What are your thoughts on political donations in crypto? Bad move or what?
Given that a lot of crypto transactions can be traced, why are some politicians in the House of Representatives so against it? Is it just a trust issue? Or maybe they're worried about their voter base? Or do they just not like crypto at all?
Should we really be using crypto for this kind of stuff or is it not okay?
Politics and cryptocurrency
19 replies 445 views
humblefarmSenior Member
Posts: 378 · Reputation: 1571
#2Apr 10, 2020, 03:57 PM
Cryptocurrency is money and can be used as the owner wishes. If what I have to donate is Bitcoin, why should I be restricted from donating it? Not all crypto transactions can be traceable.
I would even prefer to donate Bitcoin because I want my donations to be pseudonymous. Bank transfer donations could be easily be traced and the donor identified. Political opponents could witch-hunt a donor because they supported another party.
Those who oppose crypto have their reasons for that. They might not understand it or are not just comfortable with it.
Crypto currency can be used for any purpose as far as the reason for spending the crypto is not illegal or for a criminal purpose which may hurt life. What is wrong with someone donating crypto currency for the purpose of politics. As far as there is no offense in the process it's okay by me. I why people may be afraid politics is a game that alot of things happen under ground and some people may feel that crypto is one way that illegal money can be used in funding campaigns.
Crypto currency is one form of spending money so you can use it the way you like, nobody should try and come up with laws that can restrict the way that I spend my crypto.
Cryptocurrency political donation is not a bad idea because it's just like normal fiat fund donation that you send to a fund rasing account. Now In the absence of fiat donation Bitcoin can be used to replace that transaction by sending to the fund raising wallet. To me nothing is wrong except it is used for interior motive
Because they don't have control over it, they need an asset that can be manipulated/ controlled and regulated, but since Bitcoin is otherwise, they don't trust it. They even know that there transaction can be traced when used for money laundry. So Bitcoin is good but completely useless to them since it is too transparent for their liking
First of all you need to realize that this crypto currency transactions in question is pseudonymous which does keep users privacies. That is transactions processed in the Bitcoin or Ethereum Blockchain networks
Off-chain network transactions would always break the privacies and beats the custodian rights as Decentralized financial technology infrastructure due to regulations policies specifically where transactions are made in then layer 2 networks.
Government intake on the Crypto in the the sight of adoption and legal tender is supposed to peg on trust due to the custodian controversy.
atomichodlerFull Member
Posts: 42 · Reputation: 341
#6Apr 14, 2020, 04:53 AM
Politicians don't really care where donations come from. If a country's laws allow crypto donations, every politician would want to accept them. After all, they're not investing it, they convert it into cash and spend it on their campaigns. There used to be more people against this, but now they're very few.
bridge_atlasFull Member
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#7Apr 14, 2020, 08:07 AM
I have seen countries that previously demonized and banned crypto take crypto donations during times of war and disaster. They would even shameless publish donation address
Donation is politicians? I don't see anything bad with that. Perhaps it can even help soften their negative stance towards crypto if they were negative about it before at all. Bitcoin is a transparent blockchain, and if someone is to be vying for a public office, what better way to demonstrate transparency than by using Bitcoin?
sigma_satoshiFull Member
Posts: 109 · Reputation: 708
#8Apr 15, 2020, 02:22 PM
There's no difference from the donations that these politicians receive in kind through bank transfers.
It's still probably about how cryptos are used in illegal activities. They cannot move to that point because they're leaning back towards it.
Despite that it's now a commercialized investment that everyone knew about it and it can be used for either good or bad.
They should be open to that.
It's part of its usage so that's just fine IMO.
I dont think its a bad idea. Sometimes people from other countries may genuinely like the vision or mission of a politician and would want to support in their own little way, even if they are not in that country. I feel crypto donations can make that easier, especially since a lot of young people are active in the crypto space. And recently, more youths are getting involved in politics, contesting for positions and trying to bring change. So it makes sense that other youths, even across borders, might want to support their own generation through crypto.
Of course, there are concerns like transparency, regulation and possible misuse, which is probably why some politicians are against it. But if its properly regulated, I think it can be a useful and modern way to support political movements.
I don't think money discriminates on what it's being used for
The question is similar to asking if giving donations in politics with dollar is a bad idea
No politician would want to throw away free funding
Trump used cryptocurrency to fund is campaign
So others can do the same. The money isn't evil.
I'm pretty sure there are so many politicians out there that are opening donation channels through crypto. They also embrace the anonymity and considers it as freedom of speech.
Money is money and I doubt if there is anybody out there that would refuse crypto donation unless the law stated that donation through crypto is forbidden.
Gatekeeping crypto for this use case will defeat the very purpose of crypto, bitcoin was created exactly for this kind of scenario.
In as much as we have politicians who aren't in good term with crypto there are few who still likes and make use of it even till today, so they can choose to do whatever they wish to do with crypto as it pleases them. Provided they're the owner of the crypto it's in their position to spend, and if the entity they're donating the crypto to accepts it crypto for donations then we have no problem here. One of the reasons I like crypto for things like this is because most people like to keep themselves low profile even while giving alms and all of that and crypto is just the right tool to keep yourself unseen from the public while doing your good deeds.
I don't see anything wrong here.
Anyone who is against using crypto for political donations are probably scared of illegal funding.
Instead of trying to ban this use they should ask all politicians to use only transparent Blockchain projects for any political fundings, no mixers and no privacy coins.
Crypto existed for these reasons too, to make payments and findings become extremely easier.
oracle2019Full Member
Posts: 62 · Reputation: 396
#14Apr 16, 2020, 05:36 PM
I dont see it as a bad idea by itself. Money is money, whether its fiat or crypto. If donations are legal, the form shouldnt matter that much.
The problem is transparency. Crypto is traceable, but not always in a simple way. You can still route funds through multiple wallets, mixers, etc. Thats probably why some politicians dont like it, harder to control and track compared to banks.
Theres also politics in it. Some just dont trust crypto at all, others dont want new systems they dont fully understand.
Using crypto for donations is fine in theory, but rules and tracking need to catch up first.
They simply don't want their business to be out in the open. They don't want people to know where the source of their campaign funds. They always claim crypto is too closed and easy for criminals but in reality, it's the opposite. It is too open and transparent. Politicians don't like transparent. They claim they do but they don't. They only want transparency when it is convinent for them. They're very hypocritical people because what they expect from others is different from what they do.
As long as crypto is not banned in the country and government officials are not banned from using or owning it, people can send campaigns donations in crypto. If the government bans it, then that's a different thing, but as long as it's legal, people can send in whatever crypto they wish to send.
its money. i don't think they care where the money come from whether its BTC or cash. what they care for is if he accepts donation from both sides where political views are not align. this politician will be walking on egg shells.
taking donations from both sides will not be good but then i think is common that's why law makers are just not doing something to push what lobbyist wants for they are squeezed from both parties.
D4rkFalconSenior Member
Posts: 308 · Reputation: 1050
#17Apr 17, 2020, 02:00 AM
Well this going to be a long long topic hahahha
First of all Crypto and politic is like oil and water sometimes and all depends on government, that can bring into hard or easy regulation.
Let me try to answer your question.
In terms of donations, I do believe politicians would be thankful and open to any kind form of money. Whether in the form of crypto, fiat, or d*rty money haha. One example is Trump back then he didnt really like crypto but after it he just love crypto. Money is money IMO.
Crypto especially Stablecoin and bitcoin is traceable but people just accept it transfer to exchange and sell it from there we cant trace that.
Crypto has many use cases, Gov should have easier regulations for it. the gov should accept tax and donation in form of crypto.
I get your point, because for many politicians any donations is manly to support their compaigns so far it's legal they will accept it either in cash or cryptocurrency. But my only concern is that will there be transparency because it's about money. It will be on who sends or donate the money and how it will influence decisions later on, that's why alot of people are still very careful about the whole situation it's just that at the end it will just show how politics and money are both sensitivity connected which do need clear rules to follow
Politicians would accept any means of donations to support their campaigns for a position even in a country where it is illegal or not fully accepted as a legal tender. Am sure there would be instructions on how to direct the crypto currency donations, so as to keep their involvement anonymous and protect themselves or they would include it in their agenda like Donald Trump did, just to get enough support from the the crypto currency community specifically.
Crypto currency isn't a discriminatory currency, only people with different ideas discriminate against it and when it comes to a state or country where it is not a favorite currency of use, policies may be upheld to suit its use case and that's how it is with politicians and their own agenda.
maybe politicians are against it because theyre trying to hide something. maybe they do not want people to know political donations sent to them. but they can actually stay anonymous if they could with crypto though there will be a solid proof of evidence in case they get a misstep along the way.
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