United States Vice President Kamala Harris first mentioned blockchain in a public speech on Wednesday. Harris promised that if elected to the White House in November, the United States would “recommit” to global dominance in blockchain, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and other fast-growing technology industries.
Vice President Harris publicly courts crypto voters
Speaking at an event hosted by the Economic Club of Pittsburgh, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris pledged that her White House would maintain U.S. leadership in sectors that “define the next century” including blockchain.
“We will invest in biomanufacturing and aerospace, remain dominant in AI and quantum computing, blockchain and other emerging technologies, (and) expand our lead in clean energy innovation and manufacturing” , Harris said in Pennsylvania on September 25.
“Next generation advances – from advanced batteries to geothermal to advanced nuclear – are not just invented, but built here in America by American workers,” she added.
During his speech on Wednesday, Harris also stressed the importance of “leading the world in the industries of the future and ensuring that America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century.”
Harris remained mum on crypto or blockchain on the campaign trail until last weekend, when she said at a fundraising event that her presidency would “encourage innovative technologies like AI and digital assets while protecting consumers and investors.”
Although they have not formulated a comprehensive crypto policy, Harris’ recent comments mark notable progress.
While his Republican opponent, Donald Trump, is now all-in on crypto after years of skepticism – so much so that he recently unveiled his own decentralized finance (DeFi) platform and promised to ensure the US becomes the crypto capital of the world – it remains unclear whether Harris would maintain Biden’s crypto-antagonist stance or embark on a reset.
Trump vs. Harris: What the Election Results Could Mean for Crypto Markets
Notably, experts have predicted mixed results for cryptocurrencies depending on who wins the upcoming US presidential election.
Analysts at brokerage Bernstein predicted earlier this month that a Trump victory could propel Bitcoin to a high of $90,000 by the end of 2024. On the other hand, if Harris becomes president, they have said that the price of Bitcoin could fall as much as $30,000.
Most recently, VanEck analysts speculated that a Harris victory could be a bigger boost for Bitcoin than a second Trump term, as it would “accelerate many of the structural issues that first drive place for the adoption of Bitcoin”.
They added that Trump’s presidency was “generally optimistic” for the digital asset ecosystem as a whole due to Trump’s stance on crypto deregulation and promoting industry growth in the United States. .