Tech
US presidential candidate RFK will speak at cryptocurrency conference
Independent US presidential candidate, known for his pro-cryptocurrency stance, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will speak at the upcoming Consensus 2024 cryptocurrency conference in Austin, Texas.
Kennedy will explain his support for cryptocurrency and self-custody at the event, according to a press release from cryptocurrency outlet and event organizer Coindesk. He said:
I look forward to speaking later this month at Consensus 2024. I am determined to keep America the world leader in blockchain innovation. […] We cannot allow hostile regulators to take this technology abroad.
Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and member of the prominent Democratic Kennedy family, has taken a very different stance on cryptocurrencies than his Democratic counterparts. While many Democrats remain skeptical or opposed to cryptocurrencies, Kennedy openly embraced them in his campaign. He recently got to this point promising to support the dollar with Bitcoin (BTC) and exempt the cryptocurrency from taxes if elected.
A pro-crypto Democrat?
Kennedy’s polls place him significantly in favor of the presumptive Republican and Democratic candidates, Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden, respectively. Kennedy decided to run as an independent candidate after failing to gain ground in the Democratic primaries.
The support of cryptocurrency by a member of the Kennedy family, known for its strong Democratic roots, is a surprising curiosity. John F. Kennedy, the current candidate’s uncle, was president of the United States in the 1960s, while his father, Robert F. Kennedy, served as U.S. attorney general during that administration before running for office himself. presidency.
As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, the topic of cryptocurrency has become increasingly politicized, with Republicans generally more pro-crypto than Democrats. Current US President Joe Biden has sparked protests in the cryptocurrency industry with a recently proposed a 30% tax on cryptocurrency mining power and has faced criticism for potentially damaging the industry and wiping out investor wealth.
Cryptocurrencies have come under increasing pressure from US regulators in recent years. At the end of 2023, the US stock exchange will be listed on the stock exchange Coinbase has petitioned the SEC for cryptocurrency-specific regulations this would make it clearer what is expected of crypto companies, but the regulator rejected the request.