As the US presidential race heats up, Vice President Kamala Harris has gained significant support from leading figures in the tech sector, including executives from the crypto industry.
Silindi:
According to a recent CNBC report, 88 high-profile business leaders from Wall Street have officially endorsed Harris as the Democratic candidate in the upcoming elections. Among these notable supporters is Chris Larsen, co-founder of the blockchain-based payment infrastructure company Ripple 
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Ripple’s Diverging Paths
The endorsement letter shared with CNBC highlights Harris’s growing support from influential corporate figures. Larsen’s support is particularly noteworthy as he is the first major crypto executive to publicly endorse Harris. This comes despite the Harris administration’s mixed stance on the growing digital economy.
On the other hand, Ripple’s CEO and other co-founder Brad Garlinghouse has decided not to endorse any presidential candidate. Garlinghouse focuses on supporting crypto-friendly candidates who advocate for regulatory clarity and innovation-friendly policies. In December 2023, he called on crypto industry leaders to support candidates committed to the development of the digital asset market.
Brad Garlinghouse: “We must support crypto-friendly candidates to promote regulatory clarity and innovation-friendly policies.”
To this end, Garlinghouse has made generous donations to Fairshake, a US federal political action committee (PAC) focused on crypto. Since last year, Ripple and Garlinghouse have contributed over $50 million to this cause.
Ripple Prepares to Grow Outside the US
Garlinghouse’s concerns about the US regulatory environment stem from ongoing legal battles and unclear rules, which he believes are unfavorable for crypto businesses.
Garlinghouse also advised founders to consider opportunities outside the US and pointed to more favorable environments abroad. According to him, Ripple plans to expand internationally and is considering regions that offer clearer regulatory frameworks for crypto companies.
Brad Garlinghouse: “Ripple is uninterested in conducting an IPO in the US because the regulatory environment is too aggressive.”
Although Larsen and Garlinghouse have different political approaches, their influence in the crypto industry remains significant. Larsen’s decision to support Harris underscores his belief in Harris’s ability to guide the country through technological and economic changes.
High-Profile Supporters from the Tech World
In addition to Larsen, the endorsement letter for Harris includes signatures from some of the most prominent names in the tech world.
Corporate executives like Box CEO Aaron Levie, Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, and Snap Inc. chairman Michael Lynton are among those expressing their confidence in Harris’s leadership.
Other high-profile supporters include former 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch and long-time Democratic backer John Doerr from Kleiner Perkins. These leaders believe Harris will continue policies that promote the stability and security of the US economy.
The endorsing leaders emphasize the importance of electing a president who upholds the rule of law, champions fair and predictable policies, and creates a stable business environment.
If Harris is elected president, they believe she will continue the long-standing tradition of supporting “the rule of law, stability, and fair and predictable policies that foster a robust business environment.”
