Kamala Harris' Increasing Interest in Crypto
By Olivier Acuña | TH3FUS3 Chief Editor
August 2, 2024 01:07 PM
Reading time: 2 minutes, 9 seconds
TL;DR Vice President Kamala Harris is reportedly attempting to reset her relationship with the crypto industry. California Congressman Ro Khanna is set to host a pivotal meeting in Washington this week with crypto industry leaders and political figures. Representatives from the Kamala Harris campaign will also join.
Harris Campaign's New Move
Vice President Kamala Harris is reportedly attempting to reset her relationship with the crypto industry, a move seen as both strategic and controversial. This week, California Congressman Ro Khanna is set to host a pivotal meeting in Washington. The roundtable will bring together crypto industry leaders and political figures.
Democratic Politicians and Crypto Leaders
The crypto roundtable will feature Democratic politicians. In addition, representatives from the Kamala Harris campaign will also join, according to the scoop by FOX Journalist Eleanor Terrett. This initiative represents a renewed push from pro-crypto Democrats to establish a fresh start with the industry, signaling a significant policy pivot.
Skepticism from GOP
Kamala Harris' attempt to shift her stance on cryptocurrency has not been without its drawbacks. Recently, Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty voiced strong skepticism about Harris's new strategy. He stated:
"It's no surprise that after witnessing the monumental success of President Donald Trump at the Bitcoin conference in Nashville, Kamala Harris is, as she has on many other issues, making a desperate last-minute 180-degree flip to appear pro-crypto."
Furthermore, Senator Hagerty criticized the Biden-Harris administration's previous policies against the crypto space. He described them as "egregiously anti-crypto and anti-innovation."
In addition, Senator Hagerty pointed to what he sees as a contradiction between Harris's new stance and the administration's past actions.
The Market Responds
Despite Hagerty's criticism, the political trading market Polymarket has seen a shift in Harris's favor. Over the past ten days, her odds have jumped by over 16%, while Donald Trump's odds have decreased by the same amount. Currently, Harris's odds of winning stand at 44%, compared to Trump's 54%, highlighting a tightening race.
Previous Roundtable Efforts
Earlier in July, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna organized a roundtable discussion on crypto regulations. He invited prominent figures such as Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and entrepreneur Mark Cuban. Khanna expressed optimism about the potential outcomes of these discussions.
He stated that the meeting would set the pace for the introduction of a robust crypto regulatory framework in the United States. Although details from the meeting have been sparse, Garlinghouse praised Khanna on social media. The Ripple CEO described him as an 'exceptional' leader who has taken time to engage with the crypto industry.
Industry Reactions
The Harris campaign's pro-crypto shift has attracted mixed reactions from industry leaders. Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of Gemini, was skeptical as he urged Kamala Harris to fire Gary Gensler.
He said, "Talk is cheap. She would need to start by immediately firing Gary Gensler, withdrawing all SEC enforcement actions against good actors, and ending Operation Chokepoint 2.0."