In a move that sent ripples through both the cryptocurrency and political worlds, blockchain entrepreneur Brock Pierce formally filed paperwork on July 7, 2020, to run for President of the United States as an independent candidate. The 39-year-old former child actor turned cryptocurrency mogul brought an unprecedented level of blockchain industry visibility to the American electoral process.
TL;DR
- Block.One co-founder Brock Pierce filed to run for U.S. President as an independent on July 7, 2020
- Pierce, 39, is a former child actor (The Mighty Ducks) turned cryptocurrency entrepreneur and billionaire
- He co-founded Block.One, the company behind the EOS blockchain, and was associated with Tether
- His campaign aimed to reach younger voters and technology innovators
- The run highlighted the growing political influence of the cryptocurrency industry
From Hollywood to Blockchain Billionaire
Brock Pierce’s journey to presidential politics was anything but conventional. A former child actor who appeared in films including The Mighty Ducks, Pierce transitioned from Hollywood to become one of the earliest and most prominent figures in the cryptocurrency space. He co-founded Block.One, the company that raised $4 billion in a record-breaking initial coin offering for the EOS blockchain platform in 2018 — at the time the largest ICO in history.
Pierce was also closely associated with the stablecoin Tether, one of the most controversial projects in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. His deep ties to both EOS and Tether made him one of the most recognized — and polarizing — figures in the blockchain industry. By 2020, Pierce had established himself as a billionaire crypto investor with significant influence over the direction of the digital asset space.
A Campaign Built on Tech and Innovation
Pierce announced his independent presidential bid with the explicit goal of engaging younger voters and technological innovators who felt disconnected from the traditional two-party political system. His campaign platform emphasized blockchain technology, digital innovation, and monetary policy reform — subjects that had never before been central to a U.S. presidential campaign.
The timing of Pierce’s announcement was notable within the broader cryptocurrency landscape. Bitcoin was trading at approximately $9,252 in early July 2020, with Ethereum at $239, as the crypto market was experiencing a significant resurgence driven by the explosive growth of decentralized finance. The DeFi boom on Ethereum was attracting mainstream attention to blockchain technology, and Pierce’s presidential run added another dimension to crypto’s growing cultural relevance.
Blockchain Enters the Political Arena
Pierce’s candidacy represented a watershed moment for the cryptocurrency industry’s political engagement. While individual crypto advocates had made political donations and lobbied for favorable regulation before, no major figure from the blockchain space had attempted a presidential run. The move signaled the industry’s growing maturity and its participants’ willingness to engage directly with the political process.
The campaign also raised important questions about the intersection of technology policy and governance. Pierce advocated for greater adoption of blockchain technology in government operations, digital dollar initiatives, and regulatory frameworks that would support rather than stifle cryptocurrency innovation. These positions, while not mainstream in 2020, would become increasingly relevant as governments worldwide began exploring central bank digital currencies and blockchain-based identity systems.
Challenges and Controversy
Despite his wealth and industry connections, Pierce faced significant challenges as a third-party candidate. The U.S. political system is notoriously difficult for independent presidential aspirants, with ballot access requirements varying by state and media coverage concentrated on the major party nominees. Additionally, Pierce’s association with controversial projects like Tether — which faced ongoing questions about its dollar reserves — and his unconventional background made him a target for skeptics.
Forbes described Pierce as a blockchain mogul in a July 10, 2020 interview, noting his ambition to bring technological innovation to the forefront of American political discourse. Whether or not his campaign would gain traction, it had already succeeded in forcing a conversation about cryptocurrency policy into the national spotlight.
Why This Matters
Brock Pierce’s presidential run, while a long-shot bid, marked a turning point for the cryptocurrency industry’s relationship with politics. It demonstrated that blockchain entrepreneurs were no longer content to operate on the margins of the financial system — they wanted a seat at the table where monetary policy and technology regulation are decided. The campaign also foreshadowed the enormous political influence the crypto industry would later wield, as evidenced by the massive lobbying efforts and political action committees that emerged in subsequent election cycles. Pierce’s candidacy, ahead of its time in many ways, planted the seeds for crypto’s political mainstreaming.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
the mighty ducks kid growing up to run for president on a crypto platform is a sentence nobody in 1992 could have predicted
the Mighty Ducks kid running for president on a blockchain platform while EOS was already bleeding out. you cannot make this up
0.1% of the vote and still got more crypto policy attention than years of actual lobbying. the man understood earned media
mighty ducks to EOS to presidential campaign. you literally cannot write a more chaotic crypto origin story
0.1% of the vote but he got more crypto policy airtime than congress bills that actually mattered. earned media is a real thing
0.1pct of the vote and he still got more crypto policy attention than actual lobbying. says more about DC than about pierce
love or hate the guy you have to admit having someone who actually understands blockchain in politics is refreshing
crypto needs political representation but celebrity candidates rarely move the needle on actual policy
love or hate the guy you have to admit having someone who actually understands blockchain in politics is refreshing
love or hate the guy you have to admit having someone who actually understands blockchain in politics is refreshing
another billionaire trying to buy political influence but at least this one understands monetary policy
blockbuster has a point. most politicians dont even know what a blockchain is. at least pierce understands monetary policy even if the campaign was a long shot
blockbuster88 is right. at least pierce understands monetary policy even if his campaign was a vanity project
political_satoshi vanity project is exactly right. pierce got 0.1% of the vote and somehow still got more crypto policy attention than actual lobbying efforts
the mighty ducks to eos to presidential run pipeline is the most crypto career arc ever
the mighty ducks to EOS pipeline is wild enough but adding a presidential campaign is next level. crypto truly attracts the most unhinged career arcs
the Mighty Ducks kid to crypto billionaire to presidential candidate pipeline is genuinely the most 2020 thing that happened in 2020
dude co-founded block.one which raised $4B in the biggest ico ever and the EOS chain is basically dead. presidential run was just the victory lap
tether_ghost_ 4B raised and EOS produced Block.one which produced a presidential campaign which produced zero actual products. the crypto hustle pipeline
tether_ghost_ block one raised 4B and EOS is basically a ghost town. the presidential run was just brand rehabilitation after the worst ICO ROI in history
tether_ghost_ block.one raised $4B and EOS is a ghost town. and somehow that track record was supposed to qualify him for president
tether_ghost_ $4B ICO and EOS can barely crack top 50 in active addresses. the presidential run was a distraction from that mess
tether_ghost_ 4B raised in the EOS ico and the chain produced basically nothing. the presidential run was a distraction from that failure