VP Harris says she'll encourage crypto business while protecting consumers at Wall Street fundraiser: Bloomberg

Quick Take

  • Vice President Harris said she would “encourage innovative technologies like AI and digital assets while protecting our consumers and investors” as President during comments made at a Wall Street fundraiser, according to a Bloomberg reporter present. 
  • Reuters also reported on Sunday that the Harris campaign plans to unveil new economic policies this upcoming week. 
  • Harris is currently leading in 4 of 6 swing states according to election prediction market Polymarket, which currently gives the VP a 52% chance of winning the presidency over former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump. 

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for President in November's upcoming election, has reportedly made her first comments addressing the crypto industry during a recent Wall Street fundraiser, adding AI and crypto to her vision of an 'opportunity economy.' 

"To build that opportunity economy, I will bring together labor, small business, founders and innovators and major companies. We will partner together to invest in America's competitiveness, to invest in America's future. We will encourage innovative technologies like AI and digital assets while protecting consumers and investors. We will create a safe business environment with consistent and transparent rules of the road," Harris stated according to Bloomberg reporter Jennifer Epstein, who was present at the fundraiser. 

The Manhattan fundraiser was billed by organizers as the final chance to see Harris speak in New York in person before the November election, Bloomberg previously reported, citing one source calling the event the "hottest ticket in town." Tickets for the event started at $500 and went up to $1 million in an attempt to expand Harris' already-sizable monetary lead over her opponent, former President Donald Trump. Also present at the event were celebrities Anne Hathaway, Whoopi Goldberg, and Billy Porter, according to Epstein

Reuters also reported on Sunday that Harris plans to "roll out a new set of economic policies this week that aim to help Americans build wealth and set economic incentives for businesses to aid that goal" this upcoming week, though specific details were likewise scarce. 

Following her debate with Trump, Harris' odds have jumped on election prediction market Polymarket, with the Vice President leading in four out of six swing states. The site currently gives Harris a 52% chance of winning the Presidency in November against 47% odds for Donald Trump. 

Trump in recent days has made additional overtures to the crypto industry, patronizing Bitcoin-themed bar PubKey in New York City and releasing more details on his family's World Liberty Financial project, though the response to the latter has been polarizing among the crypto industry


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About Author

Zack Abrams is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York. Before coming to The Block, he was the Head Writer at Coinage, a Web3 media outlet covering the biggest stories in Web3. The story he co-reported on Do Kwon won a 2022 Best in Business Journalism award from SABEW. Other projects included a deep dive into SBF's defense based on exclusive documents and unveiling the identity of the hacker behind one of 2023's biggest crypto hacks — so far. He can be reached via X @zackdabrams or email, [email protected].