitcoin or already like Trump. Try to remember, most people don’t fit into either category.
Challenges of Aligning with Trump in the Bitcoin Community
I’ve publicly been in the Bitcoin space long enough to appreciate the massive cognitive dissonance that exists among many Bitcoiners. Some of these people are Libertarians who are fully committed to individual freedom, but are unwilling to respect a person’s gender identity. Some of these people are Conservatives who want to see the government get smaller while that same government polices what books get banned and what healthcare people are allowed to receive. Some of these people are Bitcoiners who want to see the government disintermediated from the financial system while they cheer uproariously for a politician promising to buy Bitcoin on behalf of the United States Government. If I can see the cognitive dissonance, why is it so hard for a community that prides itself on being heterodox, skeptical and don’t-trust-verify?
Advocating for Bitcoin in a Non-Partisan Manner
For those that think Trump is now one of us, he isn’t. He will drop our community the moment it serves him, and we will be worse off for it. Zoom out. One week after Trump appeared in Nashville, he sat for a disastrous interview with the National Association of Black Journalists. This, it turns out, did not make him a Black journalist. Nor did showing up in Nashville make him a Bitcoiner. We would, all of us, be well served to remember that.
This is a guest post by Jason Maier. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of having a gold IRA?
An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is the best way to put money towards retirement. It will be tax-deferred up until the time you withdraw it. You are in complete control of how much you take out each fiscal year. There are many types and types of IRAs. Some are better suited for college students. Others are intended for investors seeking higher returns. Roth IRAs are a way for individuals to make contributions after the age of 59 1/2, and then pay taxes on any earnings upon retirement. But once they start withdrawing funds, those earnings aren't taxed again. This type of account might be a good choice if your goal is to retire early.
The gold IRA allows you to invest in different asset classes, which is similar to other IRAs. Unlike a regular IRA that requires you to pay taxes on the gains you make while you wait to access them, a gold IRA does not have to do this. For people who would rather invest than spend their money, gold IRA accounts are a good option.
Another benefit to owning IRA gold is the ability to withdraw automatically. You won't have the hassle of making deposits each month. To avoid missing a payment, direct debits can be set up.
Gold is one of today's most safest investments. Because it isn’t tied to any specific country, gold’s value tends to stay stable. Even during economic turmoil, gold prices tend to stay relatively stable. Therefore, gold is often considered a good investment to protect your savings against inflation.
How much are gold IRA fees?
$6 per month is the Individual Retirement Account Fee (IRA). This includes account maintenance fees and investment costs for your chosen investments.
If you want to diversify, you may be required to pay extra fees. The fees you pay will vary depending on the type of IRA that you choose. Some companies offer free check accounts, but charge monthly fee for IRA accounts.
In addition, most providers charge annual management fees. These fees range between 0% and 1 percent. The average rate is.25% annually. These rates are usually waived if you use a broker such as TD Ameritrade.
What is the tax on gold in an IRA
The fair market price of gold when it is sold determines the tax due on its sale. You don't pay taxes when you buy gold. It is not considered income. If you decide to make a sale of it, you'll be entitled to a taxable loss if the value goes up.
Loans can be secured with gold. When you borrow against your assets, lenders try to find the highest return possible. This often means selling gold. This is not always possible. They may hold on to it. They might decide that they want to resell it. In either case, you risk losing potential profits.
So to avoid losing money, you should only lend against your gold if you plan to use it as collateral. It is better to leave it alone.
How much gold should you have in your portfolio?
The amount that you want to invest will dictate how much money it takes. Start small with $5k-10k. You could then rent out desks and office space as your business grows. So you don't have all the hassle of paying rent. It's only one monthly payment.
Consider what type of business your company will be running. My website design company charges clients $1000-2000 per month depending on the order. Consider how much you expect to make from each client, if you decide to do this kinda thing.
As freelance work requires you to be paid freelancers, your monthly salary won't be as high as mine. You may get paid just once every 6 months.
So you need to decide what kind of income you want to generate before you know how much gold you will need.
I would recommend that you start with $1k-2k worth of gold and then increase your wealth.
Should You Buy or Sell Gold?
Gold was once considered an investment safe haven during times of economic crisis. However, today many people are turning away from traditional investments such as stocks and bonds and instead looking toward precious metals such as gold.
The trend for gold prices has been upward in recent years but they still remain low relative to other commodities like silver and oil.
Some experts think that this could change in the near future. According to them, gold prices could soar if there is another financial crisis.
They also mention that gold is becoming more popular due to its perceived worth and potential return.
These are some things you should consider when considering gold investing.
- Before you start saving money for retirement, think about whether you really need it. It is possible to save enough money to retire without investing in gold. The added protection that gold provides when you retire is a good option.
- You should also be aware of what you are getting into before you buy gold. There are many types of gold IRA accounts. Each one offers different levels security and flexibility.
- Keep in mind that gold may not be as secure as a bank deposit. It is possible to lose your gold coins.
Do your research before you buy gold. If you already have gold, make sure you protect it.
Statistics
- Contribution limits$6,000 (49 and under) $7,000 (50 and up)$6,000 (49 and under) $7,000 (50 and up)$58,000 or 25% of your annual compensation (whichever is smaller) (lendedu.com)
- The price of gold jumped 131 percent from late 2007 to September 2011, when it hit a high of $1,921 an ounce, according to the World Gold Council. (aarp.org)
- Indeed, several financial advisers interviewed for this article suggest you invest 5 to 15 percent of your portfolio in gold, just in case. (aarp.org)
- Gold is considered a collectible, and profits from a sale are taxed at a maximum rate of 28 percent. (aarp.org)
- If you take distributions before hitting 59.5, you'll owe a 10% penalty on the amount withdrawn. (lendedu.com)
External Links
finance.yahoo.com
bbb.org
wsj.com
- Saddam Hussein's InvasionHelped Uncage a Bear In 1991 – WSJ
- Are you interested in keeping gold in your IRA at-home? It's Not Exactly Lawful – WSJ
forbes.com
How To
Guidelines for Gold Roth IRA
Start saving as soon as possible to save for your retirement. Start saving as soon and as often as you're eligible (usually around 50 years old) and keep going until retirement. You must contribute enough each year to ensure that you have adequate growth.
You can also take advantage of tax-free savings opportunities like a traditional 401k (k), SEP IRA (or SIMPLE IRA). These savings vehicles permit you to make contributions, but not pay any tax until your earnings are withdrawn. This makes them a great choice for people who don’t have access employer matching funds.
It is important to save consistently over time. If you aren't contributing the maximum amount permitted, you could miss out on tax benefits.
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By: Jason Maier
Title: Donald Trump's Speech at the Bitcoin Conference: A Critical Analysis
Sourced From: bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/trump-and-the-future-of-bitcoin
Published Date: Mon, 05 Aug 2024 12:52:00 GMT
