[2018-02-11] Senate Candidate Accepts Largest Contribution in BTC

[FollowSynergy]

This week the Republican Senate candidate Austin Petersen announced he accepted the largest federal election campaign contribution settled in digital currency. Petersen, a former Libertarian, has received a total of 24 cryptocurrency donations this year, and the largest was for 0.284 BTC ($4,500 USD).

The Largest Cryptocurrency Campaign Donation

The Republican Austin Petersen is looking for a Senate seat in Missouri and is accepting bitcoin donations to get there. Petersen was the runner-up back in 2016 for the Libertarian Party’s nomination for President of the United States. The Missouri candidate is well known throughout the younger crowd of voters for loving bitcoin and giving away an AR-15 rifle in a raffle. This past December, the 36-year old stated in an interview: “I am a big fan of the digital currency community because of what it represents, which is ultimately decentralization.”

This week the Federal Election Commission’s records reveal Petersen has received the largest digital currency donation in U.S. history — 0.284 BTC or $4,500 USD at the time of donation. Petersen has also garnered 24 total election contributions in BTC, and his campaign uses the Atlanta based processor Bitpay to facilitate donations.

When asked about the recent BTC donation, Jeff Carson, the campaign manager stated:        

"I think it goes without saying we’re going to see a lot more of this in terms of campaign contributions and campaign financing — Austin is personally a fan of competition in the marketplace, even when it comes to our currency — With the rise of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, it was a no-brainer."

https://news.bitcoin.com/republican-senate-austin-petersen-accepts-the-largest-campaign-contribution-paid-in-btc/

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[okae]

I'm a little bit confused, was not bitcoin used to finance crimes only? : P

This is a perfect example about the human hypocrisy, im 100% sure that if this candidate needed to criminalize it to get more voters, he would have done that, but now he must thank the bitcoin that he can continue ...

Austin is personally a fan of competition in the marketplace, even when it comes to our currency — With the rise of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, it was a no-brainer."

Sure, now he have no choice, he must be a fan nº 1 of btc

[Qartersa]

I'm a little bit confused, was not bitcoin used to finance crimes only? : P

This is a perfect example about the human hypocrisy, im 100% sure that if this candidate needed to criminalize it to get more voters, he would have done that, but now he must thank the bitcoin that he can continue ...

Austin is personally a fan of competition in the marketplace, even when it comes to our currency — With the rise of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, it was a no-brainer."

Sure, now he have no choice, he must be a fan nº 1 of btc

What are you talking about? Obviously you are just here to spread hate and false news! You are not in anyway contributing to this forum. First, how can you presuppose Bitcoin was used to finance crimes only? Second, how are you able to say that he is just being hypocrite about Bitcoin?

You know, pro or anti Bitcoin, you have to open your mind that there are people who come by because they truly believe about something. Hence, regardless of the outcome of such belief, he does not so mind.

More importantly, may I just magnify to you that your first question was purely baseless. You might have lost count as to how many times traditional fiat currencies have been used as a vehicle for all criminality that exist worldwide. Even before the birth of Bitcoin or any other cryptos, criminality have been rampant and there is no denying such fact. Having said that, how in the world are you able to say that Bitcoin was created to finance crimes only when the use of traditional fiat currencies have been in existence for centuries? Why create something when another has been conveniently used for a long time? There is just purely no logic.

[richardsNY]

I'm a little bit confused, was not bitcoin used to finance crimes only? : P

It still is apparently, because politicians are criminals too, so it perfectly fits in the Bitcoin is only a value tool for criminals category.

What are you talking about? Obviously you are just here to spread hate and false news! You are not in anyway contributing to this forum. First, how can you presuppose Bitcoin was used to finance crimes only? Second, how are you able to say that he is just being hypocrite about Bitcoin?

You know, pro or anti Bitcoin, you have to open your mind that there are people who come by because they truly believe about something. Hence, regardless of the outcome of such belief, he does not so mind.

More importantly, may I just magnify to you that your first question was purely baseless. You might have lost count as to how many times traditional fiat currencies have been used as a vehicle for all criminality that exist worldwide. Even before the birth of Bitcoin or any other cryptos, criminality have been rampant and there is no denying such fact. Having said that, how in the world are you able to say that Bitcoin was created to finance crimes only when the use of traditional fiat currencies have been in existence for centuries? Why create something when another has been conveniently used for a long time? There is just purely no logic.

Relax! He isn't spreading hate or false news. Can't you seperate joyful sarcasm from serious talk? It's well known how fiat currencies are more than ever be used by all levels of criminals, where governments themselves are the biggest criminals in the history. His point was that governments constantly talk about how Bitcoin is only a tool of the underworld, while now politicians even accept donations in form of a criminal value tool **sarcasm**. It makes the cricle round again -- criminals accept donations through criminal value tools donated to them by other criminals, which is hilarious. It shows their top level hypocrisy as user okae stated.

[squatter]

Sort of cool, even though I’m pretty anti-political.

I’m really surprised the FEC has been so lax about Bitcoin campaign contributions. Since it’s P2P, it’s difficult for campaigns to verify the identity of the donor. Compare to credit cards — the card won’t process if the billing information is wrong. Anonymous cash contributions are limited to $50, so it’s pretty crazy to see someone dropping $4500 on a candidate with BTC. That’s nearly the maximum for both the Primary and General elections.

[okae]

...What are you talking about?...

...Relax! He isn't spreading hate or false news. Can't you seperate joyful sarcasm from serious talk?...

@richardsNY understood me perfectly , i could not describe it in a better way, so thank you @richardsNY and i'm so sorry that you @Qartersa misunderstood me, i hope that now with his explanation you could know me a little bit more , btw i must say that i agree with you @Qartersa on everything you reply to me even if this was so desafortunate

Be ready guys to see all those type of news more and more, bitcoin is being accepted for those who reject it some years ago, just look at guys like JPmorgan....

[Samarkand]

Sort of cool, even though I’m pretty anti-political.

I’m really surprised the FEC has been so lax about Bitcoin campaign contributions. Since it’s P2P, it’s difficult for campaigns to verify the identity of the donor. Compare to credit cards — the card won’t process if the billing information is wrong. Anonymous cash contributions are limited to $50, so it’s pretty crazy to see someone dropping $4500 on a candidate with BTC. That’s nearly the maximum for both the Primary and General elections.

I think the reason that they have been so lax is that cryptocurrencies haven´t been
on their radar so far. They will surely impose similar limits for cryptocurrency donations
in the foreseeable future.

The regulators in most countries are just getting started.