In an eventful Twitter Space rendezvous with Elon Musk, Florida’s incumbent Governor, Ron DeSantis, declared his intention to run for president in 2024, with a vow to safeguard Bitcoin from overbearing regulation. DeSantis’ declaration to protect the prominent cryptocurrency is a unique pillar in a presidential bid and surely got crypto enthusiasts all ears.
Around 520,000 live listeners tuned into the virtual announcement, which was moderated by David Sacks, a renowned venture capitalist. DeSantis highlighted Bitcoin’s significance to its users, stating that those involved in the digital currency sector are astute enough to evaluate risks. “You have every right to do Bitcoin. The only reason these people in Washington don’t like it, is because they don’t control it,” he argued, labeling Capitol Hill bureaucrats as “central planners.”
In addition to this, DeSantis pointed out the ongoing power struggle between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the cryptocurrency domain. The Florida governor criticized the SEC for overstepping its authority, alluding that the “bureaucracy” had taken charge due to Congress’ lack of explicit guidance.
This month also saw DeSantis put forth an anti-central bank digital currency (CBDC) bill in Florida, effectively banning federal and foreign CBDCs. While DeSantis’ presidential journey has just begun, his stand on cryptocurrency is likely to set a new precedent in political debates. However, the road to the White House isn’t solitary, as other hopefuls, like Democratic candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have also shown support for Bitcoin.