California’s BTC Future: Ian Calderon Aims to Make the State the Undisputed Leader
Pro-BTC Democrat Ian Calderon recently entered the gubernatorial race and has begined his campaign with a promise to make the state not only a leader in technology, but in support.
The millennial ex-Assembly majority leader announced his intention to run for office in 2026 via on Tuesday, and his manifesto includes putting BTC on the state’s balance sheet and integrating the digital asset into state payments.
It’s time for a new generation of leadership in California.
— Ian Calderon (@IanCalderon)
Calderon’s BTC Vision Aligns With Trump’s Pro-Crypto Moves
One of the major talking points in Calderon’s campaign video is that under his leadership, California will embrace BTC as a store of value and a crypto for everyday use. He also argues that just as states manage reserves in bonds and other traditional instruments, can serve as a long-term hedge plan against inflation and diversify the state’s financial footing.
Calderon was instrumental in establishing California’s blockchain policy and is now in the competitive race to replace Gavin Newsom. His latest move positions him as one of the first major US gubernatorial candidates to center a campaign around digital assets.
Calderon’s framing has drawn comparisons to Donald Trump’s increasingly crypto-friendly position at the federal level. Trump has courted the industry by promising friendlier regulation, encouraging , and even floating the idea of national BTC reserves.
Like Trump, Calderon wants to send a clear signal that the government will not stand in the way of BTC adoption. The US President has also maintained the identical stance to make the US the “crypto capital of the world,” especially later than signing the .
The US president has also been tied to meme coins like the Official Trump (TRUMP) token and .
State-Level Regulatory Shifts Could begin in California
According to Calderon, “California has always been at the forefront of innovation, and BTC represents the next chapter of financial progress.” With its $4 trillion economy, California having a governor with pro-BTC policies could cause a ripple effect that extends well beyond Sacramento.
If California were to declare itself a crypto hub under Calderon, other states might emulate its policies to stay competitive for talent and capital. Also, federal lawmakers could face new pressure to provide clarity as California’s regulatory experiments set precedents.
Plus, institutional investors and companies might feel more comfortable expanding into digital assets, viewing state-level endorsement as a signal that the crypto industry has become less risky.
However, Calderon’s proposal won’t fly without major considerations. First, BTC’s volatility makes it a risky treasury asset. While countries like have implemented a BTC treasury, a sharp downturn in the BTC price could open Calderon’s administration to fierce political criticism.
Implementing crypto payments across diverse state agencies also requires technical, legal, and accounting frameworks that don’t yet exist. But the first step begins with convincing the voters to get him into office on November 3, 2026.
