Regardless of rumors circulating that the Democratic frontrunner for the US Presidential Election 2024, Kamala Harris, might be talking on the Bitcoin Convention in Nashville this week, David Bailey has confirmed that she’s going to not attend.
David Bailey, CEO of BTC Inc. and organizer of The Bitcoin Convention, confirmed this resolution comes amid ongoing discussions in regards to the Democratic Get together’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. Nevertheless, he later introduced that Harris wouldn’t take part, stating it was “no shock.”
Bailey steered that Harris’ absence could also be as a result of present administration’s method to crypto regulation, which has been perceived as hostile by many within the trade.
The Bitcoin Convention organizer additionally raised the difficulty of Ross Ulbricht’s imprisonment as a possible stumbling block for Harris’ engagement with the crypto neighborhood. Ulbricht, the founding father of the Silk Highway darknet market, is at present serving a life sentence with out the potential for parole.
He famous,
“What can she say to us when she’s actively imprisoning builders, forcing our trade abroad, attacking PoW… it might 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 Court docket declined to listen to his case.
Bailey argued that commuting Ulbricht’s sentence must be thought of “desk stakes” for any politician searching for to deal with the Bitcoin neighborhood.
“I gotta be trustworthy, 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 present the Vice President and could be unable to commute Ulbricht’s sentence personally, Bailey gave the impression to be giving an ultimatum concerning 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 achieve this 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 essential 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 method 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 value of Bitcoin.
Equally, the Trump marketing campaign not too long ago started accepting donations for varied 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 handle to a Bitcoin viewers.
