Top Democratic donors are said to be pushing for Kamala Harris to speak at a U.S. crypto conference as her Republican rival shows support for the crypto industry.

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is reportedly being pushed to attend a crypto conference in the United States this fall. The push comes in response to recent pro-crypto remarks made by former President Donald Trump at the Bitcoin 2024 event held last week in Nashville, Texas.

According to a Decrypt report published today, July 30, big Democratic donors are pushing for crypto media firm Blockworks to book Kamala Harris to speak at its upcoming crypto conference, Permissionless III, which will take place from Oct. 9-11 in Salt Lake City. Blockworks founder Jason Yanowitz told Decrypt that the company is being “pushed by some of the biggest Democratic donors to have her [Kamala Harris] be there,” though he didn’t specify the identities of those advocating for her appearance.

Permissionless III is set to feature a16z crypto founder Chris Dixon, Galaxy Digital boss Michael Novogratz, and Republican Tom Emmer, among others. Speaking with Decrypt, Yanowitz indicated that Blockworks aims to create a more bipartisan atmosphere at this year’s conference, contrasting with the “Republican-heavy” tone of Bitcoin 2024.

In mid-July, a16z founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz endorsed former President Donald Trump and said they plan to donate to PACs supporting the former president. Democratic megadonor Novogratz appears to be pro-Harris, saying the Democratic presidential nominee will make the race “a lot tougher” for Trump.

Harris’ stance on crypto is yet to be publicly revealed, but has been a topic of discussion in the industry since President Biden announced he was dropping out of the election race this fall. In a July 24 post on X, Bitcoin Magazine CEO David Bailey said — referring to an undisclosed “major Democrat donor” — that Kamala Harris had privately referred to Bitcoin (BTC) as “money for criminals.”

This weekend, reports surfaced that members of Harris’ campaign team had contacted several top U.S. crypto companies — including Coinbase, Circle and Ripple Labs — in an effort to “reset relations” with the industry.

Former President Donald Trump’s keynote address at the 2024 Nashville Bitcoin Conference has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, compelling Kamala Harris to reconsider her stance on cryptocurrency.

In his speech, Trump announced plans to implement crypto-friendly regulations, aiming to bolster economic growth and cement the US’s leadership in digital finance. 

Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group, hailed this move as a “masterstroke,” predicting it could significantly impact Harris’s campaign.

“By pledging to retain all Bitcoins currently held or acquired by the US government, Trump aims to create a robust national bitcoin reserve valued at approximately $14 billion.” Green said in a report obtained by crypto.news.

The announcement has increased pressure on Harris and the Democratic Party to engage with the crypto community, which represents a substantial and growing voting bloc. 

“The crypto ecosystem represents a rapidly growing and influential voting bloc. Ignoring this demographic – 40 % of Americans – could be politically detrimental, as millions of crypto enthusiasts and investors and seek supportive leadership,” Green said. 

Crypto money

Moreover, the influence of wealthy tech and crypto donors is a critical factor. Trump’s campaign has already garnered over $120 million from industry executives, providing resources for targeted advertising and grassroots mobilization.

Trump also proposed forming a Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto advisory council to develop transparent regulatory guidelines and pledged to fire SEC Chair Gary Gensler, signaling an end to what he termed the “persecution” of the crypto industry.

“Trump’s proactive stance on crypto reshapes the political and economic landscape. Any hesitation from Harris could be perceived as a significant weakness, potentially undermining her campaign,” Green added.