Treasury Secretary’s Bitcoin Bar Visit Sends Crypto Community Into Frenzy

TLDR

• US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made an unannounced appearance at Pubkey DC, a new Bitcoin-themed bar in Washington
• Bitcoin community figures called the visit a major symbolic moment for crypto’s political acceptance
• Bessent has backed crypto legislation including the GENIUS Act and supports making the US a digital asset hub
• The visit occurred while Bitcoin trades around $85,500, down from its October high of $125,100
• Pubkey DC is the second location after the New York bar that Donald Trump visited during his campaign

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared at the opening of Pubkey DC, a Bitcoin-themed bar in Washington, on Thursday. The unannounced visit drew immediate attention from the cryptocurrency community.

Ben Werkman, chief investment officer at Bitcoin treasury company Strive, wrote on X that the appearance felt like an obvious moment in retrospect. Steven Lubka, vice president of investor relations at Nakamoto, described it as a major sign for the industry.

Several other Bitcoin industry figures shared positive reactions to the visit. These included Bitcoin analyst Fred Krueger, Gemini Chief of Staff Jeff Tiller, podcaster Natalie Brunell, and Bitcoin Policy Institute co-founder David Zell.

Bessent received his Treasury nomination in late 2024. He has stated that the United States should become a global center for digital assets.

Bessent’s Crypto Policy Record

The Treasury Secretary has supported multiple cryptocurrency bills in 2025. This includes backing the GENIUS Act, which focuses on digital asset regulation.

In August, Bessent said his department was studying budget-neutral methods to purchase Bitcoin. This would be for a proposed Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

The visit happened while Bitcoin trades at approximately $85,500. This represents a decline from the all-time high of $125,100 reached on October 5.

Data from Santiment’s Sanbase platform showed mixed sentiment on social media Thursday. Price predictions ranged from $20,000 to $130,000.

Some traders cautioned against overreacting to the appearance. Crypto trader MacroScope suggested that market participants often only recognize the importance of such signals later.

Second Pubkey Location Opens

Pubkey DC is the second location of the Bitcoin-themed bar concept. The original Pubkey opened in New York City in late 2022.

The New York location gained national attention in September 2024. Presidential candidate Donald Trump made a campaign stop at the establishment during that visit.

The bar attracts Bitcoin enthusiasts and has become a meeting place for crypto community members. The opening of the Washington location expands the brand’s presence.

Bessent’s appearance at the venue opening marks a rare public show of support from a sitting Treasury Secretary. The visit took place during the bar’s launch night festivities.

Bitcoin currently trades around $85,500 according to CoinMarketCap data. The cryptocurrency has been in a downtrend since reaching its peak price in early October.

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