In an attempt to “reset” Vice President Kamala Harris’ relationship with the cryptocurrency industry, the “Crypto For Harris” campaign hosted a virtual town hall meeting attended by a litany of Democratic heavyweights and tech influencers. Despite these efforts, the event, which was designed to articulate and promote a potential “crypto reset” led by Kamala Harris, fell far short of its goal of garnering industry support, according to a report from FOX Business.
The virtual conference, which lasted nearly 90 minutes, featured key Democratic figures, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), as well as California Congressman Adam Schiff. Mark Cuban, a well-known pro-cryptotech entrepreneur, was also in attendance. However, Vice President Harris herself was notably absent, a lack that did not go unnoticed by attendees.
Cryptocurrency Industry Not Buying Into ‘Reset’
More than 1,000 people reportedly watched the event live, but comments collected from X depict discontent. The comments focused primarily on Harris’ lack of direct communication regarding his views and policies on crypto.
Senate Majority Leader Schumer attempted to bridge this divide by arguing for balanced legislation. He stressed the importance of fostering innovation while also establishing “common-sense safeguards.” Schumer warned of the risks of inaction, suggesting that the lack of U.S. regulation could push the industry to relocate to countries with even less oversight. His remarks were well-intentioned, but did little to assuage attendees’ concerns about Democrats’ broader stance on crypto.
Comments from industry insiders revealed a mix of disappointment and unmet expectations. “I was hoping to hear about Harris’s cryptocurrency policy and for Democrats to explain how they were going to solve the problem of unbanked businesses,” said Caitlin Long, CEO of Custodia Bank, highlighting a critical industry issue that Democrats consistently push.
Jake Brukhman, founder and CEO of investment firm CoinFund, criticized the format of the event, which he said didn’t facilitate a real exchange of views that one might expect from a town hall meeting. “I thought a town hall meeting was about hearing from people, you know, the people in the city. Instead, we got a few lectures on the attendees’ views on crypto and where policy should go,” he noted.
The event’s effectiveness has been compared unfavorably to the efforts of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has been vocal about his intention to implement a lighter regulatory framework for the industry.
Tyler Winklevoss expressed his displeasure with the format of the town hall and Harris’ absence, tweeting, “Pre-recorded videos. Reading scripts. Harris didn’t show up to her own event. What a clown show,” signaling deep discontent that could tip the scales in favor of the Republican candidates.
David Bailey, CEO of Bitcoin Magazine and organizer of the Bitcoin conference, wrote via X: “Every day that Kamala Harris ignores public and donor scrutiny over her crypto policy ‘reset’, she delivers the strongest message possible, without even putting it in a press release: She intends to screw us over.”
At press time, BTC was trading at $58,460.
Featured image from The Times Of Israel, chart from TradingView.com
