Highlights:
- Crypto’s $130M investment helped elect 48 pro-crypto candidates, boosting industry influence.
- Ohio race highlighted crypto’s $40M backing of Moreno, defeating crypto-skeptic Sherrod Brown.
- Trump’s election promises regulatory leniency, signaling a shift from Biden’s crypto crackdown.
The cryptocurrency industry played a major role in the 2024 election, spending $130M to support over 50 candidates from both parties. From the results, 48 out of 48 the endorsed candidates by leading crypto political action committees PACS secured their seat hence fostering representation in the congress. In other races still being tallied, candidates backed by digital assets win in five out of eight razor-thin margins.
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Crypto PACs Fuel Key Wins, Expanding Influence in US Politics
A competitive Senate race drew the industry’s most substantial investment in Ohio. Republican candidate Bernie Moreno received a crucial boost from the crypto sector, which poured in $40 million to lift his bid to unseat incumbent Sherrod Brown.
Brown, known for his stance against crypto, chairs the Senate Banking Committee and has pushed for tighter crypto regulations. Despite trailing in the polls in late October, Moreno emerged victorious with 50.2% of the vote. “DC received a clear message that being anti-crypto is a good way to end your career,” noted Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong on social media.
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) November 6, 2024
Beyond Ohio, crypto PACs spread their influence across several states, including Arizona, Indiana, and Maryland. Stand With Crypto, a tracking group, recorded 253 pro-crypto candidates elected to the House and 16 to the Senate, consequently signaling widespread legislative support for less restrictive crypto policies. This shows how the crypto industry is gaining more power in national regulatory discussions.
Crypto PACs like Fairshake and Protect Progress bolstered pro-crypto congressional candidates, emphasizing the sector’s interest in advancing regulatory frameworks. In Michigan, Protect Progress invested $1 million to support Democratic incumbent Shri Thanedar, who won, while Defend American Jobs backed Republican Jim Justice’s campaign in West Virginia with $3 million. These efforts, which succeeded even in low-risk races, illustrate the industry’s commitment to securing friendly lawmakers.
Crypto Industry Seeks Regulatory Shift with Trump’s Election Win
Moreover, the Biden administration focused on enforcing securities laws against crypto companies for years. President-elect Donald Trump promised to stop this crackdown and position the United States as “the crypto capital of the planet.”
With this cycle of elections, the crypto industry defined a clear working strategy for defending its interests. Crypto industry’s support of pro-crypto candidates became the new record for political engagement by digital asset firms.
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