Harris's 80-page economic policy reintroduces "digital assets," and the crypto community has mixed reactions. Did Trump seize the initiative?
The crypto community has mixed opinions on Harris breaking his silence to mention "digital assets," with some believing that his stance lacks specific details.Author: Weilin, PANews
On September 25, local time, U.S. Vice President Harris delivered a speech at the Pittsburgh Economic Club, stating that the U.S. will "recommit" to global leadership in the technology sectors that will define the next century, "maintaining dominance in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, blockchain, and other emerging technologies." Additionally, she reiterated "digital assets" in her 80-page economic plan published on her official website.
Three days prior, Harris broke her usual silence during a fundraising event on Wall Street in New York City, stating that she would "encourage innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital assets while protecting consumers and investors."
The crypto community had mixed reactions to Harris's first mention of "digital assets," with some believing her stance lacks specific details. Nevertheless, at the fundraising event in New York, Harris raised $27 million, breaking her personal fundraising record for presidential campaigns. However, polls show that her support among cryptocurrency holders still lags significantly behind Trump.
Breaking Silence: Harris's 80-Page Economic Policy Reiterates "Digital Assets"
After her speech at the Pittsburgh Economic Club on September 25, Harris's team released the economic plan on her official website. On page 56 of this 80-page plan, she again mentioned "digital assets," placing it alongside artificial intelligence—this statement aligns with her remarks at the New York fundraising event over the weekend (local time September 22).
Harris and Walz's economic plan is titled "A New Way Forward for the Middle Class: A Plan to Lower Costs and Create an Opportunity Economy." In the middle section of this plan, the Democratic duo outlined how they would "enhance America's competitive edge in areas critical to economic and national security."
The two proposed an "America Forward strategy," aimed at ushering in a new era of American industrial development through promoting manufacturing growth and the application of new technologies. This strategy focuses not only on "clean iron and steel" but also on "emerging technologies," which they believe are crucial for maintaining America's global technological competitiveness.
"The strategy includes investments in emerging technologies and the modernization of traditional industries. It will also encourage the development of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital assets while protecting our consumers and investors," the plan states.
Prior to last weekend, Harris had remained silent on cryptocurrencies during her campaign. On September 22, she first addressed digital assets at a fundraising event in Manhattan, stating, "We will encourage the development of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital assets while protecting consumers and investors. We will create a safe business environment and establish consistent, transparent rules."
Mixed Reactions from the Crypto Community: Has Trump Seized the Initiative?
Looking at the recent "crypto actions" of Harris's opponent, former President Trump, he has publicly announced his support for cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin. In July, he attended the Bitcoin conference, proposed a U.S. Bitcoin strategic reserve plan, and subsequently launched a third series of NFTs. Additionally, he was seen at a Bitcoin bar buying burgers and promoting his son's DeFi project, World Liberty Financial. This series of actions has further deepened his influence within the crypto community.
For some members of the crypto community, the contrast is quite apparent. The crypto community has given varied feedback on Harris's stance. "The reality is, we haven't heard any details about how [Harris] would provide specific support," said Tim Kravchunovsky, CEO of the decentralized telecom network Chirp. He pointed out that Trump has clearly outlined his crypto policies, such as creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve, although some analysts believe this idea may be too late. "I hope to hear more specific policy information from Harris's campaign team," Kravchunovsky added.
Neil Hartner, a senior software engineer in Ripple's payment department, shares a similar view, believing that the description of digital assets in the Harris-Walz economic plan is "too vague."
On the other hand, some cryptocurrency advocates believe that Harris's stance on emerging technologies has made progress. Analyst Adam Cochran stated that although opponents are dissatisfied with Harris's silence and "vague attitude," the current situation still represents a form of progress.
Poll Results Show Crypto Voters Prefer Trump
According to a national poll conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University from August 17 to 20, overall, 50% of voters support Harris, while 43% support Trump. However, among potential voters who own cryptocurrencies, Trump leads by 12 percentage points (50% to 38%), while among voters who claim not to own cryptocurrencies, Harris leads by 12 percentage points (53% to 41%).
In this poll, 15% of respondents indicated that they own or have owned cryptocurrencies, NFTs, or similar digital products. 80% of voters stated they have never owned any such assets, and 4% expressed that they know nothing about them. Among cryptocurrency holders, the proportion of males is significantly higher than that of females (22% to 9%), and these males tend to be younger voters from racial minority groups.
It remains to be seen whether Harris and Walz will elaborate on their policies regarding blockchain, digital assets, and especially cryptocurrencies in the upcoming campaign activities. With less than two months until the election, most crypto voters hope to hear clear and targeted positions.
According to Harris's campaign team, the fundraising event in New York City last Sunday raised $27 million for Harris, setting her highest fundraising record since becoming the Democratic presidential candidate. In terms of fundraising, Trump significantly lags behind Harris. According to the invitation, he has recently scheduled several high-profile fundraising events, including two in Texas on October 2 and one at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on October 16.
