US crypto regulation focus intensifies ahead of 2024 election

As the 2024 US elections approach, the spotlight on cryptocurrency regulation and politics is growing.

With major congressional and presidential races looming, industry discussions are increasingly centered around how the election outcomes may impact the digital asset space in 2025.

At recent events like Permissionless III in Utah and Ripple Swell in Miami, crypto executives and policymakers emphasised the mainstreaming of digital assets in US political discourse.

Ripple's (CRYPTO:XRP) US public policy head, Lauren Belive, noted, “Every single panel is talking about regulations.” 

During these events, speakers highlighted that both leading candidates, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, have made public statements supporting the industry, signaling the importance of crypto regulation regardless of who wins the presidency.

Fireblocks’ head of legal, Jason Allegrante, observed that many people are now vocal about the political significance of the upcoming election, saying, “Technology shouldn’t be a political issue — but it’s become one in the United States.”

This year has also seen more crypto engagement from lawmakers than in past election cycles.

According to Blockchain Association CEO Kristin Smith, Congress is now better educated on digital assets, stating, “We’re going to be starting [in 2025] with the most educated Congress we’ve ever had.”

Coinbase's chief policy officer, Faryar Shirzad, echoed this sentiment, predicting that the post-election political landscape will feature a "significantly advanced debate around crypto issues" as pro-crypto voices gain influence.

Despite uncertainties, these developments show that the US crypto landscape will continue to evolve, shaped by the political shifts that emerge from the 2024 election.