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 thus many individuals all over the world,” Rep. Khanna said on the summit. “That’s the reason the Democratic Get together must be embracing it as one thing that may create monetary empowerment for individuals not simply in america, 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 petrified 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 informed Bitcoin Journal. “I wish 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 exhibiting management on it permits us to attach with these individuals, typically a number of 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 expertise that anybody can use with nothing greater than an web connection (and, in some instances, even with out one).
With that stated, Rep. Khanna made the purpose that, whereas he stays one of many few extra vocal Democrats relating to being pro-Bitcoin, the variety of Democratic politicians who’ve said 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,” 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 information of the expertise’s objective and use instances.
“Some Democratic politicians will not be conscious of how useful Bitcoin may 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 that many, together with some Democrats, won’t pay attention to this reality.
The Bitcoin And Crypto Voting Bloc In U.S. Swing States
In line 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 in all many main components that affected the result of the election.
“I believe it made a distinction,” stated 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 just isn’t alone in acknowledging this.
In December 2024, on the New York Instances DealBook Summit, Van Jones — political analyst, media persona, and outstanding voice throughout the Democratic occasion — said 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 stated that we must be listening to extra voices like Jones’ throughout the Democratic occasion talking up in favor of Bitcoin within the close to future.
“I’ve numerous respect for Van Jones,” stated Rep. Khanna.
“He spent a while within the Bay Space, so he will get expertise. The occasion shall be shifting 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 trying to choose up seats on the Home and Senate come the 2026 midterm elections, it concurrently appears tough 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 pondering alongside occasion strains relating to Bitcoin, however somewhat assessing the expertise primarily based solely on what it’s.
“Politicians are able to evaluating Bitcoin on its deserves,” stated Rep. Khanna.
“Bitcoin is only a decentralized digital foreign money that allows peer-to-peer transactions with no want for an middleman. Folks simply want to check Bitcoin and be taught that it’s only a medium of change,” 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 relating to 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 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 concern for Democrats, as soon as extensively 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 have been on the unsuitable facet of problems with innovation and Bitcoin in 2022 and 2024, and we now have a possibility to get on the precise facet of it,” he added.
So, how can pro-Bitcoin Democrat voters assist to get their occasion on the precise facet of historical past relating to Bitcoin?
Rep. Khanna had just a few solutions:
“They need to level to these of us who’re main on Bitcoin and crypto,” he stated.
“They’ll 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.”
