The US Government, Who Are Pro Bitcoin and Who Are Anti-Bitcoin
Bitcoin has been a hot topic of discussion in the US government for the past few years. Some officials are supportive of Bitcoin, while others are skeptical or even hostile to it.
Pro-Bitcoin Officials
- Senator Cynthia Lummis: Lummis, a Republican from Wyoming, is a vocal supporter of Bitcoin. She has introduced legislation that would create a regulatory framework for Bitcoin and other digital assets.
- Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, is also a supporter of Bitcoin. She has co-sponsored legislation with Lummis.
- Representative Warren Davidson: Davidson, a Republican from Ohio, is a member of the House Financial Services Committee. He is a strong supporter of Bitcoin and has spoken out against government regulation of the cryptocurrency.
- Representative Tom Emmer: Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota, is also a member of the House Financial Services Committee. He is a supporter of Bitcoin and has introduced legislation that would provide clarity for businesses that want to offer Bitcoin services.
- Senator Rand Paul: Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, is a supporter of Bitcoin and has said that it is a “great alternative” to fiat currency.
- Representative Ted Budd: Budd, a Republican from North Carolina, is a supporter of Bitcoin and has said that it is a “new form of money” that has the potential to “revolutionize the way we think about and use money.”
- Representative Austin Scott: Scott, a Republican from Georgia, is a supporter of Bitcoin and has said that it is a “legitimate investment” that should be protected from government regulation.
- Representative Garret Graves: Graves, a Republican from Louisiana, is a supporter of Bitcoin and has said that it is a “new technology” that has the potential to “create jobs and boost the economy.”
Anti-Bitcoin Officials
- Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen: Yellen, a Democrat, has expressed concerns about Bitcoin’s potential to be used for illicit activity. She has also said that Bitcoin is not a “stable store of value.”
- Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell: Powell, a Republican, has also expressed concerns about Bitcoin’s potential to be used for illicit activity. He has also said that Bitcoin is not a “fiat currency” and that it is not backed by the full faith and credit of the US government.
- New York Attorney General Letitia James: James, a Democrat, has sued several cryptocurrency exchanges, alleging that they have violated New York law. She has also called for stricter regulation of the cryptocurrency industry.
- Senator Elizabeth Warren: Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, has called for a ban on Bitcoin mining. She has said that Bitcoin mining is “a major source of pollution” and that it is “a threat to our climate.”
- Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, has said that Bitcoin is a “speculative asset” that is “not a productive investment.” She has also said that Bitcoin mining is “a major source of pollution.”
- Representative Rashida Tlaib: Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan, has said that Bitcoin is a “tool for speculation” and that it is “not a real currency.” She has also said that Bitcoin mining is “a major source of pollution.”
Pro-Bitcoin candidates for 2024 Presidential Election
The 2024 Presidential Election is still a long way off, but there are already a few candidates who have expressed their support for Bitcoin.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Kennedy, a Democrat, is the nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy. He has been a vocal supporter of Bitcoin and has said that he believes it has the potential to “change the world.”
- Vivek Ramaswamy: Ramaswamy, a Republican, is a former hedge fund manager and author. He has also been a vocal supporter of Bitcoin and has said that he believes it is a “disruptive technology” that has the potential to “challenge the status quo.”
- Jack Dorsey: Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, is a long-time Bitcoin enthusiast. He has said that he believes Bitcoin is “the most important invention of our time” and has called for it to be adopted as a global currency.
- Ron DeSantis: DeSantis, the Republican Governor of Florida, has also expressed his support for Bitcoin. He has said that he believes Bitcoin is a “legitimate investment” and that he is “open to” the idea of Florida accepting Bitcoin as payment.
It is still too early to say who will be the nominee for either the Democratic or Republican Party in 2024. However, the fact that there are already a few candidates who have expressed their support for Bitcoin is a sign that the cryptocurrency is gaining mainstream acceptance.
It is also worth noting that the views of the candidates on Bitcoin may change over time. For example, former President Donald Trump was once a vocal critic of Bitcoin, but he has since softened his stance. It is possible that other candidates may do the same in the future.
Overall, the 2024 Presidential Election could be a watershed moment for Bitcoin. If a pro-Bitcoin candidate is elected, it could lead to increased government support for the cryptocurrency and could help to legitimize it in the eyes of the public.
Bitcoin positioning could become one of the critical issues of our time in terms of political posturing. Although an estimated 15-20 million US users (depending on the source used) it would seem political candidates only have downside in not supporting Bitcoin and crypto at large. This demographic would represent an extraordinarily large voting block and skews in the important young and diverse voting groups.
Conclusion
The US government is still divided on the issue of Bitcoin. Some officials are supportive of the cryptocurrency, while others are skeptical or even hostile to it. It is likely that the debate over Bitcoin will continue for some time.
It is important to note that this is not an exhaustive list of all of the pro-Bitcoin and anti-Bitcoin officials in the US government. There are many other officials who have expressed views on Bitcoin, both positive and negative.
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