On September 23, Ian Calderon joined the Gubernatorial Elections in California. He vowed to make sure that Bitcoin can be on the state’s steadiness sheet if he have been elected. Nonetheless, many within the Bitcoin group are skeptical.
Abstract
- Calderon has a multi-year monitor document of advocating for crypto and Bitcoin within the California legislature.
- Calderon is making an attempt to attraction to each Republicans and Democrats.
- The announcement of his gubernatorial marketing campaign sparked blended reactions from the crypto group.
Who’s Calderon?
Calderon, a Democrat, drew scrutiny final week along with his pro-crypto stance. Critics say his Bitcoin narrative is a PR stunt. But, others discovered Calderon’s bid noteworthy, because it signifies the rising bipartisan help for Bitcoin.
Calderon served three phrases within the California Legislature earlier than quitting in 2020. He was the primary millennial elected to the Legislature and the youngest majority chief within the historical past of the California State Meeting.
Amongst his Bitcoin-related initiatives is one geared toward pulling crypto out of the grey zone. In any case, Calderon is the creator of the 2018 invoice AB 2658, which created California’s Blockchain Working Group. It aimed to discover the potential use of blockchain know-how and cryptocurrencies, collaborate with policymakers to outline the authorized standing of cryptocurrencies, and assess potential dangers.
Between 2020 and 2022, he contributed to the Blockchain Working Group’s roadmap and commenced engaged on a invoice geared toward making Bitcoin a authorized tender in California.
Calderon noticed the invoice as groundbreaking laws for your entire nation. He mentioned in 2022:
“It’s necessary that we’re making this effort in California due to the nationwide implications it should have. The purpose right here is to have a nationwide mannequin piece of laws that may work anyplace within the nation.”
It’s value saying that regardless of Calderon’s declare about Bitcoin as authorized tender, the invoice doesn’t comprise the phrases “Bitcoin” or “cryptocurrency.” As an alternative, it offers a fairly imprecise definition of “digital forex” meant as a method of fee for items and companies. Calderon provided to launch pilot packages to deal with the invoice’s authorized ambiguity for the native cities. The invoice has not seen a lot progress since November 2022.
Calderon’s platform
Calderon’s announcement was accompanied by a video clip wherein he outlined the issues he plans to deal with as governor. He mentions rising fuel and grocery costs and the housing disaster:
“Childcare prices are uncontrolled, paychecks aren’t maintaining with the price of dwelling, fuel costs are the very best within the nation, and now, shopping for a house is changing into out of attain.”
Moreover, Calderon notes that too many houses in California are owned by firms and overseas traders, “stopping native households from attaining full possession alternatives.”
Calderon presents himself as a Democrat who believes in common sense options and doesn’t at all times agree along with his occasion. The entire listing of his initiatives is out there on his marketing campaign’s web site, Ian For Governor.
He barely mentions Bitcoin within the video; nonetheless, on the day when he introduced his governor bid, Calderon took to an X to state that it’s time to make California an undisputed chief on Bitcoin.
Response
A protracted-time ally, Dennis Porter, the Satoshi Act Fund CEO, has been teasing his 200,000-plus follower base with an necessary announcement for days.
When it turned out that he simply needed to tell his followers that Calderon is working for governor of California, a lot of his followers mentioned the announcement wasn’t well worth the hype.
A few of them equate Democrats with a warfare on crypto and don’t consider Calderon is a real Bitcoin supporter.
Most of them are unaware of Calderon’s monitor document as a Bitcoin advocate. Seemingly, the truth that the largest crypto payments of 2025 have been bipartisan doesn’t matter to them both.
Different critics recalled Calderon’s uncles, Ron and Tom, who have been concerned in California political life. In 2016, they have been convicted on public corruption costs.
The hostile reactions stemming from Porter’s announcement unfold on the remark sections of the bulletins made by Calderon himself and a number of other crypto influencers.
The latter contains The Wolf of All Streets podcast host Scott Melker and Wendy O, who’s the host of the largest female-run Bitcoin YouTube present, “The O Present.” Some expressed help for Calderon’s ambitions however urged him to cease his affiliation with Porter.
However, many different folks greeted an overtly pro-Bitcoin candidate from the Democratic Get together, hoping that Calderon may oppose fellow Democrats who go in opposition to Bitcoin.
Competitors
The battle for a governor’s seat in 2026 is already thought of a troublesome contest. Calderon is going through a number of noteworthy candidates, together with Congresswoman Katie Porter from the Democratic Get together and Republican Fox Information contributor Steve Hilton.
Provided that the election will happen on Nov. 5, Calderon might approve himself in some unspecified time in the future. But, it’s onerous to say if his participation within the race makes a distinction.
