MP Joël Lightbound disclosed his ownership of Bitcoin and expressed the importance of people studying and understanding the technology.
To mark the 15th anniversary of Bitcoin’s white paper, Canadian MP Joël Lightbound expressed gratitude to the anonymous creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, while also advocating for people to educate themselves about the leading cryptocurrency.
On the floor of the Canadian parliament, MP Lightbound stated his ownership of Bitcoin but emphasized that he was not promoting it as an investment or encouraging others to purchase it.
He encouraged people to educate themselves about Bitcoin rather than recommending that they purchase it.
Additionally, Lightbound noted that Bitcoin was created during a financial crisis and has since evolved into a tool that can empower the underbanked and those living under oppressive regimes.
“Bitcoin has helped thousands of families avoid the tragedy of currency debasement. It stands for the truly progressive ideal. So today, let me thank Satoshi Nakamoto, whoever that may be, and wish a happy 15th anniversary to the Bitcoin white paper.”
During his speech, MP Lightbound mentioned two key quotes: one from Jack Dorsey, former Twitter CEO and a vocal advocate for Bitcoin, and the other from Gary Gensler, the current SEC chair, whose approach to crypto has been perceived as unfriendly by many in the industry.
It’s important to note that the quote MP Lightbound mentioned was from 2019 when Gary Gensler was not yet the SEC chair.
In an opinion piece published in 2019, Gensler wrote that although there are numerous projects in the crypto ecosystem, the one created by Satoshi Nakamoto could potentially transform the industry, either directly or by inspiring other projects.
He added, “The potential to lower verification and networking costs is worth pursuing, particularly to lower economic rents and data privacy costs and promote economic inclusion.“
In a tweet commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Bitcoin white paper, Gensler recognized the significance of the date.
However, he included a compliance message suggesting any “crypto companies that are tricking investors should start treating them to compliance with the securities laws.”
Before becoming the head of the SEC, many in the crypto community were hopeful about Gensler’s appointment, given his background as a crypto educator.
Gensler’s tenure as SEC chair has been a source of frustration and disappointment for many in the crypto community, with some of his policies seen as detrimental to the crypto industry.
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