Kamala Harris, as she begins her presidential campaign following President Joe Biden’s decision not to run, maintains an unclear stance on cryptocurrencies. However, her recent strategic appointments for her team suggest a possible shift towards a more favorable approach to cryptocurrencies.
Former Binance Global Board Member Joins Harris’ Team
According to Reuters, Harris has appointed David Plouffe, a former aide to Obama and a former member of the Binance Global Advisory Board, as her senior advisor for strategy. Plouffe previously served as a global strategic advisor at Alchemy Pay and focused on strategy, compliance, and government relations before joining Harris’ team.
Another significant addition to Harris’ campaign team is former Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Treasury Department, Brian Nelson. Nelson played a crucial role in the Treasury’s actions against Binance last year over allegations of money laundering and sanctions violations. Despite his involvement in regulatory activities, Nelson is seen as open-minded and aims to regulate illegal activities without stifling innovation in the cryptocurrency space.
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AAPLCody Carbone, Chief Policy Officer of the blockchain trade association Digital Chamber, indicated that Nelson takes a balanced approach. According to Carbone, Nelson has worked closely with Harris for years, has been open-minded about cryptocurrencies, and has deep concerns about illegal finance while actively engaging with the sector.
Yet to Take a Clear Stance
Despite these appointments, Harris has not yet taken a definitive step in establishing a direct relationship with the cryptocurrency world or showing a clear stance. Her refusal to speak at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference last month led some to interpret that she is avoiding making cryptocurrencies a significant policy issue before the November elections.
In addition to these strategic hires, Harris appointed Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her prospective Vice President. Although Walz recently signed a law setting a daily maximum transaction limit of $2,000 for new customers using cryptocurrency ATMs in Minnesota, he has not made any public statements regarding cryptocurrencies.
