Advocates call for crypto to be discussed at US presidential debate

With four days until a debate between presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in what has been described by many as one of the most tumultuous elections, industry advocates are looking for clarification on crypto from the party nominees.

On Sept. 5, the crypto advocacy group Chamber of Progress sent a letter to ABC News journalists Linsey Davis and David Muir calling for the pair to raise the topic of digital assets at the next United States presidential debate. Muir and Davis will moderate what could be the first and only debate between Vice President Harris and Trump on Sept. 10.

“Voters deserve to know where the nominees stand on crypto before they head to the ballot box in November,” said Chamber of Progress.

Source: Chamber of Progress

The group cited “lack of clarity” from both presidential candidates. Though Trump has made digital assets a central part of his 2024 campaign, Chamber of Progress pointed out that voters may need clarification on why the Republican nominee “reversed his previous position on cryptocurrency.”

Track record from candidates

In 2021, after being voted out of office, Trump referred to Bitcoin ( BTC ) as a “scam” and said that cryptocurrencies were “potentially a disaster waiting to happen.” Only after he announced his reelection bid in 2022 did the Republican begin reversing his stance on crypto and blockchain by launching non-fungible token (NFT) collections, having his campaign accept digital assets, and speaking at a Bitcoin conference in Nashville. 

Related: Trump’s approach to crypto voters ‘seems to have paid off’ — Poll

Vice President Harris, in contrast, has had far less time to develop a campaign strategy after US President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July. The Democratic nominee has not officially made crypto part of her economic agenda, but a senior campaign adviser said in August that she would “support policies” for the industry’s growth.

“Both candidates should shed more light on their positions and explain how we can nurture digital assets while also providing greater consumer protection,” said Chamber of Progress. “A crypto question at September’s debate could bring voters some much-needed clarity on this important issue.” 

Since the creation of cryptocurrency, no major party candidate has mentioned the technology on the debate stage for the US presidential elections. Many BTC proponents hoped to see Trump or President Biden — before he dropped out of the race — mention crypto at a June 27 CNN debate, but neither the moderators nor candidates broached the topic.

With 60 days until Election Day on Nov. 5, many polls show Harris leading Trump nationwide, with crucial battleground states leaning either Republican or Democrat. Depending on the outcome of congressional races, control of the US House of Representatives and the Senate could also change hands in 2025.

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