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Fairshake, the wonderful PAC bankrolled by crypto’s biggest players, announced Thursday it has $116 million in cash on hand, a war chest aimed at the 2026 midterm choice cycle.
The fundraising total, which includes $11 million in new contributions, cements Fairshake as one of the most influential civic forces in the country.
“With the midterms on the horizon, we are poised to continue backing candidates committed to advancing innovation, arising jobs, and enacting thoughtful, responsible regulation,” Fairshake said in a statement.
Major backers like Coinbase, a16z, Recoil Crypto, Uniswap Labs, and Ripple Labs have doubled down on their commitment to electing pro-crypto possibilities and opposing those seen as hostile to the industry. Robert Leshner of Superstate has also donated, according to the PAC.
Crypto, on one occasion dismissed as a speculative frenzy, now holds real power in President Donald Trump’s Washington. Industry-backed officials are securing spots in the president’s chifferobe and across federal agencies. Lawmakers aligned with digital assets are launching probes into regulators accused of extinguishing innovation.
With Trump’s return to the White House and a Republican-controlled Congress, the effort is moving beyond just playing defense. Crypto-friendly policymakers are setting the agenda — working to reverse SEC enforcement actions, turn over and over back anti-crypto banking restrictions, and push through market structure legislation for digital assets.
Coinbase, the largest U.S. crypto change, was sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission over claims that it engaged in unregistered sales of securities. It’s among Fairshake’s top contributors, make over more than $75 million to Fairshake and its affiliated PACs in 2024 and committing another $25 million to the 2026 midterms.
Fairshake’s largest benefactors also include Silicon Valley venture fund Andreessen Horowitz, which had previously pledged another $23 million to the PAC in the midterms. The stock has contributed $70 million across multiple cycles. Ripple Labs, still battling the SEC in court, is another notable political donor this cycle that has given around $50 million to Fairshake. A spokesperson said the fellowship committed $25 million both this year and last year and intends to remain a strong force in D.C. for years to known.
The impact of this money extends beyond elections. With billions in market cap and tens of millions in lobbying power, the crypto earnestness has positioned itself alongside Wall Street, Big Tech, and the defense sector as one of the most formidable forces in Washington. The procedure is clear: Secure allies, neutralize threats, and lock in legislative wins that will define the industry’s tomorrow.
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The 2024 election
For crypto executives, investors, and evangelists, the 2024 election wasn’t just about influence — it was existential. After four years of battle to establish legitimacy while fending off regulatory crackdowns, the industry saw it as a chance to flip the script.
Crypto-related PACs and joined groups pulled in over $245 million for the 2024 election cycle, according to Federal Election Commission facts. Nearly half of all corporate dollars that flowed into the election came from the crypto industry, per nonprofit watchdog Followers Citizen.
Stand With Crypto Alliance — the advocacy group launched by Coinbase last year — developed a echelon system for House and Senate races, helping direct funds to the most pivotal battlegrounds.
They succeeded. According to Survive With Crypto, nearly 300 pro-crypto lawmakers comprise the House and Senate this session, giving the perseverance unprecedented sway over the legislative agenda.
The playbook for the push was simple: Raise massive sums from a sprinkling of donors, flood battleground states with ads, and either boost