Politicians Rally Crypto Voters at America Loves Crypto Tour

On a sweltering 100°F evening in Phoenix, crypto aficionados from Arizona gathered eagerly for the inaugural night of the America Loves Crypto tour.

The tour, spearheaded by the Stand With Crypto Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to mobilizing America’s 52 million crypto owners to cast their votes in November, will traverse five critical swing states in the upcoming weeks, raising awareness about the significance of voting for candidates who advocate pro-crypto policies in the forthcoming US elections.

During this Arizona evening, dignitaries like Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Arizona House Speaker Pro Tempore Travis Grantham (R) addressed attendees alongside pioneering figures from the crypto sector before handing over the stage to the psychedelic soul rhythms of the Black Pumas.

The Mission and the Margin

“Our top priority is mobilizing the crypto vote,” Logan Dobson, Executive Director of Stand With Crypto, conveyed to Bitcoin Magazine.

“We aren’t advocating for specific candidates or parties. Our focus is solely on ensuring the crypto vote is counted,” he added.

“In several swing states, more individuals have already registered with Stand With Crypto than the winning margin in 2020,” he emphasized.

This assertion is particularly salient in Arizona, where during the 2020 presidential election, President Biden defeated former President Trump by approximately 10,500 votes. Stand With Crypto has enlisted nearly three times the number of crypto supporters — 27,231 — surpassing the voters who defined Biden’s winning margin from the previous election.

Encouragement from Politicians

Senator Sinema opened the event, encouraging attendees to boldly support candidates who endorse pro-crypto policies.

“You all are a vital force in Arizona, and it’s critical that we leverage this election cycle to amplify the crypto community’s voice,” Senator Sinema stated.

“We need to advocate for policies that foster innovation, ensuring that the financial system serves everyday individuals. It’s crucial for candidates across the board — in both state legislatures and federal offices — to comprehend crypto and strive toward a favorable political environment for it, rather than one based on misinformation, fear, and outdated regulations that restrict the industry,” she elaborated.

Sinema ended her remarks with what appeared to be a subtle critique of the Democrats, the party she departed from in December 2022.

“Don’t hesitate to back a candidate or an officeholder who dares to take risks,” she advised.

“You all recognize the importance of taking risks. The crypto field wouldn’t exist without innovation,” Sinema added.

“We must seek candidates who are sensible but willing to take risks and challenge the party-line narratives that aim to obstruct or delay this industry’s progress.”

Following Sinema, Grantham championed the freedoms that bitcoin and crypto offer their users.

Grantham spoke candidly from the stage, addressing how politicians mishandle the US dollar by spending irresponsibly and printing it at will. He insisted that it is particularly up to Gen Z and Millennials to vote for pro-crypto candidates to enable assets like bitcoin to compete against the dollar. He elaborated further on this issue in a backstage interview with Bitcoin Magazine.

“Many elected officials believe the government provides the answer to our monetary dilemmas, dismissing the consequences of fiscal irresponsibility and the notion that the dollar will always prevail — and that mindset is utterly misguided,” Grantham expressed to Bitcoin Magazine.

“The surging popularity of [crypto] is, in part, due to the current state of the dollar,” he asserted.

Thus, Grantham emphasized the importance of supporting candidates who oppose excessive regulation on crypto, advocating for those who promote freedom rather than control.

“It’s fundamentally about freedom versus control,” Grantham remarked.

“[Certain politicians aim for control] by keeping everyone tethered to a singular currency, blocking alternative options like crypto from breaking through. Competition is beneficial, particularly when the steward of the current system is misusing it so severely,” he concluded.

Founders Aren’t Asking For Much

Next, a panel of crypto founders from Arizona took the stage. The discussion featured Thor Abbasi, co-founder of the DeFi protocol Zivoe; George Mekhail, VP of Operations at Bitcoin Magazine and co-organizer of the Arizona Bitcoin Network; and Shelton Beascochea, co-founder of DevilsDAO and President of the Stand With Crypto Arizona Chapter.

The industry leaders conveyed little more than a demand for clarity in regulatory guidelines from the US government, allowing them to operate their businesses on-shore and in compliance. In an interview with Bitcoin Magazine, Abbasi mentioned the trepidation crypto founders feel due to the improper treatment by federal regulatory bodies under the Biden administration.

“One of our project’s biggest challenges is navigating how the industry interacts with banking institutions,” Abbasi said to Bitcoin Magazine.

“We’ve all likely heard of Operation Chokepoint 2.0,” he noted, referencing the government’s unconstitutional assault on the politically inconvenient but legally permissible crypto sector, leading to the debanking of numerous crypto firms.

“Having clear regulations detailing what crypto companies must adhere to for banking access would be tremendously advantageous.”

Mekhail wrapped up the verbal segment of the evening’s activities on a positive note, underscoring that the crypto sector has made significant strides, a trend likely to accelerate as time goes on.

“Consider where we stood four years ago,” Mekhail remarked.

“An event like this would have been inconceivable then. The fact that 15% of Americans possess some form of crypto is astonishing, especially when pondering where we might be four years from now,” he shared.

“The momentum is with us. Events like this and our active participation demonstrate that we have a voice, which is incredibly important.”

The second date of the America Loves Crypto tour is set for this evening, September 5, at The Space in Las Vegas, NV. You can RSVP for the event here.