Affiliates of Fairshake, a political action committee funded primarily by Coinbase and Ripple Labs, have significantly raised their election spending in what industry sources describe as a pivotal contest for congressional balance in 2026.
Fairshake ramps up Ohio campaign funding
Recent Federal Election Commission filings show that Defend American Jobs, a Fairshake-affiliated group supporting Republican candidates, has spent $46.6 million on media campaigns opposing former lawmaker Sherrod Brown and backing Republican Senator Jon Husted in Ohio’s 2026 Senate race. This figure surpasses the previous commitment of $30 million initially disclosed by Fairshake in September targeting Brown’s return to the Senate.
Brown, who previously chaired the Senate Banking Committee, addressed the surge in crypto-backed attack advertisements during a Friday appearance on Pod Save America. He remarked,
“I’ve spent my career taking on Wall Street, taking on big pharma, taking on big oil and been successful in many cases.”
These remarks come as crypto industry funding becomes a prominent issue in the campaign.
Early voting in Ohio began 10 days ago, and the intensity of campaign activity has grown with just under three weeks left before the US election. Other crypto-oriented PACs are following suit, including the Digital Freedom Fund, a Super PAC created by Gemini’s co-founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.
The Digital Freedom Fund disclosed approximately $3 million spent this week on advertising opposing Brown and supporting Husted, bringing its overall Ohio campaign spending to $5.9 million.
Mini dictionary: Defend American Jobs is a political action committee affiliated with Fairshake, focusing on supporting pro-crypto candidates primarily in Republican races.
Fairshake’s involvement has already outpaced its activity in 2024, when the PAC directed $41 million toward supporting Republican Bernie Moreno and challenging Brown’s Senate bid. During that time, Brown was recognized as a key lawmaker advocating for stricter cryptocurrency regulations as chair of the Senate Banking Committee.
| PAC | Ohio Race Spending in 2026 | Previous Cycle Spending |
|---|---|---|
| Fairshake (Defend American Jobs) | $46.6 million | $41 million (2024) |
| Digital Freedom Fund | $5.9 million | N/A |
Spending spreads to other key Senate contests
Fairshake’s strategy is not limited to Ohio. Defend American Jobs reported $6.7 million in spending to oppose Independent Dan Osborn in Nebraska’s Senate race, where Osborn faces Republican Pete Ricketts. During his tenure, Ricketts voted in support of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act and the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act, reflecting a pro-crypto stance.
The growing influence of crypto-focused PACs has generated strong reactions in several competitive contests. While requests for comment made to Fairshake and Husted’s campaign have not yet been answered, observers note that digital asset policy is becoming more prevalent in Senate races with substantial campaign financing from the sector.
2026 elections and US crypto policy
Fairshake has declared its mission to support “pro-crypto candidates” in Congress for 2026. In January, the PAC reported $193 million in available funds as it seeks to boost industry-aligned representatives. Industry analysts believe changes in congressional leadership could affect the regulatory landscape for digital assets.
Other crypto-associated entities are also active in the current election cycle. The Fellowship Committee, backed by firms like Cantor Fitzgerald and Anchorage Digital, disclosed more than $11 million in spending between August 2025 and August 2026, mainly on media campaigns endorsing House and Senate candidates who advocate for digital asset innovation.
Mini dictionary: The Fellowship Committee is a political group that channels industry funds to support House and Senate candidates perceived as digitally progressive or friendly to crypto-related policy initiatives.
As the campaigns advance, the role and influence of crypto sector funding is expected to shape several Senate contests and could have far-reaching implications for future US policy on digital assets.
Ohio’s 2026 Senate race has already seen over $50 million in crypto-aligned PAC spending, as key industry backers intensify efforts to shape the outcome and influence the direction of digital asset regulation at the national level.
