On August 3rd, President Joe Biden sent the cryptocurrency community into a frenzy when he unintentionally featured the iconic laser eyes associated with Bitcoin enthusiasts in a video advertising merchandise for his reelection campaign.
A cup of Joe never tasted better.
Grab yours: https://t.co/4fbxCBQNPZ pic.twitter.com/s2qboyE7C1
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 3, 2023
The tweet, which read: “A cup of Joe never tasted better,” along with a video of the President drinking coffee from a mug, seemed innocuous enough. However, the design of the mug, featuring his face with glowing red “laser eyes,” caught the attention of the Bitcoin and crypto community.
Laser eyes became a part of a movement across social media to drive Bitcoin’s price to $100,000 by the end of 2021. This goal did not come to fruition, but the phenomenon attracted notable laser-eyed personalities such as NFL star Tom Brady, Paris Hilton, and Elon Musk.
The laser eyes are generally used as a symbol of a bullish outlook for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Biden’s post quickly attracted responses from the crypto community, both delighted and amused by what appeared to be an obvious oversight.
The President’s administration has faced criticism from the crypto community for its stance on digital assets, including controversial tax proposals for miners and other “anti-crypto” political efforts. As such, it’s unlikely that the mug’s design was an intentional reference to Bitcoin.
Instead, the coffee mug’s name is a reference to “Dark Brandon” — Biden’s meme-based online alter-ego, depicting him as darker and edgier, often used by supporters to tout his policy victories.
Regardless of its intent, the mug has stirred up conversations among crypto enthusiasts. Whether they are proclaiming “Joe Biden is a Bitcoin maxi now” or suggesting that Biden is attempting to “win over Bitcoin maxis,” the mug has become a hot topic of discussion.
As the debate over the Biden administration’s crypto policies continues, this unexpected nod to the Bitcoin community has added a humorous twist to the serious conversation surrounding digital assets in the United States. The “cringe” video may not have been planned, but it has certainly left an impression.