Pro-Bitcoin Congressman Byron Donalds Announces Candidacy for Florida Governor

Pro-Bitcoin Congressman Byron Donalds has announced his candidacy for the Florida governorship during an appearance on Fox News' Hannity.

Pro-Bitcoin Congressman Byron Donalds has announced his candidacy for the Florida governorship during an appearance on Fox News’ Hannity.

The Republican lawmaker, who currently represents Florida’s 19th congressional district, outlined his vision for transforming the Sunshine State into a global financial hub, potentially integrating cryptocurrency into the state’s official portfolio.

Donalds, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, is running for governor after Trump himself encouraged him to do so. The congressman is known for his conservative views and his strong support for Trump’s agenda.

Announcing his multifaceted platform, which ranges from reducing Florida’s insurance costs and strengthening environmental protections to boosting the state’s educational standards, Donalds touched upon the role of crypto in his vision for Florida’s financial future.

“I want to turn Florida into the financial hub of the world. Digital assets have made a home in South Florida. I want to make sure that we become the most business friendly state in our country for businesses to incorporate in our state. But then also for the state to take the lead on cryptocurrency and digital assets. I would even consider having crypto be a part of the state’s financial portfolio,” Donalds stated.

Shortly after Donalds’ announcement, Dennis Porter, the founder and CEO of Satoshi Action Fund, highlighted the significance of the congressman’s statements on X.

Porter's advocacy group has been instrumental in introducing and advancing Bitcoin legislation. Among his endeavors is the introduction of Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) bills in several US states. These bills aim to authorize state treasurers to invest a portion of state funds into BTC.

“Congressman Byron Donalds declares bid for Governor of Florida and states he wants digital assets to become a part of the State’s ‘financial portfolio’ … Future Florida Governor is ready to add Bitcoin to the balance sheet,” Porter noted.

This conversation also prompted a response from another X user, Jimmy Kostro, who pointed out, "He said crypto in this video."

Porter clarified, “Bitcoin is crypto,” further elaborating on why he prefers to highlight BTC's distinctiveness.

“Bitcoin is unique and stands on its own. There is no 2nd best. But saying it’s not a crypto is like saying gold isn’t a metal. We can say: ‘We should invest more in metals. We should invest in copper, silver, and gold.’ I’d much prefer people say: ‘Bitcoin is different than all other cryptocurrencies’ than ‘Bitcoin isn't a cryptocurrency.’ But I also understand why people say the latter as it’s important to differentiate.”

Donalds’ remarks come amid increasing interest in BTC across the state. Florida lawmakers are currently reviewing legislation (SB 550) that would formally establish a SBR, allowing the state’s Chief Financial Officer to invest up to 10% of Florida’s funds in Bitcoin.

The sponsor of the bill is Senator Joe Gruters, who also serves as Treasurer of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and has been a champion of pro-Bitcoin initiatives.