As we reflect on the year 2024, it’s clear that cryptocurrency has had a wild ride. From regulatory crackdowns to surprising endorsements from political figures, the crypto landscape has been anything but predictable. But amidst the volatility, there have been moments of humor, celebration, and spirited debate, all immortalized in the form of tweets.
The year kicked off with a bang as Gary Gensler, the Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, announced his resignation in a tweet on November 21st. Gensler’s tenure at the SEC was characterized by an aggressive approach towards regulation, with a record-breaking 46 enforcement actions against crypto-related entities in 2023 alone. His resignation was met with relief in the crypto community, as many saw it as the end of an overly harsh regulatory era.
Next, we saw a surprising turn of events as Donald J. Trump, once a staunch critic of cryptocurrencies, tweeted his support for Bitcoin on October 31st. In his tweet, Trump expressed his intent to “end Kamala’s war on crypto” and declared that Bitcoin would be “Made in the USA.” This was a significant departure from his previous statements, marking a dramatic shift in his stance towards crypto.
Elon Musk, a well-known supporter of Dogecoin, also made crypto headlines in 2024. On November 13th, he tweeted an image of a dog with the acronym “DOGE” prominently displayed, appearing to reference the new Department of Government Efficiency. This playful tweet seemed to indicate Musk’s continued support for the meme coin while also hinting at his role in the newly created department.
In another surprising turn of events, Donald J. Trump reposted a message on his Truth Social account announcing the appointment of David O. Sacks as the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” This move highlighted the growing importance of crypto and AI in the global economy and signaled a potential shift towards a more crypto-friendly government.
As the year went on, we saw Michael Saylor, the Executive Chairman of MicroStrategy, announce his company’s acquisition of 15,350 BTC in a tweet on December 15th. This move solidified MicroStrategy’s position as the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin and confirmed the growing institutional interest in the asset.
One of the most significant legal developments of the year was seen in a tweet from Brad Garlinghouse, the CEO of Ripple. He celebrated a critical victory in Ripple’s legal battle with the SEC, where the court drastically reduced the SEC’s demand for penalties, marking a significant win for the crypto industry.
As the meme coin craze took off in 2024, Changpeng Zhao, the founder and former CEO of Binance, expressed his unease with the trend in a tweet on November 26th. His call for the development of “real applications using blockchain” highlighted the ongoing debate over the value and sustainability of meme coins.
In a tweet on August 5th, Jim Cramer, the host of CNBC’s Mad Money, compared the performance of gold and crypto, sparking reactions from fans of the “Inverse Cramer” phenomenon. As it turned out, those who did the opposite of what Cramer advised profited significantly as Bitcoin’s value soared in the following months.
Finally, Peter Schiff, a well-known critic of Bitcoin, tweeted his congratulations to Bitcoiners on “blowing the biggest bubble ever” on December 16th. Despite his pessimistic views, Bitcoin continued to defy expectations, reaching new all-time highs and gaining widespread institutional adoption.
In conclusion, 2024 was a year full of surprises, challenges, and triumphs for the crypto industry. These tweets not only capture the highlights of the year but also reflect the evolving attitudes towards cryptocurrencies. As we move into 2025, the world will undoubtedly be watching with bated breath to see what new twists and turns the crypto journey will take.