Politicians, Founders Motivate Crypto Voters on Day 1 of America Loves Crypto Tour

On a 100°F evening in Phoenix, crypto enthusiasts from Arizona came out with gusto for the first night of the America Loves Crypto Tour.

The tour, organized by Stand With Crypto Alliance, a non-profit organization on a mission to get America’s 52 million cryptocurrency owners to the polls in November, will travel through five swing states in the coming weeks, bringing awareness to the importance of voting . for candidates advocating pro-crypto policies in the upcoming US elections.

Tonight in Arizona, politicians like Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Arizona Speaker of the House Pro Tempore Travis Grantham (R) addressed the audience alongside the founders of the crypto industry before giving way to the psychedelic soul grooves of Black Pumas.

Mission and Margin

“A huge priority for us is getting the crypto vote,” Stand With Crypto CEO Logan Dobson told Bitcoin Magazine.

“Our only cause is crypto. We do not push for specific candidates. We do not press for certain parties. We are just getting the crypto vote out,” he added.

“And I can tell you that already in several swing states, there are more people who signed up to Stand With Crypto than the margin of victory was in 2020.”

Dobson’s final point is particularly pronounced in Arizona, where in the 2020 presidential election, President Biden defeated former President Trump by about 10,500 votes. Stand With Crypto registered nearly three times the number of crypto advocates — 27,231 — than the number of voters who represented Biden’s margin of victory in the previous election.

Encouragement from politicians

Senator Sinema kicked off the event, urging audience members to fearlessly vote for candidates who support pro-crypto policies.

“You are a real force in Arizona and it is important that we use this election cycle to make sure the voice of the crypto community is heard,” said Senator Sinema.

“We need to push for policies that fuel innovation so that the financial system works for ordinary people. We need to make sure that candidates up and down the ballot – state legislatures as well as the federal level – understand crypto and work towards a great political climate for crypto, rather than one based on misinformation, fear and school old. regulations that hinder the industry,” she added.

Sinema ended his short speech with what appeared to be a light jab at the Democrats, the party he split from in December 2022.

“Don’t be afraid to support a candidate or an elected official who takes risks,” she said.

“You all understand the value of the risks. The crypto industry wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for risk-taking,” Sinema added.

“We want to look for candidates who are reasonable, but who are willing to take risks and speak out against partisan rhetoric that tries to stop or slow innovation in this industry.”

Following Sinema was Grantham, a proponent of the freedom that bitcoin and crypto provide to its users.

Grantham didn’t mince words on stage. He discussed how politicians abuse the US dollar by spending more than they have and printing it at will. He argued that it is up to Generation Z and Millennials in particular to vote out pro-crypto politicians to allow assets like bitcoin to compete against the dollar. He was even more explicit on the subject in a behind-the-scenes interview with Bitcoin Magazine.

“There’s a large group of elected officials who believe that government is the solution to our monetary problems, that this fiscal irresponsibility doesn’t matter and that the dollar is going to be the end forever — and that’s just a crazy way of thinking,” Grantham told Bitcoin Magazine.

“One of the reasons (crypto) is becoming so popular is because of what we’re doing to the dollar,” he argued.

Arizona House Speaker Pro Tempore Travis Grantham (R) addresses the crowd.

For this reason, Grantham felt it was essential that voters support candidates who don’t believe in regulating crypto out of existence, and vote for politicians who support freedom as opposed to those who seek control.

“It’s a matter of freedom and control,” Grantham said.

“(Some politicians want) control, keeping everyone married to one currency and not allowing anything else to come in, which is what crypto does. Competition is a good thing, especially when the person who controls the only thing abuses it so badly,” he concluded.

The founders don’t ask for much

Then a group of crypto founders based in Arizona took the stage. The panel featured Thor Abassi, co-founder of the DeFi protocol Zivoe; George Mekhail, VP of Operations for Bitcoin Magazine and co-organizer of the Arizona Bitcoin Network; and Shelton Beascochea, Co-Founder of DevilsDAO and Stand With Crypto Arizona Chapter President.

Industry leaders have only asked the US government for clear rules of the road so they can conduct their businesses on land and in compliance. In an interview with Bitcoin magazine, Abassi discussed the anxiety crypto founders have faced over unfair treatment from federal regulatory agencies under the Biden administration.

“One of the most difficult things for our project is (knowing) how industry can interact with banks,” Abassi told Bitcoin Magazine.

“We’ve probably all heard about Operation Chokepoint 2.0,” he added, referring to the government’s unconstitutional crackdown on the politically unpopular but not illegal crypto industry that led to the bankruptcy of many crypto companies.

“If we had regulations outlining what crypto companies need to do to be bankable, that would be extremely beneficial.”

George Mekhail addresses the crowd as part of a panel of crypto founders.

Mekhail ended the speaking portion of the night’s programming on a high note, noting that the crypto industry has made notable strides that will likely only gain steam moving forward.

“Think about where I was four years ago,” Mekhail said.

“We couldn’t have an event like this. The fact that 15% of Americans own some form of crypto is crazy, especially if you think about what it will be in four years,” he added.

“The moment is behind us. It’s events like this and just showing up and showing that we have a voice that’s really important.”

The second date of the America Loves Crypto Tour is scheduled for tonight, September 5th at The Space in Las Vegas, NV. You can RSVP to the event Here.