On a chilly fall evening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it wasn’t just crypto enthusiasts in the City of Brotherly Love who showed up to show their support for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies at the fifth stop on the route. America loves cryptocurrencies The event was held at the Vinnell, a chic venue in the heart of the city, and was packed with a diverse crowd of about 200 people, evenly split between men and women. The crowds at this event have grown in size and enthusiasm over time, lending some credence to the idea that the encrypted voting bloc could play a role in influencing major races in the US election in November.
Speakers on this date of the tour included former U.S. Senator and Coinbase Global Advisory Board member Pat Toomey (R); former Representative Patrick Murphy (D); Kara Calvert, Head of U.S. Policy at Coinbase; and Dominic Folino, Chairman of Coinbase’s Board of Directors. Pennsylvania Blockchain AllianceDavid Johnson, General Council and Strategic Advisor, Giving BlockCody Eddings, Co-Founder and CEO Fast refund; Wissam Weinrot, Co-Founder of Dow’s Pizza.Electronic pop artist Love Chair the event.
The theme of the event was that Pennsylvanians, with its 1.4 million cryptocurrency owners, have a big role to play if they want to help move the United States in a more pro-crypto direction. Pennsylvania is one of the states with the largest number of cryptocurrency owners in the world. Seven swing states The outcome of the US presidential election in November will likely be determined by the state with the most electoral votes: 19. Since 18 times more people in that state own cryptocurrencies, Vote difference Between President Biden and former President Trump in the 2020 presidential election, it is imperative that Bitcoin and cryptocurrency supporters in Pennsylvania vote, as speakers at the event made clear.
Former Politicians Urge Crypto-Promoting Pennsylvanians to Vote
As one of the first speakers at the event, Tommy, a longtime crypto advocate, set the tone for the evening, calling on voters to vote anti-crypto politicians out of office.
“My former colleagues have been unable to pass legislation, and the out-of-control SEC is casting a dark shadow over all forms of crypto development,” Tommy began from the stage.
“The growth of this entire sector has to happen in the United States,” he added. “We’ve got the lead. We have the tremendous entrepreneurial spirit. We have the infrastructure. But increasingly, some of our most talented people are leaving because there are jurisdictions abroad that have provided legal clarity on this.”
“There are some people in Congress from both parties who are very much in favor of allowing cryptocurrencies to develop and flourish. There are others who are very hostile. My suggestion: Some of the naysayers should lose the election.”
Murphy showed similar energy, highlighting the importance of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies as well as the role of Pennsylvanians as voters in protecting them.
“The whole point of cryptocurrencies is the fact that we don’t have to rely on a government or a central bank,” Murphy said, noting that we can use technology to control our own destiny.
He then supported Tommy’s call for action on voting to remove anti-crypto politicians from office.
“He was absolutely right when he said there are people who are not with us, and we need to hold them accountable,” Murphy said.
To that end, Murphy stressed that Pennsylvania voters have a key role to play in this election.
“There are only six states that will control this election, and Pennsylvania is one of the states that has 19 electoral votes. So we have a very important vote, but only if we use it,” Murphy said.
Founders demand clear encryption rules
Following the talks by Tommy and Murphy, there was a founders’ panel discussion that included Johnson, Folino, Eddings, and Weinroot.
Similar to what was discussed in a panel discussion at the first stop of the tour, the founders in attendance asked for little more than clear rules of the road regarding cryptocurrencies from the US regulatory apparatus.
“Crypto compliance in the US right now is very difficult because, as much as you want to follow the rules, it’s not always clear what the rules are,” Johnson said.
“A lot of people in Washington either don’t understand technology, don’t care to understand it, or in many cases, unfortunately, are hostile to it,” he added. “The reality is that innovators will innovate, whether it’s here or somewhere else.”
“We know that cryptocurrencies are the future of payments, and the reason we are here to support that is because we want it to happen in the United States, not anywhere else.”
Folino joined the discussion, sharing his thoughts on the barriers preventing the crypto industry from thriving in the United States.
“I think the politicians, the organization, and the senator whose name we all know are the main reason we haven’t moved forward,” Folino said, likely referring to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Senate president. Anti-Crypto Army“Everyone should get out and vote; and everyone should continue to educate everyone they can.”
Folino is no stranger to educating others, including Pennsylvania policymakers, about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Through his work with the Pennsylvania Blockchain Alliance, he frequently speaks with statewide politicians.
“People definitely want it,” Volino told Bitcoin Magazine of the elected officials and bureaucrats he teaches in Pennsylvania.
“We have a lot of more open-minded members in the Pennsylvania House. And I think they get that in the Senate as well,” he added, before sharing that cryptocurrencies will be a central issue in the upcoming Pennsylvania state elections both this election cycle and even more so in the future.
sophisticated voter base
Calvert echoed Folino’s sentiment that crypto will continue to be a bigger voting issue as time goes on. She was also pleasantly surprised not only by the number of people who spoke out to make crypto an issue this election cycle, but also by the intensity of those who spoke out and came out to America Loves Crypto tour events.
“It’s a really sophisticated crowd,” Calvert said of the tour’s attendance. “I was expecting more people who just came for the artists, and what I found was that these people really care about crypto.”
Calvert also commented on the fact that attendees are not only educated when it comes to cryptocurrencies but are also active voters.
“In Detroit I asked the question: How many people know where their polling place is?” Calvert said, before mimicking the reaction of the majority of the crowd by shooting her hand in the air.
“I was amazed,” she added. “So it’s not just their evolution as crypto owners, (but) their evolution as voters. In Milwaukee, same thing. Here, same thing. I was amazed at how much they evolved.”
Because of what she saw on the tour, Calvert believes the Bitcoin and cryptocurrency industry will find a home in the United States.
“America will win,” Calvert said.
“You can’t stop innovation from happening. You can make it more difficult. You can create barriers. But in the end, I think innovation wins,” she added, before suggesting that a powerful new crypto voting bloc should get out and vote in November to help speed up that process — especially in a state like Pennsylvania.
The final date of the America Loves Crypto tour is scheduled for Wednesday, September 18 at The Black Cat in Washington, D.C. and will feature a performance by The Chainsmokers.You can RSVP to the event. here.