La. GOP becomes first state Republican Party to accept bitcoin contributions

The Republican Party of Louisiana announced today it is accepting contributions in bitcoin via its official website, making it the first major state-level executive committee to turn to bitcoin payments for monetary support. CoinDesk.com, which reports on bitcoin and other virtual currencies, reports that only the Libertarian Party has made the same move—in Louisiana and Texas—following guidance from the U.S. Federal Election Commission determining that political campaigns and political action committees can accept bitcoin as a form of in-kind donation under current federal election laws. LAGOP executive director Jason Doré tells the news site that other states may soon follow suit as their party leaders learn more about bitcoin. “I think the rise of bitcoin’s popularity and use is forcing many public officials to learn about it. Still, many elected officials are not aware of it,” he says. “If the bitcoin community embraces the use of bitcoin to support and oppose political campaigns, the role of bitcoin will only grow.” Bitcoin campaign contributions are not the party’s first experience with the digital currency; it has also paid BitPolitic, the group that helped prepare the LAGOP to launch bitcoin transactions on its website, in bitcoin. Doré says the move by the LAGOP was partly motivated by finding better ways to reach and engage its supporters, but that bitcoin also already embodies many conservative principles, such as embracing innovation and the free market, and opposing inflationary monetary policy. Read the full story.