On March 11, 2025, Rep. Ro Khanna gave a brief however impactful speak on the Bitcoin Coverage Institute’s Bitcoin for America summit.
“Bitcoin is transformational for thus many individuals around the globe,” Rep. Khanna acknowledged on the summit. “That’s the reason the Democratic Social gathering needs to be embracing it as one thing that may create monetary empowerment for folks not simply in the USA, however around the globe.”
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 petrified of Bitcoin however to view it simply as they view different main technological developments of our time, together with the web itself.
“My objective is to make Bitcoin bipartisan,” Rep. Khanna advised Bitcoin Journal. “I wish to persuade Democrats that bitcoin is a next-generation retailer of worth that thousands and thousands of individuals around the globe use and that America exhibiting management on it permits us to attach with these folks, usually a few of the most disenfranchised.”
For a celebration that usually advocates for monetary inclusion, it appears nearly ironic that so many Democrats have appeared previous Bitcoin, an open-source expertise that anybody can use with nothing greater than an web connection (and, in some circumstances, even with out one).
With that mentioned, Rep. Khanna made the purpose that, whereas he stays one of many few extra vocal Democrats on the subject of being pro-Bitcoin, the variety of Democratic politicians who’ve acknowledged that they’re in favor of the expertise 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,” mentioned 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 expertise’s function and use circumstances.
“Some Democratic politicians will not be conscious of how useful Bitcoin might be with remittances or how it may be utilized by those that don’t have entry to U.S. {dollars},” mentioned the congressman. “Many individuals around the globe use it for each causes,” he added, alluding to the concept many, together with some Democrats, may not concentrate on this truth.
The Bitcoin And Crypto Voting Bloc In U.S. Swing States
In accordance with analysis from Coinbase, in every of the swing states in the latest 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 might 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 one among many main components that affected the end result of the election.
“I believe it made a distinction,” mentioned the congressman. “In such a detailed election, every thing issues, and the actual 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 Occasions DealBook Summit, Van Jones — political analyst, media persona, and outstanding voice throughout the Democratic occasion — acknowledged that it was to the Democratic occasion’s detriment that it shut out pro-Bitcoin and pro-crypto voters.
Rep. Khanna sang Jones’ praises and mentioned that we needs to be listening to extra voices like Jones’ throughout the Democratic occasion talking up in favor of Bitcoin within the close to future.
“I’ve plenty of respect for Van Jones,” mentioned Rep. Khanna.
“He spent a while within the Bay Space, so he will get expertise. The occasion will probably be transferring in a route 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 occasion would reverse its stance on Bitcoin if it’s seeking to choose up seats on the Home and Senate come the 2026 midterm elections, it concurrently appears troublesome to think about extra Democrats popping out in assist 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 considering alongside occasion strains on the subject of Bitcoin, however slightly assessing the expertise primarily based solely on what it’s.
“Politicians are able to evaluating Bitcoin on its deserves,” mentioned 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 review 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 just lately launched coin ($TRUMP) creates a lot confusion concerning the worth proposition of crypto belongings, together with bitcoin.
“We shouldn’t have elected officers like President Trump launching meme cash,” mentioned the congressman.
Getting Democrats on the Proper Facet 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 subject for Democrats, as soon as broadly considered the political occasion of the center and dealing class?
Rep. Khanna doesn’t essentially assume so, however he additionally doesn’t assume the occasion ought to proceed to pooh-pooh the expertise.
“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 had been on the fallacious facet of problems with innovation and Bitcoin in 2022 and 2024, and we now have a chance to get on the suitable facet of it,” he added.
So, how can pro-Bitcoin Democrat voters assist to get their occasion on the suitable facet of historical past on the subject of Bitcoin?
Rep. Khanna had a number of recommendations:
“They need to level to these of us who’re main on Bitcoin and crypto,” he mentioned.
“They’ll encourage members of presidency to review the problem, in order that they’re not uninformed,” he added.
“And they need to speak concerning the huge adoption of Bitcoin.”
