- Despite Trudeau’s caution against Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency has surged by 15% in the past year, surpassing inflation and the S&P 500.
- Several Members of Parliament in Canada, including both Liberal and Conservative representatives, own digital assets.
Analyzing Bitcoin’s Year-Long Resilience and Political Ownership
In a surprising turn of events, Bitcoin (BTC) has demonstrated remarkable resilience, outpacing both inflation and the S&P 500 in the year following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s skepticism towards the cryptocurrency.
Bitcoin Triumphs Over Inflation and Market Volatility
A year ago, Prime Minister Trudeau criticized opposition leader Pierre Poilievre’s suggestion that Canadians invest in Bitcoin to protect themselves from inflation, labeling it as “irresponsible leadership.” However, recent data tells a different story.
During the past calendar year, Bitcoin’s value has surged by approximately 15%. In contrast, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported inflation at 6.5%, with Canada’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) showing a slightly higher rate of 6.8% annually. This data highlights Bitcoin‘s effectiveness as a hedge against inflation.
Additionally, Bitcoin has also outperformed the S&P 500, a benchmark index comprising the largest publicly traded companies in the United States. This unexpected resilience has garnered attention from both investors and policymakers alike.
Diverse Digital Asset Ownership Among Canadian MPs
Despite Trudeau’s skepticism, a surprising revelation has emerged: several Members of Parliament in Canada, belonging to both the Liberal and Conservative Parties, own digital assets.
Pierre Poilievre, the opposition leader, not only encouraged Bitcoin investment but also demonstrated his confidence in the cryptocurrency by purchasing a Shawarma with Bitcoin during a campaign stop in March 2022. Disclosure records from May of that year reveal that he owns shares of the Purpose Bitcoin ETF (BTCC).
Chandrakanth “Chandra” Arya, a Liberal MP representing Nepean in Ontario, held Bitcoin, Ether, and units of 3iQ’s Bitcoin fund and Ether fund in 2021. Joël Lightbound, another Liberal MP representing the Quebec riding of Louis-Hébert, owns shares of Purpose’s Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, Bitcoin, Solana tokens, and even has a
“loan receivable from an individual”
related to cryptocurrency.
Vancouver MP Taleeb Farouk Noormohamed, despite being criticized for real estate speculation, owns Bitcoin, Ether, and Stacks (STX), the native token of Stacks Network, a Bitcoin layer-2 solution.
These bipartisan revelations emphasize that digital asset ownership transcends political boundaries in Canada, shedding light on the growing acceptance and relevance of cryptocurrencies among lawmakers.
In conclusion, Bitcoin’s impressive performance in the face of economic challenges and political skepticism demonstrates its resilience and potential as a financial asset. The ownership of digital assets by Members of Parliament further underscores the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency adoption in Canada’s political sphere.
