Kamala Harris, the U.S. Vice President and Democratic Party leader running for President, did not mention Bitcoin during her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. 

The speech, delivered on the final night of the convention, was a policy-light presentation aimed at energizing Democratic workers for the upcoming election on November 5th. 

While filled with motivational language and themes of "joy," the convention was described by Richard Warnica, a staff reporter for Toronto Star, as “aggressively normal,” in stark contrast to the Republicans' more unconventional approach.

Bitcoin Absent in Chicago

The Democrats find themselves lagging behind the Republicans on the Bitcoin issue. 

Under Donald Trump, the Republicans released their platform on July 9th, 2024, explicitly stating their intent to secure the right to mine and custody Bitcoin. 

With the recent addition of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Trump's team and the strong Bitcoin advocacy from other team members like Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, the Republicans are now seen as unstoppable in their support for Bitcoin.

Democrats Face an Uphill Battle

At this stage, it would be difficult for the Democrats to amend their platform without drawing attention to their omission of Bitcoin. 

Bloomberg reports that the Democrats have already begun making overtures to the Bitcoin community. 

According to CoinDesk, a top advisor to Kamala Harris has indicated that she is interested in adopting a friendlier stance toward Bitcoin and crypto regulation than the current administration.

Despite these overtures, Harris’s appointment of Bharat Ramamurti, a known opponent of Bitcoin, signals potential challenges. Tyler Winklevoss voiced his concern:

“Very concerning. Harris has chosen Biden's economic policy advisors, including Bharat Ramamurti, the ‘White House’s top crypto critic,’ as her own. Looks like the war on crypto will only continue under a Harris administration.”

Harris may also feel obligated to include long-time supporters such as Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren in positions of influence, both of whom are known for their skepticism towards Bitcoin and cryptocurrency.

Republicans Solidify Their Bitcoin Stance

Meanwhile, the Republicans continue to strengthen their credibility on the Bitcoin issue. 

Republican Senator Tim Scott has proposed a digital-focused panel if he again chairs the Senate Banking Committee. This move further solidifies the party’s pro-Bitcoin stance.

As posted on X by Simply Bitcoin:

“Scaramucci suggests that Democrats underestimate the influence of #Bitcoin in elections. Even if just 3% of bitcoiners vote based solely on that issue, that's still 1.5 million people.”

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