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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, spoke to The New York Post yesterday about several of his views regarding cryptocurrency, central bank digital currencies, and AI, among other topics.
The 69-year old has not shied away from controversy, nor addressing views that might not be aligned with mainstream narratives. One such topic: Bitcoin.
Reporter Lydia Moynihan asked what Kennedy’s “crypto policy” was going to be, were he to be elected.
“I will make sure that we have policies that support Bitcoin and the freedom to transact,” said Kennedy, “and that allow individuals to manage their own Bitcoin wallets, nodes, and passwords.” He added that he will “only allow the narrowest controls that are necessary to prevent money laundering.”
Kennedy made headlines this year during his keynote speech at the Bitcoin 2023 conference in Miami. On that occasion he took a swing at Biden’s proposed 30% crypto tax as well as denouncing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
The miner tax was blocked in the deal legislators signed to raise the debt ceiling in May. But CBDCs are still very much a point of contention among U.S. politicians. Several prominent public figures are openly opposed to these technologies, including Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis.
And it turns out Kennedy still agrees with his potential opponent.
In today’s interview with The New York Post, Kennedy touched upon the concern, claiming he opposes central bank digital currencies because they are "instruments of control and oppression, and are certain to be abused.” The sentiment echoes previous remarks, when he decried a “war on crypto,” earlier this year.
Kennedy also has ideas surrounding artificial intelligence. According to him, AI needs to be regulated globally. He pointed to tech leaders who have sounded alarms about the threats posed by AI—namely Elon Musk, who he said he likes because Tesla’s CEO “favors free speech.”
Kennedy didn’t hold back, highlighting what he sees as potential dangers, including AI’s “capacity to control narratives, create illusions, surveil our activities to dictate our behaviors and enforce compliance, and ultimately enslave humanity.”
As of writing, according to opinion poll website FiveThirtyEight, Kennedy trails Biden by roughly 58 percentage points in the Democratic Party presidential primary.