Yo, VP Kamala Harris is stepping up her game when it comes to the complicated world of US crypto policy. And guess what? New polls show this could shake things up big time for the 2024 Presidential election.
Check it out: HarrisX dropped some fresh polling data today, backed by Consensys—the folks behind the MetaMask wallet, led by Joseph Lubin. Turns out, if Kamala wants to win in November, she better start showing love to the crypto fam instead of playin’ it safe. A wild 49% of folks nationwide say a candidate being pro-crypto is “extremely” or “somewhat” important to them.
That’s half of all Democratic voters, and the same goes for GOP voters too. When you look at crypto owners—who make up 19% of the US population—85% say this stuff matters. And for those about to jump into crypto for the first time in the next year (that’s 34% of the US), 81% are feeling the same vibes. This is a key issue for the people!
Only one dude’s been making moves with this trend so far: GOP nominee Donald Trump. He’s been loud and proud about his Bitcoin and crypto support, while Harris has been kinda MIA on the topic. Political insiders know that “crypto” is a hot-button issue for her campaign—touch it and you might get burned. No surprise, since some of her peeps are all about the anti-crypto life.
But yo, things might be changing! Harris and her squad have been meeting with the crypto industry, trying to show they’re open to it—maybe even supportive. We’re starting to think that by January 2025, the White House might not just hand over crypto policy to some fringe crew trying to shut it down.
As Harris climbed to the top of the ticket, people were skeptical—rightfully so, given the industry’s past disappointments. But now, she’s dropping hints that she might actually change her tune. She hasn’t fully said “crypto” yet, but she did mention “digital assets” at a fundraiser and “blockchain” in a speech about her economic plans. The crypto crowd is feeling this!
Here’s the kicker: even though Trump’s leading the charge with his pro-crypto stance, 74% of crypto owners say they might vote for someone outside their party if that candidate’s down with crypto. Only 16% say they wouldn’t. That’s a crazy 58-point advantage for any pro-crypto candidate!
Even more wild, 40% of all voters—not just crypto heads—are more likely to consider voting for the other party if they’re pro-crypto. Only 27% say they wouldn’t cross party lines. That’s a solid 13-point gain!
Whether Harris is trying to win back the crypto crowd from Trump or snag some GOP voters, one thing’s for sure: it’s smart politics.
Honestly, I thought the GOP would be the go-to crew for crypto with Trump’s loud support. But the polls show people are split on which party they trust more for crypto policy—40% lean GOP, 38% favor Democrats, and 23% are just confused. Surprisingly, when you look at crypto owners and investors, nearly half trust the Democrats more.
Harris’ hints at a policy shift could reframe the Democratic narrative around crypto, which has painted them as the bad guys up to now. This could vibe well with Dems who’ve been fighting for crypto-friendly policies, like Senators Kristen Gillibrand and Ron Wyden, plus Representatives Ro Khanna, Darren Soto, Ritchie Torres, and Wiley Nickel.
If Harris made her stance on crypto clearer, she’d be in a good spot. 54% of folks say it’s crucial for her to have a solid position. 68% of Democrats and half of independents agree.
But it’s way better for her to be pro-crypto! Nationally, 33% of people are more likely to vote for her if she supports crypto, with crypto owners and independents being especially hyped about it. If she announced she was against the SEC’s harsh tactics and pushed for smart regulations to protect innovation, she’d get 55% of voters on her side—82% of Democrats and majorities in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
The polls show Harris can bounce back against Trump, who’s been killing it with his pro-crypto message. His promise to set up a federal Bitcoin reserve and fire SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has been popular—56% of voters nationwide are with him on that. Trump’s got a 9-point edge because of his crypto stance, while a generic candidate could pull in a 20-point boost just for being pro-crypto.
The bottom line? Crypto issues that used to seem irrelevant now look like they could be game-changers in this close election. No wonder the Harris camp is hustling to make sure she doesn’t miss out on this chance.
Earlier this year, believing that crypto could really matter in this campaign felt like a pipe dream. But now it looks like the tide is shifting. With around 30 million crypto voters, and considering Biden’s slim victory in 2020, crypto voters could flip the script. They’re passionate and ready to make their voices heard. Harris needs to keep engaging with the crypto fam and lock down that pro-crypto stance before it’s time to throw down in the biggest political battle of her life!
