Tom Emmer, the House Majority Whip (R-MN) and one of the leading cryptocurrency advocates in Congress, has bold plans for the industry. If Republicans take control of all federal branches in November, Emmer aims to promote legislation that solidifies the future of crypto in America. However, it remains certain that regulation of digital assets will happen, regardless of which party is in power.
“It’s not a question of ‘if,’ it’s a question of ‘when,’” Emmer said at the Messar Mainnet conference in New York. His confidence comes from growing bipartisan support. This spring, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats crossed the aisle to vote on major crypto bills, signaling a shift in attitudes. Even Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), a staunch digital asset skeptic, recently acknowledged that “crypto is inevitable.”
Emmer attributes this change to electoral realities. Young voters, particularly those aged 18 to 40, view cryptocurrency as a crucial issue. One in five people might even vote with digital asset policies in mind.
The Future of Crypto
If Republicans were able to achieve a winning trio – control of the House, Senate and White House – Emmer believes pro-crypto legislation would move quickly. Its priorities are to adopt a market structure framework similar to the FIT21 bill, ban US central bank digital currency (CBDC), and allow the creation of US dollar-backed stablecoins. He sees these laws as key to providing clarity to digital asset companies concerned about regulatory uncertainty.
Although optimistic about the future, Emmer is cautious about excessive regulation. He warned against creating a new regulator just for digital assets, saying: “Be careful what you wish for. You don’t want that.
The numbers show a changing landscape. In May, 71 Democrats voted for FIT21, and nearly 20% of Americans aged 18 to 40 consider digital assets a key voting issue. Emmer’s position highlights a future in which bipartisan support for digital assets could be stronger than ever, with regulatory clarity perhaps within reach sooner than expected.
