The Bitcoin sign guy: how Bitcoin stole the headlines at a congressional hearing

On July 12, 2017, an unassuming figure, Christian Langalis, later known as “Bitcoin Sign Guy,” became an overnight sensation in the bitcoin community and beyond. During a live televised Congressional testimony, as Janet Yellen, then Chair of the Federal Reserve, was delivering her remarks, Langalis raised a handwritten sign that read “Buy Bitcoin” directly behind her.

The image of Langalis holding the sign, with its simple yet powerful message, quickly went viral. It was a moment of peaceful yet poignant protest, symbolizing the growing sentiment that Bitcoin represented a new era of financial sovereignty, free from the control of central banks and traditional monetary systems.
 

Langalis’s act was not just a stunt; it was a statement. It resonated with many who saw Bitcoin as a viable alternative to the fiat currencies managed by governments around the world. The timing was impeccable, as Yellen’s influence over the U.S. dollar was significant, and the sign’s appearance during her testimony was both creative and unexpected.
 

The bitcoin community rallied behind Langalis, showing their support in the most bitcoin-native way possible: donations. Langalis posted a Bitcoin address for contributions, and the donations poured in, amounting to over 7 BTC, which was worth over $150,000 USD as of January 2023.
 

Years later, the original “Buy Bitcoin” sign would find its way to an auction, fetching a staggering 16 BTC, equivalent to over $1 million at the time. The proceeds from this auction were directed towards funding Langalis’s startup, Tirrel Corp, which is developing a Bitcoin Lightning network wallet on Urbit.