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Trump’s big new Bitcoin push alienates his gold-bar-hoarding base

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Former President Donald Trump’s posts on Truth Social—the free speech social media platform he launched two years ago—generally receive a warm reception.

But a late-night missive promoting Bitcoin on Tuesday seems to have alienated his audience.

“VOTE FOR TRUMP! Bitcoin mining may be our last line of defense against a CBDC [Central Bank Digital Currency],” Trump wrote shortly before midnight.

“Biden’s hatred of Bitcoin only helps China, Russia, and the Radical Communist Left,” he continued. “We want all the remaining Bitcoin to be MADE IN THE USA!!! It will help us be ENERGY DOMINANT!!!”

Trump then linked to a Bitcoin Magazine op-ed penned by Brian Morgenstern, a former staffer in the the Trump administration and current head of public policy for Riot Platforms, a large Bitcoin mining company.

The article called Trump the “Best choice for Bitcoin.”

The Federal Reserve has been considering using a CBDC, noting on its website that it could provide households and businesses with a “convenient, electronic form of central bank money, with the safety and liquidity that would entail” and support faster payments.

Many conservatives have pushed back on a potential CBDC due to concerns about an expansion of power for the Fed and conspiratorial, apocalyptic fears.

“Anti-CBDC legislation is necessary to safeguard Americans’ financial privacy in the face of potential surveillance, control and political intimidation,” Ryan Walker, executive vice president of the conservative Heritage Foundation’s political arm, told Politico in a statement earlier this year.

Morgenstern’s piece calls Trump’s support of Bitcoin a key effort of “decentralization” which could, outside of legislation, also thwart a CBDC

But on Truth Social, pushing back against CBDC does not go far enough.

While plenty of Trump’s base is Bitcoin-hyping hustlers, a great deal fear any digital currency as a government intrusion.

Many have accused the government of wanting to eliminate cash entirely, to curtail freedom and track individual purchases.

“Gold standard… not Bitcoin,” replied one self-described Christian conservative user.

“CASH IS KING!” replied someone else, posting an image calling for a transition back to a gold-backed currency. “Make money valuable again,” the image’s text overlay reads.

Gold bars have been a long-time fixation on the right, and a number of right-wing influencers promote gold on their podcasts and streams, running counter to the president’s new fondness for Bitcoin.

“Bitcoin is a fantasy, no real wealth, gambling with no odds,” commented someone else.

One Trump supporter offered stronger choice words in response to Trump’s post.

“FUCK bitcoin! It is not US currency, and should never, ever be allowed for monetary exchange,” the user wrote. “I am truly disappointed that you, of all people would support this sham.”

But Trump has embraced cryptocurrency, billing himself as a “crypto president” during a fundraiser in San Francisco last week and rebuking Biden’s approach to cryptocurrency regulation.

“I AM VERY POSITIVE AND OPEN MINDED TO CRYPTOCURRENCY COMPANIES, AND ALL THINGS RELATED TO THIS NEW AND BURGEONING INDUSTRY,” he wrote on Truth Social in late May.

Trump added that the U.S. should be the leader in cryptocurrency but that Biden “WANTS IT TO DIE A SLOW AND PAINFUL DEATH.”

That post came less than one week after his campaign announced it would accept cryptocurrency donations to “build a crypto army moving the campaign to victory on November 5th!”

Trump’s positive stance on cryptocurrency marks a major shift from comments he made while in office.

“Bitcoin, it just seems like a scam,” Trump said in 2021. “I don’t like it because it’s another currency competing against the dollar.”

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Dangote refinery: Naira transaction for PMS to begin October 1st – NNPC

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The Nigerian government has announced that it will begin paying Dangote Refinery in Naira for petrol supply starting October 1st.

This decision was made after a meeting with the Implementation Committee on the Naira crude oil sale.

The government also disclosed that the Dangote Refinery and other local refiners in Nigeria will begin to buy crude oil from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited on October 1, 2024.

The NNPC will supply approximately 385,000 barrels per day of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery, which will be paid for in Naira.

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Dangote Refinery plans sea transport for 75% of local supply, targeting Warri, Port Harcourt, and Calabar

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Dangote Refinery has announced plans to transport 75% of its local petroleum product supply via sea routes, targeting key locations like Warri, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

This shift to sea transportation aims to reduce the higher costs associated with road distribution.

The refinery has the capacity to load 83% of its products by road, but it is ramping up efforts to evacuate nearly all production by sea.

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“Lagos: N950/l, Borno: N1,019/l” – NNPC announces increase in the pump price of petrol at filling stations nationwide.

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The NNPC has announced an increase in the pump price of petrol at filling stations nationwide, with prices varying by location .

In Lagos, the price has been increased to N950 per liter, while in Borno, it has been increased to N1,019 per liter.

The price increase is due to several factors, including the global increase in crude oil prices, the removal of fuel subsidies, and exchange rate fluctuations.

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