Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Praises Bitcoin, Says CBDCs Are ‘Instruments of Control’

So-called “fringe” presidential candidate for the Democratic Occasion, Robert Kennedy Jr., who usually goes by RFK Jr., spoke to The New York Publish about a number of of his views concerning cryptocurrency, central financial institution digital currencies, and AI, amongst different subjects.

The 69-year previous has not shied away from controversy, nor addressing views which may not be aligned with mainstream narratives. One such subject: Bitcoin.

Reporter Lydia Moynihan requested what Kennedy’s “crypto coverage” was going to be, had been he to be elected.

“I’ll guarantee that we’ve got insurance policies that assist Bitcoin and the liberty to transact,” mentioned Kennedy, “and that permit people to handle their very own Bitcoin wallets, nodes, and passwords.”  He added that he’ll “solely permit the narrowest controls which are needed to stop cash laundering.”

Kennedy made headlines this 12 months throughout his keynote speech on the Bitcoin 2023 convention in Miami. On that event he took a swing at Biden’s proposed 30% crypto tax in addition to denouncing Central Financial institution Digital Currencies (CBDCs).

The miner tax was blocked within the deal legislators signed to lift the debt ceiling in Might. However CBDCs are nonetheless very a lot some extent of rivalry amongst U.S. politicians. A number of outstanding public figures are brazenly opposed to those applied sciences, together with Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis.

And it seems Kennedy nonetheless agrees along with his potential opponent.

In right now’s interview with The New York Publish, Kennedy touched upon the priority, claiming he opposes central financial institution digital currencies as a result of they’re “devices of management and oppression, and are sure to be abused.” The sentiment echoes earlier remarks, when he decried a “warfare on crypto,” earlier this 12 months.

Kennedy additionally has concepts surrounding Synthetic Intelligence. In accordance with him, AI must be regulated globally. He pointed to tech leaders who’ve sounded alarms concerning the threats posed by AI—particularly Elon Musk, who he mentioned he likes as a result of Tesla’s CEO “favors free speech.”

Kennedy didn’t maintain again, highlighting what he sees as potential risks, together with AI’s “capability to regulate narratives, create illusions, surveil our actions to dictate our behaviors and implement compliance, and finally enslave humanity.”

As of writing, in response to opinion ballot web site FiveThirtyEight, Kennedy trails Biden by roughly 58 share factors within the Democratic Occasion presidential major.