Ro Khanna Hosts High-Stakes Crypto Meeting Amid Political Turmoil

In a bid to safeguard the $2 trillion cryptocurrency industry from a potential Trump-led takeover, Congressman Ro Khanna is organizing a discreet meeting scheduled for Wednesday. The event is expected to draw over two dozen attendees, including a White House representative and billionaire crypto advocate Mark Cuban. The secrecy surrounding the meeting, including the undisclosed location, highlights the sensitive nature of the discussions, with Khanna's campaign staff emphasizing confidentiality. Khanna, a proponent of regulatory clarity for digital assets, was among the 71 Democrats who supported the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21). This legislation aims to provide a framework for the burgeoning crypto sector. The urgency of the meeting is underscored by former President Donald Trump's campaign promise to "end Biden’s war on crypto," which has attracted a significant following among pro-crypto voters, including some who previously supported Biden. The backdrop of this meeting is marked by internal strife within the Democratic Party, particularly following President Biden's recent debate performance, which has led to calls for him to reconsider his candidacy for the upcoming election. Notably, White House advisor Carole House, who has a background in cybersecurity, has been invited, signaling a potential shift in the administration's approach to cryptocurrency regulation. Among the notable attendees are Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and former CFTC Chairman Chris Giancarlo, representing the crypto firm Paxos. While Khanna's efforts may aim to align the Democratic Party with crypto leaders, critics suggest that he may also be positioning himself to gain support from the influential crypto industry.