On Thursday, presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden will engage in their first live televised debate in four years. This highly anticipated event offers a unique opportunity for the candidates to address the nation on various pressing issues.
Crypto community anticipates Bitcoin mention
For those in the cryptocurrency community, the debate presents a chance for either candidate to mention Bitcoin, potentially reigniting investor interest in the digital currency. Quinn Thompson, founder of crypto hedge fund Lekker Capital, expressed his excitement on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Over 100 million people globally will watch Trump and Biden compete to be more pro-economic growth and pro-crypto on Thursday.”
Thompson speculated that Trump might highlight his upcoming appearance at the Bitcoin Conference and criticize Biden for the lack of an Ethereum ETF. He added, “The event will push crypto prices to new heights.”
Over $300,000 has been bet on whether Trump or Biden will say specific phrases during the debate
Thompson is not alone in his predictions. Users of the crypto betting platform Polymarket have placed millions of dollars on various debate-related wagers. Over $300,000 has been bet on whether Trump or Biden will say specific phrases during the debate. For Biden, these phrases include “Israel,” “convicted felon,” “malarkey,” “Corn Pop,” and “come on.” For Trump, the bets focus on phrases like “fake news,” “dementia,” “Sleepy Joe,” and “rigged,” among others.
The market currently estimates a 44% chance that Trump will mention “crypto” or “Bitcoin” during the debate.
Other bets on Polymarket include questions such as whether Biden will close his eyes for more than three seconds during the event, whether the two candidates will shake hands, and who will drink water first. The most liquid bet, with over $766,000 wagered so far, concerns the possibility of Biden dropping out of the presidential race after the debate, with the market assigning only a 3% chance of this happening.
Debate details
The 90-minute debate is scheduled to begin on Thursday at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. With the eyes of the world watching, both candidates will have the opportunity to sway voters and potentially influence the future of the cryptocurrency industry.
