In a surprising turn of events, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has taken the lead over Republican nominee Donald Trump in Polymarket's 2024 U.S. presidential election forecast. According to the "Presidential Election Winner 2024" poll, Harris now leads Trump by 50 percent to 49 percent.
Donald Trump Trails Behind Kamala Harris
For weeks, the two candidates have been closely matched on the site, but Harris received a significant boost in popularity following her recent debate performance. An additional poll conducted by Polymarket betters indicated that Harris "won" the highly-anticipated debate, which largely focused on political arguments turning into personal criticisms of the candidates.
Despite Trump's claims that he outperformed Harris in the debate, he has formally declined any future debates with her. Throughout his campaign, Trump has consistently expressed his support for digital assets, even going as far as to promise to make the United States "the crypto capital of the planet."
Similarly, Trump has pledged to implement crypto-friendly regulations and has vowed to remove Gary Gensler, the current Chair of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Trump declared at the bitcoin 2024 Conference in Nashville that regulatory decisions would be made by individuals who support the industry rather than those who oppose it.
On September 12, Trump announced that his family's upcoming crypto platform, world Liberty Financial, is set to launch on Monday, September 16.
The Presidential Election Heats Up
While Harris has unveiled a new policy plan, she has yet to disclose her views on cryptocurrency regulation. However, Paul Grewal, Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer, expressed optimism during a recent appearance on Bloomberg TV regarding the Harris campaign's approach to regulating the blockchain sector.
Grewal emphasized that despite the current administration's regulatory enforcement under Gary Gensler, the Harris campaign has shown interest and initiated discussions on a potential new strategy for regulating crypto and digital assets. He noted that Harris' team has reached out and displayed openness to exploring different approaches in this rapidly evolving industry.
As the 2024 presidential election unfolds, the competition between Harris and Trump continues to intensify. Harris' increasing popularity and nuanced policy positions, along with Trump's strong support for digital assets and promise of favorable regulations, set the stage for a compelling showdown in the coming months.
