The cryptocurrency industry is pouring nearly $120 million into the 2024 U.S. elections, prompting major parties to alter their strategies. With crypto-backed PACs emerging, critical questions arise about the true public support for digital currencies. Dark implications loom over the political influence of this sector, including concerns about crime and regulatory evasion. Amidst growing SEC scrutiny, the legitimacy of crypto investments hangs in the balance, raising alarms over investor protection. Political ads reveal a curious omission of crypto, sparking debate over narrative control.
The crypto industry is influencing the 2024 election by contributing nearly half of all corporate political donations, favoring both major parties.
Prominent politicians, including Kamala Harris, are increasingly aligning their policies with crypto interests due to substantial financial backing from super PACs.
Deep dives
Crypto's Political Influence
The crypto industry has made significant political contributions, totaling almost $120 million in 2023, which represents nearly half of all corporate political donations this election cycle. This spending is strategically directed toward influencing both Republicans and Democrats, although a substantial portion has favored Democrats. The industry's approach often bypasses direct mention of cryptocurrencies in advertisements, choosing instead to promote candidates based on their alignment with crypto interests, thereby avoiding public backlash against an industry fraught with legal and ethical controversies. As a result, candidates supported by crypto super PACs have experienced notable electoral success, winning 86% of contested primary races where they intervened.
Political Manipulation and Promises
In the current political landscape, candidates are increasingly endorsing cryptocurrency policies, often influenced by financial backing from crypto super PACs. Prominent political figures, such as Vice President Kamala Harris, have expressed support for the industry, even pledging to create a favorable regulatory environment for digital assets. Harris' recent speeches and campaign documents indicate a shift towards an acceptance of cryptocurrencies, which seems to be a direct response to the financial incentives offered by the crypto sector. Consequently, politicians are aligning their agendas with crypto interests, raising concerns about the integrity of their positions amid ongoing scrutiny of the industry's track record.
Public Perception and Misrepresentation
Despite claims that 50 million Americans own cryptocurrencies, actual data reveals only 7% of the population engaged with crypto in any meaningful way last year, with a negligible number using it for transactions. The disparity between these claims and the reality suggests that these assertions serve more as a facade to portray crypto as a widespread interest rather than a specialized one. Furthermore, the advertising strategies employed by the crypto industry often conceal their interests, with political ads rarely mentioning crypto, likely due to public apathy or skepticism regarding the sector's reputation. This manipulation of perception raises questions about the motivations behind political support for cryptocurrencies and highlights an alarming trend of prioritizing financial contributions over the genuine needs and concerns of constituents.
Send us a textAccording to the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, almost half of all corporate money contributed to this year's US election campaigns has come from crypto backers and politicians are bending to their will with promises to reduce regulation and consumer protections.Why do Trump and Kamala Harris suddenly support crypto? In today's video we follow the money.Patrick's BooksStatistics For The Trading Floor: https://amzn.to/3eerLA0Derivatives For The Trading Floor:...
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