When crypto enthusiast and anti-virus programmer John McAfee announced he would be running for the Oval Office in the 2020 elections, his political motives remained unknown. McAfee has now made his motives clear in a recent interview at the Malta Blockchain Summit on Thursday.
McAfee is not new to politics. He tried to gain a Libertarian Party nomination in 2016 but was pipped at the post by Gary Johnson. Could his 2020 bid be any different?
John McAfee Doesn’t Want to be President
The antivirus software programmer gave an interview to CoinTelegraph at this year’s Malta Blockchain Summit. Known for making larger than life statements about the crypto industry, McAfee has made his intentions known in regards to his plans to run in the 2020 elections.
Candidates run for office for all manner of reasons from professional to personal. McAfee has contended that he is doing it just to champion cryptocurrencies and bitcoin. He said that he is not doing it for the fame or the money. He told the crypto news website that:
See, I don’t want to be president. I couldn’t be…no one’s going to elect me president, please God. However, I’ve got the right to run.
Bringing Bitcoin to the Forefront of Politics
McAfee has stated that he is more interested in using the election campaign to shine more light on bitcoin and blockchain in general. He wants to use the election as a platform and an opportunity for the industry to showcase the idea of decentralized cryptocurrencies to the mainstream masses.
Opinions are divided on whether an outspoken crypto proponent such as McAfee standing on a soapbox bestowing the virtues of bitcoin is a good thing for the industry or a bad thing that could backfire.
The McAfee Antivirus software creator also mentioned in the interview he is concerned about the current lack of personal freedom and believes that crypto could help make personal freedom more attainable.
A poll in September on McAfee's Twitter account asked his Libertarian Party only followers whether or not they would follow him into battle once more if he entered the 2020 election affray under a libertarian banner.
For my followers who are members of the Libertarian Party only: If I decide not to run again under the Libertarian banner, but instead form my own party, would any if you follow me in 2020?
— John McAfee (@officialmcafee) September 21, 2018
57% of the 7,748 votes said they would follow him in the next election. Jonh McAfee might not want to be president, but only time will tell if his election attempt will prove a positive or a negative for the crypto industry.
