Buterin, Saylor, and More: Who’s Attending Trump’s Crypto Summit?

The event aims to bring together industry leaders, investors, business executives, and policymakers to discuss the future of digital assets. Key topics on the agenda include enhancing financial freedom for crypto users, establishing a clear regulatory framework, fostering innovation, and potentially confirming the creation of the U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve.

A Bitcoin strategic reserve is something the President’s interested in. He spoke about it all during the campaign trail, and I think you’re going to see it executed on Friday. So Bitcoin is one thing, and then the other currencies, the other crypto tokens, I think, will be treated differently—positively, but differently,

said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

Confirmed Crypto Industry Participants

The summit is expected to bring together over 25 prominent figures from the cryptocurrency sector.

Among them is Michael Saylor, founder of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), a company that has made significant Bitcoin investments and actively promotes the concept of digital gold to a wide range of investors. Recently, the company rebranded, updating its name and logo to underscore its deep commitment to BTC.

Another notable attendee is Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple. His company is recognized not only within the crypto industry but also in traditional banking, thanks to its XRP Ledger, a financial blockchain already adopted by several banks. Ripple has also introduced its own stablecoin, RLUSD, while its native cryptocurrency, XRP, has secured a spot in the newly announced U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve.

Additionally, the event will feature Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, the issuer of USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin by market capitalization. In 2024, Tether reported remarkable financial results, with net annual profits exceeding $13 billion. The company achieved this success through strategic investments in cryptocurrencies and U.S. Treasury bonds.

USDT is the most successful tool for US Dollar hegemony and distribution across emerging markets. Tether built, over the last decade, the widest physical and digital distribution network, spacing from thousands of kiosks in Africa and South America to digital remittances platforms, from payment backbones to institutional tools,

said Paolo Ardoino recently.

The summit will also host other renowned figures from the crypto industry, such as Brian Armstrong (CEO of Coinbase), Vitalik Buterin (co-founder of Ethereum), Changpeng Zhao (former CEO of Binance), Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (founders of Gemini), Anatoly Yakovenko (creator of Solana), and many more. However, the list of participants continues to expand.

Government Representatives

While the crypto industry will see nearly all of its leading players represented, the picture is slightly different for government officials. The key figure at the summit will undoubtedly be U.S. President Donald Trump, who initiated the event, along with members of his administration: David Sacks, who leads the White House’s cryptocurrency initiatives, and Bo Hines, Executive Director of the Presidential Council of Advisors for Digital Assets.

Additionally, government representatives will include Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Scott Bessent, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and many others. The summit is also expected to feature heads of federal agencies and regulators, including the interim chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Among the members of Congress, Republican Tom Emmer has confirmed his participation. He is a staunch supporter of Donald Trump on many issues. As with the crypto industry, the list of officials is still not final.

Expectations from the Crypto Community

Many hope the summit will mark the beginning of a constructive dialogue between the government and the crypto industry, creating an opportunity to achieve the long-awaited balance between innovation and regulation of digital assets. The crypto community is expecting significant announcements, including the official launch of the U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve.

Related: Trump’s “US Crypto Reserve” Plan: A Game Changer or Just Talk?