Crypto leaders, Harris campaign officials set for roundtable

Crypto executives are scheduled to meet privately next week with White House aides and California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna to address pressing issues and propose policy changes for the next administration. 

According to a Bloomberg report, the roundtable will include high-ranking officials from the Harris campaign, including outgoing senior White House adviser Anita Dunn, National Economic Adviser Lael Brainard, and Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed.

White House engages crypto sector

The participation of these high-ranking officials signals the administration’s willingness to engage with the cryptocurrency sector and address its concerns. It also underscores the rising prominence of digital assets in political discourse and the need for comprehensive regulatory frameworks.

The meeting will follow a previous roundtable held in July, which also saw significant engagement between crypto executives and White House officials. That session included representatives from major cryptocurrency firms such as Ripple and Coinbase Global Inc.

As approximately 50 million Americans have invested in digital assets, both presidential contenders are vying for support and donations from this demographic.

Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, made an early move to court the crypto community, leveraging discontent among industry leaders with the Biden administration’s stringent regulatory approach.

At the July Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, Donald Trump captivated a crowd of thousands with his pledge to transform America into the global hub for cryptocurrency and his vow to dismiss SEC Chair Gary Gensler immediately if reelected.

Seeking to mend fences

Since May, when he started openly supporting the industry and accepting cryptocurrency campaign contributions, Trump has reportedly amassed over $25 million from crypto backers.

In July, advisers to US Vice President Kamala Harris contacted leading crypto firms to mend the fractured relationship between the Democratic Party and the cryptocurrency sector.

Following a letter from Democratic US House Representatives and 2024 presidential hopefuls, there is a growing push for the party to reevaluate its stance on the digital asset sector. The letter emphasizes the need to transition from a perceived adversarial approach to a more supportive one.

The Harris campaign appointed David Plouffe, a veteran strategist who explored opportunities in the cryptocurrency sector after departing the White House in 2013. Plouffe notably joined Binance’s Global Advisory Board in 2022, which was allegedly dissolved later.

However, whether Plouffe’s role will focus on offering counsel on crypto and blockchain issues has yet to be determined.