Democratic Rep. Wiley Nickel mocks Trump's past comments on Bitcoin, calls for DNC to support crypto: Bitcoin 2024

Wiley Nickel, a moderate democrat who's serving his first term as the representative for North Carolina's 13th Congressional district, said he and other members of the party have written a letter to party leaders calling for more pro-crypto language in the party's platform during an interview onstage at the Bitcoin 2024 conference. 

"This is a letter with 28 democrat electeds, including 14 members of the U.S. House of Representatives including Ro [Khanna, D-CA], asking for four things from the DNC and the next democratic nominee for President: [pro-digital asset] language in the party's platform, selecting a Vice Presidential candidate sophisticated in digital asset policy, selecting a pro-innovation SEC chair, and engaging with the industry in a meaningful way," Nickel said to light applause from the conference audience.

Nickel spent much of his time with moderator Jason Maier, author of A Progressive's Case for Bitcoin, on the stage promoting a bipartisan approach to crypto issues, likely in hopes of winning votes from crypto owners who view the Republican party's platform as more pro-crypto, especially after Donald Trump's selection of Senator JD Vance as his running mate.

"We've been working hard behind the scenes having senior-level meetings with folks, with the Office of the Vice President, with the campaign, to get a reset. Vice President Harris understands this issue, her husband is someone I know who gets it, and I think we're going to get to see a reset which will be a big deal in this space," Nickel continued. "The future has to be a bipartisan one; if we politicize the issue we will just poison the well for ten years in Congress." 

As for Trump himself, Nickel had pointed comments regarding the former President's past anti-Bitcoin stance. 

"He's hit all the bad talking points. He's said [cryptocurrencies] facilitate unlawful behaviors including drugs and illegal activities, and in 2021 he called it a scam," Nickel said, to increasingly loud boos from the audience. "Folks, I can tell you one thing and I want to say this as politely and respectfully as I can: Donald Trump was President for four years, he did nothing on this issue, and right now I can tell you he's totally full of s—t," Nickel said. 

"That's very brave of you," Maier responded, to laughs from the audience. "Donald Trump like every other politician is allowed to change his mind on this, and you all need to remember that that's exactly what's happening," Maier continued, to a more favorable audience response.