Professional-Bitcoin Ian Calderon Joins Race for California Governor

Former California Assemblymember and Bitcoin advocate Ian Calderon has kicked off his marketing campaign for California governor in 2026, getting into a crowded and aggressive race to interchange Gavin Newsom.

Calderon confirmed his bid for governor in a put up to X on Tuesday, centering most of his guarantees round inexpensive properties, groceries and fuel whereas positioning himself as a Bitcoin (BTC) proponent.

“My technology pays payments on our telephones, we ship cash to one another with Venmo and we save in Bitcoin — however the folks operating our authorities, they’re making an attempt to make use of yesterday’s concepts to unravel at the moment’s issues, and it isn’t working,” he mentioned.

It’s time for a brand new technology of management in California. pic.twitter.com/WmXIJcC1j1

— Ian Calderon (@IanCalderon) September 23, 2025

Calderon positioned additional emphasis on Bitcoin in a separate X put up, stating: “California has all the time been a pacesetter on know-how. It’s time for us to get again to our roots and make California the undisputed chief on Bitcoin.”

Lawmakers on the federal and state ranges have extra broadly promised crypto-friendly insurance policies of their campaigns after the crypto foyer emerged as a high donor through the 2024 elections, spending hundreds of thousands on profitable bids from Donald Trump and a number of lawmakers.

Calderon entered California’s legislature in 2012 at 27 years previous, making him the youngest member on the time. He served till 2020, main California’s Blockchain Working Group and laying the muse for the state’s blockchain roadmap.

California is probably the most populous US state with a $4.3 trillion financial system. State lawmakers lately moved ahead with a invoice that will enable state businesses to settle for crypto for costs, but it surely hasn’t seen the identical degree of assist and progress for a Bitcoin reserve as different states.

Calderon hints at promise of state Bitcoin reserve

Throughout a livestream on X, Calderon mentioned he believed that “California needs to be holding Bitcoin on its steadiness sheet.”

“As soon as I’m governor, I’m going to ensure that we maintain Bitcoin on our steadiness sheet,” he added.

Calderon additionally mentioned he’d push for California to make use of Bitcoin as a option to pay for state packages.

Calderon faces fierce competitors

California will go to the polls for its gubernatorial election on Nov. 3, 2026. Calderon is an extended shot to win as a number of extra established candidates are vying to succeed Newsom, who can not search reelection on the finish of his second time period.

The race opened up in late July when former Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed that she wouldn’t run for the place.

Associated: California strikes ahead invoice to just accept crypto for state funds

Polling exhibits former Democratic Congresswoman Katie Porter is the present frontrunner, adopted by Sheriff Chad Bianco, who’s operating as a Republican, and former Republican political adviser and FOX Information contributor Steve Hilton.

Calderon wished Bitcoin as authorized tender in California 

Whereas out of politics for the previous 5 years, Calderon labored with Satoshi Motion Fund CEO Dennis Porter to introduce a invoice exploring Bitcoin as authorized tender in early 2022.