Digital asset regulation and policy were at the center of discussion for many panels at the crypto event when news of Donald Trump’s 34 felony convictions broke.
Thousands of cryptocurrency and blockchain enthusiasts gathered in Austin, Texas, from May 29 to 31 for the annual Consensus conference. But as many were listening to regulators and industry leaders discuss digital assets, groundbreaking news quickly became the center of attention for many.
There was much to focus on at Consensus 2024, with so many C-level executives and government officials in the same building. Topics included the recent passage of the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approving spot Ether (ETH) exchange-traded funds, U.S. President Joe Biden threatening — and, on the last day of the event, following through on — a veto against a resolution to overturn an SEC rule on banks handling crypto and digital assets like Bitcoin (BTC) becoming increasingly prevalent as a campaign issue in the 2024 presidential election.
No topic seemed to be off-limits. A group trolled Jamie Dimon with a campaign falsely claiming the JPMorgan Chase CEO intended to appear at Consensus to discuss crypto after a drug-induced epiphany. The DeLorean car from the 1985 film Back to the Future was available for viewing — flux capacitor and all — and attendees had the opportunity to win a Ford Mustang by becoming the one to maintain their grip hanging on a bar the longest. Many costumed adults also showed up for the crypto conference, representing a brand or supporting a cause.
