As the world continues to embrace digital currencies and blockchain technology, the cryptocurrency industry is solidifying its position on a broad scale as a key part of the global economy.
Six months in, 2024 has already been a big year for crypto, with milestones including a new all-time high for the Bitcoin price, and the approval of spot Bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded funds in the US.
Heading into the second half of the year, the US election is expected to have far-reaching implications for the crypto market in America and potentially beyond. Issues such as regulation, taxation and the integration of cryptocurrencies into the mainstream economy will be critical in shaping the future of this dynamic sector.
As the crypto narrative continues to intertwine with the US election cycle, the choices made in the voting booth could well determine the trajectory of this transformative technology. The stage is set for a pivotal moment in the crypto industry’s history, and the decisions made in the next few months will echo far into the future of finance.
While the US election is set to impact the crypto market, the reverse is also true — the industry is already influencing lawmakers at both the federal and state levels as voting day approaches.
The regulatory landscape for the crypto industry in the US is still evolving, and further developments are expected to occur in the coming years. As it stands, various government agencies employ diverse strategies to regulate different aspects of the industry, reflecting their unique mandates and objectives.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is the primary regulator of futures and options contracts in the US. It is of the opinion that certain cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, are commodities due to their decentralized nature and the fact that they are not backed by a government or other central authority.
With cryptocurrencies becoming more mainstream, US lawmakers have been strongly encouraged to create a clear and comprehensive regulatory framework for this rapidly evolving industry.
The Act is similar to FIT21; however, there are also some differences between the two bills in terms of their specific provisions and approaches. For example, FIT21 places a greater emphasis on defining key terms and providing exemptions from duplicative regulations, while the Responsible Financial Innovation Act focuses more on consumer protection and combating illicit finance, goals that align with statements made by the White House.
The Democrat’s presidential nominee is Kamala Harris, who is currently serving in the Biden administration as Vice President. This section will discuss Harris’ own positions on crypto alongside those of the Biden administration.
“Trump looks to Vivek on tech and digital asset policy,” Bratcher said. “When he saw how Vivek captured the Republican voter — and more centrist (voters) than Trump can capture — he’s probably more interested in that (policy).”
Trump appears to be driven by a desire to distinguish himself from political opponents who favor a more active regulatory approach, as well as crypto’s increasing popularity and potential.
Despite crypto’s influence on the campaign trail as recently as one month ago, neither candidate was asked about cryptocurrency, and neither brought it up. Big Tech and artificial intelligence were largely not touched on as well, apart from a brief quip during heated exchanges involving the economy and foreign policy.
Bitcoin’s price fell quickly early in the debate and continued to retreat throughout it. By the time midnight had hit, Bitcoin’s value had fallen to US$56,802, down 1.46 percent from its price at the start of the debate, which coincided with the opening of day trading in Asia. Just before 11:00 am EDT, its price had fallen a further 2 percent to US$55,573, but it bounced back to nearly US$58,000 by 2:25 p.m.
Trump’s statements in recent months suggest a permissive stance toward crypto if he is elected. A Harris administration could be more open and forward-thinking than the cautious approach taken by the current Biden administration, but will likely prioritize careful decision-making.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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