TLDR

Conor McGregor plans to meet with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to discuss an Irish Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
McGregor is running for president of Ireland as an independent candidate
He believes a Bitcoin reserve would “give power back to the people”
McGregor is also considering other cryptocurrencies for government transparency
His previous cryptocurrency venture, a memecoin, failed upon launch

Former UFC champion Conor McGregor is set to meet with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to discuss the possibility of creating an Irish Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The meeting will take place at the Bitcoin Nation State Summit, according to American journalist Max Keiser.

Yes‼️

The nation state Saylor play can be rolled out in Ireland. 🇮🇪

This would be TOPIC No. 1 at the Bitcoin Nation State Summit

Between President Bukele 🇸🇻 & Conor McGregor @nayibbukele @TheNotoriousMMA https://t.co/cbk42gtgNa

— Max Keiser (@maxkeiser) May 11, 2025

McGregor, who is running as an independent candidate in Ireland’s upcoming presidential election, has been vocal about his support for cryptocurrency adoption. He recently urged the Irish government to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, stating that it would “give power back to the people.”

The five-time UFC champion’s interest in Bitcoin comes as the cryptocurrency approaches a new all-time high. Bitcoin is currently trading at $104,529, showing strong market performance in recent months.

McGregor’s Crypto Vision

McGregor’s interest in cryptocurrency extends beyond just Bitcoin. The presidential hopeful has expressed interest in exploring a range of digital assets to improve government processes.

“I can see lots of transparent and trustless applications within crypto,” McGregor stated. “And I can see an immutable people’s money with Bitcoin.”

This approach has sparked debates between Bitcoin maximalists and crypto pluralists. While focusing on a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, there is speculation that McGregor may also consider a Digital Asset Stockpile of select cryptocurrencies.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has reportedly reached out to McGregor to set up a meeting, though nothing concrete has materialized at the time of writing.

Political and Legal Challenges

Ireland’s next presidential election must be held by November 11, 2025, when current President Michael D. Higgins’ term ends. As an independent candidate, McGregor faces an uphill battle in gaining support for his cryptocurrency proposals.

Any initiative to establish a Bitcoin reserve would require backing from lawmakers and Ireland’s central bank. The task is further complicated by Ireland’s membership in the European Union, which ties its monetary policy to the euro.

McGregor is also dealing with personal legal challenges. He is currently contesting a civil court decision that found him guilty of sexual assault and has previously been investigated on hate speech charges. These factors could potentially impact his credibility with voters.

The former fighter has some experience with cryptocurrency projects, though his track record is mixed. In early April 2025, a token named REAL associated with McGregor’s Real World Gaming team held a 28-hour presale aiming to raise at least $1 million. The effort fell short, raising only about $392,300, and all buyers were refunded.

El Salvador, under President Bukele’s leadership, has shown strong commitment to Bitcoin adoption despite international pressure. The country has continued its Bitcoin acquisition strategy, purchasing one BTC per day even in the face of an IMF embargo against using public funds for such purchases.

McGregor appears to be drawing inspiration from El Salvador’s approach. According to Keiser, “The nation state Saylor play can be rolled out in Ireland,” referring to MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin accumulation strategy.

The upcoming meeting between McGregor and Bukele could mark the beginning of a new chapter in Ireland’s approach to cryptocurrency, though the path from proposal to implementation remains long and uncertain.

Ireland would join a small group of countries with Bitcoin reserves if McGregor’s vision comes to fruition. Currently, the US, El Salvador, and Bhutan are among the few nations that have established such reserves, all through initiatives from their highest government authorities.

McGregor plans to reveal more details about his cryptocurrency policies in an upcoming X Spaces session, for which he has invited various crypto experts including Anthony Pompliano and David Bailey.

The post Conor McGregor to Meet El Salvador’s President to Discuss Irish Bitcoin Reserve appeared first on CoinCentral.

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Filed under: News - @ May 12, 2025 9:29 am