John Deaton, a private attorney and vocal advocate for the crypto industry, is considering challenging one of the most prominent crypto critics among lawmakers, Elizabeth Warren, for her seat in the United States Senate. The election in question will take place in November 2024. An official from the Republican Party indicated in a February 14 article by the Boston Globe that Deaton is seriously focused on the Senate elections to be held in Massachusetts, which Warren has represented since her election in 2013.
A Significant Move from a Notable Figure
Jim Conroy, a former advisor to the 72nd Governor of Massachusetts, Charles Baker, stated that he had discussions with Deaton, and Deaton will make his decision regarding the senatorial race in the coming days. Deaton is known as a prominent figure in the US crypto community. In 2021, as an attorney, he submitted an amicus brief on behalf of over 6,000 XRP holders in a lawsuit between the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Ripple Labs.
Since then, Deaton has been harshly criticizing SEC Chairman Gary Gensler and Elizabeth Warren, known for her tough stance on crypto and who has become a target for industry advocates. In his latest attack on Warren via social media platform X, Deaton accused her of misleading the American public.
Election Polls and the Crypto Sector
Warren was elected to the Senate in 2012 by defeating incumbent Senator Scott Brown with 53.7% of the vote. She defeated former state representative Geoff Diehl in 2018 with 60% of the vote. However, polls conducted in 2023 show that only 41% of Massachusetts residents view Warren’s candidacy favorably.
According to the Boston Globe, the Republican Party may aim not only to achieve a direct victory against Warren in Massachusetts with Deaton’s candidacy but also to force her into a competitive race and hinder her fundraising for other candidates and causes.
Amidst these developments, positive steps continue to be taken in the United States towards the cryptocurrency market. Most recently, with the approval of spot Bitcoin ETF applications, the SEC officially recognized Bitcoin as an investment tool, which could pave the way for ETF processes for many cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, in the future.
