Podcast Summary: The Digital Executive

Episode: Exploring Digital Asset Policy and Economic Growth with Chase Ergen | Ep 1034

Host: Coruzant Technologies
Guest: Chase Ergen (Executive Director, Make America Wealthy Again Super PAC; Board Member, Defi Technologies)
Date: March 26, 2025
Duration: ~8 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode features an interview with Chase Ergen, executive director of the Make America Wealthy Again (MAWA) Super PAC and a board member at Defi Technologies. The conversation centers on U.S. digital asset policy, empowering young innovators, and how forward-thinking tax and legislative action can drive economic growth and technological leadership for the nation. Ergen also details MAWA’s strategic agenda to bring tech talent and investment back to the U.S., and his vision for shaping the future digital economy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. MAWA's Mission and Three-Point Plan

(01:03 – 01:39)

• Economic Agenda: Empowering young people to participate in politics and wealth creation.
• Legislative Agenda: Advocating for laws that enshrine wealth preservation and creation.
• Representative Agenda: Supporting political candidates who will champion these initiatives, aiming to "return the power to the next generation of young wealth creators."

Chase Ergen (01:03): “We have a three point plan, which is an economic, representative, and legislative agenda... We want to get representatives into Congress and government who respect this initiative and return the power to the next generation of young wealth creators.”

2. Proposed Tax Policies for the Digital Economy

(02:06 – 03:21)

• 0% Tax on Digital Assets: MAWA advocates for a zero-tax policy to encourage digital asset innovators to keep their investment and IP in the U.S.
• Rationale: Lower tax rates would incentivize “trillions of dollars” to return, boosting U.S. leadership in the digital economy.
• Comparison to Big Tech: Companies like Apple, Google, and Meta keep profits abroad due to favorable foreign tax structures; MAWA proposes aligning digital asset policies to keep such innovations domestic.

Chase Ergen (02:06): “We think that 0% tax on digital assets will allow revamped states to be the leader in the world... People in the country will keep their innovation in the United States and hire Americans...and bring trillions of dollars back into the United States.”

3. Retaining Tech Talent: Lessons from Binance

(04:04 – 05:01)

• Binance as a Cautionary Tale: Regulatory challenges forced Binance, founded by a U.S.-based innovator, to relocate its business abroad, costing the U.S. significant economic opportunity.
• MAWA’s Approach: A dual legislative and representative strategy to ensure business- and tech-friendly lawmakers are in place, avoiding repeat scenarios and supporting homegrown innovation.

Chase Ergen (04:04): “They decided to pursue regulatory and legal cases against [the Binance founder]... now his $35 trillion a year business is outside of the United States. So through legislative and representative initiatives... we hope that these leaders will make laws and continue to represent those types of technologists...”

4. Policy Momentum and the Current Administration

(05:14 – 06:07)

• Trump Administration Actions: Moves like a proposed strategic Bitcoin reserve, sovereign wealth fund, and zero tax up to $150,000 are paving the way for digital growth.
• Legislative Backing Needed: Ergen emphasizes executive actions must be underpinned by lasting legislation, rebuilding trust with the next generation of engineers and wealth creators.
• Entrepreneurial Influences: Cites the momentum from leaders like Elon Musk and highlights the role of youth in driving technological progress.

Chase Ergen (05:14): “They want to do a sovereign wealth fund... bring in innovation with the crypto and AI Council. But there's only so much that the executive branch can do. The legislative branch has to back that up for these laws to have lasting effect...”

5. MAWA’s Vision for U.S. Digital Economy Policy

(06:41 – 07:53)

• Fixing a Broken Economic System: Aims to support forward-minded laws and representatives who listen to digital economy leaders.
• Straightforward Regulation: Advocates legalization of stablecoins, zero digital asset tax, and clear legal/tax codes for trust and economic flourishing.
• Lobbying & Representation: MAWA will actively lobby and help elect next-gen wealth creators to ensure U.S. digital asset policy sets global standards.

Chase Ergen (06:41): “We want to support initiatives, laws, representatives that understand U.S. economic policy is broken, it needs to be fixed... help U.S. digital economy, digital asset policy become global policy... lobbying to pass laws and helping representatives get into Congress so we have a next generation of wealth creators...”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Empowering the Next Generation:

  “We want to get representatives into Congress...who return the power to the next generation of young wealth creators.”
  (Chase Ergen, 01:26)

• On Global Tax Competition and U.S. Innovation:

  “Many of the cryptocurrencies... are American cryptographers, American technologists, but those assets are held outside of the United States.”
  (Chase Ergen, 02:54)

• Legislative-Executive Collaboration:

  “There's only so much that the executive branch can do. The legislative branch has to back that up for these laws to have lasting effect...”
  (Chase Ergen, 05:37)

• Shaping Global Policy:

  “We want to help U.S. Digital economy, digital asset policy become global policy.”
  (Chase Ergen, 07:14)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• MAWA Three-Point Plan: 01:03 – 01:39
• 0% Digital Asset Tax Proposal: 02:06 – 03:21
• Binance & Regulatory Failures: 04:04 – 05:01
• Trump Administration & Legislative Needs: 05:14 – 06:07
• Future Aspirations for Policy & Lobbying: 06:41 – 07:53

Conclusion

Chase Ergen’s appearance on The Digital Executive underscores the urgency and promise of transformational digital asset policy in the U.S. Through MAWA's focused three-point plan, a bold tax vision, and strategic legislative advocacy, Ergen positions the organization as a key player in recapturing tech leadership and economic dynamism for future generations. The conversation is rich with direct policy proposals and a call to align legislative action with emerging economic realities.