Kamala Harris Adviser Joins Coinbase’s Expanding Political Team \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ David Plouffe, a top adviser to Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign, has joined Coinbase’s global advisory council as crypto influence grows in Washington. The bipartisan council now includes political heavyweights from both parties. The crypto industry, a major 2024 campaign donor, is pushing legislation that could transform how Americans invest.
Quick Looks
- David Plouffe, former Obama strategist and Harris 2024 adviser, joins Coinbase’s advisory council.
- The council already includes former U.S. senators and Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita.
- The move reflects crypto’s growing bipartisan political influence ahead of 2025 midterms.
- Coinbase and its crypto super PAC spent over $130 million on 2024 congressional races.
- Trump now openly supports crypto and calls himself the “first crypto president.”
- Congress is advancing legislation favorable to the crypto industry at record speed.
- New laws could allow crypto investments in retirement accounts, unlocking billions.
- Trump’s family has launched crypto businesses, meme coins, and stablecoins.
- Coinbase engaged both Harris and Trump campaigns to court “crypto voters.”
- Crypto is now seen as a key issue to win younger and minority voters.
Deep Look
The intersection of cryptocurrency and politics deepened this week as David Plouffe, a senior adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign and the chief architect of Barack Obama’s historic 2008 victory, joined Coinbase’s global advisory council. Plouffe’s inclusion marks a new chapter in the growing influence of the crypto industry in U.S. political life — and highlights the bipartisan appeal of digital asset innovation.
Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States, has been steadily building a coalition of high-profile political advisers to bolster its advocacy efforts in Washington. The advisory council already boasts former U.S. senators and key figures from both Republican and Democratic administrations. Among its most notable members is Chris LaCivita, the former co-campaign manager for Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential run, who joined in January.
The addition of Plouffe is significant not just for his political credentials but for what it signals: crypto is no longer a fringe topic in policy circles. Instead, it has become a major political force with a dedicated and growing constituency of “crypto voters.” These are younger, more digitally native Americans who represent a potential swing demographic that both parties are eager to court.
Plouffe’s arrival on the council comes as the crypto sector’s efforts to reshape federal legislation are gaining real traction. During the 2024 election cycle, a crypto-focused super PAC spent over $130 million, with Coinbase being the leading contributor. That investment appears to be paying off, as Congress now races to pass sweeping digital asset legislation, including measures that could open up retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs to crypto investments.
Such a policy shift could have vast implications: with over $44 trillion in U.S. retirement assets, even modest allocations to crypto could generate billions in new inflows to the industry. The momentum in Washington marks a sharp departure from the restrictive approach taken by President Biden’s administration, which had argued crypto was too volatile for long-term investors. Trump’s Labor Secretary reversed that guidance, opening the door to broader adoption.
At Coinbase’s policy summit in New York on Thursday, Trump addressed attendees via video, calling it “a really big honor” to be seen as the “first crypto president.” His sons — Donald Jr. and Barron Trump — were reportedly instrumental in persuading him to embrace digital assets. The former president’s business ventures have since expanded into multiple corners of the crypto ecosystem, including launching a Trump-themed meme coin and a proprietary stablecoin, as well as accumulating billions in Bitcoin holdings.
LaCivita and Plouffe, interviewed at the same conference, explained how their respective campaigns had seen crypto as a critical wedge issue for the 2024 election. Both believed that crypto ownership correlated strongly with a politically uncommitted but motivated voter base — tech-savvy, younger, and increasingly diverse.
“These are not MAGA voters,” Plouffe remarked. “They are swing voters. Lean a little Democratic, certainly lean a lot younger.”
LaCivita echoed that sentiment, noting that the Trump campaign saw a chance to connect with demographic groups the GOP has historically struggled to engage. “It gave us an opportunity to establish common ground with an area and a demographic that we need to expand in,” he said.
Both men expressed optimism about their respective parties’ chances in the upcoming 2025 midterms. Plouffe acknowledged that the Democrats have “a lot of work to do on [their] brand” after a lackluster 2024 finish, but said rebuilding efforts must begin at the grassroots level. LaCivita, meanwhile, emphasized that Trump’s team would focus on demonstrating follow-through on campaign promises — including his new pro-crypto platform.
Coinbase’s advisory council is not merely symbolic. According to chief policy officer Faryar Shirzad, the panel serves as a sounding board for shaping legislative strategy and company direction. With a deep bench that includes former Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema — now an independent — the council’s bipartisan makeup reflects the universal appeal of crypto’s disruptive promise.
Meanwhile, legislative efforts are progressing faster than usual. Just this week, a group of House Democrats joined Republicans to advance legislation regulating stablecoins — digital assets pegged to the U.S. dollar. The Senate could vote as early as next week. A broader crypto market structure bill is also beginning to move through key House committees.
What’s clear is that cryptocurrency is no longer just a tech issue. It’s a full-fledged political movement reshaping campaign strategy, legislative priorities, and even retirement planning. And with influential advisers like Plouffe and LaCivita now on board, Coinbase is ensuring that crypto has a seat at the table—regardless of who holds the White House.
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