Crypto users planning to participate in the 2024 elections in the United States could be a “key swing voting bloc,” with many races polling with tight margins.

According to a poll released on Jan. 2 by the Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI), most crypto-focused individuals surveyed said a candidate’s position on digital assets would be somewhat, very or extremely important to their vote. Roughly 83% of people polled said they would prefer a candidate in the 2024 election who “wants to write clear rules for cryptocurrency” to promote growth in the industry.

“Crypto voters are here to stay and are sending a clear message: they want Congress to prioritize cryptocurrency regulation,” said former U.S. Senator Cory Gardner, a CCI political adviser. “This issue could be the deciding factor in tight races, offering a unique opportunity for any party ready to earn their trust.”

Source: CCI

The poll, conducted in December 2023 with 454 U.S. voters — 89% of whom said they viewed cryptocurrencies favorably — showed their primary issue when deciding on the next president and members of Congress was inflation and the cost of living at 31%. When presented with a choice between U.S. President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump in 2024, 51% said they would vote for Trump. However, 46% said they would be more likely to vote for Democratic members of the House and Senate, compared to 42% who said they would vote Republican.

“While crypto owners are more likely to support a generic Democratic candidate over a Republican for Congress (by 4-points), these same crypto voters would currently vote for Donald Trump over Joe Biden in a head-to-head matchup by 10-points,” said the CCI. “This is significant ticket-splitting.”

Related: Majority of US voters want a presidential candidate informed on tech — Grayscale poll

At the time of publication, President Biden and Trump are both polling ahead by wide margins in their respective parties. Many analysts have suggested that a general election between the two could come down to a coin-toss.

Polls suggest President Biden may have lost support from many Democrats in response to his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Trump is also facing multiple felony charges at the state and federal levels and legal challenges to remove him from the ballot under the 14th Amendment after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in January 2021.

The Republican Party will kick off the 2024 election season with the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15. As of Jan. 2, Trump was polling in the U.S. state roughly 30 points ahead of the next two leading candidates, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley. Pro-crypto candidate Vivek Ramaswamy polled at roughly 6%.

Magazine: Opinion: GOP crypto maxis almost as bad as Dems’ ‘anti-crypto army’