Kamala Harris Urged by Lobbying Group to Support Crypto and 'Change Perception'

The Digital Chamber, a digital asset trade association, is urging presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris to embrace the U.S. cryptocurrency industry as part of her would-be presidential campaign, following President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek reelection.

In the letter sent on Monday, the Digital Chamber recommends that Vice President Harris foster “open dialogue” with key crypto industry leaders, as well as include pro-crypto language in the Democratic Party’s platform. The trade group also advises Harris to select a pro-crypto running mate in a bid to repair her party’s rocky relationship with digital asset holders and companies.

“There is a public perception that the party holds a negative viewpoint of digital assets, largely due to the Biden/Harris Administration's notably cautious and at times hostile approach to these transformative technologies,” The Digital Chamber wrote Monday in the letter. “Your expected candidacy for President represents an opportunity to change that perception.” 

Harris emerged as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination shortly after President Biden dropped out of the presidential race on Sunday. Biden’s withdrawal just four months before the election followed reports that donor funds for the incumbent president’s campaign had dried up as Democrats publicly urged Biden to stand down.

Since then, Harris has clinched the support of several key Democratic allies, including Former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, CBS News reported. Biden on Sunday also signaled his “full support and endorsement” of Harris in a social media post.

“Democrats—it’s time to come together and beat Trump,” Biden wrote in the X post.

Harris accepted the endorsements on Sunday in a statement disseminated by the Biden campaign.

“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris said in the statement.

Whether or not Harris will actually become the Democratic nominee—and when that could happen—remains unclear, however. Democrats could formally pick their presidential nominee during a virtual roll call in early August, The Sacramento Bee reported. Alternatively, the party’s members could wait to select a nominee at the Democratic National Convention, which is scheduled to run from August 19 to August 22.

Edited by Andrew Hayward