As the dust settled after New Jersey’s recent gubernatorial primary election, polling and analysis began providing a clearer snapshot of what happened on primary day — who showed up to the polls, what motivated them and what didn’t.
Among the biggest takeaways was the emergence of a pivotal, fast-growing voting bloc that played an outsized role: crypto voters.
No longer anecdotal, data now tells us that New Jersey crypto voters are a veritable, formidable and organized voting force, and they materialized in colossal numbers on primary election day. If New Jersey’s gubernatorial hopefuls heed one lesson from the aftermath of the primaries it should be this: Ignore crypto voters at your own peril.
Polling released by Stand With Crypto made clear that a candidate’s cryptocurrency stance served as a motivating factor when Democratic primary voters cast their ballots.
Crypto voters were instrumental in helping Rep. Mikie Sherrill win her party’s nomination in June. Thirty-nine percent of voters who reported casting their ballots for Sherrill made up their minds a week or less before the election, and more than half of those late-deciders who voted for Sherrill said they were more likely to vote for a candidate who supports pro-crypto policies.
The survey also revealed that 57% of voters said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports pro-crypto policies, and 62% said each candidate’s position on cryptocurrency influenced their vote choice. Three-in-five Democratic primary voters agreed that the candidates for governor should support pro-crypto policies that would position New Jersey as a national leader.
Who are New Jersey’s crypto voters?
Some may be wondering who these elusive crypto voters are. The reality is that they aren’t elusive at all, and in fact many of these voters are up for grabs.
These are real, everyday people. They cut across traditional partisan boundaries, and they show up on Election Day. Nearly half of crypto voters identify as independents, more than one-third identify as Republicans and nearly one-in-five identify as Democrats. They are also highly engaged, with three-quarters of them almost certain to vote and nearly as many saying they are researching candidates’ crypto stances.
The numbers don’t lie. Candidates overlooking crypto voters are leaving votes on the table — and a lot of them. Especially here in the Garden State.
New Jersey is home to nearly 65,000 Stand With Crypto advocates, a population that skews younger, more engaged and more persuadable than the average voter. That’s tens of thousands of voters vying for a candidate with a pro-crypto vision. When considering that the margin of victory in the last governor’s race was only 80,000 votes, these voters could be the make-or-break for the next governor come Election Day.
New Jersey has always been a hub for innovation, from Edison’s laboratory in Menlo Park to the pharmaceutical corridors of today. Cryptocurrency, blockchain technology and digital assets represent the next frontier of innovation, and New Jersey has the opportunity to lead. But, as crypto voters know, the window is closing fast, as other states race ahead while we dither.
NJ crypto voters want clarity on policy approach
So what is it that crypto voters want to see from candidates? It’s pretty simple: clarity.
For far too long, lawmakers have been silent on crypto policy, which is borderline negligent in a rapidly evolving digital economy. The uncertainty has stifled businesses, investors and consumers alike.
Pro-crypto policies start with regulatory clarity, protecting consumers without stifling innovation. Regulatory clarity includes things like creating tax frameworks that recognize the unique nature of digital assets, and spearheading education incentives that empower safe participation. It’s not rocket science. Yet somehow we’re still waiting for leadership with a vision beyond the next election cycle.
Embracing a pro-crypto platform isn’t just good politics — it’s smart policy.
The crypto industry has already created thousands of high-paying jobs nationwide, from software development to compliance, marketing to customer service. Here in New Jersey — with our educated workforce and strategic location — we are poised to be at the forefront of this movement, fostering innovation and strengthening our economy.
But the only way we’ll get there is with effective leadership. Crypto voters understand this, which is why they’re looking for pro-crypto candidates who can chart the path forward that New Jerseyans deserve.
As we move beyond the primaries and New Jersey’s gubernatorial hopefuls make their case to voters, they would be wise to heed what the data tells us. It tells us that crypto voters represent a consequential and growing slice of the electorate, they will show up on Election Day and they will vote for the candidate who embraces a pro-crypto platform.
Their votes are literally up for grabs — candidates would be unwise to overlook that.
Carlos Iván Merino is the New Jersey chapter president of Stand With Crypto, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit dedicated to advancing clear, commonsense regulations for the cryptocurrency industry. The organization represents the interests of the 52 million Americans who have owned crypto assets.
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