Chris Larsen Gives $11.8M to Kamala Harris’s 2024 Campaign
Chris Larsen, the co-founder of Ripple, is about to turn into a significant donor for the 2024 presidential re-election bid of Vice President Kamala Harris. According to CNBC, Larsen contributed $9.9 million to the Future Forward PAC and $800,000 to the Harris Victory Fund, making him one of the largest crypto-industry donors this election cycle.
Shared Vision for Innovation
Larsen is supporting Harris due to her Bay Area roots and her understanding of the innovation economy. In an X post, he said that Democrats are in need of a “new approach” in regards to tech innovation, which would cover cryptocurrency as well. He explained that the policy of Harris will ensure American leadership in emerging technologies like blockchain and crypto.
Crypto to Play Important Role in 2024
Larsen’s contributions are part of the growing engagement of the crypto sector in the 2024 election. So far, the industry has contributed nearly $190 million, with more than $130 million spent in congressional races. While the majority of crypto contributions have leaned toward Republicans, Larsen’s support for Harris suggests one glaring outlier-a sign that crypto is part of the Democratic campaign, too.
Ripple CEO on Bipartisan Engagement
Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple added to Larsen’s thread on X: “Pleased to see bipartisan support for pro-crypto policies. And that’s exactly what we’re going to continue to do here at Ripple-working with Democrats and Republicans alike to advance the ball for blockchain and crypto innovation, regardless of which party is in power”.
Harris Gains Crypto Support
Names like Mark Cuban have commended Kamala Harris’s engagement with the crypto industry, even going as far as to praise her for taking the time to meet with the leaders in the industry and actually hearing their concerns. This open dialogue-contrasted with the Biden administration’s regulatory stance-may be just what helps Harris win over crypto supporters previously aligned with other candidates.
In the process, Larsen’s gifts to Harris underscore a crypto industry increasingly flexing its muscle in US politics, as the 2024 election takes form.
