Cryptocurrency-supporting candidate Ramaswamy withdraws from US presidential election

10 months ago 60

Former President Trump dominates other candidates

US presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who was known for his support for crypto assets (virtual currencies), announced on the 15th (US time) that he would be withdrawing from the campaign following the results of the Republican caucus.

In the caucuses, former President Donald Trump received 51% of the vote with 99% of the votes counted, overwhelming the other candidates. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was second, followed by former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Ramaswamy was fourth.

Responding to Trump’s support, Ramaswamy said:

This entire campaign is about speaking the TRUTH. We did not achieve our goal tonight & we need an America-First patriot in the White House. The people spoke loud & clear about who they want. Tonight I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Donald J Trump and will do everything…

— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) January 16, 2024

People clearly stated who they wanted. Tonight, I will stop campaigning, support Donald Trump, and do everything in my power to help him become the next President of the United States.

Mr. Ramaswamy is an entrepreneur who launched a successful biotech company. He was initially seen as a viable candidate, but as of last summer, he had risen to second place behind Trump in a CNN poll.

Although it had received some support from the crypto industry, including Ryan Serkis, CEO of crypto currency research company Messari, it has been slow to grow.

Following the election results, Serkis told X, “Vivek is now the most influential liberal in this country and supports cryptocurrencies. Trump knows his value.” Posted.

The US presidential election is scheduled for November this year.

connection:
U.S. presidential election, virtual currency, and growing interest in Bitcoin policy among voters = Grayscale survey

DeSantis and others also support virtual currency

Ron DeSantis, who came in second place this time, is also known for his positive attitude towards virtual currencies. In 2022, the state of Florida allocated $700,000 (approximately 100 million yen) in its state budget to promote virtual currency and blockchain.

He also opposes central bank digital currencies (CBDC), pointing out the risks of government surveillance of the public. In May, he signed a bill banning CBDCs in the state of Florida, and as president, he has also said that he would one day ban CBDCs in the United States.

Among the Democratic candidates running for office, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports cryptocurrencies. He also accepts campaign donations in Bitcoin (BTC), and he has said that if elected president, he wants to guarantee the right to hold and use Bitcoin.

connection:
Candidates who pledge to “protect Bitcoin” will also focus on virtual currency policy in the 2024 presidential election?

Trump issues NFT

Although former President Trump has taken a skeptical stance toward virtual currencies, he has made money by selling NFTs (non-fungible tokens) with his own motif.

connection:
Former US President Trump owns Ethereum worth up to 70 million yen

connection:
Cryptocurrency portfolio linked to former President Trump may have sold $2.4 million worth of Ethereum – Arkham data

What is NFT?

Abbreviation for “Non-Fungible Token”, a digital token that is non-fungible and has unique value. It is not only used for exchanging “digital items” in blockchain games, but also for proof of ownership of expensive works of art, and is an innovative tool for rights holders (creators) in the “secondary distribution market,” which was difficult to achieve through second-hand sales. It is also attracting attention as a means of giving back.

Virtual currency glossary