Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse wants U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to be sincere about cryptocurrency regulation. His comments come amid growing debate over the administration’s digital currency policies and Vice President’s Withdrawal from the Bitcoin 2024 conference.

Many cryptocurrency fans had been hoping Harris would attend the event, believing it showed her softness towards the digital currency. David Bailey, CEO of the world’s largest bitcoin conference, revealed that Harris had decided not to speak at the event.

Kamala Harris under the lens

Garlinghouse advocated breaking away from political bias when evaluating presidential candidates. His comments followed observations by Paradigm policy director Justin Slaughter about the potential impact of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris if she ran for president.

Jumping to conclusions and assumptions about candidates based solely on their political affiliation, without providing any policy proposals, is hindering the growth of the cryptocurrency industry (much like tribalism has been doing for years).

Vice President Harris is no newcomer to Silicon Valley and has an incredible opportunity… https://t.co/2kmKDZZXJe

— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) July 24, 2024

Arguing that tribalism and political prejudices hinder development crypto sectorGarlinghouse argues for a focus on political ideas rather than political affiliations.

Garlinghouse’s comments reflect a growing belief among cryptocurrency leaders that essential policy debates are dominated by political forces.

“We need to judge candidates on their policy promises, not just their party lines,” Garlinghouse said.

This viewpoint underscores the ongoing discussion in the sector about how to navigate the tough political ground that has recently become more closely tied to cryptocurrencies.

Harris’ Potential Influence: A Double-Edged Sword

Slaughter’s latest post on X drew attention due to the substantial changes Kamala Harris would make if elected president.

Slaughter claims that Harris is ready to completely replace essential national security positions, possibly firing Biden’s current policy advisers. This suggested “reform” has raised questions about how it would affect US policy on essential issues, including the regulation of bitcoin and cryptocurrencies as a whole.

Harris has been a candidate for about 12 hours and has already made it clear that Biden’s top national security advisers will not be staying on for another term.

No one in the Biden administration should be expected to retain their positions in a Harris administration. The odds of a significant reset are growing. https://t.co/vigIDUccgI

— Justin Slaughter (@JBSDC) July 23, 2024

Garlinghouse’s response to Slaughter’s assessment is both hopeful and wary. While he worries about Harris’s tendency toward discourse similar to that of anti-crypto Sen. Elizabeth Warren, he also notes Harris’s broad understanding of Silicon Valley.

Garlinghouse said this knowledge could assist solve the legal issues facing the cryptocurrency sector.

Cryptocurrency Voters: The Changing Tide

Interestingly, many cryptocurrency enthusiasts have turned to the Republican Party candidate Donald Trump President Joe Biden’s administration, led by SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, has been criticized for its tough enforcement policies.

Voters who feel left out by current regulations found resonance in Trump’s promises of favorable measures for the cryptocurrency industry.

The impact on crypto voters is yet to be seen as Harris’ candidacy unfolds. The industry is fully focused on any legislative changes that could encourage or discourage innovation.

Meanwhile, billionaire Mark Cuban thought Kamala Harris could take a more business approach to bitcoin and artificial intelligence. Though unverified, Harris advisers say she may view these endeavors with more favor than her past policies.

All things considered, Garlinghouse’s support for a policy-oriented approach reflects a larger movement in the cryptocurrency community toward more nuanced political assessments. The argument about how to best assist the sector in a changing political environment is developing as the U.S. presidential election approaches.

Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView