Harris selects crypto-cautious Tim Walz as VP candidate, per reports

Vice President Kamala Harris has nominated Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the 2024 presidential election and is aiming to boost support in critical Midwestern states.

Walz’s political profile as Kamala Harris’s potential vice presidential running mate aims to appeal to rural and moderate voters, in contrast to Harris’ coastal California voter base.

Midwestern sentiment is seen as valuable in balancing the Democratic candidacy, especially in hotly contested states.

Walz and crypto

Tim Walz has not made any public statements specifically addressing the cryptocurrency sector, but he has a strong stance on energy policy, most notably signing legislation to transition Minnesota to 100% clean energy by 2040.

This is important for the crypto industry, especially Bitcoin (BTC) mining, which is often criticized for its high energy consumption. Walz’s clean energy views as a potential VP could impact how crypto mining operations operate across the country and push miners toward more sustainable practices.

Some Democrats, like Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, don’t support cryptocurrency in its current form, while others in the party want Harris to take a friendlier approach to the industry. is starting to embrace the concept of crypto. But this election season, Republican candidate Donald Trump’s embrace of crypto has forced Harris and Democrats to take a friendlier approach to the industry.

The growing importance of cryptocurrencies in the US comes as a third of American voters are now more likely to invest in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies following the approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF.

Due to these pressures, Walz may need to reconsider his stance on energy and crypto in order to gain the support of the crypto community in the upcoming elections.