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Rachel Wolfson
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Rachel Wolfson
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A number of politicians in the United States are taking a stance on Bitcoin (BTC) as the 2024 presidential election approaches.
Ted Cruz, the junior U.S. Senator from Texas, has been particularly vocal about Bitcoin recently.
On August 12, Cruz spoke at an event organized by the blockchain advocacy organization, the Texas Blockchain Council (TBC). The event took place at a Core Scientific mining facility located in Denton, Texas.
“God bless Texas, and god bless Bitcoin,” Cruz said as he addressed a crowd of about 150 people.
Cruz added that he is “proud to stand side by side with Bitcoin miners and the entire crypto community in Texas and across the country.”
“I am incredibly bullish on Bitcoin and crypto,” Cruz said. “Texas is, and I want Texas even more so to be, the oasis for Bitcoin mining across the face of the globe.”
Texas Blockchain Council Endorses Senator Cruz
Lee Bratcher, President of TBC, announced at the gathering that TBC would endorse Cruz in his upcoming race for reelection.
“As we stand on the cusp of a new era of financial innovation, it’s crucial we have leaders who understand the importance of maintaining the environment where innovation can prosper free from unnecessary government interference,” Bratcher said.
Following the event, Cruz told Cryptonews that he was proud to be endorsed by TBC, noting that it’s important for Bitcoin miners and the crypto community to come together to support his campaign.
Yet Cruz further mentioned that in order for Bitcoin and crypto to continue to thrive in the U.S., the government has got to “leave it alone.”
“Sadly, there are a lot of voices in Washington that want to destroy Bitcoin,” Cruz remarked.
Bitcoin Remains at Risk in the US
For example, Cruz mentioned that U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren poses a major risk to Bitcoin and cryptocurrency innovation.
This year alone, Warren criticized the push for a stablecoin bill without anti-money laundering laws in place. Warren made the claim that stablecoins present a threat to consumers and the entire banking system, noting that stablecoins could create destabilization and security risks.
Warren also introduced the Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act (DAAMLA) bill in December 2022. Warren claimed that crypto was being used by “rogue nations, oligarchs, drug lords, and human traffickers […] to launder billions in stolen funds.” The bill aims to bring the crypto industry under existing Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing frameworks.
“Elizabeth Warren hates Bitcoin for the same reason communist China does – because she can’t control it,” Cruz said.
Senator Cruz also pointed out that U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler wants to destroy Bitcoin.
Gensler has been a long-time skeptic of Bitcoin and recently mentioned that spot Ether (ETH) exchange-traded funds (ETF) approval “will take some time.” Ironically, spot Ether ETFs began trading in the U.S. shortly after Gensler mentioned this.
Cruz Believes Texas Is an Oasis for Bitcoiners Seeking Freedom
While a number of barriers remain for crypto innovation in the U.S., Cruz believes that Texas represents “an oasis for Bitcoin mining and crypto innovation.”
He noted that this is the case due to Texas’ welcoming atmosphere toward Bitcoin mining entrepreneurs, along with the state’s love of freedom.
According to data from TBC, Texas currently contains the most amount of Bitcoin miners in the U.S., with just over 2,000 miners across the state.
Texas also continues to see significant economic growth with Large Flexible Loads, which includes cryptocurrency miners that add demand to the grid.
Other States Aim to Attract Crypto Holders and Miners
While this may, other states have also started to attract miners and crypto holders. For example, Oklahoma’s governor recently signed a bill into law that defines legal rights for cryptocurrency holders.
Beginning November 1 this year, every Oklahoman will have the inalienable right to self-custody of their digital assets and the right to mine cryptocurrency at home. The only restriction being that home rigs do not violate local noise ordinances.
Florida has also become a hub for crypto enthusiasts. According to data from CoinLedger, Florida has been named the “best state” for cryptocurrency taxes in the U.S.
Senator Cruz mentioned that he hopes Texas will outpace Florida in terms of crypto innovation moving forward.
