Trump and Kennedy Seek Crypto Votes at 2024 Bitcoin Conference, While Harris Plays Catch-Up

Former President Donald Trump and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are actively seeking the support of the crypto community at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference this week, while Vice President Kamala Harris is attempting to catch up by learning more about crypto, according the New York Post.

Bitcoin advocates are calling for increased support for the currency as an alternative to the US dollar and expanded mining operations within the U.S. Some believe that a greater reliance on Bitcoin could help mitigate inflation.

While cryptocurrency might be a relatively niche issue compared to the economy and border security on the campaign trail, it has the potential to significantly influence some voters' decisions and donation patterns.

Nick Smith, a 27-year-old commodity trader from North Carolina, a crucial swing state, noted that Trump has shown the strongest stance on cryptocurrency policy among current candidates. “I didn’t vote for him before in ’16 or ’20, but if I’m just voting based on Bitcoin and crypto policy right now, I think it’d have to be Trump,” Smith told The New York Post. He praised Trump’s campaign for addressing Bitcoin’s criticisms and highlighted Trump’s meeting with Bitcoin miners at his Florida estate in June. “I think that hopefully opened the eyes of the common American to see that Bitcoin mining isn’t boiling the oceans", Smith added.

Trump’s vice presidential pick, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, is also a favored figure in the Bitcoin community. Although Trump has labeled himself a “crypto candidate” since May, he had previously referred to cryptocurrency as a “scam.”

Kennedy is also gaining momentum at the bitcoin conference, where supporters are distributing pamphlets. Doug Sako, who was handing out pro-Kennedy literature, emphasized Kennedy’s approach to bridging partisan divides. “I think Mr. Kennedy’s got an alternative view that is all about bridging the gap between the two parties versus just having our side and their side,” Doug Sako told the New York Post.

“There’s people who want freedom from being scalped. Freedom from being sheared like sheep,” said Andrew Beck, a consultant attending the bitcoin conference. A 2022 NBC poll found that 21% of Americans own some form of cryptocurrency.

While Donald Trump appears to have a head start in engaging with the crypto community, Vice President Kamala Harris is working to improve her standing with crypto enthusiasts ahead of the November election. Although Harris has not previously concentrated on cryptocurrency in her political career, she is now making an effort to educate herself on the topic as it gains prominence this election year.

Entrepreneur and Bitcoin advocate Mark Cuban mentioned in an interview with Decrypt that the Harris campaign had reached out to him for insights on cryptocurrency