Editor’s Note: This story and its headline have been updated since they were first published to correct the misidentification of Democratic donors previously mentioned.
In an intriguing development within the intersection of politics and the burgeoning cryptocurrency sector, influential backers within the Democratic Party are making concerted efforts to secure Vice President Kamala Harris as a speaker at Blockworks’ forthcoming cryptocurrency conference. This move underscores the heightened anticipation around the upcoming U.S. presidential election, which some stakeholders perceive as pivotal for the cryptocurrency industry’s integration into the mainstream.
At the heart of this initiative are prominent Democratic financiers who have proposed facilitating discussions between representatives of Vice President Harris and the organizers of Blockworks’ Permissionless event. This conference, scheduled from October 9 to 11, aims to delve into the nexus of U.S. politics and the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Jason Yanowitz, co-founder of Blockworks, acknowledged these efforts, indicating that while direct communication with Harris’s campaign team has yet to occur, the push from these influential donors is palpable.
These donors envisage Harris’s participation as a bridge to engage a broader political audience, signifying their intent to transcend the traditional partisan divides within the context of the conference. Yanowitz elaborated on their approach, seeking to draw participants from across the political spectrum.
In parallel, Galaxy Digital’s CEO and noted Democratic supporter, Mike Novogratz, who is also slated to speak at the event, has been vocal in encouraging the cryptocurrency community to remain open to engaging with Harris. Although Yanowitz refrained from commenting on Novogratz’s potential role in brokering Harris’s appearance, the outreach to her camp signifies a broader industry effort to foster a bipartisan dialogue within the crypto space.
This initiative occurs amidst a broader political backdrop where GOP Presidential nominee Donald Trump has recently adopted a pro-crypto stance, marking a significant shift in his previously expressed skepticism towards cryptocurrencies. In contrast, the Permissionless event aims to establish a bipartisan platform, featuring speakers from both Republican and Democratic alignments, with a particular emphasis on figures supportive of cryptocurrency within the Democratic fold.
Yanowitz articulated a vision for the conference that emphasizes balanced representation, noting ongoing discussions with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, alongside efforts to engage with RFK Jr.’s team. This strategy underscores the conference’s ambition to present a comprehensive narrative on cryptocurrency’s role and potential within the U.S. political landscape.
The challenge of securing high-profile political figures, as highlighted by the unresponsiveness to an invitation extended to Harris for a prior event, sheds light on the logistical and security considerations inherent in these endeavors. Nonetheless, the concerted push to involve Vice President Harris in the Permissionless conference underscores a commitment to fostering a meaningful dialogue between the political and cryptocurrency communities, as the industry seeks to navigate the evolving regulatory and political terrain.