On March 11, 2025, Representative Ro Khanna delivered a brief yet significant speech at the Bitcoin Policy Institute’s Bitcoin for America summit.
“Bitcoin holds transformative potential for countless individuals globally,” Rep. Khanna remarked during the summit. “This is why the Democratic Party ought to embrace it as a means of fostering financial empowerment for people not only in the U.S. but across the globe.”
This is a message he has promoted for several years, encouraging his fellow Democrats to adopt a more open-minded approach to Bitcoin, comparing it to other major technological breakthroughs of our era, including the internet.
“My aim is to foster bipartisan support for Bitcoin,” Rep. Khanna stated in an interview with Bitcoin Magazine. “I want to convince Democrats that Bitcoin represents a next-generation store of value utilized by millions worldwide, and that U.S. leadership in this area enables us to connect with many disenfranchised individuals.”
Despite the Democratic Party’s ongoing advocacy for financial inclusion, many members have surprisingly overlooked Bitcoin—an open-source technology accessible to anyone with an internet connection (and in some cases, even without it). Nonetheless, Rep. Khanna pointed out that the number of Democratic politicians expressing support for Bitcoin has significantly grown over recent years.
“We’ve seen an increase from around 10 supporters to nearly 70 or 80,” he said. “It’s a gradual process.” He noted that while some may view the historical Democratic stance toward Bitcoin as malicious, he believes it primarily stems from a misunderstanding of the technology’s purposes and applications.
The Bitcoin And Crypto Voting Bloc In U.S. Swing States
Per Coinbase research, the number of crypto holders in each swing state during the last U.S. presidential election was about ten times greater than the voting margin between Biden and Trump in 2020. This leads to speculation that the Bitcoin and crypto voting bloc may have played a key role in tipping the election in Trump’s favor.
While Rep. Khanna is uncertain about the exact impact of this voting bloc, he acknowledges its potential significance in a closely contested election. “I believe it made a difference,” he remarked. “In such a tight race, every vote counts, and it didn’t help that some Democrats alienated Bitcoin and crypto voters.” This sentiment is echoed by others within the party, such as Van Jones, who spoke at the New York Times DealBook Summit, claiming that neglecting pro-Bitcoin and pro-crypto voters is detrimental to the Democrats.
Rep. Khanna applauded Jones and expressed hope for more voices advocating for Bitcoin within the Democratic Party in the future. “I respect Van Jones; having spent time in the Bay Area, he understands technology. The party is likely to move in a direction that embraces Bitcoin and other innovations,” he concluded.
