Harris aide suggests VP will ‘support policies’ for crypto industry growth

An aide to Kamala Harris has reportedly said the Democratic presidential nominee will support policies favoring the digital asset industry if she wins the November election.

According to an Aug. 21 Bloomberg report, Harris senior campaign adviser Brian Nelson said the Democratic candidate would “support policies that ensure that emerging technologies and that sort of industry can continue to grow” in response to questions on engaging the crypto community. Nelson added that the industry needed “rules of the road” following the collapse of some firms, hinting at the cryptocurrency exchange FTX.

The comments from the Harris aide came during a roundtable event at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. At the event, the Vice President will officially accept her party’s nomination for president in 2024 after Joe Biden’s departure. 

Crypto in the 2024 election

The Harris campaign was exactly one month old at the time of publication and has largely not taken a public position on digital assets or Blockchain technology policies. This contrasts sharply with Republican nominee Donald Trump, who has spoken at a crypto conference, claimed to support Bitcoin ( BTC ) miners, and advocated against introducing a central bank digital currency in the US.

Related: Will the Harris-Walz presidential campaign prioritize crypto policy?

On Aug. 14, many Democratic lawmakers, candidates, and crypto advocates discussed how Harris might support the industry in a virtual town hall meeting. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said one of his goals was to introduce pro-crypto legislation in Congress by 2025.

Many industry leaders seem to be taking sides before the November election. Gemini co-founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss pledged their support for Trump in a June X post. However, others, including Adam Cochran of Cinneamhain Ventures, have called for a nonpartisan approach to crypto in US politics.

Magazine: Crypto voters are already disrupting the 2024 election — and it’s set to continue