Coinbase Adds Obama Campaign Architect to Global Advisory Council Amid Crypto Legislation Push

David Plouffe, the architect of Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and former adviser to Kamala Harris, has joined Coinbase’s Global Advisory Council. This move deepens the exchange’s bipartisan strategy amid mounting crypto legislation in Washington. Plouffe’s appointment was announced at Coinbase’s State of Crypto Summit in New York, adding another high-profile political strategist to the exchange’s expanding roster of advisors.

Plouffe, who most recently served as a senior adviser to Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign, joins Donald Trump’s former co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita, who joined the council in January following the presidential inauguration. This addition points to Coinbase’s strategic effort to maintain bipartisan appeal as the industry pushes for favorable legislation under the Trump administration.

Plouffe’s experience includes serving as a White House Senior Advisor and leading global policy and strategy at Uber during its international expansion. His addition to the Coinbase Global Advisory Council comes as Congress moves with unusual speed on crypto-friendly legislation. On Wednesday, Democrats joined Republicans to advance stablecoin regulation, the Genius Act, with final Senate passage expected next week. A broader crypto market structure bill is also advancing through House committees.

“David joining GAC comes on the heels of one of the biggest legislative moments for crypto in U.S. history,” said Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase’s Chief Policy Officer. “He understands how to build broad coalitions and drive forward-looking policy.”

Speaking at Thursday’s summit, both Plouffe and LaCivita detailed their campaigns’ efforts to court “crypto voters” in 2024. The crypto industry spent over $130 million on congressional races, with Coinbase serving as the largest contributor to the industry’s super PAC. “The folks who own crypto are pretty politically competitive,” Plouffe told AP News. “These are not MAGA voters. They are swing voters. Lean a little Democratic, certainly lean a lot younger.” LaCivita credited the crypto issue with helping Trump reach new demographics, particularly younger and Black voters.

The Global Advisory Council now includes former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, former Senators Patrick Toomey and Kyrsten Sinema, the UK’s former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, and other prominent figures. Trump, who addressed the conference via video, called it "a really big honor" to be deemed the "first crypto president." His administration has already begun rolling back Biden-era crypto restrictions, including guidance that discouraged crypto investments in retirement accounts.