Kraken, and Exodus, celebrated the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump at a historic crypto-themed ball. The event, the first of its kind, took place at the grand Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, a 90-year-old venue in Washington D.C., and was marked by performances from rap legends Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, and Soulja Boy.
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The night, a pre-inauguration celebration, reflected a shift in Washington’s approach to digital currencies. Trump, who did not attend the gala, had previously courted crypto contributions with promises to be a “crypto president.” At the ball, Trump’s supporters showed their optimism for what they see as a brighter future for the industry.
The gala was a lavish affair with around 1,500 attendees, including several figures from Trump’s incoming administration. Despite not being physically present, Trump’s influence loomed large over the event, which featured themed merchandise like “Make Bitcoin Great Again” caps. Attendees were treated to McDonald's, a favourite of Trump’s, alongside lobster rolls, as they mingled to the sounds of hip-hop.
Les Borsai, co-founder of Wave Digital Assets, expressed his optimism for the future of crypto in the United States, saying, “There were a lot of dark