An executive from Ripple, the company responsible for the XRP cryptocurrency, is among many who have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris’s bid for the presidency. Chris Larsen, co-founder and executive chairman of Ripple, has signed a letter promoting Harris as a candidate for the 2024 presidential race. This was reported by CNBC on September 6.
The document, signed by 88 esteemed business leaders in the United States, also bears the signatures of individuals like Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO of Box, Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman, Snap chairman Michael Lynton, and ex-21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch.
A former member of Ripple’s board, Gene Sperling, had earlier in August, left his position in the White House to join Harris’s campaign team. In 2015, he joined Ripple’s board, after having served as an economic advisor under Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. He was also part of President Joe Biden’s administration from 2021 till his move.
Sperling is not the only one with a background in cryptocurrency to have joined Harris’s campaign. David Plouffe, an ex-advisor to Binance and crypto payment firm Alchemy Pay, is also reported to have joined in August.
The CEO of Ripple, Brad Garlinghouse, has reportedly predicted that irrespective of the election’s winner, US Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, a key regulator in the crypto industry, will likely step down. He, along with other industry experts, believes that the election results will significantly influence the crypto landscape.
Cryptocurrency has become an important aspect of presidential campaigns, with Harris’s campaign spokesperson indicating in August that they will accept campaign donations in cryptocurrency. The significance of cryptocurrency even transcends political lines, as former President Donald Trump has expressed continued support for it.
Larsen is not the only cryptocurrency heavyweight who has come out in support of a US presidential candidate. Cathie Wood, CEO of ARK Invest, declared her support for Trump in June. Gemini co-founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss have committed to donating $1 million in BTC to Trump’s reelection campaign.