The “Buy Bitcoin” sign, immortalized by Christian Langalis during a live Congressional hearing nearly eight years ago, is back in the spotlight as the top cryptocurrency confronts bearish pressures due to macroeconomic uncertainties.
What happened: Langalis, a then 22-year-old Cato Institute intern, impulsively drew the placard and held it up behind then-Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen during her testimony.
While Langalis was escorted out of the hearing room, his spontaneous act resonated with the cryptocurrency community, with Bitcoin rising nearly 3% that day.
Reflecting on the act, Langalis stated that he had "abused" the reputation of his coworkers and employer, but was pleased that the Bitcoin community saw value in it, according to a video shared by well-known Bitcoin advocate and journalist Pete Rizzo.
The response was so overwhelming that Langalis received 7 BTC in donations.
At the time, Bitcoin traded at around $2,300 apiece. Cut to April 2025, and the leading asset has skyrocketed to $88,213.10, representing a 3735.35% jump.
Moreover, the sign has gained an artifact-like status in the cryptocurrency world. Last year, Langalis earned a staggering $1.027 million by selling it at an auction.
See Also: Gary Black Shares Polymarket Data, Says Trump Tariffs Have Pushed Odds Of 2025 Recession To 57%
Why It Matters: The bold messaging may be more pertinent now than ever, given Bitcoin's extended correction following the January bull run.
President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff policies have sent the apex cryptocurrency 19% below its all-time highs, eroding a significant portion of investors’ wealth.
While Bitcoin bull and BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes has said that the current market may be the last chance to buy BTC for less than $100,000, the asset's increased correlation with stocks this year, as highlighted by The Block, may cause others to see it as a risk-on asset rather than a risk-off.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin traded at $88,161.80, up 0.74% in the last 24 hours, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
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