A man has been arrested and is facing misdemeanor charges for promoting cryptocurrency after holding up a sign from his kayak in the famous Bellagio Hotel & Casino fountains.
Protestors gathered in front of the Bellagio fountains as part of the national ‘50-50-1’ movement, which means fifty states, fifty protests, and one movement. The protests, dubbed “Not My President’s Day,” aimed to call out several executive orders President Trump has pushed through since he returned to office.
The chairman of the group organizing the protests, Michael McDonald, commented: “Clearly, these people are out of touch with the working men and women of America who overwhelmingly voted for President Trump and his agenda in the 2024 election. It should come as no surprise to anyone that these are the exact items that President Trump and our entire campaign team ran.”
Crypto Kayaker Arrested After Publicity Stunt in Bellagio Fountains
One opportunist was spotted in a kayak on the waters in front of the resort with a sign reading “Vigilante Token” and “$VIGI.” A social media account for the token claimed responsibility for the publicity stunt. A man attempting to scale the Hollywood sign to promote the same cryptocurrency was also arrested.
According to reports, Trenton Barnes was arrested on charges including trespass and disorderly conduct after being spotted holding a sign in a kayak in the water. The staff at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino had repeatedly attempted to remove Barnes from the water, but after he “eventually paddled toward the edge of the fountains,” officers arrested him.
The Solana-based token has a fully diluted value of approximately $33,000, and the publicity gained from the two stunts does not seem to have achieved the coin’s aim of driving the price up.
Las Vegas Strip and the Digital Revolution: Can Crypto iGaming Ever Take Off?
Whereas Trump’s executive orders on trade and immigration have polarized many, cryptocurrency enthusiasts will hope the President’s pro-crypto stance will yield tangible benefits with wider adoption and industry support.
It seems fitting that crypto was promoted in a kayak amid the backdrop of a brick-and-mortar casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The State of Nevada currently only has legalized online poker, and a frosty attitude towards digital adoption does not fill crypto iGaming hopefuls with optimism for future legalization efforts.
A topic that tends to dominate debate surrounding iGaming expansion is the cannibalization of land-based revenue. Given the size and power of the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, there will likely be staunch opposition to any broadening.
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