Regardless of rumors circulating that the Democratic frontrunner for the US Presidential Election 2024, Kamala Harris, will likely be talking on the Bitcoin Convention in Nashville this week, David Bailey has confirmed that she is not going to attend.
David Bailey, CEO of BTC Inc. and organizer of The Bitcoin Convention, confirmed this choice comes amid ongoing discussions concerning the Democratic Occasion’s stance on Bitcoin, crypto, and blockchain expertise.
As Bailey reported on Twitter, his staff had been in talks with Harris’ marketing campaign a couple of potential look on the convention. Nonetheless, he later introduced that Harris wouldn’t take part, stating it was “no shock.”
Bailey recommended that Harris’ absence could also be as a result of present administration’s strategy to crypto regulation, which has been perceived as hostile by many within the business.
The Bitcoin Convention organizer additionally raised the problem of Ross Ulbricht’s imprisonment as a possible stumbling block for Harris’ engagement with the crypto neighborhood. Ulbricht, the founding father of the Silk Street darknet market, is at the moment serving a life sentence with out the opportunity of parole.
He famous,
“What can she say to us when she’s actively imprisoning builders, forcing our business abroad, attacking PoW… it could have been a catastrophe for her.”
For transparency, Ulbricht was not imprisoned beneath Biden; he was sentenced in 2015 when Barrack Obama was President. He appealed his sentence twice in 2017 beneath Donald Trump. In 2018, the Supreme Courtroom declined to listen to his case.
Bailey argued that commuting Ulbricht’s sentence needs to be thought-about “desk stakes” for any politician in search of to deal with the Bitcoin neighborhood.
“I gotta be sincere, looks like Kamala ought to commute Ross Ulbricht’s sentence earlier than addressing the Bitcoin neighborhood. That’s the tables stakes.”
Though Harris is at the moment the Vice President and could be unable to commute Ulbricht’s sentence personally, Bailey seemed to be giving an ultimatum relating to a attainable invitation. It’s unclear presently whether or not this was the explanation for Harris not attending the convention or if she declined outright. CryptoSlate has contacted Bailey for affirmation however has not responded till press time.
Bailey identified that former President Donald Trump and impartial presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have pledged to commute Ulbricht’s sentence if elected. This dedication has been well-received by many in crypto. Donald Trump didn’t commute Ulbricht’s sentence throughout his first time period by way of Presidential pardon however has said he’ll accomplish that this time if elected.
The dialogue round Harris’ potential look at The Bitcoin Convention comes at a time when crypto regulation and adoption have gotten more and more necessary political points, with 14% of US residents holding Bitcoin. Harris’s stance on digital belongings stays largely unknown, resulting in hypothesis about whether or not a Harris administration would proceed the Biden administration’s strategy or undertake a extra crypto-friendly place.
In the meantime, different presidential candidates have been extra vocal in supporting cryptocurrencies. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. proposed integrating Bitcoin into US debt administration methods and owns over $1 million price of Bitcoin.
Equally, the Trump marketing campaign not too long ago started accepting donations for numerous cryptocurrencies, together with Bitcoin and Ethereum. There are additionally rumors that he would declare Bitcoin a strategic reserve asset, though any president would require Congress’s approval.
With Harris’ absence from The Bitcoin Convention, consideration now turns again to Trump and his direct deal with to a Bitcoin viewers.
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