Biden team will boost crypto's role in US infrastructure, says Circle CEO Allaire

Published at: Dec. 7, 2020

One of the leaders in U.S. crypto is optimistic that the space will grow under the administration of Joe Biden governing from the middle. 

Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, took to CNBC's Squawk Box on Monday to argue that the Biden administration will push crypto forward as part of a broad effort to update infrastructure:

"I think that they will ultimately be supportive because this is an infrastructure change as big as the initial commercial internet, and they're going to be focused on infrastructure changes that make America more competitive."

Overall, moderate politics benefit crypto, Allaire reasoned: "You've got moderates, both on the left and the right, who I think see this constructively."

Allaire's comments follow a Twitter thread on Sunday that included similar comments about partisan division:

2/14 The stakes are very high for society and the economy; the far-left wants to paint crypto as an anti-big tech and consumer protection issue, the far-right wants to paint crypto as a national security threat; the libertarians and moderates see the human economic potential.

— Jeremy Allaire (@jerallaire) December 6, 2020

On Squawk Box today, Allaire referenced, in particular, concerns that the left wing in the United States had taken a hard line against new financial tools, especially stablecoins: 

"You have on the very liberal end of the spectrum a view that somehow this is not good for individuals who have less access to the financial system, when in fact, the opposite is the case, that this technology — in particular stablecoins — hold promise of opening up and widening access to the financial system more deeply than the existing banking system."

These comments are likely in reference to a bill introduced last week that would outlaw all stablecoins that do not file the same registrations as traditional banks, including Circle's own USD Coin (USDC).

In response to a question as to whether recent moves against stablecoins were linked to proposals for the Federal Reserve to issue its own central bank digital currency, Allaire countered that private firms are just much further ahead.

Tags
Law
Related Posts
U.S. Congressman calls for ‘Broad, bipartisan consensus’ on important issues of digital asset policy
In a letter to the leadership of the United States House Financial Services Committee, ranking member Patrick McHenry took a jab at “inconsistent treatment and jurisdictional uncertainty” inherent in U.S. crypto regulation and called for the Committee to take on its critical issues. McHenry, a Republican representing North Carolina, opened by mentioning that the Committee’s Democrat Chairwoman Maxine Waters is looking to schedule additional hearings addressing matters pertinent to the digital asset industry. He further stressed the need for identifying and prioritizing the key issues and achieving a “broad, bipartisan consensus” on the matters affecting the industry that holds immense …
Regulation / Jan. 25, 2022
Law Decoded: Infrastructure woes and benevolent punishments, Sept. 27–Oct. 3
This week, United States lawmakers and regulators have stolen much of the spotlight once more. The cryptocurrency-related provisions of the infrastructure bill, a tiny grain of sand in the grand scheme of the omnibus legislation, had all laser eyes glued to the fateful House of Representatives vote — which never happened. There is a sense, however, that the bill will become law sooner rather than later. We have also learned from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testifying to Congress that the Fed sees no use in a China-style blanket ban on cryptocurrency, eyeing tighter regulation of stablecoins instead. The latter …
Regulation / Oct. 4, 2021
CBDC activity heats up, but few projects move beyond pilot stage
Government-issued electronic currency seems to be an idea whose time has come. “More than half of the world’s central banks are now developing digital currencies or running concrete experiments on them,” reported the Bank for International Settlements, or BIS, in early May — something that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago. The BIS also found that nine out of ten central banks were exploring central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs, in some form or other, according to its survey of 81 central banks conducted last autumn but just published. Many were taken aback by the progress. “It …
Adoption / May 16, 2022
MiCA is already stifling stablecoin adoption in the EU
The digital asset landscape in the European Union is evolving ahead of the passage of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation framework that aims to instill regulatory clarity around crypto assets. While well-intentioned, the current structure of MiCA may throttle innovation. But if a revised version of this policy passes, it could see the European Union become one of the leaders in the digital payment space. If not, then there is a genuine possibility of the continent falling behind. MiCA aims to set a regulatory framework for the crypto asset industry within the EU. At this point, much still needs …
Regulation / Sept. 25, 2022
Canada to examine crypto, stablecoins, and CBDCs in new budget
The Canadian federal government is set to launch a consultation on cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) as revealed in its new mini-budget. The government's “2022 Fall Economic Statement” released on Nov. 3 by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland works as a fiscal update in conjunction with its main yearly budget. The statement included a small section on “Addressing the Digitalization of Money” that outlined the government’s crypto plans. It said the rise in cryptocurrencies and money digitalization is “transforming financial systems in Canada and around the world” and the country’s financial system regulation “needs to keep pace.” …
Regulation / Nov. 4, 2022