During the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, cryptocurrencies were conspicuous by their absence. Despite the hopes of the crypto community, neither candidate addressed the subject of digital assets, preferring to focus on conventional themes such as the economy, immigration or foreign policy. This omission raises questions about the real importance of cryptocurrencies in the 2024 US election campaign.
A debate focused on traditional topics
The debate, held on September 10, 2024 at Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center, saw the two candidates clash over economic and societal issues. Trump defended his record and promised to make the US the “bitcoin capital of the world”, while Harris criticized the outgoing administration’s handling of the pandemic. However, neither of them saw fit to address cryptocurrencies, despite being a hot topic of the moment.
This decision is all the more surprising given that cryptocurrencies have become an increasingly important part of American public debate. Pro-crypto political action committees (PACs) have raised millions of dollars to influence elections, and polls show that 20% of voters consider digital assets an important issue. The lack of discussion on this subject during the debate was therefore disappointing for many industry observers.
The Crypto industry, an ignored electoral windfall?
The omission of cryptocurrencies from the debate raises questions about the candidates’ strategy. Did they deliberately avoid the subject, judging that it didn’t resonate with the general electorate? Or did they simply prefer to focus on more classic, consensual themes? In any case, this decision could have consequences for the crypto community’s commitment to the campaign.
Indeed, the “crypto vote” potentially represents a significant electoral windfall. If candidates fail to address the concerns of this electorate, they risk losing valuable support, especially in key states where elections are often played out on the margins. Cryptocurrencies could thus become a forgotten campaign issue, to the detriment of both candidates.
