That’s nearly 40% of all corporate election spending. We break down why crypto companies were so active in this year’s electoral race.
Crypto companies spent about $189M on the 2026 US midterm elections, accounting for roughly 37% of all corporate election spending, according to non-profit Public Citizen. That made crypto firms the largest corporate donors of the cycle.
Hot topic: Bitcoin ETF Inflows Hit Worst Month Ever With $4.5B Outflows
For comparison: AI and Big Tech sectors contributed $60M, while online gambling added $45.6M. Total corporate election spending reached $517M, up 12% from the entire 2024 cycle.
Crypto and US Politics — What’s the Connection?
The main spending channels were the Fairshake super PAC and its affiliates. They received $82M from crypto companies. Another $56.2M from crypto donors went to MAGA Inc., which supports Donald Trump.
The largest crypto donors were:
- Ripple and Coinbase: $81.5M to Fairshake
- Crypto.com: $35M to MAGA Inc., the largest corporate contribution to that committee
- Gemini and Blockchain.com also participated through other channels
The strategy mirrors the 2024 approach, when the crypto industry first used large-scale super PAC funding to support pro-crypto candidates from both parties. Now AI and gambling sectors are copying the model. Public Citizen notes actual spending may be higher, as dark money and state-level contributions aren’t subject to federal disclosure.
Read more: Why Is Crypto Crashing in Q2 2026? Top 3 Brutal Reasons the Market Is Falling Now
What the Crypto Community Thinks
A Politico/Public First poll found only 4% of Americans consider a candidate’s crypto position when voting. Just 18% want Congress to prioritize digital asset regulation. Meanwhile, 41% feel special interest groups have too much political influence. That creates a gap between heavy spending and the issue’s actual electoral weight.
Crypto money is already being tested in primaries. In Colorado, the You Can Push Back PAC, backed by Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen, spent $1M to back Democrat Manny Rutinel. A previous $3.3M bet on New York Democrat Alex Bores ended in a primary loss.
Successful crypto lobbying could speed passage of the CLARITY Act. But if voters see the spending as excessive influence, it could trigger political backlash and tighter campaign finance rules.
Learn more: How the CLARITY Act Could Reshape US Crypto Trading
