California’s 8.2 million crypto owners poised to influence 2024 elections – Coinbase

A recent study conducted by Toluna for Coinbase reveals that crypto users in California are poised to significantly influence the state’s political direction in the 2024 elections.

With an estimated 27% of California adults, or about 8.2 million individuals, owning digital assets, this demographic represents a substantial and potentially decisive voting bloc.

According to the report, a significant number of the state’s crypto enthusiasts are young, with 40% falling within the 18-34 age bracket — a generation more attuned to technological advancements and digital financial solutions.

Reforming the system

California’s crypto users express a strong desire for reform within the current financial system, which they believe favors entrenched interests over the average individual’s ability to build wealth.

The study found that a vast majority support policy initiatives that encourage disruptive technologies such as blockchain and digital assets, viewing them as crucial for the future of finance and beneficial for societal progress.

The sentiment is expected to translate into political action, with crypto owners likely to favor candidates who advocate for the crypto industry and blockchain technology. These preferences cut across traditional party affiliations, highlighting the non-partisan nature of tech and financial innovation concerns among voters.

Meanwhile, key players in the crypto industry, including Coinbase, have been ramping up political donations ahead of the elections in an effort to push for a more supportive landscape for the sector.

Coinbase said the initiative aims to “depoliticize crypto” and foster a more balanced public debate on the benefits and challenges of digital assets.

Call for regulation

The call for a regulatory environment that both protects consumers and promotes innovation is loud among California’s crypto community.

Advocates are urging policymakers to foster a framework that encourages local entrepreneurship and positions the United States as a leader in financial technology.

Coinbase’s report spotlights the alignment between crypto adoption and core American values, including economic freedom and individual empowerment.

The exchange emphasized its dedication to developing a financial system that expands economic opportunities across the board as it remains committed to both national and global markets.

As the 2024 election cycle approaches, the influence of crypto owners on California’s political landscape illustrates the growing intersection between technology, finance, and electoral politics.

The study suggests an increasing recognition among candidates and policymakers of the importance of engaging with the digital financial sector’s opportunities and challenges.