Breaking her quiet on cryptocurrencies, Vice President Kamala Harris made her first public comment on the sector in line with her 2024 presidential candidacy. Emphasizing the importance of consumer protection, Harris promised to promote investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital assets speaking at a Wall Street event.
This is an important and constructive statement from @KamalaHarris.
— Faryar Shirzad 🛡️ (@faryarshirzad) September 22, 2024
It’s not nearly as forward leaning as the concrete and visionary positions taken by @realDonaldTrump, but it’s still notable because:
– she recognizes digital asset innovation as being important and on par… https://t.co/sIzq06a4lU
Harris’s remarks generate curiosity from the digital asset sector as they represent the first time she has openly addressed the matter of cryptocurrencies. Many have been eagerly observing to see whether she would set herself apart from President Joe Biden’s more austere attitude to the industry.
A change in campaign direction
Brian Nelson, Harris’s campaign adviser, had earlier indicated that she would be ready to help the crypto sector flourish but underlined the importance of “rules of the road” as numerous big crypto companies have run against legal obstacles. Harris’s comments follow growing investor and industry leader push to provide clearer rules for the expanding sector.
Although her comment delighted some in the crypto community, others attacked it for missing specific information as they worried that her claims to safeguard consumers will result in further industry restrictions. Still, many regarded the recognition of digital assets as a major focus for invention as a good start.
The responses of the crypto community
Though he noted they were not as forward-looking as Donald Trump’s more explicit pro-crypto posture, Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase’s chief policy officer, thought Harris’s remarks were noteworthy. Having unveiled many NFT lines and positioned himself as a “crypto president,” Trump has promised to remove Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, well-known for his strict enforcement policies against significant crypto players.
Although the two contenders have different points of view, Harris and Trump are involved in a close contest; Harris holds a little 2.9-point edge based on latest surveys.
Both contenders are courting the crypto community as the election draws near; Harris stresses innovation and consumer protection while Trump pledges a more forceful pro-crypto agenda.
