Kamala Harris Unveils Her Vision for Cryptocurrency
After a prolonged period of silence regarding her potential policies on the cryptocurrency sector in the lead-up to the November U.S. Presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris has finally shared her views and intentions concerning this industry.
If she secures the presidency, Harris has committed to focusing her efforts on fostering investment in both the artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency sectors. She articulated her innovation-driven financial policies during a fundraising event in New York City, according to a report from September 22.
Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, emphasized that her administration would prioritize collaboration among industry stakeholders to enhance U.S. competitiveness and promote the advancement of technologies like cryptocurrency and AI. She stated:
“I will bring together labor, small business founders, innovators, and major companies. (…) Together, we will invest in America’s competitiveness and shape the future. We will support groundbreaking technologies such as AI and digital assets while ensuring the protection of our consumers and investors.”
In response to the Vice President’s remarks, Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase’s policy chief, highlighted their significance, noting her acknowledgment of digital asset innovation as crucial and equally important as AI. He emphasized her recognition of a pathway that encourages innovation while safeguarding consumers and investors.
“This is an important and constructive statement from @KamalaHarris. While it may not be as bold as the visionary positions of @realDonaldTrump, it still holds significance because she acknowledges the importance of digital asset innovation,” Shirzad tweeted on September 22.
Meanwhile, Hayden Adams, CEO of Uniswap Labs, expressed his approval of Harris’ statement, viewing it as a promising development. He noted on X, “I believe this is her first public reference to crypto, and it’s presented in a positive light.”
This marks the first occasion since her nomination that Vice President Harris has addressed digital assets, leaving the public largely in the dark about her stance until now. Many anticipated that her views would align closely with the anti-crypto perspective of President Joe Biden.
In her recent comments, Harris pledged to “create a safe business environment with consistent and transparent regulations” while committing to “invest in semiconductors, clean energy, and other future industries,” aiming to eliminate “unnecessary bureaucracy” and foster an “opportunity economy.”
Notably, numerous crypto investors and industry leaders, including billionaire Mark Cuban, Wall Street financier Anthony Scaramucci, and Congressman Adam Schiff, have previously supported Harris, urging her to adopt a more lenient regulatory approach towards the crypto sector.
In addition, a coalition of crypto advocates, including Cleve Mesidor, executive director of the Blockchain Foundation, Tiffany Smith, co-chair of the Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Working Group at the law firm WilmerHale, and Rahilla Zafar, an AI-experienced crypto founder, has emerged to organize a fundraiser for Harris, as reported by Finbold on September 3.
