Former UFC champion Conor McGregor has announced his intention to run for President of Ireland, unveiling a campaign that intertwines nationalist themes with a strong advocacy for cryptocurrency.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), McGregor declared: “First fighter to walk in as president. First president to put Bitcoin on Europe’s balance sheet. Ireland leads. Europe watches.”
This statement underscores his ambition to become the first professional fighter to ascend to a nation’s highest office and to integrate Bitcoin into Ireland’s financial reserves.
McGregor’s political platform includes a proposal for Ireland to establish a national Bitcoin reserve, aiming to decentralize financial power and promote transparency. He emphasized:
“Crypto in its origin was founded to give power back to the people. An Irish Bitcoin strategic reserve will give power to the people’s money.”
He has also expressed plans to discuss this initiative further in public forums, including hosting a Twitter Space to engage with the public on his proposed changes.
In addition to his cryptocurrency advocacy, McGregor has voiced strong opposition to the European Union’s Migration Pact, criticizing the Irish government’s support for the agreement. He has pledged to put the pact to a public referendum if elected, asserting that the decision should rest with the Irish people.
McGregor’s political aspirations have garnered attention and endorsements from figures such as Elon Musk and Andrew Tate. However, his candidacy faces significant challenges. According to Irish electoral regulations, a presidential candidate must secure nominations from at least 20 members of the Oireachtas (the national parliament) or four local authorities. Given McGregor’s controversial background, including legal issues and public criticisms, experts deem his chances of meeting these requirements as slim.
Despite the hurdles, McGregor’s campaign has sparked discussions on the role of cryptocurrency in national economies and the influence of celebrity figures in politics. His proposals have introduced new topics into the political discourse, challenging traditional perspectives and prompting debates on Ireland’s financial and immigration policies.
