In the 2024 U.S. presidential race, several prominent voices in the cryptocurrency sector have endorsed candidates, with industry leaders openly supporting both contenders.
While former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, has received significant backing from crypto advocates, current Vice President Kamala Harris, running for the Democrats, has also garnered a notable share of endorsements.
Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign endorsements related to crypto
- Jeremy Kauffman, founder of LBRY, May 2024
- Cathie Wood, ARK Invest CEO and founder, june 2024
- Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Gemini co-founders, June 2024
- Douglas Leone, former managing partner of Sequoia Capital, June 2024
- Jesse Powell, Kraken co-founder and former CEO, June 2024
- David A. Marcus, former president of PayPal, July 2024
- Elon Musk, Tesla and Spacex co-founder, July 2024
- Justin Sun, founder of Tron, July 2024
- Mike Belshe, CEO of BitGo, July 2024
- Robert Kiyosaki, entrepreneur, businessman, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, July 2024
- Ryan Selkis, Messari co-founder and CEO, July 2024
- Charles Hoskinson, Cardano founder, August 2024
- Charlie Shrem, founder of Bitcoin Foundation, October 2024 Mare Andreessen, co-founder and general partner of Andreessen Horowitz, October 2024
Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign endorsements related to crypto
- Gene Sperling, former board member at Ripple and a former senior economic adviser to US President President Joe Biden, August 2024
- John O’Farrell, venture capitalist, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, August 2024
- JP Thieriot, former CEO at Uphold, ‘August 2024 ‘Anthony Scaramucci, SkyBridge Capital founder, September 2024
- Chris Larsen, Ripple co-founder, September 2024
- Cleve Mesidor, executive director of Blockchain Foundation, September 2024
- Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz (previously endorsed Donald Trump), October 2024
- Mark Cuban, October 2024
- Laura Shin, Unchained founder, October 2024
Trump Takes the Lead in Crypto Endorsements
Trump, who has shifted his stance on Bitcoin in recent years, appears to have more backing from the crypto sector than Harris.
One reason could be Harris’s late campaign launch, as she won the Democratic nomination in July, whereas Trump declared his bid in November 2022.
Trump received an early endorsement from LBRY founder Jeremy Kauffman in May 2024.
On the other hand, Harris’s first major crypto endorsement came in August 2024 when JP Thieriot, former Uphold CEO, voiced his support. Shortly after, John O’Farrell from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) joined in backing Harris.
I just personally donated $1m (mostly #ETH) to @realDonaldTrump.
— Jesse Powell (@jespow) June 28, 2024
For too long, the crypto industry has been under attack by Elizabeth Warren, Gary Gensler and others. Despite overwhelming bipartisan Congressional efforts to put clear rules in place, the Biden White House has… pic.twitter.com/Ksxf3P2oCb
Crypto Influencers Endorsing Trump
Several prominent crypto figures have endorsed Trump, including executives from major exchanges like Kraken and Gemini.
In June, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss of Gemini committed $2 million in Bitcoin to Trump’s campaign, citing his “pro-crypto” perspective.
Kraken co-founder Jesse Powell pledged $1 million in June, calling Trump “the only pro-crypto major party candidate.”
ARK Invest founder Cathie Wood, known for her bullish stance on Bitcoin, also supported Trump in June, believing BTC could reach $1 million per coin in the future.
Elon Musk, who has led Tesla’s $700 million Bitcoin investment, endorsed Trump and attended his rallies.
Other well-known supporters include Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, BitGo CEO Mike Belshe, Tron’s Justin Sun, Bitcoin Foundation founder Charlie Shrem, author Robert Kiyosaki, and Messari co-founder Ryan Selkis.
The list of Trump’s supporters also includes business leaders such as former PayPal president David Marcus, Sequoia Capital’s Douglas Leone, and Andreessen Horowitz co-founder Marc Andreessen.
Harris Draws Crypto Support Despite Late Entry
Despite starting later, Harris has gained endorsements from some crypto leaders. She voiced support for cryptocurrency regulation on Sept. 23, highlighting a balance between innovation and consumer protection.
Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen endorsed Harris through a public letter in early September.
Cleve Mesidor, executive director at the Blockchain Foundation, pledged support for Harris with a $100,000 fundraiser.
Unchained podcast founder Laura Shin urged Harris in an October Time article to not only back crypto but to help it thrive.
Billionaire investor Mark Cuban has been vocal about supporting Harris, arguing a second Trump term would be “worse.” He noted he hasn’t contributed financially to Harris’s campaign.
Other notable Harris supporters include VC firms a16z’s John O’Farrell, who committed to voting for her, and SkyBridge Capital’s Anthony Scaramucci, who is actively involved in shaping her campaign’s crypto policies.
Which candidate is better for #Bitcoin?
— Michael Saylor⚡️ (@saylor) October 27, 2024
Crypto Neutrality or Optimism?
Some industry leaders have chosen to remain neutral, confident that crypto will grow regardless of the election outcome.
In October, investor Tim Draper disclosed donations to both campaigns, expressing faith in both candidates’ intentions.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong shared a similar sentiment in August, predicting that the future administration will adopt a “constructive” approach toward crypto.
Quantum Economics founder Mati Greenspan believes this reflects the prevailing Bitcoin sentiment that regulatory challenges won’t hinder crypto growth, a sentiment that resonates with parts of the crypto community.
On Oct. 27, a poll by MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor showed a preference for Trump, with 90% of 100,000 voters on social media favoring him for Bitcoin.