Kamala Harris Engages Cryptocurrency Community In Opportunity Economy Agenda

According to Cointelegraph, United States presidential candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris is actively engaging with the cryptocurrency community as part of her “Opportunity Economy” agenda. On October 14, she is scheduled to meet with a group of Black entrepreneurs in Erie, Pennsylvania. During this event, Harris plans to discuss her support for Black-owned small businesses, cryptocurrency and digital asset regulation, and the federal legalization of cannabis. Cedric Richmond, a co-chair in the Harris campaign, stated that this initiative is part of Harris’s commitment to the “Opportunity Economy.” Richmond emphasized that Harris aims to garner support from Black men by promising to build an economy where they are equipped with the tools to thrive, buy homes, provide for their families, start businesses, and build wealth. This marks a shift in Harris’s image, which has softened from being perceived as part of an anti-crypto regime since her campaign began. As reported by Cointelegraph, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen donated XRP worth approximately $1 million to the Harris-Walz 2024 Presidential campaign. This has led some to view Harris as a pro-crypto candidate willing to work on bipartisan legislation to regulate digital assets and the cryptocurrency industry. However, not everyone in the community is convinced of Harris’s so-called “crypto pivot.” Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hogan questioned Harris’s stance on crypto regulation, suggesting that her statements could be interpreted in various ways. Hogan remarked, “Serious question: Is this statement the extent of the 'Harris pivot' people are excited about? Or did she say more in the live setting? These words are a Rorschach test, not a position -- you can read them as aggressively pro-crypto or anti-crypto.” Documents on the Harris campaign website related to the Erie, Pennsylvania, event indicate a slightly different wording, suggesting that those who own cryptocurrency will be protected. This implies that her plan includes protecting the ownership of cryptocurrency rather than limiting or eliminating it. The documents state, “Supporting a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency and other digital assets so Black men who invest in and own these assets are protected.”