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 therefore many individuals around the globe,” Rep. Khanna said on the summit. “That’s the reason the Democratic Celebration needs to be embracing it as one thing that may create monetary empowerment for folks not simply in america, 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 comply with his lead. He’s implored them to not be afraid 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 informed Bitcoin Journal. “I need 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 displaying management on it permits us to attach with these folks, usually a few of the most disenfranchised.”
For a celebration that always advocates for monetary inclusion, it appears virtually 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 mentioned, Rep. Khanna made the purpose that, whereas he stays one of many few extra vocal Democrats in terms of being pro-Bitcoin, the variety of Democratic politicians who’ve said 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 virtually 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 know-how’s goal and use circumstances.
“Some Democratic politicians aren’t conscious of how useful Bitcoin could 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 that many, together with some Democrats, won’t concentrate on this truth.
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 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 invest that the turnout of the Bitcoin and crypto voting bloc might have been one of many main 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 probably one in every of many main components that affected the result of the election.
“I feel it made a distinction,” mentioned the congressman. “In such an in depth election, the whole lot issues, and the actual fact that there have been some Democrats who offended Bitcoin and crypto voters was not useful.”
And Rep. Khanna 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 inside the Democratic social gathering — said that it was to the Democratic social gathering’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’ inside the Democratic social gathering talking up in favor of Bitcoin within the close to future.
“I’ve loads of respect for Van Jones,” mentioned Rep. Khanna.
“He spent a while within the Bay Space, so he will get know-how. The social gathering will likely 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 social gathering would reverse its stance on Bitcoin if it’s trying 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 social gathering strains in terms of Bitcoin, however slightly assessing the know-how based mostly 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 be taught 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 not too long ago launched coin ($TRUMP) creates a lot confusion relating to 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 challenge for Democrats, as soon as broadly thought to be the political social gathering of the center and dealing class?
Rep. Khanna doesn’t essentially suppose so, however he additionally doesn’t suppose the social gathering ought to proceed to pooh-pooh the know-how.
“There are far larger 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 incorrect aspect of problems with innovation and Bitcoin in 2022 and 2024, and we now have a chance to get on the precise aspect of it,” he added.
So, how can pro-Bitcoin Democrat voters assist to get their social gathering on the precise aspect of historical past in terms of Bitcoin?
Rep. Khanna had a number of solutions:
“They need to level to these of us who’re main on Bitcoin and crypto,” he mentioned.
“They will 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.”
