Nikolas Sargeant
Former California Assemblymember Ian Calderon has officially entered the 2026 race for governor, positioning himself as a pro-Bitcoin candidate in what promises to be a crowded Democratic primary. The 40-year-old politician announced his campaign on social media Tuesday, emphasizing his generational perspective and cryptocurrency advocacy as key differentiators in the competitive field to replace termed-out Governor Gavin Newsom.
It’s time for a new generation of leadership in California. pic.twitter.com/WmXIJcC1j1
— Ian Calderon (@IanCalderon) September 23, 2025
Calderon's platform centers on addressing California's cost-of-living crisis while embracing emerging financial technologies. He specifically highlighted Bitcoin as a solution for younger generations, stating that his generation "saves in Bitcoin" while criticizing current leadership for using "yesterday's ideas to solve today's problems." The former lawmaker has promised to make California "the undisputed leader on Bitcoin" if elected.
A significant component of Calderon's campaign involves implementing a state Bitcoin reserve, similar to proposals gaining traction in other states. During a recent livestream, he committed to ensuring California holds Bitcoin on its balance sheet and explores using the cryptocurrency for state program payments. This positions him uniquely among gubernatorial candidates as cryptocurrency policy becomes increasingly mainstream in American politics.
Despite his innovative platform, Calderon faces an uphill battle against more established candidates in the November 2026 election. Current polling shows former Democratic Congresswoman Katie Porter leading the field, followed by Republican Sheriff Chad Bianco and Fox News contributor Steve Hilton. Calderon's previous legislative experience includes founding California's Blockchain Working Group and developing the state's blockchain roadmap during his 2012-2020 tenure in the Assembly.
California's Crypto Leadership Position
California has emerged as a national leader in cryptocurrency legislation, advancing multiple groundbreaking bills that could reshape digital asset policy across the United States. The state's comprehensive approach to crypto regulation demonstrates the forward-thinking environment that Calderon hopes to build upon if elected governor.
The California Assembly has recently passed several significant pieces of cryptocurrency legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support. Assembly Bill 1180 received unanimous approval with a 68-0 vote, authorizing state agencies to accept cryptocurrency payments for official transactions starting July 2026. This positions California alongside pioneering states like Florida, Colorado, and Louisiana in government crypto adoption.
Complementing this initiative, Assembly Bill 1052 passed with a remarkable 78-0 vote, modernizing the state's approach to dormant digital assets while establishing legal protections for cryptocurrency transactions. The bill ensures that inactive crypto holdings transferred to state custody remain in their native digital form rather than being liquidated, addressing long-standing regulatory gaps in the sector.
Perhaps most significantly, California is advancing cryptocurrency rights legislation that would protect self-custody rights for nearly 40 million residents while prohibiting discrimination based on digital asset usage. This "Bitcoin rights" framework could serve as a national model, leveraging California's influence to promote broader acceptance and trust in digital currencies across the United States.
