McGregor’s Political Gambit: How Bitcoin Could Fuel a Celebrity Presidency

Conor McGregor—MMA icon, whiskey mogul, and now potential presidential hopeful—is betting big on crypto to disrupt politics. The Notorious one’s flirtation with Bitcoin isn’t just PR; it’s a calculated play for the anti-establishment vote.

Why it matters: Celebrities-turned-politicians aren’t new, but McGregor’s embrace of decentralized currency adds a volatile twist. Imagine campaign donations in BTC—untraceable, unregulated, and perfect for dodging traditional finance’s pesky oversight.

The punchline: If a meme coin can hit a $10B market cap, why *couldn’t* a fighter-tired-of-fighting run a country? Just don’t ask about his economic policy—or the SEC’s opinion on crypto-funded campaigns.

McGregor’s Bitcoin Proposal

In his blog post, Ireland ought to have a reserve of Bitcoin in a strategic reserve. He did not specify where the funding would originate or how much it would cost. He just said that a reserve would put power back into the hands of common citizens. He further mentioned that “crypto in its origin was founded to give power back to the people.” That phrase resonates with the very premise of Bitcoin and decentralization.

Crypto in it’s origin was founded to give power back to the people.

An Irish bitcoin strategic reserve will give power to the people’s money.

I will be cohosting a Twitter space to talk about what I want to see changed.

Victory to Ireland!

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 9, 2025

Reaching Out To Crypto Leaders

According to reports, McGregor invited experts to collaborate with him. He tagged Anthony Pompliano, host of The Pomp Podcast, and requested feedback. He also contacted David Bailey, an expert who consulted former US President Donald TRUMP on crypto issues. In his responses, McGregor stated, “Message me and let’s talk on my space” and “David message me, let’s talk about your ideas!” His idea is to conduct an X Spaces session to develop details.

Ireland is required to conduct its next presidential election by November 11, 2025, when President Michael D. Higgins’ term ends. Any initiative to establish a Bitcoin reserve WOULD require support from lawmakers and the central bank. Ireland is a member of the European Union, so its monetary policy is connected to the euro. A candidate from a small party who is independent has slim chances of getting a coalition for this notion.

Additionally, McGregor is contesting a civil court decision that ruled him guilty of sexual assault. He’s also been investigated on charges of hate speech before. These factors may damage his credibility with the voters.

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

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 30, 2025

McGregor is not inexperienced in crypto projects, but his previous attempt didn’t work out. In early April 2025, the Real World Gaming team conducted a 28-hour presale of a token named REAL. They wanted to raise a minimum of $1 million. They only raised around $392,300 and refunded all buyers. That flop illustrates how challenging it is to get people to support you, even with a celebrity name on it.

McGregor says he will reveal more about his X Spaces session in due course. He hasn’t specified a date yet. It’s unknown how many experts will accept his offer. Governments that have established Bitcoin reserves are the US, El Salvador and Bhutan, but those actions came from the highest government authorities.

A grassroots initiative by one candidate would be unique in Ireland. Voters will decide if they want a fighter-turned-politician handling complex financial policy. For now, McGregor’s plan remains at the idea stage, waiting to be tested in the political arena.

Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView