J.D. Vance, Trump’s Running Mate, Has Owned Bitcoin Since 2021
Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), who recently joined former President Donald Trump as his running mate, has revealed that he still possesses an amount between $101,000 to $250,000 worth of Bitcoin in his 2023 annual financial disclosure.
Vance’s Bitcoin holdings, which he states are stored in a Coinbase account, have been previously reported in his 2022 annual report and his 2021 candidate disclosure during his Senate campaign. The varying value range of his assets is due to U.S. lawmakers being required to provide a range rather than an exact figure.
If Vance acquired his Bitcoin in 2021 when prices fluctuated between $30,000 and $60,000, he could potentially have substantial unrealized gains. While he disclosed owning Bitcoin during his 2021 Senate race, the exact timing of his initial BTC purchase remains undisclosed.
His Bitcoin holdings represent a fraction of his total assets, estimated between $4 million to $11 million, which include his residence, brokerage account, and college savings for his children.
Vance filed his disclosure on the deadline day after requesting an extension, granting him until August 13 to submit his report.
In terms of his stance on crypto, Vance has received a positive rating from the lobbying group Stand With Crypto for supporting SAB 121, which would have permitted U.S. banks to hold crypto assets. He has aligned himself with other pro-crypto lawmakers like Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) in criticizing the SEC’s enforcement actions against crypto firms.
Meanwhile, Trump, Vance’s running mate, has made ambitious promises to court the crypto community, including pledges to make the U.S. a “Bitcoin superpower” and to retain the government’s Bitcoin holdings. However, Trump’s statements regarding crypto have been inconsistent, as evidenced by a recent interview where neither he nor Elon Musk mentioned the topic.
Overall, Vance’s disclosure of his Bitcoin holdings and his alignment with pro-crypto legislators indicate his support for the digital asset industry amid evolving political landscapes.
