The Republican National Committee (RNC) in the United States has approved a preliminary version of their policy platform, which includes support for cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin (BTC) mining.
As stated on Donald Trump’s campaign website on July 8, the RNC draft highlights a change in the official party’s stance, recognizing crypto as one of the ways Republicans aim to promote innovation in the US economy. The platform criticizes Democrats for their “unlawful” crackdown on crypto and declares opposition to the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).
The updated platform emphasizes the party’s commitment to defending the right to mine Bitcoin and ensuring that every American has the freedom to self-custody their digital assets and engage in transactions without government surveillance and control.
These changes to the party’s platform were made ahead of the RNC’s national convention, which is scheduled to begin on July 15. It is widely expected that Trump will officially receive the nomination for US president during the convention. Initially, Trump was supposed to face sentencing on July 11 after being convicted on 34 felony counts in New York. However, following a Supreme Court decision regarding presidential immunity, the hearing has been postponed to September.
The reasons behind the RNC’s inclusion of a section on cryptocurrencies, which aligns with many of Trump’s views, remain unclear. Prior to his reelection announcement, Trump had expressed skepticism towards Bitcoin, calling it a potential disaster. However, in 2024, his campaign has started accepting crypto contributions, and the Republican candidate has advocated for the mining of all remaining Bitcoin within the country.
The fact that Trump’s daughter, Lara, has been co-chairing the RNC since March suggests that she may have influenced the change in the party’s platform. Cointelegraph reached out to the RNC for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
In related news, a CNN debate on June 27 between President Joe Biden and Trump did not touch upon the topic of digital assets. Biden’s performance during the debate, characterized by a weaker voice, stumbling through some answers, and coughing, has led some to call for him to step aside for another Democratic candidate. As of July 8, Biden has stated his intention to be the party’s nominee.
The Democratic National Committee is expected to select an official nominee before August 7, which is the deadline for parties to apply and appear on the ballot in Ohio. The party’s convention is scheduled for August 19, approximately 78 days prior to the US Election Day on November 5.
Overall, crypto voters are already making their presence felt in the 2024 election, and this trend is expected to continue.