Gemini co-founder Tyler Winklevoss expressed skepticism about Vice President Kamala Harris pivoting to support Bitcoin and the crypto industry following reports that she may speak at the upcoming Bitcoin2024 conference in Nashville.
The remarks come after Bitcoin Magazine CEO David Bailey revealed ongoing discussions with Harris’ campaign about her speaking at the conference. He further stated:
“Would be very savvy of her to reset the democrat positioning on the fastest growing voter block in the country. They’re making up their minds today.”
Pivot on crypto?
Media reports have also revealed that Harris’ advisors reached out to billionaire Mark Cuban with queries about crypto policy. Cuban told Politico that business leaders are warming to the prospect that Harris might be a stronger advocate for emerging tech sectors than her predecessor.
He added:
“The feedback I’m getting, but certainly not confirmed by the VP, is that she will be far more open to business, [artificial intelligence], crypto, and government as a service.”
However, Winklevoss believes her actions come too late and she needs to do more than just speak at the conference, considering her incumbent role in the government. He said:
“Talk is cheap. She would need to start by immediately firing [SEC Chairman] Gary Gensler, withdrawing all SEC enforcement actions against good actors, and ending Operation Chokepoint 2.0. She won’t do this so she won’t stand a chance in winning back the crypto voting block. Time for change.”
The developments come less than 48 hours into Harris’s campaign for president, which kicked off after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek reelection and endorsed Harris in his place.
The move has intensified scrutiny of her policies and public engagements, with many questioning if she will maintain the strict stance toward digital assets or take a new approach amid growing voter interest.
The Digital Chamber recently urged her to adopt a more progressive stance toward the industry and take immediate steps to change the negative public perception among crypto voters, who are a key constituency for the Democrats.
Trump’s pro-crypto stance
Former President Donald Trump is also slated to speak at the Bitcoin2024 conference, marking a notable push to attract support from the crypto community. There are unconfirmed rumors that he will propose making Bitcoin a strategic reserve asset for the US at the event, which has caused significant excitement in the community.
Trump has voiced strong support for digital assets in recent weeks, becoming the first Presidential candidate to accept donations in Bitcoin. He has also pledged to create a friendlier regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies, contrasting sharply with the current administration’s perceived regulatory uncertainty.
Trump has gained increasing support among industry leaders following his supportive public statements. Notable names, including the Winklevoss twins, Cathie Wood, and Elon Musk, have all endorsed him due to the belief that his policies will be more favorable for the sector after the challenges faced under Biden.
