KEYTAKEAWAYS
- Harris surpasses Trump in Polymarket's prediction market for US presidential election
- Cryptocurrency emerges as significant issue in campaign discussions
CONTENT
Vice President’s odds surge to 52% while Trump’s chances drop to 46% on decentralized platform. Harris camp reaches out to crypto industry as digital assets become key election topic. Grassroots group plans town hall with industry leaders.
In a surprising turn of events, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has overtaken former President Donald Trump in Polymarket’s prediction market for the upcoming presidential election. The decentralized platform, which has seen over $572 million in trading volume for this event, now shows Harris with a 52% chance of victory, compared to Trump’s 46%.
Kamala Harris has opened up a 6% lead over Trump. pic.twitter.com/ZAiszaxC7n
— Polymarket (@Polymarket) August 10, 2024
This shift represents a significant change from mid-July when Trump held a commanding 70% probability of winning. The reversal occurred over the weekend, with Harris finally surpassing Trump on Saturday.
As the race tightens, cryptocurrency has emerged as a key topic in campaign discussions. While Harris and her running mate Tim Walz have not yet openly addressed crypto policies, the Harris campaign has begun reaching out to the industry. In contrast, Trump has repeatedly voiced his support for Bitcoin and criticized the idea of the U.S. selling its cryptocurrency holdings.
A grassroots organization called Crypto4Harris is seizing this moment to organize support within the crypto community. They plan to host a town hall on Wednesday featuring prominent industry figures such as Crypto Council for Innovation CEO Sheila Warren and billionaire Mark Cuban.
8/14 from 8-9:30pm with @mcuban @WileyNickel @Scaramucci and many more members of Congress from across the country.
(Next 2 speakers announced at 650 signups!!)
— Crypto4Harris (@Crypto4Harris) August 10, 2024
The increasing focus on digital assets in the campaign reflects the growing importance of cryptocurrency in both economic and political spheres. As candidates jockey for position, their stances on crypto regulation and innovation could prove crucial in swaying tech-savvy voters.
With the election still months away, these prediction market odds are far from definitive. However, they offer an intriguing glimpse into the current perceptions of each candidate’s chances and highlight the evolving role of cryptocurrency in shaping the political landscape.
>> Also read: 2024 U.S. Presidential Election Series
