Is Harris also going to the Bitcoin conference? Will crypto become the first battleground for politicians?

Author: Rhythm Worker, BlockBeats

Bitcoin doesn't need politicians, but politicians need Bitcoin.

With U.S. President Biden announcing he will not seek re-election, Vice President Kamala Harris has become the strongest contender for the Democratic nomination. Although we previously learned that Harris is not familiar with cryptocurrency, recent developments suggest she seems to be quickly learning about this field.

Crypto is a "Required Course" for Politicians

Before today, the only connection Harris had with cryptocurrency was hiring the former CTO of the world's first sports team to accept Bitcoin as her scheduling and advancement director. Financial disclosures also show that Harris and her husband have never ventured into the cryptocurrency space, preferring to invest in government bonds and emerging markets.

However, within less than 48 hours of announcing her presidential campaign, Harris has already begun to "catch up" on crypto.

According to Decrypt, Harris's advisory team has started consulting with Bitcoin enthusiast and billionaire Mark Cuban on cryptocurrency policy.

Cuban stated that Harris's team posed multiple questions about cryptocurrency, indicating their strong interest in the field.

Cuban also mentioned that while Harris has not publicly expressed her views on cryptocurrency, as a former San Francisco politician, she is considered closer to Silicon Valley and the tech industry's interests than Biden.

In fact, before Harris's team consulted with Cuban, the cryptocurrency lobbying group "Digital Chamber of Commerce" had already sent a letter urging Harris to embrace cryptocurrency and suggested she choose a running mate who strongly supports it.

The lobbying group stated, "The public perceives the Democratic Party as having a negative view of digital assets, primarily due to the cautious or even hostile attitude of the Biden/Harris administration towards these transformative technologies. Your presidential campaign presents an opportunity to change this perception." This seems to have had an effect on Harris's team.

As cryptocurrency lobbying heats up, Harris publicly supporting Bitcoin could be significant. After all, the crypto industry has invested millions to influence Washington politics, and Congress has passed a series of policies supporting cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin Conference: The First Battleground for Trump and Harris

We all know that Trump will deliver a speech at the upcoming Bitcoin conference to maintain his supportive stance on cryptocurrency.

Currently, there are reports that Harris will also speak at the Bitcoin conference. As of now, BlockBeats has not confirmed whether Kamala Harris will speak at the event, but the possibility is not out of the question.

After all, Bitcoin Magazine and Bitcoin Conference CEO David Bailey did state on his social platform that he is in discussions with Harris's campaign team about having her speak at the conference. "If she can reposition the Democratic Party among the fastest-growing voter demographic in the nation, that would be very wise. They are making up their minds today."

This also means that the Bitcoin conference could become the first battleground where Harris faces Trump directly after announcing her presidential campaign. And Bitcoin will be the main focus for these two fierce competitors.

Harris is Eyeing the Crypto Vote

Today, cryptocurrency is no longer a niche topic; its influence on American politics is growing. Independent presidential candidate Robert Kennedy and Republican candidate Donald Trump have both publicly supported Bitcoin, forcing the Democratic Party to take action.

The Democratic Party faces two choices: continue opposing Bitcoin or change course, support Bitcoin, and embrace it as a symbol of freedom.

On the Democratic side, with Biden's exit, Harris's nomination odds on the cryptocurrency prediction market Polymarket soared to 82%. However, other potential candidates could still emerge as dark horses.

More importantly, as one of the most influential politicians in the Democratic Party and a former U.S. president, Obama has not publicly expressed support for Harris to succeed Biden. Besides Obama, former House Speaker Pelosi has also not immediately voiced support for Harris. Last week, U.S. media reported that both favored an "open" process to select a successor to Biden.

From Harris's perspective, she faces a strong opposition from pro-crypto Republican candidate Trump; internally, the Democratic Party has ample time to select another presidential candidate.

In front of the public and cameras, the smiling Harris is actually facing intertwined pressures from both inside and outside, and she and her team must make quick decisions. If Harris can reposition the Democratic Party's standing among the fastest-growing voter demographic in the crypto space, it would be a wise strategy.

Of course, she may also choose to pursue the same policies as Biden and maintain a dismissive attitude towards cryptocurrency.