加密貨幣成為關鍵的選舉議題

唐納德·川普和其他美國政客對加密貨幣的擁抱點燃了希望，並鼓勵了將遊說視為影響政策制定者的一種方式的利益相關者。

Donald Trump and other U.S. politicians’ embrace of crypto has sparked hope and encouraged stakeholders who see lobbying as a way to influence policymakers. However, lingering doubts about the sincerity of politicians should serve as a warning, reminding innovators that they thrive when prioritizing users’ needs over political interests.

唐納德·川普和其他美國政客對加密貨幣的擁抱點燃了希望，並鼓勵了將遊說視為影響政策制定者的一種方式的利益相關者。然而，對政客誠意的揮之不去的懷疑應該作為一個警告，提醒創新者，當將用戶的需求置於政治利益之上時，他們就會蓬勃發展。

Crypto Emerges as a Key Election Issue

加密貨幣成為關鍵的選舉議題

In recent weeks and months, there has been significant discussion about the potential impact of a second Donald Trump term on BTC and the crypto industry. The former U.S. President’s vocal support for crypto has drawn attention from many, including financial freedom advocates. Crypto’s emergence as a key election issue has even prompted mainstream media outlets like The New York Times to publish op-eds exploring its growing importance.

最近幾週和幾個月，關於唐納德·川普第二任期對比特幣和加密貨幣行業的潛在影響進行了廣泛的討論。這位美國前總統對加密貨幣的直言不諱的支持引起了許多人的關注，其中包括金融自由倡導者。加密貨幣作為一個關鍵的選舉議題的出現甚至促使《紐約時報》等主流媒體發表專欄文章探討其日益增長的重要性。

Meanwhile, Trump’s endorsement of BTC and mining, along with the feedback he has received, appears to have prompted the Biden administration to reevaluate its crypto strategy. Before its recent about-face, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) appeared not only determined to refuse approval of an ether ETF but also intent on stifling the cryptocurrency altogether.

同時，川普對比特幣和挖礦的認可，以及他收到的回饋，似乎促使拜登政府重新評估其加密貨幣策略。在最近態度轉變之前，美國證券交易委員會 (SEC) 似乎不僅決心拒絕批准以太坊 ETF，而且還打算完全扼殺加密貨幣。

The SEC’s lawsuits against Ethereum creators and public statements from Chairman Gary Gensler regarding ethereum (ETH) were interpreted by the crypto community as a clear sign of a bleak future for the number two cryptocurrency. While the SEC initially failed to force various crypto projects to close ranks, its approach of regulation through enforcement actions made clear its intention to pursue the entire industry.

美國證券交易委員會針對以太坊創建者的訴訟以及主席加里·詹斯勒 (Gary Gensler) 關於以太坊 (ETH) 的公開聲明被加密社區解讀為第二大加密貨幣未來黯淡的明顯跡象。雖然美國證券交易委員會最初未能迫使各種加密貨幣項目緊密合作，但其透過執法行動進行監管的方法明確表明了其追蹤整個產業的意圖。

Therefore, fighting back became the only option, and crypto proponents and companies have coalesced around lobbying groups sympathetic to their cause. This unity seemingly contributed to the recent shift in the SEC’s stance, evidenced by both its consideration of ether ETF applications and the growing number of pro-crypto lawmakers across the political spectrum, raises fundamental questions. This growing support of political actors, however, also raises questions.

因此，反擊成為唯一的選擇，加密貨幣支持者和公司已經聯合起來支持他們的遊說團體。這種團結似乎促成了 SEC 最近立場的轉變，這從其對以太 ETF 申請的考慮以及整個政治領域支持加密貨幣的立法者數量的不斷增加中可見一斑，這引發了一些基本問題。然而，政治參與者日益增長的支持也引發了問題。

Embracing Political Players Comes at a Cost

擁抱政治參與者是有代價的

Are bitcoiners and crypto enthusiasts risking future regrets by supporting politicians who seemingly back their cause? What are crypto industry players offering in exchange for political backing, now deemed crucial?

比特幣持有者和加密貨幣愛好者是否會冒著未來後悔的風險去支持那些看似支持​​他們事業的政客？加密產業參與者提供什麼來換取現在被認為至關重要的政治支持？

Asking these questions is essential, as current actions may have future consequences. It’s also necessary because politicians often say one thing and do another. The recent Trump and Biden debate’s lack of crypto discussion highlights the potential risks of this approach.

提出這些問題至關重要，因為當前的行動可能會產生未來的後果。這也是必要的，因為政治人物常說一套，做另一套。最近的川普和拜登辯論缺乏加密貨幣討論，凸顯了這種方法的潛在風險。

To understand why partnering with the sometimes self-serving politicians is ill-advised, we must look back over 15 years. At the time, there was anger towards politicians and their parties stemming from failed policies that led to the 2008 financial crisis. In response to the crisis, Satoshi Nakamoto introduced a proposition that had been in the works before the meltdown. Known as bitcoin (BTC), this proposition was touted as “a purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash [that] would allow online payments to be sent directly from one party to another without going through a financial institution.”

為了理解為什麼與有時自私的政客合作是不明智的，我們必須回顧過去 15 年。當時，由於失敗的政策導致了 2008 年金融危機，人們對政客及其政黨感到憤怒。為了應對危機，中本聰提出了一個在崩潰之前就已經在醞釀中的提議。這項提議被稱為比特幣（BTC），被吹捧為“一種純粹的點對點版本的電子現金，允許在線支付直接從一方發送到另一方，而無需通過金融機構。”

Indeed, the economic situation prevailing in most Western countries at the time convinced many people that bitcoin was a genius solution to help them insulate themselves in the future. While BTC emerged from a broken Western financial system, it nevertheless became an alternative long sought by those in the Global South, who had experienced similar crises without the means to challenge their financial systems.

事實上，當時大多數西方國家的經濟狀況讓許多人相信比特幣是個天才的解決方案，可以幫助他們在未來隔離自己。儘管比特幣誕生於破碎的西方金融體系，但它仍成為南半球國家長期尋求的替代品，這些國家也經歷過類似的危機，卻無力挑戰其金融體系。

As it increasingly became clear that BTC and crypto were their likely saviors, these alternatives were embraced by people from the Global South. Today, the growing usage of crypto in the Global South, particularly in the post-pandemic era, shows that BTC and digital assets are functioning more as alternative stores of value than investment tools. In regions where the U.S. dollar is scarce, stablecoins like USDT and USDC are used to settle cross-border obligations.

隨著人們越來越清楚地認識到比特幣和加密貨幣可能是他們的救世主，這些替代方案受到了來自南半球國家的人們的歡迎。如今，加密貨幣在南半球國家的使用日益增多，尤其是在後疫情時代，這表明比特幣和數位資產更多地充當替代價值儲存手段，而不是投資工具。在美元稀缺的地區，USDT和USDC等穩定幣用於結算跨國債務。

The efficient and cost-effective transfer of remittances using cryptocurrencies drives their utility in much of the Global South. This use case alone should convince politicians like U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren that BTC and similar innovations can do more good than harm. However, Warren’s relentless attacks and efforts to stifle their use suggest otherwise. As an influential Democrat and perhaps a key contributor to the Biden administration’s crypto policy, Warren’s actions have repercussions beyond U.S. borders.

使用加密貨幣進行高效且具有成本效益的匯款推動了其在南半球大部分地區的實用性。光是這個用例就應該讓美國參議員伊麗莎白沃倫（Elizabeth Warren）等政客相信，比特幣和類似的創新利大於弊。然而，沃倫的無情攻擊和遏制其使用的努力表明事實並非如此。身為一位有影響力的民主黨人，或許也是拜登政府加密貨幣政策的關鍵貢獻者，華倫的行為在美國境外產生了影響。

For example, Warren and other U.S. politicians have targeted stablecoin issuers Tether and Circle, highlighting Hamas and other alleged terrorist organisations’ use of USDT as evidence of stablecoins’ use by bad actors. If regulators both in and outside the U.S. were to act on Warren’s calls to restrict crypto usage, many families relying on crypto or stablecoin-based remittance platforms would suffer.

例如，華倫和其他美國政客將穩定幣發行商 Tether 和 Circle 列為目標，強調哈馬斯和其他涉嫌恐怖組織使用 USDT 作為壞人使用穩定幣的證據。如果美國國內外的監管機構按照沃倫的呼籲採取行動，限制加密貨幣的使用，許多依賴加密貨幣或基於穩定幣的匯款平台的家庭將遭受損失。

Interestingly, the U.S. Senator has rarely addressed the potential benefits of Bitcoin (BTC) or stablecoins in her public letters. Instead, she has focused solely on instances where cryptocurrencies have been used for illegal activities. This focus is disappointing for someone who claims to champion the cause of the public.

有趣的是，這位美國參議員很少在公開信中談到比特幣（BTC）或穩定幣的潛在好處。相反，她只關注加密貨幣被用於非法活動的情況。對於一個聲稱支持公眾事業的人來說，這種關注令人失望。

If Sen. Warren and her colleagues truly understand the factors that made the United States one of the most innovative countries (if

如果沃倫參議員和她的同事們真正了解使美國成為最具創新性國家之一的因素（如果