Last weekend, U.S. Vice President Harris publicly expressed support for the crypto industry for the first time, attracting industry attention. But industry insiders say the industry should not expect more in the final weeks before the U.S. election.
According to a person familiar with the negotiations between Harris' campaign team and cryptocurrency insiders, Harris intended to be broad when she said that her presidency would "encourage innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital assets while protecting consumers and investors." The person familiar with the matter said that because discussions about digital asset policies are still at a high level, detailed positions are unlikely to be produced before voters decide who to elect, which may make cryptocurrency just one of a series of economic innovations that Harris will cite in the campaign.
Multiple people familiar with the matter said that Harris' senior campaign officials have been in dialogue with a small group of industry executives and insiders, including Ripple Labs and Coinbase Inc. Coinbase's chief legal officer Paul Grewal was among those who attended the campaign meeting.
"The progress is real," he said in an interview on Monday, and it is remarkable to see the progress made by the Democratic candidate and her Republican opponent, former President Trump, in just a few weeks.
"All we want are sensible rules, and we'll follow them," Grewal said, adding that he was "encouraged" by the Harris campaign's response.
"Their understanding of what, if anything, both the industry and crypto investors need from a Harris administration is becoming increasingly sophisticated and in-depth," he added. While actual policy choices may still be some time away, "sometimes things take a little longer than we think." (CoinDesk)