Conor McGregor Proposes Irish Bitcoin Reserve in Presidential Campaign

TLDR

• Conor McGregor is running for president of Ireland and has proposed a national Bitcoin reserve
• McGregor claims a Bitcoin reserve would “give power back to the people’s money”
• He will meet with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to discuss Bitcoin adoption strategies
• McGregor has invited crypto experts including Anthony Pompliano and David Bailey for consultation
• His previous crypto project (REAL token) failed, raising only $392,300 of a $1 million goal

Former UFC champion Conor McGregor has proposed that Ireland establish a national Bitcoin reserve as part of his independent presidential campaign. On May 9, 2025, McGregor posted on X (formerly Twitter) that such a reserve would “give power back to the people’s money,” aligning with the decentralization principles of cryptocurrency.

McGregor did not provide specifics on funding sources or the scale of his proposed reserve. He stated that “crypto in its origin was founded to give power back to the people,” echoing core Bitcoin philosophy.

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

The fighter-turned-politician is reaching out to crypto industry leaders to develop his proposal. He has tagged Anthony Pompliano, host of The Pomp Podcast, requesting feedback on his ideas. McGregor also contacted David Bailey, who previously advised former US President Donald Trump on crypto matters.

McGregor has invited these experts to join him for discussions on X Spaces. “Message me and let’s talk on my space” and “David message me, let’s talk about your ideas!” he wrote, indicating plans to host sessions to flesh out the details of his proposal.

El Salvador Connection

In a major development, McGregor is set to meet with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to explore Bitcoin adoption for Ireland. According to American journalist Max Keiser, the meeting will take place at the Bitcoin Nation State Summit, with an Irish Strategic Bitcoin Reserve as a key agenda item.

“The nation state Saylor play can be rolled out in Ireland,” said Keiser. “This would be TOPIC No.1 at the Bitcoin Nation State Summit between President Bukele and Conor McGregor.”

El Salvador has been a pioneer in national Bitcoin adoption. Despite pressure from the International Monetary Fund, Bukele’s government continues to acquire Bitcoin at the rate of one BTC per day.

Beyond Bitcoin, McGregor has expressed interest in various cryptocurrencies. “I can see lots of transparent and trustless applications within crypto,” he said, “And I can see an immutable people’s money with Bitcoin.” Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has reportedly reached out to meet with McGregor, though no meeting has been confirmed.

Reports suggest McGregor may pursue both a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a broader Digital Asset Stockpile of select cryptocurrencies.

Political Reality Check

Ireland’s next presidential election must be held by November 11, 2025, when current President Michael D. Higgins’ term ends. Any initiative to establish a Bitcoin reserve would face hurdles, requiring support from lawmakers and the central bank.

Irish politicians roundly reject Conor McGregor's presidential bid https://t.co/irxI4kyoyK

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 30, 2025

As a European Union member, Ireland’s monetary policy is tied to the euro, adding complexity to any Bitcoin reserve proposal. An independent candidate like McGregor would need to build a broad coalition to advance such a policy.

McGregor’s campaign faces other challenges. He is contesting a civil court decision that found him guilty of sexual assault and has previously been investigated for hate speech. These issues may undermine his credibility with voters.

The crypto world is familiar territory for McGregor, though his track record shows mixed results. In early April 2025, the Real World Gaming team conducted a 28-hour presale of a token named REAL with McGregor’s backing. Despite aiming to raise a minimum of $1 million, they collected only about $392,300 and refunded all buyers.

Currently, Bitcoin is trading at approximately $104,529. Only a few governments have established Bitcoin reserves, including the US, El Salvador, and Bhutan. These initiatives came from established government authorities, making McGregor’s grassroots campaign approach unusual.

Irish voters will ultimately decide if they want a fighter-turned-politician handling complex financial policy. For now, McGregor’s plan remains conceptual as he prepares for further discussions with crypto experts and his meeting with President Bukele.