On March 11, 2025, Rep. Ro Khanna gave a brief however impactful discuss on the Bitcoin Coverage Institute’s Bitcoin for America summit.
“Bitcoin is transformational for therefore many individuals all over the world,” Rep. Khanna acknowledged on the summit. “That’s the reason the Democratic Get together needs to be embracing it as one thing that may create monetary empowerment for folks not simply in the USA, however all over the world.”
That is the kind of message he’s been spreading for years now, and he’s urged his fellow Democrats to observe his lead. He’s implored them to not be frightened of Bitcoin however to view it simply as they view different main technological developments of our time, together with the web itself.
“My purpose is to make Bitcoin bipartisan,” Rep. Khanna instructed Bitcoin Journal. “I need to persuade Democrats that bitcoin is a next-generation retailer of worth that tens of millions of individuals all over the world use and that America displaying management on it permits us to attach with these folks, usually among the most disenfranchised.”
For a celebration that usually advocates for monetary inclusion, it appears nearly ironic that so many Democrats have regarded previous Bitcoin, an open-source know-how that anybody can use with nothing greater than an web connection (and, in some circumstances, even with out one).
With that stated, Rep. Khanna made the purpose that, whereas he stays one of many few extra vocal Democrats with regards to being pro-Bitcoin, the variety of Democratic politicians who’ve acknowledged that they’re in favor of the know-how has elevated considerably over the previous few years.
“We went from simply 10 of us or so supporting Bitcoin and crypto to nearly 70 or 80,” stated Rep. Khanna. “It’s taking place slowly.”
And whereas some have attributed to malice most Democrats’ historic stance on Bitcoin, Rep. Khanna claims the problem is extra a lack of expertise of the know-how’s goal and use circumstances.
“Some Democratic politicians are usually not conscious of how useful Bitcoin will be with remittances or how it may be utilized by those that don’t have entry to U.S. {dollars},” stated the congressman. “Many individuals all over the world use it for each causes,” he added, alluding to the concept many, together with some Democrats, may not pay attention to this reality.
The Bitcoin And Crypto Voting Bloc In U.S. Swing States
In response to analysis from Coinbase, in every of the swing states in the newest U.S. presidential election, there have been about 10 instances the variety of crypto holders in comparison with the vote differential between Biden and Trump in 2020.
Harris misplaced to Trump in every of those swing states, leaving some to take a position that the turnout of the Bitcoin and crypto voting bloc could have been one of many major forces that swayed the election in Trump’s favor.
Whereas Rep. Khanna doesn’t know to what extent this voting bloc impacted the election outcomes, he agreed that it was seemingly considered one of many main components that affected the end result of the election.
“I believe it made a distinction,” stated the congressman. “In such a detailed election, every thing issues, and the very fact that there have been some Democrats who offended Bitcoin and crypto voters was not useful.”
And Rep. Khanna is just not alone in acknowledging this.
In December 2024, on the New York Instances DealBook Summit, Van Jones — political analyst, media persona, and distinguished voice throughout the Democratic celebration — acknowledged that it was to the Democratic celebration’s detriment that it shut out pro-Bitcoin and pro-crypto voters.
Rep. Khanna sang Jones’ praises and stated that we needs to be listening to extra voices like Jones’ throughout the Democratic celebration talking up in favor of Bitcoin within the close to future.
“I’ve a variety of respect for Van Jones,” stated Rep. Khanna.
“He spent a while within the Bay Space, so he will get know-how. The celebration can be transferring in a path that’s going to embrace Bitcoin and different applied sciences,” he added.
Will President Trump’s Embrace Of Bitcoin Deter Democrats From Supporting It?
Whereas it solely appears logical that the Democratic celebration would reverse its stance on Bitcoin if it’s seeking to decide up seats on the Home and Senate come the 2026 midterm elections, it concurrently appears tough to think about extra Democrats popping out in help of Bitcoin given the extremely partisan political local weather within the U.S. coupled with the truth that President Trump is an ardent Bitcoin supporter.
Rep. Khanna argued that Democrats shouldn’t be pondering alongside celebration strains with regards to Bitcoin, however moderately assessing the know-how based mostly solely on what it’s.
“Politicians are able to evaluating Bitcoin on its deserves,” stated Rep. Khanna.
“Bitcoin is only a decentralized digital forex that permits peer-to-peer transactions and not using a want for an middleman. Individuals simply want to check Bitcoin and study that it’s only a medium of trade,” he added.
Rep. Khanna additionally took a second to distinguish between Bitcoin and meme cash, highlighting the truth that the president’s lately launched coin ($TRUMP) creates a lot confusion concerning the worth proposition of crypto property, together with bitcoin.
“We shouldn’t have elected officers like President Trump launching meme cash,” stated the congressman.
Getting Democrats on the Proper Aspect of Historical past
At a time when many U.S. residents are struggling to make ends meet, ought to Bitcoin be a front-and-center challenge for Democrats, as soon as extensively thought to be the political celebration of the center and dealing class?
Rep. Khanna doesn’t essentially assume so, however he additionally doesn’t assume the celebration ought to proceed to pooh-pooh the know-how.
“There are far greater points at hand proper now just like the cuts in Medicaid, the firing of veterans, and the erratic coverage of tariffs,” the congressman defined.
“However the Democrats have been on the incorrect facet of problems with innovation and Bitcoin in 2022 and 2024, and we now have a chance to get on the fitting facet of it,” he added.
So, how can pro-Bitcoin Democrat voters assist to get their celebration on the fitting facet of historical past with regards to Bitcoin?
Rep. Khanna had just a few options:
“They need to level to these of us who’re main on Bitcoin and crypto,” he stated.
“They will encourage members of presidency to check the problem, in order that they’re not uninformed,” he added.
“And they need to discuss in regards to the huge adoption of Bitcoin.”
