Vice President Harris Receives ‘B’ Grade for Crypto Support

TLDR

• Stand With Crypto graded VP Kamala Harris “B” on crypto support
• The grade sparked controversy in the crypto community
• Donald Trump and J.D. Vance received “A” ratings
• Elizabeth Warren got an “F” and Joe Biden a “D”
• Harris made a vague statement about encouraging digital assets

The world of cryptocurrency was abuzz this week as Vice President Kamala Harris received a “B” grade for her stance on digital assets.

The rating, issued by Stand With Crypto, a Washington D.C.-based advocacy group funded by Coinbase, sparked debate within the crypto community.

Stand With Crypto’s grading system aimed to evaluate political figures’ support for cryptocurrency. While a “B” grade might seem positive, many crypto enthusiasts felt it was too generous given Harris’s limited engagement with the industry.

The Vice President’s grade stood in contrast to those of other political figures. Former President Donald Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance both received “A” ratings.

The organization noted that both Trump and Vance own cryptocurrency and have publicly endorsed digital assets.

On the other end of the spectrum, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, known for her criticism of cryptocurrency, received an “F” grade.

President Joe Biden didn’t fare much better, earning a “D” for what Stand With Crypto described as a position “somewhat against crypto.”

We've tracked 21 statements on crypto from @realDonaldTrump & he's rated Strongly Supportive.@VP Harris recently made a Somewhat Supportive statement & we've added it to our card.

Major candidates weighing in on crypto would've been unthinkable even recently. We're winning. pic.twitter.com/OQoqqylaia

— Stand With Crypto🛡️ (@standwithcrypto) September 23, 2024

The organization pointed to seven public statements made by Biden that demonstrated a degree of hostility toward cryptocurrency.

One such statement from last year had Biden proposing to close “over a dozen special interest tax loopholes for Big Oil, crypto traders, hedge fund billionaires — saving taxpayers billions of dollars.”

Harris’s running mate, Tim Walz, did not receive a grade due to a lack of public statements on cryptocurrency. Stand With Crypto listed his grade as “pending [a] stance on crypto.”

The controversy surrounding Harris’s grade intensified following her recent statement on technology. Over the weekend, she said she would “encourage innovative technologies like AI and digital assets while protecting our consumers and investors.” While this comment caught the attention of the crypto industry, many viewed it as lacking substance.

Tim Kravchunovsky, CEO of the decentralized telecom network Chirp, expressed skepticism about Harris’s statement. “Unless I hear something concrete from Harris, I will take it as hot air,” he told TheStreet Crypto.

The grading system and Harris’s statement highlight the growing importance of cryptocurrency in political discourse.

As digital assets continue to gain prominence, politicians’ stances on the technology are increasingly scrutinized by both the industry and voters.

Stand With Crypto’s grades provide a snapshot of where various political figures stand on cryptocurrency issues. However, the controversy surrounding Harris’s “B” grade underscores the complexity of the topic and the diverse opinions within the crypto community.