Congressman Khanna Reports Growing Democratic Support for Bitcoin

Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) reports that Democratic politicians are increasingly supporting Bitcoin, with party members who favor the cryptocurrency growing from about 10 to nearly 80 in recent years. Khanna made these remarks at the Bitcoin Policy Institute's Bitcoin for America summit on March 11, 2025, according to Bitcoinmagazine reporting.

"Bitcoin is transformational for so many people around the world," Khanna stated at the summit. "That is why the Democratic Party should be embracing it as something that can create financial empowerment for people not just in the United States, but around the world."

Khanna has long advocated for Bitcoin adoption, urging fellow Democrats to view the technology similarly to other major technological advances like the internet. "My goal is to make Bitcoin bipartisan," he told Bitcoin Magazine, arguing that American leadership in this space allows connection with often disenfranchised people worldwide.

The congressman attributes past Democratic resistance to Bitcoin to a lack of understanding rather than opposition. "Some Democratic politicians are not aware of how helpful Bitcoin can be with remittances or how it can be used by those who don't have access to U.S. dollars," Khanna explained.

Research from Coinbase showed that in swing states during the recent presidential election, crypto holders outnumbered the vote differential between candidates by about 10 times. When asked if this voting bloc affected election results, Khanna agreed it likely played a role. "In such a close election, everything matters, and the fact that there were some Democrats who offended Bitcoin and crypto voters was not helpful."

President Trump has recently boosted cryptocurrency markets by announcing plans to add Bitcoin and four other cryptocurrencies to U.S. strategic reserves. This move could create a pathway for cryptocurrencies to compete with the U.S. dollar as a global reserve currency, potentially addressing inflation concerns following pandemic-era monetary policies.

Khanna noted that prominent Democratic voices are reconsidering their stance on Bitcoin. He cited Van Jones, who stated at the New York Times DealBook Summit in December 2024 that excluding pro-Bitcoin voters hurt the Democratic party. "The party will be moving in a direction that's going to embrace Bitcoin and other technologies," Khanna predicted.

When asked how pro-Bitcoin Democratic voters can help shift their party's position, Khanna offered several suggestions:

• Point to Democratic leaders supporting Bitcoin and crypto
• Encourage government members to study the issue
• Discuss Bitcoin's widespread adoption